The Way Overdue Story of My First Sale

While Tweeting away tonight, I realized I had never blogged about my first sale – properly that is. I went back to investigate the archives of my blog to see if I had told the story. Apparently, I was so excited about selling my book that I wrote one paragraph about it and went off to celebrate. So here is the cover of the book that I sold.

Let's rewind to 2009 when I was in Submission Land. This is an interesting place where all sort of things can happen. Just because you have an agent is no guarantee that your book will sell. You should know that this happens frequently. I will tell you not to freak out or compare yourself to others, but you probably will anyway. At least if you anticipate it in advance, you'll be somewhat better prepared (I'm lying through my teeth.). OK, so back to Submission Land. I'd gotten some rejections and one close call. I started feeling low. I felt so low that I told two published author friends of mine that I did not think my book, then titled HOW TO COURT A DUKE, would sell. Also, I was sorry I'd signed up to go to the RWA conference as I felt I would be wasting time and money. My friends gave me some good advice. They told me to concentrate on writing the second book and get it finished before the conference, so I could discuss it with my agent. With their encouragement, I shut down the pity party and put all my energy into that second book.

There's a strange phenomenon that occurs when you push yourself to do what you think you cannot do. Suddenly windows and doors start to open. About one week after that conversation with my published friends, my agent called. I cannot tell you the details about what we did, but it was smart. Not long after, an offer came in from Publisher A, and then the whirlwind started. I had some close calls. In one, the publisher took it to acquisitions, but they had to pass because something in my book was similar to two books they had acquired.

The next afternoon, an offer came in from Publisher C. This was on a Thursday. My agent told me that I needed to be at my desk at 9 EDT Friday morning. I realized that I was going to sell a book the next day. I just didn't know to which publisher. Can you imagine trying to sleep after that news? I don't remember that night very well, but I doubt I slept much.

On Friday morning, I was super excited and naturally nervous. I'm pretty sure I said some weird things to my agent such as, "I guess I'll have to cancel my lunch plans if this runs past noon." No, I'm not joking, but please cut me some slack. You only sell your first book once, right? So it's a momentous experience, and if you haven't slept the night before, you may, like me, say some strange things to your agent. I sort of hope she's forgotten some of the stupid things I said, but she's been in this business a long time and has probably heard authors say many odd things in this situation. At least that's what I tell myself. Snort.

Meanwhile I was looking over information from one publisher & talking to my agent about every 20 minutes or so about the latest change. There were numerous factors involved, but I was definitely leaning toward Publisher C. After I spoke with the editor at Publisher C, I was positive I wanted to work with her. So I called my agent, and after a brief discussion, we both agreed to go with Publisher C. Squeee! My agent congratulated me, and I called my friend Karen to meet me at the Mexican food restaurant where I had a celebratory Chambord Swirl margarita.

I called my mom at the noisy restaurant and tried to tell her my news, but she kept saying, "I can't understand you." Oh, well. Then my daughter came home from college. I suddenly remembered one of the two published friends who had helped me was having a book signing that night. So Amber drove me to the book signing. Afterward, we went to that Mexican restaurant where I had lunch. Yes, I drank another Chambord margarita since my daughter was driving and hey, I'd sold a book. I figured this was worthy of more tequila.

I don't know if it was the tequila or the lack of sleep, but at some point, I jackknifed up in bed and gasped. All of a sudden, I realized that this was no longer a dream. It was real. I had sold my book in a 3-book contract. The very thing I'd worked so hard to achieve scared me out of a sound sleep. I really can't say why I found it frightening at that moment, but an author friend told me it's not unusual to have that "I'm an impostor" feeling. By the next morning, I felt like I was walking on air. And I'm very glad I went to the RWA conference, because I got to wear a first sale ribbon, and some of my friends toasted me with champagne.

Before I sold, I used to imagine how I would feel the day I sold. I always pictured myself sniffling with happy tears, but that didn't happen. I think I was too shell-shocked to be honest. But you only make that first sale once, and it's one of those very special moments in your life that you never forget. To all the authors working toward that first sale, May the Magic Romance Fairies be with You!

Many thanks to Sophie & Tera for encouraging me that day when I so needed it. To Karen for the margarita! To Lucienne for being awesome. And to Michele for being such a fabulous editor. Cheers!