So I've been sitting on this news for so long it almost doesn't feel like news anymore, but since my agent is currently in possession of a contract with my name on it (and since I am currently in possession of my first ever revision letter) I'm going to go ahead & spill it:I sold.
Seriously. I sold a book. TWO books, one of which isn't even written yet. I can't tell you what kind of cold pit of terror that little fact opens up inside me. But there it is. I sold my Golden Heart winner, Money Honey, in a two book deal to Berkley not even a week after I got home from San Francisco.
But do you want to know the really good part? The really rewarding part?
I never meant sell Money Honey. This was a book I wrote purely to prove to myself that I could still write all the way to a happy ever after.Now I won't go into detail, but suffice it to say that prior to writing MH, I suffered a deeply personal loss. The kind of loss that sucks the wind right out of a girl's eternally optimistic sails. The kind of loss that rips a big, gaping hole in the center of your soul. For a while there, it took every ounce of my energy just to get through the day, & I had to wonder if I'd ever have another creative impulse again.
But slowly, as time did its magic thing, I healed. And after a while, I started writing again. Not romance, of course. I didn't have the wherewithal for a happy ever after just yet. Just the usual, repetitive, cathartic stuff where I imposed a narrative on my loss. Where I gave it a story line & made it make sense.
After a few months of that, though, I had an idea for a romance. Mind you, it wasn't a good idea. It involved a hero with a lengthy criminal record & a heroine with such a heinous backstory there was no really plausible explanation for why she was still functioning like a normal human being. But I figured, hell. Why waste a good story idea on what will most likely end up in the recycling bin anyway?So I wrote it. I wrote the darn thing & fell in love with my crazy characters & mourned when every contest I entered it in confirmed my suspicions that it was fatally flawed. So I put it under the bed & wrote something else. And that something else landed me an agent, so I felt pretty good about my comeback.
But when it came time to prep my 2008 GH entries, I just couldn't put MH under the bed. I ponied up the extra $50, kissed it goodbye & sent it off. My beloved dark horse. Imagine my shock when it finaled.Imagine my shock when it won.
Imagine my utter & absolute astonishment when it sold.
So that's my story. I wrote a book I knew wouldn't sell just to prove to myself I had a happy ending left in me. And that's the book that brought me my own happy ending. So how about you? Has the universe ever rewarded you for doing exactly the wrong thing? Let's hear about it!p.s. Look for Money Honey in the Fall of 2009 from Berkley Sensation! But if you forget, don't worry. I'll remind you.
80 comments:
Mine?
Woo-hoo, Susan!!! Congrats!!!
Can you tell us more about Money Honey at all? And your call story?
Woohoo - congratulations, Susan! What great news :)
I second Elyssa's questions - and also congrats to you, Elyssa on nabbing the GR!
Yes, yours Elyssa! Enjoy him!
SMOOV!!! Congratulations all over the place!! I am thrilled beyond measure for you. So very, very deserved. Tell us EVERYTHING! This is definitely a two hankie, two cup of coffee, two danish chat!
Courage, more often than not, is not some great heroic television worthy act complete with blazing guns and John Williams music in the background. It is the act of getting out of bed when that is the very last thing you want to do. It is getting through one day, just one. It is fighting off the sadness, the sorrow, the paralyzing darkness and crawling to the light. It is standing up and deciding to keep standing up. It is finding the thing that gives you joy and doing it, even when the joy doesn't come immediately because things created out of sheer determination, love and just to prove you can, more often than not will shine when the time is right and when you are ready to be joyful again.
I can't wait to read it.
I wrote Lost in Love even after ten sets of contest judges said it was too sweet and the heroine was too young to sell. It hasn't sold yet, but it got me to San Francisco and I ain't dead yet!
Smoov - welcome to the Berkley Babes! Those editors know a good story when they see one. Sounds like this one is full of raw emotion - can't wait to read it. (Darn - why do we have to wait till fall 2009 - that's too far away! Grrrr)
Louisa - I gave my husband a Tshirt with "I'm not dead yet!" on the front. I think he was insulted when I gave it to him - until he saw Spamalot. Now he wears it with pride.
