A cover, a tale, and some serious fangirling.

Two posts in two days. *gasp*

I know, I’ve shocked myself too. But I just had to share some news:

My first Harlequin Romance/Mills & Boon True Love cover is heeeeeeeeeeere!

I just can’t even with… It’s so utterly, crushingly beautiful… Everything I dreamed, but also so SO much more. 😭 😭

It took a total of three R&Rs with my lovely editor’s insight to shape the book to where it was the best fit for Harlequin Romance. In hindsight all the time spent wringing my hands and fighting self-doubt was a part of the process. I see that clearly now.

I’m not even a generally lucky person. My luck is just 50-50, so naturally I peeked between my fingers when I got my first look at my cover. Worried that if it was bad, I could somehow ward off the defeating blow of disappointment with the flimsy tactic.

Then I got an eyeful 👀 of my man here, and all I remember feeling is this fluttery giddiness. Gawking first at the sheer masculine beauty before I hurried to show my sister, and she gave her approval. Whoever this gorgeous model is, thank youuuuu for making my first cover experience with Harlequin absolutely amazing. (And maybe, like, call me? 😉) #fangirlingstill #willneverstop #imaluckyauthor

I don’t want this post to get too long. I just wanted to let you know that if you’re out there and writing and feeling dejected about not getting your stories sold, I’m proof that you CAN and WILL do it. It’s possible!!!!!!!

I started writing Second Chance to Wear His Ring in January 2018. I remember rushing to my sister and running two ideas by her, none of which felt right to either of us. Then I told her, “I’d love to write a story set in Somaliland, with Somali characters. But can I pull it off?” She agreed that I could and should. Still, even with the encouragement from my family, I was scared that it wouldn’t be ‘glamorous’ enough for Harlequin Romance. I persevered and wrote the synopsis and first chapter—prayed my gut instinct wouldn’t fail me—and hit send.

Mostly because as I write this I’m rolling up my sleeves (metaphorically) to revise Harlequin Romance #2, tentatively titled Swept Away by the Single Dad or Billionaire’s Temptation in Turkey. Really, it’s whatever I’m in the mood to call it that day. 😉

My closing advice if this post was very TL;DR…

Don’t give up.

That’s it. If it gets hard, you’re either doing it right OR you need a short break to rejuvenate. Self-care shouldn’t trump submissions to agents or publishers. But know that only you can tell the story that you want to. No one else can do it for you. Doesn’t matter if it’s been told hundreds, thousands of times. Your voice and perspective is the backlight of your prose. It adds the spice and the sprinkle to the story. So, don’t give up. Don’t give up. Do. Not. Give. Up.

Love,

Hana