Tuesday, January 17, 2012

The Obligatory Pic

First off, crazy thanks to the lovely Paige Kellerman from There's More Where That Came From for the Kreative Blogger award!

And second.... I got my contract! It's kind of a thick stack of papers filled with legalese, but I'm pretty sure it says somewhere in there that if I blog, I'm somewhat obligated to post a picture of me signing it. (It's hard to say, exactly. I was too distracted by the fact that something written by lawyers had both my name and my book's name on it.) Surreal? You betcha. Made me do an embarrassingly giddy dance? Um... yeah. Does it feel like it's not really me and I'm just writing a book about someone who wrote and wrote and then one day got a contract? You could say that.

To everyone who is an aspiring author seeking traditional publication, I want to pass along a couple of things I've learned recently.
  • As far as normal goes with this kind of thing: there is no normal. Of course, there's a normal range. Two months is at the Lightning-Fast end; Six months is at the I-Might-Die-Soon end, but both are entirely normal. I have a friend who got a book deal with a publisher who wanted to open a new line and lead with her book. Speed for her book was really important to them. Her MS was already in great shape, so it went through edits, went to copy editing, and she got her book cover, all before she got her contract. Incredible, right? Yet at the same time, still within normal. The point? Expect the unexpected, because it's probably "normal."
  • There are very few agent / publisher combinations that allow for announcing the book deal before the contract is received, signed, and returned. I just happened to luck out. To everyone who has / will have to wait six months for a contract and somehow manage to keep quiet about the book deal the whole time, I bow down to you. (I'm talking one like in the olden days where they almost laid on the ground.) You will never cease to impress and amaze me.
I hope you all are loving writing you own author story! I especially hope the really frustrating parts that get you down feel like they're just happening to a character you're writing. And I hope the incredible parts bring you bucket loads of bliss. Even if they also feel like they're happening to a character you're writing. :o)

46 comments:

JeffO said...

Congratulations, Peggy! So, did someone have to hold your arm steady to actually get your name on that thing, or were you able to manage without your signature looking like a six-year-old's?

Have a great day.

WilyBCool said...

Woot Woot! (Happy dance) Woot Woot!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Faith E. Hough said...

Congratulations!!! :)

Colin Smith said...

Congratulations, Peggy! I'm not one for having my picture taken, but when (when when when) my time comes for contract signing, I'd probably be so happy I wouldn't care if a camera was pointed while I squiggled on the dotted line... :)

Tasha Seegmiller said...

Congratulations! And, by the way, your hair looks FABULOUS! It is important to point out as it is "the picture." :)

Delia said...

Yay!!! Congratulations on making it official, Peggy! Also, it's true. Your hair does look fabulous.

Eve said...

Congrats! I just recently started following your blog but I find it very fun and interesting. Thank you for posting your wonderful news and giving the rest of us who are still writing our 'insert number' draft a nudge in the right direction and hope that we too will make it.

Sara Bulla said...

Congratulations! What an accomplishment! Great advice too! Also, you've also won the Versatile Blogger award, come check it out at livetowrite1.blogspot.com if you want to participate! :)

Deana said...

That is just a really cool pic and look at your smile:) It looks like you're about to bust with joy! Congrats Peggy!

Jessie Humphries said...

I love that you took a picture signing the contract! I see people sign contracts all the time (usually far less interesting ones) and they never look this happy! You are a breath of fresh air:)

Amanda Olivieri said...

Yayyy! Congrats Peggy! Love the "obligatory picture" :) Thanks for the advice to us aspiring authors also!

Jennie Bennett said...

You are my hero. Seriously.

Laura Pauling said...

Yes! That is definitely the obligatory picture to take and post on your blog! yay!

Kristine said...

So happy for you! And, I love that I get to talk to you every day. I love hearing your giddiness on a constant basis! Makes my day!

Stacy S. Jensen said...

Congratulations.

Shallee said...

Yay, congratulations Peggy! I can't imagine how exciting it must be to sign your name to that contract.

And good information, too. The waiting game never ends for a writer, I guess!

Anonymous said...

I'm glad that you can tell us that there is no normal! I'm so excited for you getting a contract!

PS THe nesting as some problems. For me, I'm unable to comment on the people who have it. THe page with comments never shows up. But others are able too, I don't know why I can't but it's annoying, especially when I have something I want to say. So just a heads up.

Leigh Covington said...

Squeee!!! Angie you are so fabulously CUTE! For reals! I just adore you and I'm so excited for you. I have butterflies in my stomach and it's not even me. Thanks for the fabulous advice too. You are truly amazing.

And... I have to say thanks for all the nice comments on my blog! I'm glad you like the new look. It's cute blogs like yours that inspired a change for me! You ROCK!

Ruth Josse said...

Love that picture!! So exciting. :D

Nancy Thompson said...

Well, how totally cool for you, Peggy! It must be nice to be able to talk about everything, even before the contract came and was signed. I couldn't imagine having to sit quiet with that kind of news. I'd explode!!

Kelly Polark said...

Congrats, Peggy!! So exciting!!

Angelica R. Jackson said...

I'm thinking your feet are still doing a giddy dance under the desk while you're signing!

Krista McLaughlin said...

Congratulations! That is an awesome picture and such an exciting time! I hope that I get a contract to sign someday. I'll keep working at it.

Jenny S. Morris said...

Congratulations that is awesome. And for the heads up about what is normal! This must be so exciting!!

Unknown said...

Awesome! I bet you were practising your signature for days before the contract came.

Kelley Lynn said...

Congratulations!! I think that would be my background on my laptop. Haha. :)

Nick Wilford said...

Congratulations!! A very big moment, hope you'll always remember it!

