Michelle Hauck's Blog, page 58
September 23, 2015
PBParty 3: MOOSECAPADES!, PB
Title: MOOSECAPADES!Genre: picture bookWord count: 580Query:
Dear Michelle and Sharon,
As we know, skating is a perennial pleaser, as we can see by the popularity of figure skating and hockey. Moose are hot right now in picture books. As well, children are being allowed to break away from proscribed gender roles.
MOOSECAPES! is a joyful romp around the pond starring Max, a moose who wants to skate. His family tells him "moose don't skate" and "boys don't skate." But he proves them wrong in this exhilarating text.
My animal poetry has appeared in CRICKET and SPIDER and been selected as part of a school curriculum.
I have included the first approximately 50 words and one art sample.
50 words:
MOOSECAPADES!
Max goggled in wonder as skaters whizzed by. “People can ice skate, so why shouldn’t I?The breeze in my antlers is just what I need. It’s time to cut loose. I’m a moose who loves speed!”“I’m going to skate,” he announced to the herd.
Dear Michelle and Sharon,
As we know, skating is a perennial pleaser, as we can see by the popularity of figure skating and hockey. Moose are hot right now in picture books. As well, children are being allowed to break away from proscribed gender roles.
MOOSECAPES! is a joyful romp around the pond starring Max, a moose who wants to skate. His family tells him "moose don't skate" and "boys don't skate." But he proves them wrong in this exhilarating text.
My animal poetry has appeared in CRICKET and SPIDER and been selected as part of a school curriculum.
I have included the first approximately 50 words and one art sample.
50 words:
MOOSECAPADES!
Max goggled in wonder as skaters whizzed by. “People can ice skate, so why shouldn’t I?The breeze in my antlers is just what I need. It’s time to cut loose. I’m a moose who loves speed!”“I’m going to skate,” he announced to the herd.
PBParty 4: BALL OF FIRE, Character-Driven PB
Title: BALL OF FIREGenre: Character DrivenWord Count: 699Query:
Most people call Stevie overactive, even though she views herself as a wild stallion refusing to be tamed. Maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but that’s typical Stevie.
Stevie’s parents have been advised to help her find a way to channel her energy, which in kid terms means “calm down”. They try gymnastics—Stevie gets asked not to come back. They try t-ball—the coach suggests Stevie practice at home before joining a team. Stevie is quite certain that she must be too good at all of these activities. Nobody wants to make the other kids feel bad, which is obviously why everyone keeps suggesting she try something different. Stevie totally gets it. Finally, a neighbor recommends running. And the more Stevie runs, the better she feels. It’s like the energy just rushes out of her. But, don’t worry. She doesn’t lose her spirit—she just learns how to keep it from overflowing so much. At least most of the time.
First 50 Words:
I have a lot of energy bottled up inside.
I wish I could say I keep a tight lid on my bottle.
But, that wouldn’t be entirely true.
In fact, my lid is pretty much always bursting open, pouring out fumes of beautiful chaos wherever I go.
Most people call Stevie overactive, even though she views herself as a wild stallion refusing to be tamed. Maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but that’s typical Stevie.
Stevie’s parents have been advised to help her find a way to channel her energy, which in kid terms means “calm down”. They try gymnastics—Stevie gets asked not to come back. They try t-ball—the coach suggests Stevie practice at home before joining a team. Stevie is quite certain that she must be too good at all of these activities. Nobody wants to make the other kids feel bad, which is obviously why everyone keeps suggesting she try something different. Stevie totally gets it. Finally, a neighbor recommends running. And the more Stevie runs, the better she feels. It’s like the energy just rushes out of her. But, don’t worry. She doesn’t lose her spirit—she just learns how to keep it from overflowing so much. At least most of the time.
First 50 Words:
I have a lot of energy bottled up inside.
I wish I could say I keep a tight lid on my bottle.
But, that wouldn’t be entirely true.
In fact, my lid is pretty much always bursting open, pouring out fumes of beautiful chaos wherever I go.
