Monday, November 28, 2011

Q&A: Publication Questions

Thanks to everyone who emailed me questions! You saved me from sitting here, staring at a blank screen, wondering what I should share. (Although I STILL wondered that.) I know y'all don't love really long posts, so I kept this one to mostly publication stuff. Tomorrow I'll talk a little about the agent questions I got (because I had never really figured out what to share about that before, either). I got some query-related questions, too, but we're going to have a query writing extravaganza next week! Okay, maybe not an extravaganza, but we'll talk, okay?

When will Through the Bomb's Breath be on shelves? / Is there a launch date?
2013, more than likely fall.

How many words is your MS?
60,000. -ish.

Have you been sent more revisions from Random House?
Nope. Nothing will happen until January. Then I’ll get my editorial letter, and jump right into revision mode. (And have I mentioned how much I love revisions? (You read that without any sarcasm, right? I really do love revisions.))

What does pre-empt mean? / Did it go to auction? / Didn’t that happen fast?
I’d actually love to answer this one, because before I went through this, I'd THOUGHT I'd understood what a pre-empt was. It turns out I really didn’t.

Yes, it did go quickly. I had originally guessed that we wouldn't even go on submission with TTBB until January, but Sara felt that right now was the right time for it. Still, though, I hunkered down for the long haul, because these things take forever, right? I was taken completely by surprise at their speed. Sara told me on a Monday that Random House was interested, after being on submission less than a week. By Tuesday morning, Sara called me at work and told me that the editor, Shana, wanted my query and synopsis of book two that day if possible. I got off work at lunchtime and went home and worked like crazy, every muscle in my body tensed. (Apparently when I need to focus tons and work fast, I tense EVERYWHERE. Seriously. When I finished, I was exhausted in every muscle from the top of my head to the ends of my toes.) I got the synopsis to her that night, but the query wasn’t in a good enough state yet, and my exhausted brain couldn’t see a way to fix it. Sara told me that the three page one was good for that night, and the query could wait until morning. I emailed her the query at 7:03 Wednesday morning. At 7:20 am, she emailed to say that both were in the hands of Random House. At 9:00 am, she called me with their offer. By 9:09, I had nearly passed out from shock and excitement.

So why the speed? Random House’s offer was a pre-empt, which took it off the table for everyone else. They offered the pre-empt so quickly to prevent it from going to auction. (I had thought  pre-empts only happened when an auction was scheduled.) Would an auction have been fun? Of course. I mean who wouldn’t love an auction? When Sara told me about the offer, she said that we could turn down Random House’s offer and push it to auction if I wanted to, but that I should talk to Shana before deciding. She was convinced that my mind would be made up if I did. But really, it was already made up. I could tell by the way Sara talked about Shana that she thought it was an amazing match up, and every single part of me felt that turning them down was the exact wrong thing to do.

So when I got off work at noon, Shana called. Sara was so right! I was pretty much convinced at “Hello.” Shana had so much excitement for TTBB, wanted to push it great directions, and was someone I could talk to like I talk to you guys. She’s unstressful, amazing, positive, helpful, and I knew instantly that I would love every minute of working with her. Was it hard to turn down an auction? Not one tiny little bit. It was the easiest decision in the world to make. I mean I had already struck gold with RH! Plus, I couldn’t imagine another editor ANYWHERE who would be as perfect of a fit as Shana is. I love her. I love Random House. And to have a publishing house love my book enough to push it with that kind of speed? Yeah. There was no way I was going to turn that down.

The announcement said it was a two-book deal. Will the second book be the M.I.S. HAVEN you've been so cryptic about in your "What I'm Working On" page, or will it be TTBB 2?
Hahaha! Cryptic. I actually didn't mean to be cryptic. Writing the summary for that page is a lot like writing a query. It's just a little bit possible I may have been procrastinating... But to answer your question, it is THROUGH THE BOMB’S BREATH number 2. It’s a trilogy. Although I love M.I.S. Haven, it will have to go on hold for a little while. Instead, I'm going to go have a blast writing a book I have been dying to write.

Any questions I missed? Just ask me in the comments.

47 comments:

Paul Tobin said...

This is wonderful news, congratulations. i look forward to reading them.

writing and living by Richard P Hughes said...

Cool info.

Cynthia DiFilippo Elomaa said...

I'm so happy for you, and oh so envious! Enjoy the glow you deserve it! :-)

Leigh Ann said...

Okay I was seriously on the edge of my seat hearing about your subs process. What a dream!

(Also, I totally heart revisions too. Such a rush.)

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Could not be happier for you.

Kelley Lynn said...

Thanks for sharing Peggy!

Connie Barnett Dowell said...

This is so great for you!
Thanks for telling everyone about how the process went.

Laura Pauling said...

Terrific! I never really knew what a preempt was but just that it happened quickly and was a good thing! How exciting. 2013 is right around the corner!

Iain said...

I was holding my breath with you while reading this.
It's just as exciting on the second read through :o)
Thanks for sharing!

Abby Fowers said...