Tara Dairman said...

First of all, congratulations!!

Secondly, when I read your blog I picture you as the cartoon person in the header, so it was fun to see a shot of the real you in action. =)

Iain said...

Give it a couple of years, and you'll have a whole room with all the walls dedicated to signing pics, and book covers. :o)

Chantele Sedgwick said...

YAY!!! Congratulations, Peggy! I'm so excited for you! :)

Cherie Reich said...

Aww! Congratulations! And thank you for the obligatory contract signing picture. :)

Peggy Eddleman said...

JeffO-- What are you talking about? My signature was at least that of a twelve year old. ;D

WilyBCool-- Hehe! Your comment made me giggle. Thank you!

Faith-- Thank you!

Colin-- You and me both. :)

Tasha-- Wow. Thanks! You're my new favorite, Tasha. ;)

Delia-- Thanks so much! (And now I keep clicking back on the post, thinking Is it really? I'm flattered. Thank you.)

Eve-- Awww! Thank you! And welcome! I'm glad you're here.

Sara-- Thank you! And thanks so much for the award! You are too sweet.

Deana-- Yep. I kinda am. :D Thank you!

Jessie-- I could see how "I am going to sue you" and "just in case I die" contracts come a little less joy-filled. ;) And thanks!

Amanda-- Thank you, thank you! And you're welcome. :)

J.A.-- I just stared at your comment for a while, speechless. :')

Laura-- It's just one you HAVE to do. Even if you do no others. :)

Kristine-- Seriously? You haven't gotten sick of it yet? You rock my world, you know that?

Stacy-- Thank you!

Shallee-- It really NEVER ends. :) And thank you!

Melanie-- Thanks! I'm excited, too. :) And thanks for the heads up! I tried turning it on for my blog, just to see what would happen if I replied then turned it back to normal, but I couldn't even get it to turn on! Thanks for the heads up on the bugs not being worked out yet. I may just wait a few weeks before I try.

Leigh-- You are so sweet! I love your guts. Just like I love your blog.

Ruth-- Thanks! I think so. ;D

Nancy-- Oh, my gosh. SO NICE. I think I would've exploded, too.

Kelly-- Thanks! I think so, too. :D

Angelica-- Was it that obvious?

Krista-- I hope you do, too. And keeping on working at it is definitely what's going to get you there! All the best.

Jenny-- Thanks! I'm a little excited. :)

Imogen-- Days? More like years. ;)

Kelley-- Hahaha! I might just do that.

Nick-- That's what the picture's for. So when I'm old and have lost my memory, I can relive the excitement over and over and over... ;)

Tara-- First off, thanks! Secondly, I just pictured myself "in action" (read: doing the dishes, making dinner, folding laundry) as my cartoon me. Hehehehe! Thanks for that.

Iain-- Wow. That mental picture was... Wow. Thank you for being the provider of that! It totally made my day.

Chantele-- Thank you! You're so sweet!

Cherie-- Thank you! I figured that if anyone I know (through blogging or real life) signed a book contract and didn't post a picture, I would HUNT THEM DOWN. I figured it was in my best interest to post one, lest I be the hunted. ;)

Kelley Lynn said...

Hi there!

I just wanted to let you know that I left you awards over at my blog!!

Pop on over and get em' :)

Cynthia Chapman Willis said...

Congratulations! This is a big step and ever so exciting! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! : )

Rachel said...

How exciting for you! And thanks for the signing pic; I always love seeing those! Now I'm going to mosey around and see if you've posted your story as to how you got your agent. :)

Anonymous said...

Huge congrats on signing your contract...how so exciting:)

Jade Hart said...

CONGRATS!!! So happy for you, and slightly jealous. But mostly estatic for you :) I can imagine your arm was shaking like a leaf while signing that thing :)

Fingers crossed that's me in a few years :)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Peggy! Thanks for sharing your story. It's very inspiring. Enjoy floating around on this happy cloud!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Peggy! Thanks for sharing your story. It's very inspiring. Enjoy floating around on this happy cloud!

Melissa Sugar said...

Congratulations. I think I will do the diddy dance to (for luck). I am so happy for you and I hope you have a very successful writing career.

Susanna Leonard Hill said...

Congratulations, Peggy! What a totally awesome moment - and now you have it recorded for posterity :)

Anonymous said...

Just reading this got me excited and anxious all at the same time.

Peggy Eddleman said...

Kelley-- You rock my world. Thank you!

Cynthia-- Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am enjoying. :D

Rachel-- Thank you! I hope you found the agent thing. I didn't post too much about the HOW when it happened- I mostly posted after I got my deal.

tfwalsh-- Thank you! It WAS exciting. :)

Jade-- Thank you! My fingers are crossed for you, too.

Beth-- Thank you! And yes. I am totally enjoying it.

Melissa-- Aw, thank you!

Susanna-- Thanks! It was an awesome moment. The kind definitely worth saving. :D

Joshua-- I know exactly what you mean. I've known it from the past when I saw contract signing pics, and from now, looking to what's ahead of me. ;)

Brooke said...

Congrats! I hope you celebrated with some cookies...

I saw your comment on my blog, so came to visit yours. I've spent the last half-hour reading through your posts, and loving all of them. I love fantastic finds like this!

Carrie Butler said...

Congratulations, Pegasus! This is just too flippin' cool! :)

Peggy Eddleman said...

Brooke-- I haven't celebrated with cookies. Gasp! What was I thinking? I was going to make some, then the ripe bananas on the counter distracted me into making banana bread instead. Make cookies is now at the top of my list. ;)

And I'm glad you came to visit! You are so sweet!

Carrie-- That's what I thought, too. :D Thanks!