Michael's Father Story Behind the Story
Michael's Father: ideas & inspiration behind the story
This was my first book. I'll always look back on the process fondly. I had written a few proposals that didn't quite stick. And then a friend of mine, Susan Floyd, introduced me to her Superromance editor, Paula E, at a conference. I started sending Paula proposals. She started sending me back rejections. LOL! I saw her at another conference and she told me that I should write about a winery (since I worked at one).
Well, I used to work at the largest family held winery in the world. It wasn't exactly a small, family owned vineyard. I turned to Brian and Andrea Skonovd, who were growing grapes for winemakers for advice on how to care for a vineyard (all I knew was how to create the strategy behind selling wine - I knew nothing about growing grapes). With their help - and patience, since we went to dinner with my husband and three kids to go over the details - the Messina Vineyard really came alive.
But I took Paula's interest and advice to heart and over a two year period, I wrote winery romance proposals for her. And I continued to go to conferences where I saw she was going to speak. Finally, I attended a conference in Phoenix. She took me to the bar after she spoke to the group. She ordered champagne. Told me she was going to buy the book. And then she handed me eleven pages of hand written, single spaced revisions! Boy did I need a drink after that! LOL!
Cover buzz: I thought the cover was fabulous, but didn't like her white shorts. If you've read the book, you'll know why!