Limecello - new avatar? Like it!
Congrats Elyssa on the GR - one of these days I'm going to nab that bird.
Susan,
What great news! We're so happy for
you! Congratulations!
Pat Cochran
HUGE hugs, Susan!!! What an awesome thing--definitely looking forward to reading that next year (waaah--we have to wait until next year??!!) Happy dancing for you! (Clothed, of course! ;))
Congrats on the GR, Elyssa! Bok!
Hi Susan,
Congrats on the book deal with Berkley. I also want to hear all about Money Honey.
Congrats on the GR, Elyssa.
Congrats on the GR Elyssa enjoy your day with him
Susan huge congratulations I am sooo happy for you and I can't wait to read it and I agree with everyone I want to hear more about it. You must be so proud of yourself and I agree with Donna this book is going to be full of emotion and a wonderful story.
I don't think I have been rewarded for doing the wrong thing not that I can think of at the moment.
I truly am excited for you WELL DONE!!!!
Louisa I love your post so beautifully written and so true.
Have Fun
Helen
A quick note before heading out to the 12 hour DDJ...
WOOHOOOOOO SUSAN!!!
MOre this evening
WHOHOOOOOOOOOOOO Baby!!! So excited for you, Susan :-D I'm so thrilled, too, that you're bringing the news to the Lair to celebrate! We'll have to haul in a few hunky cabana boys to open the champagne and serve the celebratory chocolate!!
Congratulations :-D
Wooohooo Susan!! The hockey hunks and I are cracking open the bubbly to celebrate your awesome news! And very well-deserved it is too.
Can't wait to read Money Honey - it sounds fab.
Congratulations, Susan!!!
Congrats Susan! I am thrilled for you and can't wait to read your book.
Many, many congrats, Susan!
Catharsis can be a beautiful thing! Can't wait to read yours!
Yahoo, Susan!! Of course, we in the Lair have been sworn to secrecy for months now and had to badger Susan incessantly until she posted, because we could NOT take the stress any longer!!
(Congrats also to Elyssa for winning the dubious company of the Golden Rooster for today. Hide the Halloween candy for your own good! He's developed a real penchant for Reeses Peanut Butter Cups.)
Have I been rewarded for doing the wrong thing or choosing the road less traveled by? I sure have! I have three gorgeous children who were all HUGE mistakes. *g* Best. Mistakes. Ever!!
I also sat down a few years back and decided in a "what the hell" moment that I was going to write a book just to please myself. I had tried previously to write books for other people (i.e. publishers) and that wasn't working. The result was my GH finalist, Kick Start. People love (or hate) that book. I think there's a lot of me in there. I wish it would sell, but I think I have to wait until I sell something else to get past an editorial meeting. :-(
Onward and upward.
Congratulations, Susan! I can't believe you sat on that news for THREE MONTHS! I'm so very happy for you.
Louisa, well said and so very right.
Ely, congrats on nabbing the GR! Does he know how cold it is in your corner of the world?
HUGE congratulations, Susan! And what a fabulous story. I'm truly sorry you had to suffer through such a dreadful time, but what an inspirational outcome.
I hope you enjoy every little bit of your success! :)
Congratulations again, Susan!! I loved your story about writing that book. Now, it's time to spill the call story.
Exactly what were you doing when your agent called. What were you think? Spill it!
I can't wait to read Money Honey (are they keeping the title?)
Congrats, Elyssa on nabbing our elusive Golden Rooster! I'm sure he'll keep you busy today!
As for my call story, well, it was chaotic. I came home from conference to a houseful of guests, including my two nieces. Throw them in with my own two kids & I was riding herd on four girls under the age of ten. Thankfully, my mother in law was riding shotgun & we were in control.
But then the phone rang, & it was at that critical juncture between getting out of the swim suits & into regular clothes, so there was a great deal of what I'll politely term naked mayhem happening. When I realized it was my agent on the phone, I tossed the naked kid in my arms toward my baffled mother in law & walked out of the room. I found the only quiet place I could find (my office) & listened in disbelief as she told me that Money Honey, not the book she'd signed me on & was pitching all over NY, had an offer.
