Monday, August 29, 2011

The Day I Ruined Bill’s Life

Do you ever feel like you should come with a warning label?

I do. A lot.

This is one of those times.

When I’m doing research, I’d rather talk to people in the field as opposed to reading about it. I always end up with some oddball question that can’t be answered by a book or website. I also like hands on research. This is how I ended up taking a ten week citizens’ police academy course. Yes. It was just as hilariously awkward as you’d think it would be. But, it was totally worth it in terms of research material as well as meeting people I genuinely like and respect.

My other favorite research method is cold calling. This is when I try to repress the fact that I’m actually very shy, suck it up and start making phone calls to people in the field that I’m writing about. I usually end up having to explain myself to at least one or two of the office staff before being allowed to leave a vaguely awkward sounding voicemail message where I hope against hope that my subject calls me back.

I’d like to tell you about Bill. He called me back. He’s probably regretting it with every fiber of his being at the moment, but more on that later.

Many of you know that I set my werebear shifter story in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Why, you might wonder? Well, I wanted someplace that black bears would be relatively common. I wanted an area I knew well-ish. And hey, honestly? I just really like that area.

So anyway, I called the Baraga DNR (Department of Natural Resources) office since that was the town in which I’d decided to set my story. The very nice secretary passed me along to Bill’s voicemail and a while later he called me back. I explained that I was an author and that I’d like some information about bears. He kindly obliged, told me some awesome stories about bears, Michigan’s bat population and how DNR officers jump out of helicopters to tag moose.

He asked a little more about me and my books, and I explained the erotic romance genre and the popularity of ménage as well as shape shifter stories. He was clearly baffled, but a good sport about it. I asked him if I could cite him on the acknowledgment page, and he kindly agreed. Now, when I cite a source, I always do a full citation. So if it’s one of my cop buddies, I spell out their name, rank and department. I did the same thing with Bill.

Just Right released with the rest of the books in the Not Quite Wicked series and went on to do quite well. I wrote the next book in the series and went off that summer to vacation in the Upper Peninsula. While I was there, I got to meet Bill. He’s just as awesome in person as he is on the phone. He’s funny, knowledgeable and tells great stories. He took me, the hubby, our kids, one of my brothers and 2 of my nephews into an iron mine. We did the tour and then he got permission to take us off the tour track farther back into the mine where it was dark, wet, muddy, rife with debris and giant holes in the ground. More importantly, there were bats.

It’s no secret to anyone who reads this blog on a regular basis that I love bats. Well, so does Bill. In fact, the locals call him Batman.

He is, understandably, not amused by this.

But he is a bat specialist. He showed us where a few young males were hanging out the inside of the rock walls and fluttering around. He gave us all kinds of great info. I loved it and so did the rest of the fam. We went out to lunch, then Bill took us to the Millie Mine Bat Viewing station. Of course, it was daytime and the bats were snoozing, but I was still pleased to see they had a safe place to sleep. All in all it was a great day, and I was so glad to get a chance to thank Bill in person for helping me with my research.

Fast forward to the end of this school year. Per Bill’s request, I sent him a signed copy of the Not Quite Wicked anthology. Apparently, said copy of the book got passed around the office, Bill was mocked mercilessly because he’d been involved with a “sex book”. And that’s when it got a little ugly. He was ridiculed endlessly because I’d been too thorough when listing out the location in the acknowledgments.

I was terrified that this absolutely wonderful guy was going to lose his job because I was doing my job and documenting. He’d gone out of his way to help me out with info, not to mention, spending his day off with my family, and I had jeopardized his position. In short, I felt like utter shit.

I offered to call/write and apologize to everyone in the office if need be. He didn’t think it would be necessary, but he told me he’d let me know if it came to that. Well, the school year ended, and I didn’t hear anything. Summer wore on…nothing. Finally, it was vacation time. I thought about calling to see how things were going, but time got away from me. Also I totally chickened out. While vacationing in the UP, I even drove past the Baraga DNR office on my way to Copper Harbor, and I thought about stopping. I even talked to Brynn about it from the road. I think she dared me to stop in and say hi, but that seemed like a terri-bad idea, so I kept driving.

Well, I got a phone call today. It was Bill.

My stomach immediately sank when I saw the area code. I was terrified that he was going to tell me he’d lost his job and it was all my fault.