PBParty 5: THE GUINEA PIG WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT, Easy Reader
Title: THE GUINEA PIG WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENTGenre: Easy Reader Word Count: 1350
Query:
Dear Michelle and Sharon:
Butterscotch the Guinea Pig realizes that there must be more to life than just being fat and happy. She feels something is missing and discovers a passion for leading others. She wants to run for President of the United States, but wait-- are girls even allowed to be president? Butterscotch and her bird, cat and dog friends are determined to find out the answer as they mount a serious campaign to elect the first Female President of the United States of America.
“THE GUINEA PIG WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT” has a great hook in the upcoming 2016 elections, as it appears our country will finally have its first viable female presidential candidates. Political issues that real-life candidates are facing are introduced in this picture book, as Butterscotch focuses on climate change for her campaigning platform. Appropriate book comparisons would be any of the Jon J. Muth books, such as Zen Ghosts.
This picture book will appeal to parents, children, political junkies and especially to girls who are excited about the prospect of running for President someday. I say this with confidence as I wrote the original version of this story (which I still have) when I was about seven years old. THE GUINEA PIG WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT is just under 1,400 words. I have included the first 50 words in this email.
I am a blogger, Mom of four young children and a jazz and classical musician, playing violin and viola in the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and the Chicago Philharmonic. I am finishing up a comedic novel set in an orchestra, about a violist caught between a Maestro and his polar opposite, a Chicago sports writer. I am also a member of SCWBI.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you,
50 Words:
The Guinea Pig Who Ran For President
Butterscotch was fat and happy, the two most important qualities in a Guinea Pig. Using this checklist, she was a success.
But something was missing. What was it?
Lettuce?
A shoebox with a little door cut out of it?
Butterscotch thought about it while munching on some celery.
Munch, think, munch, think, munch, think.
Query:
Dear Michelle and Sharon:
Butterscotch the Guinea Pig realizes that there must be more to life than just being fat and happy. She feels something is missing and discovers a passion for leading others. She wants to run for President of the United States, but wait-- are girls even allowed to be president? Butterscotch and her bird, cat and dog friends are determined to find out the answer as they mount a serious campaign to elect the first Female President of the United States of America.
“THE GUINEA PIG WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT” has a great hook in the upcoming 2016 elections, as it appears our country will finally have its first viable female presidential candidates. Political issues that real-life candidates are facing are introduced in this picture book, as Butterscotch focuses on climate change for her campaigning platform. Appropriate book comparisons would be any of the Jon J. Muth books, such as Zen Ghosts.
This picture book will appeal to parents, children, political junkies and especially to girls who are excited about the prospect of running for President someday. I say this with confidence as I wrote the original version of this story (which I still have) when I was about seven years old. THE GUINEA PIG WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT is just under 1,400 words. I have included the first 50 words in this email.
I am a blogger, Mom of four young children and a jazz and classical musician, playing violin and viola in the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and the Chicago Philharmonic. I am finishing up a comedic novel set in an orchestra, about a violist caught between a Maestro and his polar opposite, a Chicago sports writer. I am also a member of SCWBI.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you,
50 Words:
The Guinea Pig Who Ran For President
Butterscotch was fat and happy, the two most important qualities in a Guinea Pig. Using this checklist, she was a success.
But something was missing. What was it?
Lettuce?
A shoebox with a little door cut out of it?
Butterscotch thought about it while munching on some celery.
Munch, think, munch, think, munch, think.
PBParty 6: LADIES FIRST, Character-Driven PB
Title: LADIES FIRSTGenre: quirky, character driven PBWord Count: 525Query
Dear Michelle and Sharon,
Thank you for organizing such a unique opportunity for picture book authors! I have your blog page bookmarked and read it often.
Natalie Piggy is a feisty little piglet certain about one rule: ladies first! She barrels through her three brothers and grabs whatever she wants in order to be first. But when she drags them on an adventure, an unexpected turn of events lands her littlest brother in danger. When her brothers expect her to be first to save the day, Natalie is forced to consider how far she’ll go to live by her rule.
My writing appears in Appleseeds’ magazine, and I write a monthly newspaper column entitled READ THIS! I am an active member of SCBWI, a critique group, and the 12x12 picture book challenge. I am a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature and a literacy teacher.