It was a completely surreal moment. She went over her negotiating strategy for my okay (I was like, um, sure, sounds good) then went back to Berkley to wheel & deal. By time she was done, I had a two book deal on the table. I cannot overstate the usefulness of a good agent at a point such as this. And mine was wonderful.
As for Money Honey, it's about an FBI agent with a secret past, the jewel thief who secretly loves her, and the case that makes them partners and forces them to choose between the lies they trust and the love they make.
At least that's my tag line. And you all know how much I love my tag lines. :-)
Hi, limecello! Thanks for the congrats! It's definitely been a surreal couple of months.
Louisa wrote: Courage, more often than not, is not some great heroic television worthy act complete with blazing guns and John Williams music in the background. ... It is getting through one day, just one. It is fighting off the sadness, the sorrow, the paralyzing darkness and crawling to the light. It is standing up and deciding to keep standing up.
Lousia, this was beautiful. And so very, very true. I suffered nothing at all like the loss of a spouse; I cannot imagine standing up through or anytime after that, truly.
But writing MH was my little act of courage. Something small, even trivial, but it went a long way toward putting me back in the light. I'd have loved this book without the sale. Did love it, in fact, as my faithful CP Kirsten will tell you. :-) The sale was just the universe saying, "this is the right direction; keep walking." And that's a bit of encouragement I wish for all of us.
Donna wrote: welcome to the Berkley Babes! Those editors know a good story when they see one.
Awww, thanks, Donna! I'm in awfully good company over there at Berkley. Speaking of which, when will they issue your next masterpiece??
Pat--thanks for the congrats! I'm still pinching myself daily!
flchen1 wrote: Happy dancing for you! (Clothed, of course! ;))
Awww, that's so nice. But happy dancing is happiest when you're, um, unclothed. And as many of you know, I speak from personal experience. :-) Many of my Big Moments have arrived while I'm either in the shower or changing somebody's diaper or stripping children from their swim suits. For some reason in my life naked = good news. Which, now that I think about it, isn't such a stretch...
Sweet Susan, you just make me want to cry. That's a lovely story, beautifully written and from my (cough, cough) wise old-age perch (cough, cough), I can honestly say we who love you never doubted your ability to write, publish, and succeed!
Sometimes when you don't have faith in yourself, you just have to let OTHERS circle you with their faith. Just for a little while until you regain your own strength. I've been there many times. Thank God for family and friends!
That said, WOW, can't wait until Money Honey comes out. I'd buy it on the title alone! Your writing voice is so distinctive that it's sure to be a big winner.
Okay, 'nuff gushing, not my style, but I'm just so damned happy for you.
Elyssa, you go girl. Whatcha gonna treat the rooster to today?
Oh, and YES, Susan, what's the story about?
Hi, Jane! Thanks so much for the congrats. I didn't say too much about Money Honey previously because I couldn't be sure how much of my original story would remain after revisions. But it looks like the changes are relatively minor, so the little tag line I used above is going to hold firm. An FBI agent & the jewel thief who secret loves her team up to fight crime. We'll see how it goes over with the reading public...
Thanks, Helen, for the congrats! I have to remind myself every day that this is real! Words I scribble frantically during nap time every afternoon are going to printed in a book & stuck on the shelf at Barnes & Noble! Eeeeeek!
Oh, Joanie, thanks for swinging by with the all cap WOOOHOO! The only thing that made me happier than selling the darn book was telling the banditas about it. :-)
Tawny wrote: We'll have to haul in a few hunky cabana boys to open the champagne and serve the celebratory chocolate!!
Yes, please! I will candidly admit that it was the thought of cabana boys & chocolate that spurred me on in some of my darker moments. :-)
Whoops, forgot to answer your question! As many of you know -- since I gush about them so often -- my three daughters are the loves of my life (shhh, don't tell Dr. Big!).
