Toni Noel
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Happy Birthday, Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc

4/18/2011

32 Comments

 
Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc. is celebrating its second birthday this month, and I'd like to tell you how I wound up at their door.

On New Years Eve of 2008 I gave myself an ultimatum. If I failed to sell a manuscript in 2009 I would take down my shingle. Toss out my flash drives. And catch up on my reading.

The next day, New Year's Day 2009, while walking my dog up a slight incline, I experienced a grabbing sensation in my left calf. Thanks to that excruciating pain we had to go back home. The next morning that leg was swollen as big as a tree trunk. By the time a radiologist found the DVT (deep vein thrombosis) the vein was completely blocked from ankle to groin.

I began a ten day regimen of twice-daily Heparin shots, which I injected twice daily into my abdomen, and started taking Coumadin, a blood-thinning drug intended to gradually dissolve the clot. I didn't know then that that drug could be part of my daily regimen for the next 12 months, as would weekly and sometimes daily blood tests.

My doctor ordered complete bed rest with my blocked leg elevated above my heart, or short periods of exercise, which was all but impossible dragging that tree stump around.

I could no longer sit at the computer for long periods of the day, so I couldn't write. It took me a while to realize I could edit for short periods a day, so I printed out a completed manuscript and started revising it. Standing in line at the post office was out of the question. For the first three months I wasn't even allowed to drive, so I began submitting my manuscripts electronically to eBook publishers.

Toward the end of that year spent mostly flat of my back an RWASD chapter member emailed members about a fairly new publisher who'd just reopened for submissions, Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc, so in early December I zapped my manuscript off to her. The next day I received an offer to publish from Editor-in-Chief Gail Delaney, with a note that she loved my quirky heroine, the same heroine who had caused other publishers to reject my manuscript.

I can't say enough good things about Gail, she understood my heroine,  she liked my writing. I can tell you how good it feels to have someone who earns their living reading manuscripts say they like your work. Gail's very supportive of her covey of writers. She and her partner cover artist Jenifer Ranieri do a terrific job of promoting us and I couldn't be happier writing for DBP.

Leave a comment here for a chance to win a free downlaoad of Law Breakers and Love Makers, my first romantic suspense released by Desert Breeze, and to be entered in the big Birthday Giveway on April 30th.

The Desert Breeze Blog Tour continues tomorrow on Barbara Scott's blog:
http://scotwriter.blogspot.com/
 Drop by and say "Hi," for another chance to win in the big Giveaway. You know the drill.
Good luck.
32 Comments
Theresa Stillwagon
4/18/2011 11:59:39 pm

Oh, Toni, I hope you're feeling better. I don't know how you manage to stay on bedrest for almost a year. I know I couldn't. :)

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Stephanie Burkhart link
4/19/2011 12:02:26 am

Toni,
It's good to hear you're feeling better and you were able to do something very constructive with your recoup time. It's great to have you at Desert Breeze as a fellow author.

Smiles
Steph

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Deborrah Girard link
4/19/2011 12:40:49 am

That's quite a journey, Toni. Glad everything is okay.
Deborrah

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Barbara M Hodges link
4/19/2011 12:42:45 am


I am so enjoying reading how each of you came to Desert Breeze.

The trouble with your leg had to be very scary.

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Christina Freeburn link
4/19/2011 12:52:58 am

I love quirky heroines. Thank you for sharing your story. I'm finding them all to be very inspiring.

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JoAnn Carter link
4/19/2011 12:56:41 am

Wow, you had quite the year in 2009. How neat though, how it lead you to DBP.

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Toni Noel link
4/19/2011 01:08:14 am

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Toni Noel link
4/19/2011 01:12:05 am

Thanks, everyone. Just never know when a health problem will turn into a blessing in disguise, do we.

My leg is fine, still larger than my right, but it gets me where I want to go just fine. I'm fighting the cold I brought home from RT now.

Toni Noel

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Christine Ashworth link
4/19/2011 01:31:45 am

Hi Tony! *waves madly* I can't BELIEVE we're on an email loop together (MFRW)! Huge congrats on your novel and I'm SO glad you're feeling better. If I'd known you were going to be at RT, I'd have looked for you!

Hugs, hon!

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Toni Noel link
4/19/2011 02:06:27 am

Hi, Christine. Thanks for stopping by.
RT was an eye-opener for me, and loads of fun.

Toni

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Linda Wisdom
4/19/2011 02:32:54 am

Great post, Toni! You're right, you never know how a health problem can turn into a blessing and it worked great for you!

Congrats! Gail's a wonderful person.

