by Ruth J. Hartman
I had this story in my head, the one I’d always wanted to write. We all have one, just a different one for every writer. Mine was about a stray cat rescue. It started out with a prompt for an anthology about cats. I couldn’t believe it! Someone actually was asking for exactly what I wanted to write. How often does that happen? I wrote my short story and submitted it. It was accepted at the tail end of their process.
The only problem with the short time between writing, acceptance and publication, was there was no time for me to check out the other stories in the anthology before it went to print. That turned out to be a problem.
Here I was so excited. It was my first story published, after all. And, of course I couldn’t wait to get my copy so I could show it to everyone I knew.
But…
The day I got my copy, I checked out my story first, just to reassure myself I really had a story in there. I was really a published author. I smiled. My story was there. I decided to read the other stories before I passed the book along to my mom and mother-in-law.
Not good. My sweet, funny romance was tucked in the middle of a book of erotica. Yep, you heard me right. Mine was the only one without descriptions that might make some timid souls hide under their beds to read it. I read story after story, desperately hoping there were more like mine. A couple like mine. Even one sweet, romance like mine. But no. The others were pure, unabashed erotica. I have nothing against that; it just wasn’t the right place for my story.
I lent the book to my mom and mother-in-law with instructions to not read the other stories unless they were willing to get more than they bargained for. And I never bought any copies. Not one.
It made me sad, this story of my heart that was destined to while away its life in a place it shouldn’t have been. A year later, though, that publisher changed hands. We were all given the opportunity to take our rights back for our stories if we wanted to. I whipped that story back so fast, it knocked the whiskers off the cats. So now I had this cute little short story. What would I do with it now?
I expanded it into a romance novel, “Better Than Catnip.” I shopped it around. Over and over. No takers. Was my cat rescue story, the one so close to my heart, destined to sit, unread, on my computer?
Enter Astraea Press. Not only did they love my book, they only publish stories that are non-erotic. You always know what you’re going to get (or not get) with any of their books.
And you won’t be afraid to loan it to your mother.
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Ruth’s sweet, humorous romances revolve around dentistry, cats, or both. More about her books and writing can be found at www.ruthjhartman.blogspot.com and http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=10046643
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on 9/13/2010
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Ruth Hartman started out as a dental hygienist but morphed into a romance writer. She has fun working the dental industry into her romances. While Pillow Talk features a dental hygienist/tooth fairy, her next romance Flossophy of Grace also follows the love life of a dental hygienist. Who knew the dental world was so romantic?
Ruth's first book, My Life in Mental Chains, is a memoir about her struggle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Ruth, her husband and two very spoiled cats live in rural Indiana where Ruth dreams up new and exciting romances. And flosses regularly. Really!
Find out more about Ruth by visiting her websites:
R.J. Writes blog: http://ruthjhartman.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/RuthjHartman
Pillow Talk
By Ruth Hartman
Trixie Trident has a secret. Everyone knows she creates one-of-a-kind jewelry during the day. It's what she does on her night job no one would ever guess. She's a tooth fairy. Not the tooth fairy, just one of many. It would take her whole life just to combat the many misconceptions people have about TF's. Like how nobody wears tutus or uses a wand. Or stands three inches high. Nope, Trixie looks just like any other woman in her mid-twenties. And she'd tell people all of that stuff. If she was allowed to. But she'd sworn a sacred tooth fairy oath that she'd never tell a soul. And she hadn't. Except for her best friend, who would never breathe a word to anyone.
Graham Keebler meets Trixie when she comes to his dental office as a new patient. He's had lots of single women patients before, but no one has ever sparked his interest like Trixie. What is it about her that's so unique? He can't quite figure it out, but he's determined to try, even when she turns him down for a second date.
Trixie is attracted to Graham, like she's never been to any man before. He's what she always dreamed of in a man. And they even have the subject of teeth in common! But a relationship with the gorgeous dentist can never be. How could it? When she's a tooth fairy, and not only can't she tell him, he'd never believe her anyway.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Class Act Books (August 2010)
ISBN: 9781935048688
Pillow Talk is available through Class Act Books in both print and as an ebook, and is available through Amazon as a Kindle edition.
Book Giveaway Comments Contest!
If you received our Events Newsletter, remember, we are holding a contest to win a copy of Ruth Hartman's novel,
Thank you for sharing this article. I love it. Keep on writing this type of great stuff.
Thank you, Writerscash :)
Oh Ruth, I'm so glad you found your story a good home! I don't know what I would have done. Hopefully, you can laugh about it now, but I imagine that was such a sunken heart moment. Congratulations on finding the right publisher! J.C.
Thank you JC. You're right, it was that kind of moment, but Astraea Press is the perfect home for it!
I had no idea you were a fellow cat rescuer, Ruth. Glad to know you, and thank you for the very funny getting published story above :)
I enjoy writing sweet romantic short stories, too. I know how you must've been so disappointed when you discovered where yours had landed. But thankfully your short has become a novel and you've found the right publisher.
Thanks, Tara. Yes, I've rescued more cats than I can...well okay, I can count them. But still, there've been a lot!
Thank you Pat :). Yes, I am thrilled!
Oh my goodness! Glad you found the right home for your story!
Oh my gosh - how funny and embarrassing! Love the happy ending of your story!
Yay-fellow kitty lover!
Sounds like your sweet romance also has nine-lives :)
Thanks, Krysten. Me too;)
Thanks, Jackie. I'm all about happy endings!
Rcponders, you said it purrfectly!
Haha! I am sorry to laugh, but it is kinda funny. What a great way to illustrate your lesson though!
Church Lady,
Don't be sorry. It is funny...now :). I'm just thrilled it finally found the right home!