Honestly, I was a terrible mother, I was 23 when I had my first child, and no one gave me a manual (imagine that!). But somehow the universe, or God, or whatever, gave me these beautiful, strong women who love me in spite of my flaws, but never fail to be straight with me! How lucky is that?!
Anna S wrote: The hockey hunks and I are cracking open the bubbly to celebrate your awesome news!
The hockey hunks are coming too? Oh, my. I suddenly feel quite faint. Point me toward one of those strong men so I can swoon. :-)
Thanks, MaryF, for the congrats! I'm having so much fun with this news!
hrkwrkmom wrote: I am thrilled for you and can't wait to read your book.
Aww, thanks. [blush] Did I mention it'll be out in the Fall of 2009? :-)
deb marlowe wrote: Catharsis can be a beautiful thing! Can't wait to read yours!
Just goes to show you what can happen when you say screw it & just write what you want to write.
On the other hand, I have four other books that have not yet sold, at least a few of which were products of a similar mentality. :-0
So you never can tell. But they were all fun to write, that much I can tell you.
Caren wrote: Have I been rewarded for doing the wrong thing or choosing the road less traveled by? I sure have! I have three gorgeous children who were all HUGE mistakes. *g* Best. Mistakes. Ever!!
Oh, Caren, that's a great story! Sometimes life does, indeed, take you unexpected places. And those places sometimes turn out to be the best places you never thought you'd visit. :-)
And while Kick Start was a great example of breaking through The Rules to write something fresh, you've had some other, more recent success with your redneck book, no? Was that, too, a screw-it-I'm-going-to-please-myself sort of book?
PJ wrote: Congratulations, Susan! I can't believe you sat on that news for THREE MONTHS!
Yeah, you'd think that would be tough, wouldn't you? Not so much actually. Because telling people I sold a book meant they would think I was a talented author & I wasn't (and am still not, to be perfectly honest) ready for that kind of pressure. It's a lot easier to exceed low expectations than to live up to high ones.
But, as Caren said earlier, onward & upward, right? Every success comes with new challenges, & I'm too grateful for the opportunity to complain. Much. :-)
Gillian wrote: I'm truly sorry you had to suffer through such a dreadful time, but what an inspirational outcome.
Thanks, Gillian. When it comes to rationalizing loss, though, I've come to the conclusion that there's no rhyme or reason to it. There's no deserved it/didn't deserve it, god-only-gives-you-what-you-can-handle business.
I mean, I don't have problem with any of those theories--we all need to believe whatever gets us through, you know? But for me personally, it's a lot more comforting to believe that it's simply the nature of being human to experience both moments of beautiful transcendence & crushing grief. Light/dark, love/hate, gratitude/loss. It makes it so much easier for me to appreciate the beauty & endure the loss when I don't worry about what I might have done to deserve (or not deserve) them. When I just roll with life as a somewhat random & puzzling event. I control what I can but giving up the rest has been liberating.
Long story short, it's pretty rarely for things to balance out this neatly, but I'm really appreciative when they do. :-)
Christie Kelly wrote: Exactly what were you doing when your agent called. What were you think? Spill it!
I may have mentioned the naked mayhem? Long story short--children, swimsuits, phone call, abandonment of said children. :-)
It was actually really cool that I had a house full of relatives when the call came, because otherwise, I'd have screamed the news to my children, who I'm fairly certain would have failed to appropriate grasp the situation. :-)
As it was, my mother in law, brother in law & sister in law & their kids were all sitting right there when I said, "Okay, my agent is currently negotiating a two book deal for me with the same people who publish Nora Roberts & Tom Clancy."
These are all people who know exactly how long I've been writing into the void, how long I've been smiling & shrugging when people ask me how the writing's going. It was so great to have them right there to celebrate with me. I only wish my own mom had been there, too, & not six hundred miles away. Sometimes a girl just wants her mom, you know? Especially when her mom has been telling her she could do this from the time she learned to write her own name.
Jo wrote: Sometimes when you don't have faith in yourself, you just have to let OTHERS circle you with their faith. Just for a little while until you regain your own strength. I've been there many times. Thank God for family and friends!
