“Call” stories are some of the most inspirational things a struggling writer can hear. However, mine is a bit different. You see, I’ve never received a call from an editor I’d submitted to where they say. “Hi, this is___ with ___ and I’d like to buy your book.” I have however, received a few letters that were something like that. *ggg* My first o­ne ever was from Virgin Books, the Black Lace Erotica line. That was three years ago. After concentrating o­n short stories for a while I decided to try something longer. Harlequin Temptation rejected my first novel because of my ‘writing style’. However, take heart, even rejected ms’s can go o­n to sell. That novel was GYPSY HEART, which not o­nly later received 4 stars from Romantic Times Book Club, and a pleasing 81 from Mrs. Giggles, but it also taught me to be true to my own voice, and my own style. There were a few more e-book sales, again, all through email. No phone calls for me. My first “call” came after I’d emailed Roberta Brown with a proposal for a manuscript to be shopped around. Again, after a couple of emails, she agreed to represent me! Then, she called me!!! Even though I knew the call was coming, it was thrill. It made the whole thrilling situation real for me. The call was just a “get to know you” thing. We talked about my future and what we were going to do with my proposal. She agreed to shop it around immediately. My heart pounded so hard I kept my hand o­n my chest to hold it in the whole time. I was a bit prepared for it because I knew the call was coming, and I actually took notes. Mind you, I didn’t know what the notes meant a day later. LOL After that, the next phone call I received was again, from Roberta. And I got it as a message o­n my voice mail. I’d just finished working a lunch shift, and was excited to go home and write. Funny how serving tables always makes me eager to work o­n building my career away from the hospitality industry. Anyway, I stepped out the door of the lounge, and was walking home from work. I pulled out my cell phone. My o­nly phone and checked my messages. I literally stopped in my tracks o­n the sidewalk when I heard Roberta’s voice announcing a sale to Kensington! I hung up to call her back right away, and the phone rang in my hand. Roberta. As I walked home, amidst a huge windstorm, she told me about John Scognamiglio, from Kensington. He loved my partial!! The next day John called me to introduce himself, and we spoke briefly about the novella. Since then, I’ve received more emails from Roberta. o­ne announcing the sale of a single title to Cindy Hwang at Berkley, and another telling me John wanted another novella for Kensington. Despite the fact that I’ve been published for a few years, the last month has been absolutely amazing. I’m here to tell you, don’t sit by the phone. “The Call” isn’t the o­nly way you can get great news, and dancing around your house like an idiot after receiving an email isn’t as embarrassing as screaming into someone’s ear o­n the phone, but it is just as magical.Romance with Heat, Erotica with heart. Gifted with a salacious imagination, Sasha has erotic romance stories currently available with Liquid Silver Books and Amber Quill Press, as well as close to a dozen erotic short stories in print with publishers such as Black Lace Erotica, Pretty Things Press, and General Media. 2006 will be bringing more of her books to stores inprint with both Kensington and Berkley. If you want to learn more about Sasha and her stories, please visit her website
www.sashawhite.net and be sure to drop by her Blog and say Hi.

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