I appreciate your time and consideration, and hope you will find this story to be of interest. I have other submission-ready manuscripts available upon request.
First 50 Words:
Natalie Piggy was quite a little lady, and she was sure about one rule.
“Ladies first!”
Natalie was first in a mud bath.
…first out the gate.
…and first off the bus.
The only time Natalie did NOT want to be first was when sharks were involved. Nooo, thank you!
Dear Michelle and Sharon,
Thank you for organizing such a unique opportunity for picture book authors! I have your blog page bookmarked and read it often.
Natalie Piggy is a feisty little piglet certain about one rule: ladies first! She barrels through her three brothers and grabs whatever she wants in order to be first. But when she drags them on an adventure, an unexpected turn of events lands her littlest brother in danger. When her brothers expect her to be first to save the day, Natalie is forced to consider how far she’ll go to live by her rule.
My writing appears in Appleseeds’ magazine, and I write a monthly newspaper column entitled READ THIS! I am an active member of SCBWI, a critique group, and the 12x12 picture book challenge. I am a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature and a literacy teacher.
I appreciate your time and consideration, and hope you will find this story to be of interest. I have other submission-ready manuscripts available upon request.
First 50 Words:
Natalie Piggy was quite a little lady, and she was sure about one rule.
“Ladies first!”
Natalie was first in a mud bath.
…first out the gate.
…and first off the bus.
The only time Natalie did NOT want to be first was when sharks were involved. Nooo, thank you!
PBParty 7: DIAMONDS ARE FOR BOYS, TOO!, Chapter Book
Title: DIAMONDS ARE FOR BOYS, TOO!
Genre: Chapter Book
Word Count: 9,100
Query:
Dear Michelle & Sharon,
First of all, this is so fun! Thank you for supporting the PB community and especially for including chapter book authors in this contest. I hope the first 100 words aren't enough for you.
Most people would describe a diamond as a sparkly, precious gem. For Max McCreek, it's dirt, chalk lines, and fresh cut grass.
Max loves sports. Some would even call him a sports freak. The obsession causes him to daydream during class, get distracted doing jobs at home, and makes him a major target for teasing at school. When everything catches up to him, Max finds himself grounded for Friday's baseball game. He thinks his life is officially over, but Max never gives up! He shows us that BIG things come in small, quirky packages.
Book one of the Max McCreek Sports Freak series, DIAMONDS ARE FOR BOYS, TOO! is 9,000 words and is geared toward ages 6-10 years old. It will appeal to readers who love the humor of the JUNIE B. JONES series, and the sports action of MATT CHRISTOPHER books.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
First 100 Words:
Chapter 1: Daydreams = Trouble
I practice my swing in the on-deck circle. My stupid helmet falls over my eyes after each swing, and I have to push it back up, but that doesn't matter. A base hit is all I need.
"Base hits win ball games, boys," Coach is always telling us. I point my bat to center field, just like Babe Ruth. I know I need to focus on a base hit, but holy cow, it would awesome if I hit a home run!
The score is tied 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth.
Genre: Chapter Book
Word Count: 9,100
Query:
Dear Michelle & Sharon,
First of all, this is so fun! Thank you for supporting the PB community and especially for including chapter book authors in this contest. I hope the first 100 words aren't enough for you.
Most people would describe a diamond as a sparkly, precious gem. For Max McCreek, it's dirt, chalk lines, and fresh cut grass.
Max loves sports. Some would even call him a sports freak. The obsession causes him to daydream during class, get distracted doing jobs at home, and makes him a major target for teasing at school. When everything catches up to him, Max finds himself grounded for Friday's baseball game. He thinks his life is officially over, but Max never gives up! He shows us that BIG things come in small, quirky packages.
Book one of the Max McCreek Sports Freak series, DIAMONDS ARE FOR BOYS, TOO! is 9,000 words and is geared toward ages 6-10 years old. It will appeal to readers who love the humor of the JUNIE B. JONES series, and the sports action of MATT CHRISTOPHER books.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
First 100 Words:
Chapter 1: Daydreams = Trouble
I practice my swing in the on-deck circle. My stupid helmet falls over my eyes after each swing, and I have to push it back up, but that doesn't matter. A base hit is all I need.