Jo, this was beautiful & so true! I don't know what people without family (or people who've come to stand as family in their lives) survive trying times. I foundered for a while there, but I never sank, & it was because I had such strong & loving hands propping me up. My husband, my family, his family, our child (just one of her at the time) who didn't stop needing me just because I wept at random interval throughout the day.
It may sound strange but as unlucky as I was, I never lost sight of how luck I was, too.
So true, Susan, about the unfettered joy celebrated by happy dancing in a natural state ;) I'm just feeling a little inhibited by all these cabana boys and hockey hunks :)
Seriously, thanks for sharing this with us--I just keep grinning and am so excited to read more of the details as you're sharing them. Very gladdened by all of it!!
OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! HOW EXCITING!!!
I can't believe you've kept this in all this time. LOL! I haven't even read the comments yet since I've been so busy hosting this other author, you might have heard of her - Loucinda McGary - over on the pirate ship. LOL!
But I'm so excited for you. Gosh, you so deserve it. This is a great story and now I'm going to page through all these comments and find your call story. LOL! I hope.
Susan, your story really touched me. I'm so glad to know you had a happy ending out of it! As for me, I'm not much of a charge-ahead type. I plod ahead bit by bit and when things get rough, I keep plodding even when I'm absolutley sure I won't get anywhere, and have given up on the idea of reaching my destination. Which is why I was in the midst of applying to grad school, convinced I'd never sell anything and had better come up with another life plan, when my Call came... Not exactly the "wrong" thing, but not what you'd call "right" either.
Anyway, glad to hear you were not only able to write a happy ending but it led to more happiness for you. The book sounds fantastic and I can't wait to read it.
WOOOOO-HOOOOOOO, Smoov! You ROCK, girlfriend! We are so thrilled to have you as the latest Pubbed Bandita. Won't be long now for the rest of you ladies....bwah-ha-ha! (Polish those mss, Bandita's the editors are waaaaiiiitttting!)
Susan, I'm thrilled with your news going public, in tears over your story, and LOL all over again about the nekkid mayhem. Actually, since there were small children involved, it would be naked not nekkid. You know the difference right? Famous pundit Louis Grizzard always said the difference between the two was that naked was you had no clothes on. Nekkid was you had no clothes and were up to somthin'! Grins.
Everyone's comments have been so moving. Louisa, your description of putting one foot in front of the other courage had me in tears. Been there and it feel just that way. Beautifully described.
Jo, I've also been privledged to be surrounded by the faith of others until I found my own. Also beautifully described and both you and Louisa made me grateful all over again for such treasure!
The Lair being what it is, faith and a swift kick can be found here as well, so I'm even more blessed to have gained another circle of faithful friends and cohorts! Mwah!
So, Smoov, you decided what the second book's gonna be yet? Will they choose from your backstock do you think or are you going to go for a new premise?
Like everyone else, I'm bummed to have to wait till late 2009. *pout*
Hey Elyssa, congrats on the GR! Like someone else mentioned, watch out for the Halloween candy. I bought some early and it's been pilfered. I looked back to see when I had that rascally rooster and sure enough...
Great call story! And I have copied Louisa's wonderful words on courage to keep and post somewhere. Amazingly inspirational and I need all the inspiration I can get.
Thanks, Louisa!
Congrats on the GR, Ely. If it's as cold up there as it is down here, give that chook a scarf!
Ah, my incredibly talented and marvelous critique partner, soon-to-be NYTimes bestseller, and dear dear friend, I could not be happier for you. You are such an inspiration to me. Your writing is wonderful, unique, and always makes me think "I'm not worthy"!
Just you all wait until you all get your hands on this book--it has the HOTTEST SEXIEST hero ever. I mean it. Patrick is sort of Brad Pitt and George Clooney mixed together with a dark past and a heart in need of healing. He is a man to swoon over. I have never written a man so sexy and I doubt I ever will. I have told Susan before that I think he's the best hero I've ever read.
And I'm not biased.
Seriously.
It also has a tough, smart, wounded heroine who is SOOOO worthy of her man. And you just can't wait to see how they fit together.
Yum.
