Friday, December 18, 2009

Happy Holihayes


I'm so cheating.

I'm reposting a blog post from my personal blog. Sshhhh. Don't tell the other 'Nistas. But it's a really happy post, so I'm hoping they'll notice.

Ready?

One of the hardest parts of my chosen career is rejection. Seriously, it's everywhere and you have to learn how to deal with it without letting it crush your spirit or you will stop submitting. And then you'll never get your contract and you will also have a crushed spirit. Sort of a lose/lose scenario that.

So, I wrote wrote wrote and then queried queried queried. I got a lot of "No thank yous". I got a lot of unanswered emails too. Neither felt good, but I kept reminding myself that it wasn't personal. I just had to find the agent that was mine.

And when I met her, she tornado-ed through my life and manuscript (in a good way )and--in less than three months--she matched me to a sale. A two-book sale. With Penguin Books. No,really. WE SOLD FALLING UNDER!

I've had to sit on my news for almost a week. It darn near killed me. I'm so excited. My editor, the amazing Anne Sowards, is lovely. I can't wait for revisions--I'm sure she'll remind me I said that when I get them.

It looks like we'll release my debut YA in the Spring/Summer of 2011. Can you believe it? I know I have my friends and family to thank. Well, and Jessica Sinsheimer, of course. Thank you for keeping my spirit in tact. Thank you, also, to the many wonderful agents and editors I've come across during my quest. Even though you weren't "mine", I've learned so much from your Tweets, blogs, workshops, and yes--even your rejections.

Happy Holihayes everyone!

9 comments:

  1. Big congratulations again and wonderful post. Happy Holidays!

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  2. Thanks Kwana! Happy Holidays to you too.

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  3. YAYYYYYYYYY--we are so proud of you. Even if you are a cheater. ROFL

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  4. I'm so proud of you! YAY!

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  5. Anonymous8:02 AM

    Major congrats! :)

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  6. Amanda Brice9:25 AM

    Yay, Gwenny!!!!!!!! I've said it a zillion times now, but I'll say it again.

    Seriously, girlie, I'm so thrilled for you.

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  7. am still flying high for you! YAY!

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  8. We are all insanely proud of you. I know readers of this blog MUST feel the connection its members share.

    Frankly I want the success of my sisternistas more than I want my own. I am more excited for the success each of you have had recently than I could ever be for my own.

    Plus we got a new mininista... so we're expanding.

    Gwen Hayes, I salute you... and will chew all my nails off because I have to wait SO LONG to hold those books in my hands!!!

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  9. Thank you everyone. I seriously would still be on the couch saying "Someday, I'd like to write a book." if it weren't for my 'Nistas and Romance Divas. And those people I live with.

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