Blogs details my road to publication.
I’m still waiting to receive the contract. Several times a day, I check my email but the darn thing isn’t there! I’ve read about how everything in publishing takes time. I get it, I really do, but I’m, like, dying to tell everyone about this book deal!
Maybe today will be the day. Gotta run, it’s time to check my email!
Okay, I got ‘the call’ or in my case, ‘the voicemail’ and now I’m awaiting the contract. It may take a few weeks but in the meantime I’m busting at the seams wanting to tell everybody and their brother that I’ve gotten a book deal. Seriously, how many people actually get to say that? And who ever thought I would get to say it? Not me. Well, I do admit to dreaming about it, but then I would snap myself back to reality and remind myself to keep those expectations low. I’m not normally pessimistic, but bad news is much easier to take that way.
So while I wish I could broadcast all the details, I’m going wait until the contract is signed and it’s official.
But after that, well, there’ll be no shutting me up!
This past week I got ‘the call’. What is the call, you ask? Well, ‘the call’ is when an agent or editor calls you on the phone and tells you they either want to represent you, or publish your novel.
My call was from Angela James, Executive Editor for Carina Press, who want to publish my debut contemporary romance, Love in the Afternoon!
That’s the good news. The bad news is when the call came in I was on my lunch hour at work, eating a cheeseburger and fries, and gabbing it up with my friend, Theresa. Since we were so busy eating and yakking, I didn’t hear my cell phone. So instead of the call, I got ‘the voicemail’.
But in the grand scheme of things, I think it was for the best. I probably would have screamed, or cried, or did something equally embarrassing if I’d answered the phone. Instead, I got to act like a spastic dork without anyone being the wiser.
Needless to say I’m thrilled, and as soon as things are finalized I can let everyone know all the details.
Until then, I’ll just keep replaying that voicemail.
My first book, Love in the Afternoon, is currently in submissions. So far, I have two agent rejections, one request for a partial, and the entire manuscript in submission to a very well respected digital publisher.
I’ve learned that trying to get published requires patience and fortitude. Patience, because it can take weeks, or even months, for an agent or publisher to read the query and/or manuscript. And fortitude, because rejections are common. The important thing is to not take it personally, and to develop a very thick skin.
My skin is thickening by the day!
Alison Packard 