Maybe this will be the book we can feed to Oprah to convince her to like romance novels. ;-) Wasn't that Buffie's goal? Or Marisa's? Or Michelle B? Can't remember. Anyway, it's a great goal. Even Oprah would swoon over Patrick.
Okay, enough gushing. :-) You all know our Susan's writing so I'm just preaching to the choir. But this book will be a huge success. I have no doubt.
This is the best story ever! I'm so glad you told this story. Makes me feel better about the story I wrote that was for all the wrong reasons, but I fell in love with it...and I know will never make the light of day as a published tome in a bookstore. It just makes me feel...hopeful. Thank you!
And totally congrats...and I'm totally buying it. I love to support rebels.
The hero's name is PATRICK and he's a cross between Brad and George? And he's a charming jewel thief?
*swoons* I'm so there.
Susan, please say when you do your blog tour, you'll stop by the RWR too!
The GR is freezing, but at least it's not snowing like it was yesterday. I've given him some hot choco and introduced him to the joy that is Lindt truffles.
Susan, that is an awesome call story, and your book sounds amazing! I'll echo Hellion's statements...it gives me hope when a romance author sells, especially when they write contemporary romances since that's my brand, too. Congrats again!
Congrats, Susan! I'm so happy for you! Good for you on writing when the juice was gone.
flchen1 wrote: So true, Susan, about the unfettered joy celebrated by happy dancing in a natural state ;) I'm just feeling a little inhibited by all these cabana boys and hockey hunks :)
Maybe they could go first?
:-)
terrio wrote: I haven't even read the comments yet since I've been so busy hosting this other author, you might have heard of her - Loucinda McGary - over on the pirate ship. LOL!
Ah, yes, the pirate ship! I'll have to swing on by to say Arrrrgh to our very own AC, who's out there on her World Domination Blog tour!
Annie Solomon wrote: I plod ahead bit by bit and when things get rough, I keep plodding even when I'm absolutley sure I won't get anywhere, and have given up on the idea of reaching my destination. Which is why I was in the midst of applying to grad school, convinced I'd never sell anything and had better come up with another life plan, when my Call came...
Ha! I totally hear you on the 'alternate life plan' angst. When The Call came for me, my eldest was about to start kindergarten, which meant I had roughly 3-4 years before my youngest started kindy. Which meant I was either going to have to a) get a job, b) have another baby or c) sell a book.
Option C seemed like the long shot, really. But there you have it. And I'm so glad, too, because I really didn't want to get a job!
Jeanne wrote: Famous pundit Louis Grizzard always said the difference between the two was that naked was you had no clothes on. Nekkid was you had no clothes and were up to somthin'! Grins.
...So, Smoov, you decided what the second book's gonna be yet? Will they choose from your backstock do you think or are you going to go for a new premise?
LOL on the distinction between naked & nekkid! I hadn't heard that one but it makes perfect sense!
As for book 2, I have no idea. I figure I'll get book 1 turned in, then worry about it. :-) It would be great if they wanted something from the backlog, though. Especially since MH is book #3 of three connected books. Not a trilogy exactly, just connected characters. We'll see...
Kirsten wrote: Maybe this will be the book we can feed to Oprah to convince her to like romance novels. ;-)
Oh, if only! And then she'd be totally converted! We'd get her to guest blog with us once a month & she'll be all, "Girl, you need to read this book!" every time one of us pops out with a new one & the book buying public will say, "Nicholas Sparks who?" & buy up bandita books by the handful!
I like how you roll, Kirsten.
And thanks for all the lovely words about my little book. And my hero. I know we all fall in love with our heros, but I do have a soft spot for Patrick. He's just so...redeemable.
Mshellion wrote: Makes me feel better about the story I wrote that was for all the wrong reasons, but I fell in love with it...and I know will never make the light of day as a published tome in a bookstore. It just makes me feel...hopeful.
I'm so glad, Mshellion. Because if this book can sell, there's hope for us all. :-)
And I'd love to swing by RWR when my release date gets closer. :-) Thanks.
Elyssa Papa wrote: it gives me hope when a romance author sells, especially when they write contemporary romances since that's my brand, too.