"Base hits win ball games, boys," Coach is always telling us. I point my bat to center field, just like Babe Ruth. I know I need to focus on a base hit, but holy cow, it would awesome if I hit a home run!
The score is tied 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth.
PBParty 8: DISCO BARN, Humorous PB
Title: DISCO BARNGenre: HumorousWord Count: 430
Query:
Dear Michelle and Sharon,
Platform shoes. Disco ball. Bell-bottom pants. Farm animals?
When Duck discovers a box filled with disco stuff, he decides to throw a party. But Farmer Frank warned Duck to stay out of his things—or else. Ignoring the warning and his best friend Mouse’s advice, Duck invites the barnyard for a groovy evening.
While Farmer Frank is in town, the animals dress in the seventies’ outfits and boogie down.
But Farmer Frank catches the animals in the act, and Duck’s sure he’s going to be served for dinner.
DISCO BARN is a 245 word humorous PB. I lived through the 70s and donned a pair of bell-bottoms a time or two. I own and direct a childcare center and teach pre-kindergarten. I am an active member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
First 50 Words:
Duck rummaged through the barn.
“Don’t do it,” Mouse said. “Farmer Frank will get mad.”
“Don’t be such a chicken.” Duck blew dust off a large box. “70s Stuff.”
“Leave it alone,” Mouse said.
“Talk to the tail feathers.” Duck opened the lid. (Illustration note: something inside glimmers—top of disco ball.)
Query:
Dear Michelle and Sharon,
Platform shoes. Disco ball. Bell-bottom pants. Farm animals?
When Duck discovers a box filled with disco stuff, he decides to throw a party. But Farmer Frank warned Duck to stay out of his things—or else. Ignoring the warning and his best friend Mouse’s advice, Duck invites the barnyard for a groovy evening.
While Farmer Frank is in town, the animals dress in the seventies’ outfits and boogie down.
But Farmer Frank catches the animals in the act, and Duck’s sure he’s going to be served for dinner.
DISCO BARN is a 245 word humorous PB. I lived through the 70s and donned a pair of bell-bottoms a time or two. I own and direct a childcare center and teach pre-kindergarten. I am an active member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
First 50 Words:
Duck rummaged through the barn.
“Don’t do it,” Mouse said. “Farmer Frank will get mad.”
“Don’t be such a chicken.” Duck blew dust off a large box. “70s Stuff.”
“Leave it alone,” Mouse said.
“Talk to the tail feathers.” Duck opened the lid. (Illustration note: something inside glimmers—top of disco ball.)
PBParty 9: CONSUELITO, Nonfiction Diversity PB
Title: CONSUELITOGenre: Creative Nonfiction DiversityWord count: 630Query:
With 25% of American kids being Latinos and with the editors looking for diverse books hopefully you will like my Nonfiction Mexican PB. It tells the story of the most famous Mexican female composer from the 20th century. Her song “Besame Mucho” is the most recorded song ever worldwide, but very few people know that she is from Mexico and wrote the song at age 16. Her story as a girl and a teenager will inspire American girls that they can be composers as well.This picture book will bring pride and happiness to millions of American Latino kids and their parents that a Latina girl like themselves wrote one of the most famous songs worldwide.There is a sample illustration below.
First 50 words:
About hundred years ago I was born in central Mexico, the youngest of five girls. My name Consuelo means hope and like most names for children in Mexico I was given the nickname Consuelito, meaning little Consuelo. After a few years we moved to Guadalajara, the second largest city in Mexico, famous for its Mariachi music and the sombrero hat.
With 25% of American kids being Latinos and with the editors looking for diverse books hopefully you will like my Nonfiction Mexican PB. It tells the story of the most famous Mexican female composer from the 20th century. Her song “Besame Mucho” is the most recorded song ever worldwide, but very few people know that she is from Mexico and wrote the song at age 16. Her story as a girl and a teenager will inspire American girls that they can be composers as well.This picture book will bring pride and happiness to millions of American Latino kids and their parents that a Latina girl like themselves wrote one of the most famous songs worldwide.There is a sample illustration below.