I’m pleased to report that this wasn’t the case. Although, there’s other…stuff.

Apparently, last night was the DNR Wildlife Division Annual In-service where they hand out awards. I’m imagining it to be like the Academy Awards with more fur and claws and far fewer sequins and borrowed jewelry. I could be wrong though. Maybe the DNR peeps like bling as much as Hollywood.

Anyway, in addition to the other awards, the fine folk at the DNR give out the Bone (formerly Boner) Award every year. From my understanding, it’s given to someone who’s done something especially boneheaded—an epically stupid blunder. And I think we all know who this year’s recipient was.

Oh, yes.

And who’s responsible for him getting this award?

Why, yes. That would be me. This is where the warning label comes in.

Bill ended up receiving the award (a bone mounted to a piece of wood) with a big ole poster of the cover of Just Right, with his face photoshopped in there somewhere, while someone read passages of the story. Aloud. Evidently, there was a bit of trouble finding non-dirty bits to read. Oops.

Oh yeah…and? They retired the award last night. Apparently, they don’t think it can get any worse than this. I feel certain I could disabuse them of that notion quickly enough. After all, I’m not considered a cautionary tale for nothing.

According to Bill, had he known he was going to receive this honor, he would have called me up and made me go to the ceremony with him. (Not cool, Bill.) Luckily, for me, he didn’t.

However, he thinks that sales may spike this week because many of the attendees were googling me on their smart phones. (Yay…I think…) He also said that if he’d had a stack of the books, he could have sold them all last night.

And apparently, as punishment, when I’m on vacation next summer, I have to stop at the DNR office and get my picture taken with Bill and the Boner Award. I can only imagine how truly, truly horrible and awkward this will be. But after what poor Bill has gone through, it’s the least I can do. I also plan to take him out to lunch. There will likely be a blog about it. Unless I die of embarrassment before I can post.

Hope springs eternal.

34 comments:

Amy Lane said...

BUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! *aherm* Okay... first, you're awesome--your research is really amazing, and hats off to you for going to visit Bill and taking the citizen's law enforcement course and everything!

Second... uhm... Dude. He is one amazingly good sport... because otherwise, it sounds like you ruined his life! (In a good natured, totally accidental way!) That's... wow. Just... wow...

Cheryl said...

Embrace the cautionary. Or the bone. And give Bill a hug from all of us, your fans.

Kel said...

That is hysterical.

I wondering if you'll actually see some sales from the whole thing. And Bill sounds like he took it in stride. :)

Kimberley said...

Bill is awesome. And so are you... And all because you go above and beyond in the name of research just goes to show that you care about what you write.

Chris said...

LOL! And.... now I'm afraid to meet you.

O.O

Cindy Spencer Pape said...

OMG! That's just...classic!

Jenny Trout said...

I'm glad your relationship with Batman has not be irreparably harmed. I was really worried he'd been fired or something.

Margaret Yang said...

Okay, okay, let's back up a second here. Did you send the signed book to his home or his office? Because if you sent it to his home, then it's totally Bill's fault for telling anyone at work.

If you, however, sent it to work, then that is totally your bad.

N.J. Nielsen/ Saddington said...

OMG!!! that had me in stitches. that was a fricken awesome tale... & I want to say I absolutely love bats too... we have fruit bats around here that drive everyone nuts but I love them. Next time you see Bill give him a big hug from me.

Patricia Kiyono said...

What a great sport he is! At least he didn't lose his job. Sounds like a real hero.

Bronwyn Green said...

@ Amy - Most of my cautionary tale experiences are utterly accidental - actually, *I'm* utterly accidental.

@ Cheryl - LOL. Oh, I'm embracing it, all right.

@ Kel - I certainly wouldn't complain if it increased sales. ;)

@ Kimberley - Awww, thanks hon! And you're right, Bill is awesome.

@ Chris - Chicken!!! (but meet me, you shall...and I promise to try really hard not to ruin your life!)

@ Cindy - Classic - there's a good word for it!

@ Jen - I was terrified that would happen. I'm so glad it didn't!

@ Marg - I sent it to his office - but in my defense, that's where he told me to send it. We now both realize the error in that judgment. :(

@ Norma - I still can't believe it went down like that! And yay!!! A fellow bat appreciator!

@ Patricia - Bill is a fabulous sport.