I keep hearing rumblings about the single title contemporary coming back. Which is great, because when people ask what I write, I used to say, "The category least likely to sell." :-) I still think it's a tough sell, but I think the market will come around. And when it does, who's going to be right there with a giant backlog of fabulous books?
Us, that's who. Step right up, editors. Form an orderly line, please. :-)
Claudia Dain wrote: Good for you on writing when the juice was gone.
Thanks, Claudia! If nothing else, it taught me that crappy pages are indeed better than no pages at all. :-)
Wooohooooo, Smoov!!!!!! What a beautiful story, heartbreaking and funny and so inspiring! Thanks for FINALLY sharing it with the world!
Like everyone else, I can't wait to read Money Honey!! What a thrill! I'm so psyched for you, I've hired my own cabana boy and I'm drinking my lunch in your honor. *hic* :-)
Ooh, and congrats Elyssa! I've noticed he's rather partial to Twix, so watch out he doesn't steal them all.
Huge congrats, Susan! What a complete thrill for you--I can't believe you kept your secret for so long!
BTW, I love you tag line. :)
Congrats, Ely, on the GR. He'll never want to leave if you keep giving him Lindt truffles.
I'm deep in the writing cave but had to pop my head out to shout Whoo Hoo!!
Susan, I'm beyond thrilled for you and am dying to read this story!! Patrick sounds like my kind of hero ;-)
As for the universe rewarding me for doing the wrong thing...well...I never considered it the 'wrong' thing but everyone thought I was crazy when I became engaged at the age of 19 after dating my now husband for only six months. Then they were worried when we got married six short months later instead of having a long engagement. And the fact that he's 10 years older than I am didn't help matters *g*
But it's been 18 years and we're still going strong. Guess sometimes things really do work out for the best!
Congrats again, Susan! So glad you were able to write your happy ending and find one for yourself!
Wow, Susan, you've pulled the lurkers and the cavers all out to say WHoooooohoooooo! for you! Get on wit' yo' bad self! :>
*shooing beth back to her cave so she can write another fab book*
And Lindt truffles, Elyssa? OMGosh, there'll be no living with him now.
Kirsten, as Smoov said, I LIKE the way you think, girl! Here's to the Bandit's Lair becoming Oprah's second home on the web
Susan!!!! WHOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Popping in from an Internet cafe in Sydney to say huge congratulations on your wonderful news. I've been dying for this to become public! I'm so excited for you. Actually, Claiming the Courtesan was a book I wrote out of need because I KNEW it would never find a publisher. Perhaps that's the secret! Can't wait to read MONEY, HONEY! Dancing away down here and making an utter fool of myself as I'm in public!
Hey YOU, SMOOV!
Yeah, I'm talkin to YOU! (Aunty swings by from the pirate ship, keg of rum under her arm)
Bout TIME you went public with this WONDERFUL news! We were about to burst here in the Lair, and not just from all the drinkies and Sven's calisthenics. :-P
We are all SO PROUD of you and sticking with it and SELLING that special book.
Now, as Le Duchesse says, LINE UP EDITORS! We have just a FEW AYU Banditas left and they all are AMAZINGLY TALENTED WRITERS! Get those offers ready!
AC
touring the cyber-space world in preparation for Bandita Domination
;-P
Man, I miss all the good stuff during the day now that I can't play on the net anymore. Sheesh.
CONGRATS! That's such amazing news! I can't believe you held it in that long, that's like a Herculean feat!
Kate wrote: I'm so psyched for you, I've hired my own cabana boy and I'm drinking my lunch in your honor. *hic* :-)
Awwww. Drinking your lunch? For little ol' me? I'm so touched. And if I were there, I'd join you. :-) I haven't drunk my lunch since college. And isn't that a sad commentary on what children will do to your sense of fun & adventure??
Gannon Carr wrote: BTW, I love you tag line. :)
Really? I'm so glad! Because I really blow at tag lines, as is well known in the lair. I torture myself with them every few months & have never yet come up with one that really pleased me. So I'm thrilled you like the one for Money Honey.
