Page 24 of Wolfish Player
Before I can walk away from this shitshow, she turns the phone toward me.
“When can we expect the final book in theWildwood Sagaand when will you be releasing the next standalone office romance in herManhattan Foreverseries?”
I hesitate a few moments before smiling. “Soon.”
“Booo!” “Bullshit!” “That’s not a real answer!”
I turn around and move back to the elevator bank where dozens of my employees are watching this madness.
“What do you want me to do, sir?” George asks. “Have the police get them out of here?”
“No.” I look at my watch. “They can stay.”
“It’s a fire hazard,” he says. “Their tents are blocking the side doors and that redhead has more crazies coming…”
“Give me a second.” I rub my temple. I thought George R.R. Martin fans were insane—and they are—but they keep their crazy confined to the internet.
Putting them all out, even if they kind of deserve it, would make me look even worse in the media. And even though it would probably drive up Allyson’s sales more, it wouldn’t make the release date come any sooner. It’ll just drive them even more nuts.
“Let them protest and livestream for another hour,” I say. “Then move them up to the fifth floor where we keep the romance lounge.”
He looks at me like I’ve grown two heads.
“Have the staff serve them coffee and snacks at a discount,” I say. “Then have some editors give them some ARCs and swag every day until I have a release date for them.”
“You’re kidding…”
“Make them security badges so they can come in and out,” I say. “I’m sure they’ll want to go home and shower at some point.”
“But sir?—”
“Just do it.” I part through the sea of staff and step onto the elevator, overhearing someone say, “What the hell is he about to do?”
Finally read Heather’s books…
Later that evening,I lean back in my chair with a cup of coffee and a copy of the first book in theWildwood Saga.
The cover—a grainy picture of a forest with “Wildwood” in faint cursive—looks like she designed it on a napkin, but that hasn’t affected the word-of-mouth at all.
It’s currently ranked number five in the Kindle store. The paperback is ranked at number twelve.
Why hasn’t Heather said anything about it?
I flip the first page, vowing to only read the first chapter.
After two pages, I’m completely invested and attached, and her writing style threads itself through my chest.
I inhale the first book within hours and immediately start the second.
When I look up again, I’ve finished and the sun is rising outside my window. And I’m pissed as hell about the cliffhanger.
Now I’m just as screwed as the rest of her fans.
THE AUTHOR
HEATHER
Can I PLEASE give you an update on some of your books?
