Interview with Author Teri Wilson - Hear How she sold to Hallmark!

 

1/ So tell us a bit about yourself in one paragraph or less.

I’m Teri Wilson, and I write heartwarming contemporary romance with a touch of whimsy. I’ve had four Hallmark Channel movies made based on my books, most notably Unleashing Mr. Darcy and its sequel Marrying Mr. Darcy. I live in San Antonio, Texas, and I love dogs, cupcakes, going to the ballet and reading.

2/Describe your reaction to your very first sale. Who was it with? What year and which publisher?

My first traditionally published sale was with Harlequin’s Love Inspired line, and I was beyond delighted. They were my dream publisher, and I still write for Harlequin to this day, twelve years later! That first book was ALASKAN HEARTS, and it came out in June 2012. The story was set at a dog sled race in Alaska, and I wrote it after volunteering as a dog handler at the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled race in Anchorage. I am a big dog lover, and a lot of my books feature furry family members.

I’ve been writing for Harlequin’s Special Edition line since 2016, but I recently signed a new contract with Love Inspired and I’m thrilled to be writing for that line again!

3/ What have been some Highlights of your career?

I’ve been blessed with my dream career and there have been so many amazing moments along the way—things I never imagined would actually happen to me, like having my books made into Hallmark movies, winning a RITA Award for excellence in romantic fiction at the 2019 RWA National Conference in New York City, and hitting the USA Today bestseller list twice—first with some of my writer friends with a sweet Christmas anthology we published in 2020, and then again on my own with my book ONCE UPON A ROYAL SUMMER for Hallmark Publishing. My favorite thing about being an author, though, are the cherished friendships I’ve made with other writers.

4/ Tell us about your experiences selling your books to Hallmark.

I still can’t believe I’ve had four Hallmark movies. (And hopefully more are coming! *wink*) It still astounds me. I was a Hallmark fan long before I started working with the network, and the way they’ve adapted my books delights me to pieces. My literary agent asked a producer friend of hers to pitch my book Unleashing Mr. Darcy to the network as a favor, and miraculously, it worked. The movie did really well when it premiered, and that opened up a lot of doors for me at Hallmark. I am just so grateful for the entire experience.

5/We’ve all been rejected at one point or another, any advice on how to handle rejection?

Rejection doesn’t really bother me. You can never make your dreams come true if you don’t put yourself (or your writing!) out there and go for it. Rejection simply means you are doing just that—you’re chasing after your dreams. Let yourself be sad for a day, eat some ice cream and get back at it in the morning.

6/What’s your writing day like?

I usually have a word count goal for the day, and I try to work in sprints of 25 minutes of focused writing time with 5 minute-breaks in between. Sometimes I FaceTime with one of my author friends and we write together. I always start the day with a cup of coffee, and I read for a while. It helps get me in the right headspace for writing.

7/ Read any good books lately? Any you would recommend?

I am currently reading a fantastic beach read called FLY AWAY SUMMER by Lindsay Gibson. It’s set at Cape Cod. The perfect summer read.

8/ If you weren’t a writer what would you be?   

I would love to be a ballerina.

9/What are you working on currently?

I have a brand new series called Comfort Paws launching with Harlequin Special Edition on June 25 with the first book in the series, DOG DAYS OF SUMMER. My Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Charm, is a certified therapy dog, and the volunteer work we do in the community was my inspiration for this series. The Comfort Paws books are centered around therapy dogs and the relationships that spring up around them. I am currently working on the third book in the series.

10/ I’m about to be gifted a King Charles Cavalier. I know you have Charm. Any tips to share?

Ahhh! I am thrilled for you! Obviously, I love Cavaliers. Charm is my third one. They are the gentlest, sweetest dogs in the world. Just be prepared to never be alone again. Haha. Charm is so perfectly behaved, but she wants to be with me 24/7, and that is no exaggeration. I take her pretty much everywhere with me.

11/ I read somewhere you are a true Anglophile. What is your favorite memory of visiting Great Britain?

London is my favorite city on earth! I’ve made friends with several other amazing ladies who I met on Instagram, and we traveled to England for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 and again for King Charles III’s Coronation in 2023. Those girls’ trips were so much fun! On our last trip, we got to see Prince William and Princess Kate, up close and in person! I can’t wait to go back.

12/ How can we reach you?

I’m online at my website at teriwilson.net and on Instagram @TeriWilsonauthor. Come see me!