I’ve Sold!!!!!

Recently when I was reading about so many people signing new contracts I felt that I would never get the chance to write that line in a post.  But here it is! I’ve sold a book. I’m actually going to be published and I have signed the contract to prove it!  It happened in the blink of an eye and I can’t quite believe it’s all real.

So let me start at the beginning.  The story started off as a vague idea that I thought I’d pitch at a conference I attended in Australia (way back in 2008).  Anyway the visiting editor liked my concept and wanted to see a partial.  I duly sent it off to the editor in February 2009. Fast forward to October 2009 and not only had I moved to a different place – Houston Texas, I received a scanned letter from my dad saying they’d like to see the full. It was written but not edited. I was still adjusting to living a new country, moving into a new house, getting the kids adjusted to a new school that it was kind of pushed way way way back.  I sent the the requested full in November 2010 – yes a while after the initial request. Eventually they passed on it and it sat languishing on my computer.

So much has changed in the publishing world over the last 12 months and new publishers are popping up.  I had a couple of friends get contracts with Crimson Romance so I bookmarked their submission guidelines and thought I’d look at it later 🙂

Well after yet another person I knew got a contract I thought, I’m not going to get anywhere if I just don’t take the plunge and DO IT!!  So I did.  Last Tuesday night I sat down and wrote out a query letter and emailed it off. The world didn’t stop and I didn’t stop breathing!  Of course the obsessive send/receive button pressing started. After I dropped the kids at summer day camp I got home and there in my inbox was an email saying they’d like to see the full.  Well knock me over with a feather, I had a request for a full!  I was very excited!!

I read through the manuscript over the next couple of days, tweaked, added, deleted and then taking a deep, deep, deep breath I opened a new email message added the attachments and then hit send. It was Monday 18th June 2012 at around 3.55pm.  Tuesday passed and there was no email. That’s okay I thought, it will take a couple of weeks, I’ll need to stop obsessing.  Come Wednesday 20th June 2012 I was working and dealing with children and trying not to think about emails. Anyway I picked up my phone and saw an email in my inbox. When I saw who it was from, saw there was the little paper clip signalling an attachment to the email. I deleted it off my phone, without opening it, and as I walked over to the computer and hit send/receive, I was telling myself, they’re passing and sending me back my manuscript. Of course the thought why the heck would they send an email manuscript back to me, never really crossed my mind. LOL  I opened the email and basically looked at the screen.  My eyes looked at the start of the second paragraph and saw the words “I’m attaching our standard contract” WHAT?? I thought – NO WAY!  I then went back to the first paragraph and read the sentence, then I saw the words every writer wants to read, see or hear “I’d love to have it for Crimson Romance“.  That’s when I yelped and my son asked me what was wrong and I jabbered something to him. Then rang my husband and screamed down the phone, “I’m an author!  They want my book” and ten seconds later after confirming I’d like to go out to dinner to celebrate, I hung up the phone.

And that’s how it all happened.  I’m still in a state of disbelief that I’m going to get a cover and I’m going to see my book in print!  One of the best feelings is knowing that I’m going to my second RWA National conference as an AUTHOR!

Thank you to everyone who joined me on this ride!  But it’s not over, it’s only just beginning!!!!