First 50 words:
About hundred years ago I was born in central Mexico, the youngest of five girls. My name Consuelo means hope and like most names for children in Mexico I was given the nickname Consuelito, meaning little Consuelo. After a few years we moved to Guadalajara, the second largest city in Mexico, famous for its Mariachi music and the sombrero hat.
September 21, 2015
Picture Book Party Picks
I built in extra time between submission and agent round this year just in case it was needed, what with helping my Pitch Wars mentees and my own writing. But Sharon and I got done pretty quickly! You can attribute this to Sharon and her drive to read and find the best entries. She really led the charge!
Before the reveal, I just want to remind everyone that contests are for fun and meeting other writers, building contacts. In no way are they a reflection on a story. Maybe people have entered contests and gotten no love, only to get an agent from the query slush--like me. For one thing, we are limited to the number of picks we can showcase, while an agent is not. So keep querying, keep writing those adorable picture and chapter books.
I know the disappointment. Use it to keep going.
Now for the surprise! We've added two extra picks to the numbers. Instead of 15-20, we have 22 spots!
So here are the picks, in no particular order, that will be in the agent round on Wednesday.
Baby Sloth's Big Adventure
Playing Hide and Seek with Bigfoot
Moosecapades!
Ball of Fire
The Guinea Pig Who Ran For President
Ladies First
Diamonds Are For Boys, Too
Disco Barn
Consuelito
Anbu
Babanne's Basket
Diamond Man
Home with Leila
I Am NOT A Butterfly
Kinzie's Kinventions - Spaced Out
Too Tired To Tell A Story
Beach Blast With Rock Star Santa
George Washington Wants Ice Cream
Willa's Flying Stars
Cupcake Wars
Hola Means Hello
Baby Albert, Evil Genius
Congrats to the winners! Hugs to those who will be watching! See you Wednesday for the agent round.
September 18, 2015
FEEL THE FEAR
October 15, 2015
Will you face your fear?
September 17, 2015
Getting the Submission Call with ME!
Everything is finally settled and today's my birthday, so it's the perfect day to put up this post!
Not all successes happen overnight. You really can't compare your journey to others. That's why I like to give a variety of interviews, so everyone gets an idea of the variables. Some paths to the end are smooth sailing and some are full of mile-high waves. My story is somewhere in the middle.
It took me four manuscripts before I landed an agent. My second book did sell to a small press, but I wanted to go bigger than that. I wanted the whole fairy tale with agent and big publisher, so I kept querying. With my fourth manuscript, I switched it up and wrote a humorous middle grade instead of my usual young adult fantasy. This book had started from a short story I wrote for a contest and was loaded with voice and personality. The query letter breezed out after only four revision. All my friends said this was THE ONE.
It was in that it got the attention of Sarah, and suddenly two years ago this August, I had an agent. Sarah thought my manuscript needed very little revision. My silly hamsters went on submission two weeks later in the first week of September 2013. I was excited to say the least to see the big names reading my manuscript. But months passed, and rejections came in, and we did other rounds of submission all to the same results. No editors asked for revisions or offered, though they thought it funny and had great voice.
I was a Pitchwars mentor last year and surrounded by eighty other mentor who all seemed to be having better luck than me. They had books for sale and big deals with big publishers. While I celebrated their success, all I had was silence or rejection. I felt very down on myself, even knowing many people don't sell their first book to go on submission.
I came to realize the fault was mine. I hadn't read many middle grade books at that point, and what I'd written hovered in between a middle grade and a chapter book. It was, for all purposes, unmarketable. By that time, a year had gone by, and I had nothing to show for it. My next book wasn't even finished yet because submission plays with your head. Sarah and I decided to end submission almost a year after we started. Knowing the MG story's problems were my doing made the empty feeling of failure much worse.
I had so much doubt, it was hard to concentrate on writing or really love the work in progress. It's hard to push yourself when you don't think it will do any good.
If you think querying is intense and hard, wait for submission. It's an out of control roller coaster on steroids. All you can do is wait and drive yourself crazy with wondering. It was a nightmare I was eager to revisit, however.