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Linda Swift link
4/19/2011 02:35:48 am

Hi Toni, what an inspiring story of how you came to be published at DB. You certainly turned the lemon fate served you into lemonade, didn't you? I admire your grit and determination. I, too, set my goal for ebook publishig about the same time as you, and I'm happy to be a DB author and have books also at other places now. I have heard it said the difference between published and unpublished authors is lunatic persistance. I qualify on both counts!

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Toni Noel link
4/19/2011 02:58:59 am

Thanks, both Linda's. Glad you stopped by.

Toni

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R. Ann Siracusa link
4/19/2011 03:48:36 am

Toni,
As you know, God works miracles in many ways. While it's no fun to have health problems, sometimes good things happen as a result. Congratulations on your release and two more sales. Woot! Woot!
Ann

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JeanP
4/19/2011 04:40:59 am

Glad to hear you are mending and that you were able to find a wonderful publishing home for your work.

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Nancy Kay link
4/19/2011 05:03:22 am

Toni,

I share your thoughts about our Editor in Chief at Desert Breeze. The wonderful mix of stories in all genre's will be published because of editors like Gail Delaney. Good stories, I might add. I'm looking forward to my first release in July 2011. I write Romantic Suspense, too, and am proud to be in such good company.

Nancy Kay

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Shelley Munro link
4/19/2011 06:38:21 am

Wow, all the bed rest and shots don't sound like much fun. I'm glad you're feeling better now. Your story is inspiring and you've obviously found your niche.

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Toni Noel link
4/19/2011 07:37:47 am

Thanks Ann, JeanP, NancyKay and Shelly for all your good wishes. And good luck those of you with upcoming releases. May the eBook gods be with you and bring you lots of sales.

Toni

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June Belfie link
4/19/2011 08:39:10 am

What an ordeal you went through. But thank God you're doing so well now. Yes, it's great fun to write, but it's even better when it's shared with others. Best wishes for a successful career. June

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Toni Noel link
4/19/2011 01:35:13 pm

Thanks, June. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else doing anything else.

And thanks for your good wishes and good luck on your release.

Toni Noel

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Barbara Scott link
4/19/2011 02:42:28 pm

What an act to follow, Toni! Talk about working in wondrous ways.

My story of finding Desert Breeze won't be as dramatic as DVT and bed rest, but please come over tomorrow to read it,

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Diane Craver link
4/19/2011 07:28:04 pm

Hi Toni,
Sorry I'm a day late. I loved reading how you became a DBP author, but sorry for all your pain. You had a long road to recovery but made wise use of your time working on your manuscript and doing the editing while in bed. Your story is very inspiring.

I wish you continued success with DBP!

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Toni Noel link
4/20/2011 12:12:58 am

Thanks, Barbara and Diane.

Isn't it great, finding a comfortable home with DBP?

Toni

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Danielle Thorne link
4/20/2011 10:49:57 am

Wonderful post and a most beautiful blog! Good luck with your books!

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Donna Basinow link
4/20/2011 12:51:39 pm

It really is amazing how God can make us sit (lay) down and take notice of where/what He means for us to be! I'm glad you found your way to a good publisher!

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Nike Chillemi link
4/21/2011 12:35:53 am

What a great story. Toni, glad you're feeling better now.

Oh, Happy Birthday Desert Breeze!!!

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Tina Pinson
4/21/2011 02:43:10 am

What a way to get a new Outlook. Glad things worked out.

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regina andrews link
4/21/2011 06:31:16 am

Hi Toni,
I'm so glad you're feeling better! Keep writing those great books!
Hugs,
Regina

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Gail Delaney
4/21/2011 12:53:43 pm

I've read your story before, Toni, but it's still an amazing one. I'm pleased to see so many people touched by it. :-)

We're glad to have you with us, and it was great spending some time with you at RT this year. Here's to Chicago!

Gail R. Delaney
Editor-In-Chief
Desert Breeze Publishing

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shawna williams
4/21/2011 02:29:08 pm

I already have the book, so I don't need to be entered. I just wanted to tell Toni that I'm glad she recovered and that I really look forward to reading this.

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Toni Noel link
4/24/2011 01:33:18 am

Thanks to all who read this blog and responded.

I came home from RT with a head cold that has now migrated to my chest with fever, so I'll be making another doctor's visit to help me shake this. I'm never sick!

Toni

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Toni Noel link
5/1/2011 09:47:07 am

Barbara M. Hodges is the lucky winner of a free download of Law Breakers and Love Makers.

Enjoy.

Toni

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    Toni Noel enjoys  writing romantic suspense and contemporary romance, reading, gardening and walking her dog Jack in Southern California.  

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