Do I have a story for you!
Since Friday was a holiday, I woke up relieved. I’ve got a few submissions out with publishers, but I’ve yet to hear back from them. I’ve nibbled away my most of my fingernails waiting, and I have a good start on developing that OCD my hubby always jokes about because I constantly check my email. But Friday was a holiday, so I figured I could actually receive email without getting slapped in the face with a rejection. It was safe to leave my email open and just have some fun finishing up the second Amazon book. (Close to finishing it… so close…)
I blast off about a thousand words. Then the email alert pops up. The OCD in me has to go check it. I click on the little icon. The incoming was only spam. No problem. I could use a quick breather before I zip off another thousand words. Maybe I can get a laugh out of someone claiming they can make a certain part of anatomy that I don’t have much, much bigger.
Not spam.
Editor.
Crap. Crap. Crap.
It’s a holiday. I’m not supposed to get a rejection on a holiday. People don’t work on a holiday. Even worse, the “rule” in publishing is that good news comes by phone; bad news by email. So here comes a rejection.
Opened the email. Sat there like some statue.
“Dear Sandy, Thank you for sending your wonderful book, Turning Thirty-Twelve (also, what a great title!) We would love to publish your book at Bookstrand!”
No freakin’ way! My book? The acquisitions editor wants MY book? After taking a moment to absorb the meaning of the words that shouldn’t be sitting there right in front of me, I screamed for Jeff. He comes running downstairs, probably thinking the house is on fire. Due to my continued squealing, Dr. Carter (the Schnauzer) is barking like a cat is loose in the house and Peanut (the cockatiel) is flying around the family room like a hawk is after him. But despite my fears they will simply vanish, the words don’t disappear. Jeff reads the email and says, “Nice.” High compliment from the Old Man. The first thing he wants to do is read the contract. And he calls me OCD?
The editor wants to purchase Turning Thirty-Twelve. Of all the books, I never thought that one would be the first to sell. It’s not a part of any of my series. It’s sarcastic and quirky. It’s never been through my critique group. My online critique partner hasn’t ripped it to shreds. I never entered it in a contest.
On the other hand, Turning Thirty-Twelve is one of my favorites. I wrote it simply to please me, hence the sarcastic and quirky. When it’s published, anyone who knows me and reads it will hear my voice in their head. Jackie (the heroine) is that much like me.
Bookstrand is planning to release the epub version in January, and they’ll have the print version available in June. They also promised my cover would be part of a full page ad in Romantic Times. But do you know what the best part of this whole thing was? The editor called me “wonderful.”
The fourth of July is now officially my favorite holiday.
Once again, awesome (bolded and underlined). And () (since I don’t know how to do an ehug.
I like what you said on your anniversary blog. That was nice…. Not too mushy. Just thoughtful and thankful.
Thanks, Christine! I appreciate the high praise!
Whee! Did ya see?!? Did ya?!?
We’re already on the Bookstrand authors list!!!
(sorry about all the exclamation points. Feeling a bit giddy this morning)
I saw that too! A big congratulations to you for the sale!!!
And I LOVE exclamation points!!! lol