As I was leaving work this past Thursday, my husband sent me a text that said “Harlequin called and left a message on the answering machine for you.” The earth hesitated in its rotation. Harlequin called me on the TELEPHONE????? This could only mean one thing. In my experience, publishers do not place a phone call to politely reject you. They do not call to sell you magazines, offer you a better rate on your credit card, or solicit your vote. They only call for one reason.

On the 30-minute drive home, I panicked about the possibilities, hardly daring to believe that the call I’d hoped for since summer had really come. I sent book one of what I call my “Starlight Point” series to Harlequin Heartwarming last summer because I hoped it was a great fit for that line. Sweet Summer Starlight is warm, clean, a feel-good old-fashioned romance. I’ve been anxiously checking my email for months…but now I’m glad an email never came. Phone calls are much better!

I’m happy to say the phone call was exactly what I’d hoped. Sweet Summer Starlight will be published as a Harlequin Heartwarming in early 2016. For me, it’s a dream come true to share this story with readers who love a romance that will warm their hearts. I’m humbled, excited, and ready to submit the next two books in the series. I hope they deserve a phone call, too!