The Power of the Pen

Three years ago five women met online in the harlequin boards. They all aspired to write for the new Bombshell line (among other aspirations) and a couple of them got the great idea to form a private group off the boards so they could "talk turkey."

So began "The Bombshellers."

Well, the Bombshell Line evolved and changed and the women moved on to other things, but they kept their group and their friendship. The first sale came when Wendy Roberts sold her chick lit mystery to RDI, and The Bombshellers were celebrated online and started the tradition of the selling writer buying dinner for everyone at National. They also started another tradition - the tradition of the pen.

When Wendy sold, The Bombshellers wanted to get her a gift and one member had a connection with a guy who custom made pens of incredible beauty and all one-of-a-kind. So they pitched in, got the pen, and another tradition was born.

Next came a sale by Diana Peterfreund (at auction, no less) and thus came another dinner at National in Reno and another pen.

I sold this past month and wondered what the rest of them would do since the "pen guy" is a friend of mine and my husbands. Well, sneaky, sneaky, sneaky - Diana called me on my cell phone on night to "chat" long enough for Elly to call my husband on the home phone and get the information for Brian, the pen artist.

Last night my husband and I had dinner with Brian and he brought out the pens. I was excited already about getting one, but you could have blown me away when he said "This is a gift from your writing friends. For you, pick any one you want."

So now, I have a beautiful pen and that's a wonderful thing. But it's what the pen represents that makes it even more valuable than all the intricate work that went into it. That pen represents a dream we all set out to accomplish and the love and support of The Bombshellers, who have been there to prop each other up when things were going bad and cheer when things were going good. It represents everything that is "right" with humanity and quite frankly, something this cynical person thought didn't exist any more.

The Power of the Pen is an incredible thing.

Check out a Bombsheller at National next year. We'll all have our pens with us. We use them to sign contracts and for booksignings, and to constantly remind us of where we came from and the huge things we've accomplished - all with the support of friends.

A fourth member, Colleen Gleason, just sold. Looks like there will be two dinners in Atlanta. And the Bombshellers now sit at an 80% sell rate. Not bad for five women with a dream......