I finished my YA epic fantasy in November of 2014, sent it to my readers, and then off to Sarah. To my horror, she said it sounded more adult than young adult. Most of the characters were adult. The two main characters, who are teens, had a strong control on their emotions so the voice didn't feel YA.
My agent doesn't represent adult works. I panicked.
But Sarah said not to worry and that she reps all my works. I breathed a sigh of relief and then got to work on the revisions. Unlike the first book we subbed, this one needed some revision to move three of the points of view to earlier in the book. That meant adding three scenes and we also cut a point of view and changed one over to another character.
GRUDGING ended up going on submission in February of 2015 to both young adult and adult editors. I noticed something different right away. I wasn't near as crazy because of this submission. I could focus on other things. I didn't spend every minute thinking about who might be reading it and whether anyone had sent a response. I knew what to expect and had a better handle on my emotions this time. In other words, I didn't get my hopes up. I never expected fireworks and amazing results.
Sarah started off with just a few editors and then added a couple more after a month. A few reading editors said it wasn't for them. We got a couple of rejections but most hadn't gotten back to her. Then low and behold, I got an email from Sarah in May saying don't read anything into this but an editor asked if GRUDGING was still available.
Huh?
That was new. What did that mean? I, of course, read everything into it, and then quickly convinced myself that good things didn't happen to me. It was an editor quirk and nothing more.
The next week on a Friday, Sarah called and left a voice mail to call her back quick. I stole some time away at work and had a coworker cover for me. The editor wanted to talk to me on the phone, could I talk on Wednesday! My mind went blank and I'm not sure how I made it through the rest of the day, let alone an entire weekend. Another call with Sarah after work still had us guessing. The editor didn't specify what he wanted to talk about. I'd already taken that Wednesday off work as it was my wedding anniversary. We set up a time for a call.
I was so nervous. Talking on the phone isn't one of my favorite things (actually pretty shy) and this was a conference call that included Sarah. We didn't know what to expect. I think I had major deodorant fail that Wednesday morning, if you know what I mean. And this wasn't just a regular editor, this was the top editor at the press, the head guy. Yikes!
I prepared for all kinds of questions from the editor, or possible requests for a major revise and resubmit. I wasn't prepared to talk just a little about my book and the future sequels, and have the editor spend most of the call telling me about their imprint! He was trying to sell me on them! A big six!
He told me they needed to crunch some numbers and he'd get back to us next week.
Knowing publishing, I wondered how long that would be. He was prompt to the minute on calling, but didn't a week actually mean a month? They sent a deal memo by email on Monday! They wanted the whole trilogy! And apparently, GRUDGING was in such good shape they wanted to publish in November of this year! No long year and a half or two year wait.
Could this be happening to me?
I guess it could. Because the contract is signed with Harper Voyager for a three book, digital-first deal of my epic fantasy! Now my new challenge is attempting to write sequels!
Thanks everyone for supporting me through this process. I know it's not done yet, but with the help of all the friends I've made, I'm halfway there.
------------------
(Grudging: Goodreads or preorder from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Sorry there's no cover or blurb yet. Thank you!)
Not all successes happen overnight. You really can't compare your journey to others. That's why I like to give a variety of interviews, so everyone gets an idea of the variables. Some paths to the end are smooth sailing and some are full of mile-high waves. My story is somewhere in the middle.
It took me four manuscripts before I landed an agent. My second book did sell to a small press, but I wanted to go bigger than that. I wanted the whole fairy tale with agent and big publisher, so I kept querying. With my fourth manuscript, I switched it up and wrote a humorous middle grade instead of my usual young adult fantasy. This book had started from a short story I wrote for a contest and was loaded with voice and personality. The query letter breezed out after only four revision. All my friends said this was THE ONE.
It was in that it got the attention of Sarah, and suddenly two years ago this August, I had an agent. Sarah thought my manuscript needed very little revision. My silly hamsters went on submission two weeks later in the first week of September 2013. I was excited to say the least to see the big names reading my manuscript. But months passed, and rejections came in, and we did other rounds of submission all to the same results. No editors asked for revisions or offered, though they thought it funny and had great voice.