Beth wrote: As for the universe rewarding me for doing the wrong thing...well...I never considered it the 'wrong' thing but everyone thought I was crazy when I became engaged at the age of 19 after dating my now husband for only six months. Then they were worried when we got married six short months later instead of having a long engagement. And the fact that he's 10 years older than I am didn't help matters *g*
But it's been 18 years and we're still going strong. Guess sometimes things really do work out for the best!
Thanks for popping out of the cave to join the party, Beth! And I loved this story about you & your husband! It just goes to show you that sometimes your heart really does know best!
When I moved to MN to be with my then-boyfriend/now-husband, I can't even tell you how many speeches I got that involved some variation on "why buy the cow." People thought I ought to hold out for an engagement ring, people thought he ought to move to be nearer me. Everybody had an opinion, but most of them involved how foolish I was being to move to MN without the benefit of either a ring or the promise of such.
As it turned out, we were engaged within six months, have been married eight years now, & I have never for one single, solitary second regretted escaping Michigan before the economy tanked. I didn't regret it before the economy tanked either. I love Minnesota. It would be just like us to elect an SNL alum (Al Franken, who's running a pretty good race) to the Senate. Just one of the reasons I love this place. It's so...unpredictable & contrary.
Jeanne wrote: Wow, Susan, you've pulled the lurkers and the cavers all out to say WHoooooohoooooo! for you! Get on wit' yo' bad self! :>
My bad self is gettin' on as only it (whose claim to smooveness is purely ironic) can. Which is to say with great lameness & much awkward flailing. But gettin' on, I am. Oprah, take notice!
Anna wrote: Actually, Claiming the Courtesan was a book I wrote out of need because I KNEW it would never find a publisher. Perhaps that's the secret!
Hey, maybe we're onto something here. You think? Maybe all it'll take to revolutionize the publishing industry is enough of us writing our crazy books & refusing to take no for an answer! Onward & upward, sisters!
AC wrote: Bout TIME you went public with this WONDERFUL news! We were about to burst here in the Lair, and not just from all the drinkies and Sven's calisthenics. :-P
Although, if a girl had to burst, I'd go the drinkies/Sven route any old day. :-)
Thanks so much for taking the time away from the world domination tour to say hi & party a little with us. We appreciate the keg of rum from the pirate ship, too. :-)
I've been in a writing blitz, but had to stop by to say Congrats! That's fantastic news. Thanks for sharing.
Sorry I'm so late getting to the Lair today. Long work day. But I had to pop on and say publicly how incredible thrilled I am about your sale!!! I cannot wait to read Money, Honey. It's these stories that aren't supposed to sell that end up being the ones that really touch people's hearts. There have been so many books that I enjoyed at the time but have now forgotten, but it's the touching ones that remain firm in my memory. One such story is Simple Jess by Pamela Morsi. The hero, Jess, is a little "slow" -- he was oxygen deprived during his birth. But it was one of the most wonderful romances I've ever read.
Susan said: Although, if a girl had to burst, I'd go the drinkies/Sven route any old day.
:-)
SNORK! Yep, it's the best way to go! Grins. That or drinking lunch with Kate. Smirk.
SMOOV mwah mwah mwah!! Hooray. Hurrah! Congratulations. Jumping around and around and around. Uh-oh. Hubby woke up and loudly shushed me. quietly now... I'm so-so-so thrilled for you!! I'm sure Inara is over the moon and busting with pride.
Thanks for the congrats, Terry! I'm still pinching myself every day...
Trish wrote: It's these stories that aren't supposed to sell that end up being the ones that really touch people's hearts.
This is so true, Trish! I especially love an unconventional hero--I'll have to look up Simple Jess. Sounds like it's right up my alley.
Keira wrote: Jumping around and around and around. Uh-oh. Hubby woke up and loudly shushed me. quietly now... I'm so-so-so thrilled for you!!
Awww, you woke up your hubby happy dancing for me? I'm honored. Truly. :-)
Congratulations on selling not one but two books, Susan!!
Vanessa
Post a Comment