Friday, January 23, 2015

ANNOUNCEMENT!!! (with gifs)

It feels like I've been waiting five years to write this post, even though it's not the post I daydreamed writing in the first place. Meaning, it's not an "I have an agent" post.
 
But it's still just as good because...

I HAVE A PUBLISHER!!!
 
Here's my story (as brief as possible). I wrote my first draft of SWAY back in the fall of 2011. Holy crap that's a long time ago. Anyway, I  revised it and sent it to betas in 2012. I didn't query it until the year after that because during this time my focus was on my YA MS Daze and Knights.

SWAY didn't get a lot of attention when I queried. It's an adult retelling of Persuasion by Jane Austen. It's not a manuscript with a big hook or a funny/loud/snarky voice or a mind-blowing twist. But I still thought it was a good story. After a handful of fulls which all came to nothing, I decided to shelve it.
Then I thought (a while later), maybe I should try this MS with some small pubs.

Then I thought (even later still), nah, I really want an agent. An agent who will be interested in both my adult and YA writing. So I'll wait.

A few months later (ie last fall), I just decided. Try it. Give it a whirl. What have you got to lose? So I sent it to seven small romance publishers. One asked for the full almost right away and then later rejected it. Another rejected it. Two, I never did hear from (still haven't).

Then two weeks ago, I got an email. I was driving. I glanced at my phone. Saw the words OFFER OF PUBLICATION. I freaked out. I started laughing. I did this alot:
I made myself wait until I parked to read the whole thing even though I was dying the entire ten minute drive (especially at the stop lights).

Sure enough, it was an offer to publish SWAY. I nudged the four other pubs who I hadn't heard from. A day later: offer number two.
Another pub also asked if they could have two weeks to consider. I said yes.

I waited. I read the two contracts. I researched both pubs. I talked to authors from both pubs. I internet stalked anything to do with both pubs. I chewed my nails (and wished for an agent to help me with this decision).
 
Then I heard from the pub that asked for two weeks. OFFER NUMBER THREE.
After much debate and decision making and bugging my husband and my CPs, I decided. SWAY will be published with Samhain Publishing.

I still can't believe this is happening!

FYI- I still want an agent. Trying to understand contract lingo and decide which publisher would be best for my career was super hard. It definitely pays to have someone in your corner who can help out. Here's hoping I'll be able to write that announcement post someday soon. :)

22 comments:

  1. Congrats, Melanie! This is amazing news! And hopefully you'll be able to write that other post in the future, too :).

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  2. Congratulations! Great news and a wonderful way to start the new year :)

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  3. YAAAAAY CONGRATS!!! So excited to see it in finished form!!

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  4. Congrats, Melanie! Such amazing news. All of that waiting and strategizing has paid off. I'm so happy for you!

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  5. Fantastic news! Congratulations! :)

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  6. Congratulations!!!

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  7. This is wonderful!!! I've published with small publishing houses and I'm happy about my decisions and you will be too!!! Like you, I hope to have an agent some day. But in the meantime enjoy the ride!!!!

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  8. This is awesome news! Huge congratulations! :D

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  9. Ahhhh congratulations Mel!!!! It's been such a pleasure to read your blog for the past year or so and read about your different books. So excited I finally get to read one! :-)

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  10. Melanie, that is SO awesome!!!!! I've been reading your blog since your first post and I knew this day would come. I couldn't be happier for you. This is AMAZING. Congratulations....you deserve it and I can't wait to read it.
    p.s. I guess I need to get back on facebook so I can hear the news faster ;) and...we really need to get together one day. It's been far too long since I've seen any of you!

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  11. SO AWESOME!!!! Congratulations! That is so exciting! I can't wait to see how it goes! I've heard great things about Samhain Publishing.

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  12. Congratulations, that's such fantastic news! :D

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  13. Congratulations, Melanie! Wonderful news. :D

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  14. That's awesome news! Congratulations. Do you have a tentative release date yet?

    And I know what you mean about having an agent. I could use some advice, too.

    Great news!
    Michelle :)
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  15. Thanks everyone for all the kind congratulations! :D

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