Today we’re diving into the I Got the Call archives to hear why our authors wanted to become romance writers and why romance is important to them.
Jennifer Wilck:
“I’ve always found comfort in stories, especially ones that ended with “happily ever after.” As a child, if I was nervous or couldn’t fall asleep, my mom would suggest I tell myself a story. As I got older, I continued to do that, eventually writing down the ones that stuck with me. I’m not sure I ever planned to write romance, per se, but I love the meet-cutes, the strong heroines, and the escape from real life that writing romance provides, so it turned into a natural fit.”
Read Jennifer’s original I Got the Call story and make sure to check out Jennifer’s Harlequin Debut Home for the Challah Days
Kristine Lynn:
“Oh my goodness. If you’ve seen Lethal Weapon 4, you know Sergeant Murtaugh’s wife, Trish, is a romance writer. She’s secretly funding her family’s education and entertainment with books published under a pen name. When I first saw that movie a million years ago, I vowed that I’d be her someday.What could be better than writing love stories as a job?
Many years later, however, my academic writing career encouraged me away from genre fiction. But I’m such a romantic at heart and never forgot my original dream. I wanted HEAs and love and character growth pitted against someone who can draw that out of them, and only found those things in romance novels. So, in an act of rebellion, I began writing the stories I wanted to write, read, and send out into the world and never looked back. Now, I’m writing love stories under a pen name and celebrating my successes by treating my daughter to a trip this summer! I’d like to think Trish Murtaugh (aka Ebony Clarke) would be proud!”
Read Kristine’s original I Got the Call story and make sure to check out Kristine’s Harlequin Debut, Brought Together by His Baby.
Tina Wheeler:
“I always had a feeling that something was missing from my life. Twenty years ago, I was thumbing through a career guidebook with my daughter and found the address for a romance authors’ organization. I decided to give writing a try, and that feeling to pursue a new path went away. I believe God had been guiding me. I write and read romances because the hero and heroine may run from armed men, jump off a cliff into the Amazon River, and hitch a ride on top of a speeding train, but we are guaranteed they will prevail and fall in love by the final page.”
Read Tina’s original I Got the Call story and make sure to check out Tina’s newest release, Ranch Showdown.
Lela May Wight:
“I blame my primary school teacher. I’d written a very long-winded story and he said, “I can see you’re going to become a novelist!” The dream was born. No, not really. (Well, maybe a little…)
I’ve always read romance novels. Gobbled them up throughout my teens, like so many romance readers. I always wanted to write but as life does, it got in the way for a long time. But during late-night feeds after my first was born, I rediscovered romance books and the powerful ability they have to transport the reader. The urge to write was born again, because I wanted to do that! I wanted to write full-throttle escapism about complicated and emotionally messy people who got their chance at love and earned their happily ever after.
I haven’t looked back since!”
Read Lela’s original I Got the Call story and make sure to check out Lela’s latest release, Bound by the Sicilian Secret.
Heba Helmy:
“Although I’ve been thinking about and working in/on narratives for a long time, it’s only been in the last few years that I finally realized ALL my favourites contain elements of love and romance! I’m passionate about diversity and marginalized representation in books so I’ve aimed to write stories where Muslim heroines get to have grand adventures. Writing ones where they fall in love on their own terms might just be the grandest of all!”
Read Heba’s original I Got the Call story and make sure to check out Heba’s Harlequin debut, The Earl’s Egyptian Heiress.
For more from our Harlequin authors, catch up on all our I Got the Call stories.