Tess Grant said...

Kudos to Bill for being such a good sport.

Unknown said...

Bill is awesome and definitely a good sport. I'm glad things worked out for him and I'd say you owe him the pic. ;)
I love this series!

Anna Mayle said...

Oh my god! That is hilarious as a story, but I can only imagine how awkward it must have been for both of you. Bill sounds amazing though. ^_^

Fedora said...

Whoa. Poor Bill. But what a truly great man--thanks for sharing that story, Bronwyn!

Julia said...

Wow. I'm going to have to start cold-calling wolf experts

Jaime Samms said...

Ahhh!-Hahahahahahah!!!!!!! OMG That's hilarious. But Bill is a very good sport. Imagine the stories he'll be telling about you and your reserch. ;p

Unknown said...

That.Cracked. Me. Up!

So funny and poor Bill. ahahah

Anonymous said...

Great story, Bron! Thanks for sharing your awkward moments with your fans. We so appreciate you!

Harlie Williams said...

OMG! I'm crying because I'm laughing so hard. Classic, just classic.

Thanks for the post

Harlie Williams said...

BTW, I don't think you ruined his life. I think that he will remember you for the rest of his life. LOL!

April Riley said...

OMG. So you! Love you hun.

Destiny Blaine said...

Hilarious story, Bronwyn. I'd love to meet Bill. What a sport. :)

Destiny Blaine

Margaret Yang said...

So Bill TOLD you to send the book to the office, knowing full well what kind of book it was.

He must have assumed that his co-workers were cooler than they are.

Bronwyn Green said...

@ Tess - Yeah, he deserves a lot of kudos.

@ Amber - Thank you! And you're right. I'm gonna have to suck it up and go up there.

@ Anna - I'm sure it was a million times more awkward for him. You know...until next July.

@ flchen1 - He really is and you're welcome! :)

@ Julia - Do it! But dude, I'd stay away from the Michigan ones. ;)

@ Jamie - I feel certain they all begin with "This one time, a crazy writer called me..."

@ Michelle - I'm glad it made you laugh. :)

@ Suzanne - I'm so glad someone appreciate the awkward - lol!

@ Harlie - I'm sure his co-workers are going to make sure he doesn't forget me any time soon.

@ April - Love you, too sweetie! :)

@ Destiny - He's really pretty awesome.

@ Margaret - I think he just had no clue how insane it would get. Or that it would spread so fast. If I had known that other people opened his mail, I would have suggested something else. :(

Mia Watts said...

I, for one, love this. Bill is not only a fantastic sport, but he wears it with dignity.

Plus, thank you for opening up a whole new market for potential m/m readers. Sooooo glad to be in that antho with you! (not that I wasn't before. I'm just sayin'.)

Mia Watts said...

@Norma,

Fruit, nuts, and bats... I see a theme here. ;)

Susilien said...

Bron,

It took much longer than just One Day to set up this possible Ruination of a life. I think Bill is awesome.

I would love to see a copy of that picture when you get it next Summer, if he is okay with that.

I love the book all fun ways that you gave us a good facts about bears and nature. I believe good research is a virtue if the information is used for good and not evil. Your books are fun and not evil. It's sad that Bill's bosses can't see that.

J.C. Hanks said...

Bill sounds AWESOME! Great sense of humor there. You most definitely need to get your picture taken with him. It's the least you can do. Just think, the DNR will talk about this for a long time, so when he retires he'll still be remembered. :)

Lisabet Sarai said...

Bron,

You had me worried as I was reading that you really had unintentionally ruined Bill's life. Personally I think it's just the opposite!

I can't imagine doing the kind of cold calls you're talking about. I'd never have the courage. Obviously, however, in this case it paid off.

barbara huffert said...

I'm sorry for Bill but this is so damn funny!

Cking said...

OMG!!! I'm laughing too hard to see right now. My husband thought I had *finally* completely lost it, but I made him read your post. He, too, is laughing now.

Go Bill! Make sure you post the picture of you and him and the award when you get it!

Janet said...

My first visit to your blog- totally worth it. My family's business is under the supervision of the DNR and my ex works for the DEQ, so I can imagine the scenes you described very well.
Great story!

BONUS: word verification = weredrag
topic for next book?

Anonymous said...

wonderful story as usual. Congrats to Bill and to you.