Happy Birthday, Intrigue! August 2009 marks the 25th anniversary for the line, and to celebrate, Harlequin is featuring Intrigue in the Series Spotlight this month. So let’s ask our authors, veterans and newbies alike, to share a memory they have of writing for Intrigue. It could be seeing that first book on the shelves or writing that book from the heart. The excitement of starting a new book. Funny stories about characters who wouldn’t cooperate. Research adventures. Mini-series or continuities that you were thrilled to be a part of. Or, simply share a happy birthday wish. We’d like to hear from as many authors as possible.

 

Delores Fossen: My first Intrigue, His Child, came out in 2002, and I remember going to a Walmart the weekend before the book was scheduled for release. I looked at the series books as I always did and then nearly fainted when I saw my book there already. I nearly knocked someone down trying to get a closer look. I still remember that incredible moment of seeing my first Intrigue, and that feeling doesn't get old. I still get that same rush when I see one of my books on the shelf.

Joanna Wayne:  Happy Birthday, Intrigue! I've been writing for Intrigue since their tenth anniversary and since that time I've written over forty novels for Harlequin. It has been tremendously fun and I've met some really great fans. One of my most memorable moments was a letter I received after 9/11. The reader stated she'd been crying or most of the day and that night she'd picked up one of my books and for a few hours she was able to escape into the story. I shed many tears at that letter myself. Another touching occasion was when one of my fans who had every book I'd written lost everything she owned in Katrina. Her grandson wrote and asked if I could help him find back copies of all my books so that he could replace his grandmother's collection. Needless to say I did everything I could to help him out. I've never met his grandmother but we have become close email friends.

Thank you, Harlequin! Let's go for twenty-five more.

B.J. Daniels: As Harlequin Intrigue celebrates its 25th anniversary, I thank my lucky stars that a friend told me about the new line that was coming out. Mystery and romance. She said it sounded perfect for me.  Fortunately, she was right. I read the first ones published then finally wrote one myself, selling my first book in 1994 and the rest is history. I started out writing one book a year, keeping my day job as an editor and feature writer at the local newspaper.  But just before I sold book five, I quit. It's a leap I've never regretted. I am now working on my 48th book and my latest series, Whitehorse, Montana, is the series of my heart.

Thank you Intrigue and Happy Birthday!

Mallory Kane: One of my favorite stories about writing for Intrigue is the story of "The Call Before the Call." I had waited for six months after my full manuscript was requested to hear back from Intrigue--and nothing. Then, on Friday, June 30, 2000, Tina Colombo called me--not to tell me she was offering me a contract, but to ask me if my book was still available. Of course I told her it was definitely still available. So she said she was going to read it over the weekend. So I waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, by the next Friday I had decided that I had received the only "Non-Call Call" ever in the history of writing and would be receiving my rejection by mail. Late that afternoon she called with an offer. I will never forget the agony of that long week of waiting, and I'll never forget the thrill of hearing Tina say she wanted to buy my book. Now, in September of 09, my 17th Intrigue will be released. And that, during the 25th anniversary year of Intrigue, is a great celebration for me!

Rebecca York: I'm not the oldest living writer at Intrigue. But I'm right up there. My first Intrigue was Life Line, published in 1990. It was also the first book in my 43 Light Street series, which is still going strong. In fact, my August release, More Than a Man, is also a 43 Light Street book. And I'm thrilled to tell you RT gave it a 4 1/2 Top Pick.

Previously, I'd written romantic suspense for Dell, a series called the Peregrine Connection. But Dell's romantic suspense "line" tanked, probably because of the horrible covers and no publicity. Intrigue was a logical place to go, and I came up with a three book series about a psychologist, a private detective and a lawyer, who all had offices at 43 Light Street, in Baltimore. (It's not a real address.) When those books did well, Intrigue bought more, and I began working steadily for former editor in Chief, Debra Matteucci. Back then, I was a lot less sure of myself as a writer. I could turn out two books a year, and maybe two and a half if pushed. I wrote slowly, then did a lot of editing. Now I write a lot faster, then do about the same amount of editing as before. I write, then do one pass through a manuscript on screen to start the revising process. Then I print it out, usually two or three times and edit on paper. I keep telling myself I should be able to do all this faster, but for me, writing is a layering in process. I need to get that first draft down, then work on it until I'm as satisfied as I'm going to be.

Rita Herron: Happy Birthday to Harlequin. I sold my first book in 1996 -- I still remember the call for that first sale; it came on my son's birthday that year! Since then, I've written over twenty books and still love the wonderful stories of Intrigue. Recently I was asked to write a connected book, duet, with Ann Voss Peterson, about twins. Since I have a twin, it was a fun project. Look for Peek-a-boo Protector in September! I hope to celebrate another ten years or twenty with Intrigue!

Paula Graves: Happy Birthday, Intrigue! I remember when I first discovered the series, through my local RWA chaptermate Gayle Wilson. Reading Gayle's wonderful books, I knew I wanted to one day write for Intrigue. I loved the balanced blend of romance and mystery, my two favorite genres. Though it took a while, I finally realized my dream of writing for Intrigue, and I have Gayle Wilson and the other wonderful Intrigue authors who led the way to thank for it. Here's to 25 more exciting, surprising and satisfying years!

Julie Miller: I remember when I got the “call” that I sold my first book to Intrigue—I’ve written 35 books for Harlequin since then. When the editor said she had some “good news” for me—she’s wasn’t kidding. I LOVE writing for Intrigue! I’ve been a fan since I read the very first one in 1984—The Key by Rebecca Flanders. I was in college at the time, trying to focus on papers I had to write. But I was hooked. In between theses on folklore and literary romanticism, I started writing my very first Intrigue. Now that particular manuscript remains locked in a vault of OMG, what was I thinking? ;), but it was a learning experience. That one didn’t sell, and I got busy with a new teaching job, getting married and raising a family. But that yearning to write a romantic suspense novel never went away. When I first moved to Nebraska, I got a year off to be a stay-at-home mom. But I still needed a creative outlet. So, I took that dream of writing romantic suspense and went to work. When my son napped, I wrote. I finished two manuscripts. The first one didn’t sell, but I got lots of great feedback that I used when I wrote the next one. And guess what? That one did sell! Now I’ve come full-circle. I’m one of those authors writing for the line that inspired me to write in the first place. Good news, indeed. Happy Birthday, Intrigue! And thanks!