I was a Pitchwars mentor last year and surrounded by eighty other mentor who all seemed to be having better luck than me. They had books for sale and big deals with big publishers. While I celebrated their success, all I had was silence or rejection. I felt very down on myself, even knowing many people don't sell their first book to go on submission.
I came to realize the fault was mine. I hadn't read many middle grade books at that point, and what I'd written hovered in between a middle grade and a chapter book. It was, for all purposes, unmarketable. By that time, a year had gone by, and I had nothing to show for it. My next book wasn't even finished yet because submission plays with your head. Sarah and I decided to end submission almost a year after we started. Knowing the MG story's problems were my doing made the empty feeling of failure much worse.
I had so much doubt, it was hard to concentrate on writing or really love the work in progress. It's hard to push yourself when you don't think it will do any good.
If you think querying is intense and hard, wait for submission. It's an out of control roller coaster on steroids. All you can do is wait and drive yourself crazy with wondering. It was a nightmare I was eager to revisit, however.
I finished my YA epic fantasy in November of 2014, sent it to my readers, and then off to Sarah. To my horror, she said it sounded more adult than young adult. Most of the characters were adult. The two main characters, who are teens, had a strong control on their emotions so the voice didn't feel YA.
My agent doesn't represent adult works. I panicked.
But Sarah said not to worry and that she reps all my works. I breathed a sigh of relief and then got to work on the revisions. Unlike the first book we subbed, this one needed some revision to move three of the points of view to earlier in the book. That meant adding three scenes and we also cut a point of view and changed one over to another character.
GRUDGING ended up going on submission in February of 2015 to both young adult and adult editors. I noticed something different right away. I wasn't near as crazy because of this submission. I could focus on other things. I didn't spend every minute thinking about who might be reading it and whether anyone had sent a response. I knew what to expect and had a better handle on my emotions this time. In other words, I didn't get my hopes up. I never expected fireworks and amazing results.
Sarah started off with just a few editors and then added a couple more after a month. A few reading editors said it wasn't for them. We got a couple of rejections but most hadn't gotten back to her. Then low and behold, I got an email from Sarah in May saying don't read anything into this but an editor asked if GRUDGING was still available.
Huh?
That was new. What did that mean? I, of course, read everything into it, and then quickly convinced myself that good things didn't happen to me. It was an editor quirk and nothing more.
The next week on a Friday, Sarah called and left a voice mail to call her back quick. I stole some time away at work and had a coworker cover for me. The editor wanted to talk to me on the phone, could I talk on Wednesday! My mind went blank and I'm not sure how I made it through the rest of the day, let alone an entire weekend. Another call with Sarah after work still had us guessing. The editor didn't specify what he wanted to talk about. I'd already taken that Wednesday off work as it was my wedding anniversary. We set up a time for a call.
I was so nervous. Talking on the phone isn't one of my favorite things (actually pretty shy) and this was a conference call that included Sarah. We didn't know what to expect. I think I had major deodorant fail that Wednesday morning, if you know what I mean. And this wasn't just a regular editor, this was the top editor at the press, the head guy. Yikes!
I prepared for all kinds of questions from the editor, or possible requests for a major revise and resubmit. I wasn't prepared to talk just a little about my book and the future sequels, and have the editor spend most of the call telling me about their imprint! He was trying to sell me on them! A big six!
He told me they needed to crunch some numbers and he'd get back to us next week.
Knowing publishing, I wondered how long that would be. He was prompt to the minute on calling, but didn't a week actually mean a month? They sent a deal memo by email on Monday! They wanted the whole trilogy! And apparently, GRUDGING was in such good shape they wanted to publish in November of this year! No long year and a half or two year wait.
Could this be happening to me?
I guess it could. Because the contract is signed with Harper Voyager for a three book, digital-first deal of my epic fantasy! Now my new challenge is attempting to write sequels!
Thanks everyone for supporting me through this process. I know it's not done yet, but with the help of all the friends I've made, I'm halfway there.
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(Grudging: Goodreads or preorder from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Sorry there's no cover or blurb yet. Thank you!)