I'm so "green" in all of this I wouldn't have even known what to ask! I'm so glad you shared all of this! I have been so caught up in the excitement of this post! It's all so exciting. I'm excited at TTBB is a trilogy! This is awesome Peggy!

David P. King said...

I'm literally holding my "breath" because of how awesome this is. So very exciting! Looking forward to the release date. :)

Jillian Schmidt said...

Thanks for sharing your story, especially since it was so exciting... except for the part where you had to crank out a synopsis and query in one night, which seems absolutely terrifying! Kudos and another huge CONGRATS to you.

Angela Cothran said...

So fascinating. Thanks for sharing!

Ruth Josse said...

What a crazy ride you have had so far! Thanks for letting us enjoy it with you. :)

prerna pickett said...

Thanks for answering some questions. I always love getting more insight into the ever so mysterious world of publishing.

i'm erin. said...

What about the full two pages dedicated to me? Where can I expect that? In the front or back? ha ha.

Maggie said...

This must really be a dream come true. I'm happy for you.

Kristine said...

2013 is so far away! (to me, haha!) You work well under pressure. Well, and when you aren't. You just rock like that.

Jessie Humphries said...

And the craziest part is that you kept saying, "No, Jessie, it doesn't happen that fast..." You are the most patient person I know, and yet, you didn't need it at all! So pass the patience down here would ya?

Iain said...

Is this just a US release date. Are there any international plans yet?

Cristina said...

so awesome that it happened so quickly for you.
A trilogy? it doesn't get any better than that!

congratulations again :)

Stephanie said...

Thanks for sharing, Peggy! I can't wait to read your book! (Although I guess i have no choice, seeing as how I won't be able to get my grubby little paws on it until 2013...)

Nicole McLaughlin said...

So happy for you!! These kinds of post are my FAVORITE!! :) Can't wait to read it!

Jenny S. Morris said...

I am still so amazed and excited for you! And thanks for sharing the process, although I will mentally file your experience away as, "this doesn't happen that often." That way I will have patience of my own. I'm sure TTBB is going to be beyond amazing!!

Laila Knight said...

This is all very exciting! Good for you. :D And thank you for all the nifty info. I look forward to your query post. :)

Katie Dodge said...

Yes, thanks for sharing. How stinkin' awesome for you!!! :D

Charlie N. Holmberg said...

Eager to see it on shelves! 2013 seems so far away...

As for my sister's house, the previous occupant passed away from cancer, so no meet and greet. :/

Apparently the walls used to be dark purple, too...

Jennie Bennett said...

This is great info! I'm still so excited for you!!

Lan said...

Congrats Peggy! And thank you for answering all these questions. It's really a wonderful insight into the exciting world of publishing.

Emily R. King said...

Yay for a two book deal, especially for a second book that you've been dying to write!

Carrie Butler said...

Loved this post, Pegasus! I'm so excited for you. :D

Unknown said...

That was such a quick process. You must be like the wonderwoman of authors. The perfect agent, the perfect publishing house, and the perfect deal in the perfect time frame.

Nancy Thompson said...

Absolutely fascinating! I'm so happy for you. I only hope I get to experience the same joy someday...soon! I can't wait to read on about the other aspects of your journey.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

oh wow, only a week on submissions. How wonderful! I bet you're looking forward to your editorial letter in January :)

Alleged Author said...

Think it's so cool a publishing house wanted you that badly. Many congratulations!

Jolene Perry said...

Nice summary :D

I love revisions, too. WHEN the person points out things that make me think - oooooh, I can't BELIEVE I didn't think of that!

Have fun :D

Kristy Shen said...

Awesome post! Wow, a Pre-empt from Random House. Your book must be amazing! I seriously cannot wait to read it.

Angie Paxton said...

Wow, that story about your pre-empt gave me chills. What a morning for you! It was so fun to read about all of this. Thanks for sharing!

Trisha said...

This must have been sooooooooo exciting! A little stressful too, to be sure! Congratulations Peggy!

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. :D It was very exciting....I can't imagine how exciting it was for you living through it. :D

Anonymous said...

Wow, just learnt something new. Didn't know what pre-empt meant either... Huge congrats... again.

E.D. said...

Peggy, this is so wonderful and exciting! To get to this point is a huge accomplishment! Congratulations again.

S. L. Hennessy said...

Hey, I've awarded you a blog award! Stop by and check it out!
- http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/

Julianne Donaldson said...

I'm just so excited for you! What a dream come true, and what a deserving dreamer!

Susanna Leonard Hill said...

This is all so wonderful and well-deserved! I can feel your excitement and enthusiasm and it makes me LONG for one of those phone calls! :) Congratulations again!

Lindi said...

I loved reading your journey to RH publication. How exciting! This is a crazy world with ups and downs, but boy the ups are really way up there!!
Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for sharing your experience Peggy and wow on the one-week submission period :-) It´s really wonderful, have a blast writing that second book!

Cynthia Chapman Willis said...

The details are exciting and fun to read, not to mention informative. I am so happy for you!!!