In exactly 12 days, my second novel (The Boy Who Steals Houses) will be out in the world.
Why yes I am absolutely 1000% freaking out, how are you. The weeks leading up to release day are equal parts thrilling and terrifying — and I still feel like I’m trying to find my footing after my debut, A Thousand Perfect Notes, came out just last June. Yes. That was only 10 months ago.
Am I tired??? Dude I am Very Tired™.
When I got to make the official announcement for The Boy Who Steals Houses’ release date + title, a lot of people said, “I can’t believe you have a second book already!” But I actually announced I had a 2-book deal right up front! So this was always always coming! I still have to pinch myself that I even landed a 2-book deal in the first place.😍 TBWSH wasn’t even written! It wasn’t even a blimp in my imagination yet! Being trusted — and wanted — like that was such an encouraging way to start my career.
My emotions were !!!!!!!!!!! for days and days.
So I thought I’d outline how The Boy Who Steals Houses came to be.
I was going to do this closer to release day but then I realised: “CAIT. IT IS CLOSE TO RELEASE DAY HOLY HECK GET ON THIS.” This is also a good time to admit I have very limited time-and-spacial-awareness. I’m the person who cheerfully believes, every. freaking. time., that I can fit 6 hours of writing into 30mins before bed. And then I wonder why I never sleep, but anyway.
Also I hope you are beholding the GLORY that is the finished copy of The Boy Who Steals Houses!! I got sent two (the rest of author-copies will come later) and I may have just cried over my package. (I sent the second one off to my critique partner Maraia who this book seriously wouldn’t exist without.😘)
PREORDER DETAILS
Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Booktopia | Book Depository
Also NOTE: It’s out in Australia on the 9th, instead of the 4th! So you get to suffer and wait longer.
I wrote The Boy Who Steals Houses in November 2016.
It was a NaNoWriMo novel! It was also a heckin’ mess. So if that doesn’t encourage you to resuscitate your beloved but also catastrophically messy NaNo drafts — then what will. There is hope out there, in the darkness.
I’d signed my 2-book deal (starting with A Thousand Perfect Notes) back in June of 2016, so I didn’t know what that “untitled 2nd contemporary” was going to be. My plan was to write a ton, cry a bit, and pitch ideas to my editors. I ended up writing two full novels and coming up with a few other pitches. Writing grew strangely hard right then. I had ATPN signed and in edits and there fore I had plenty of time to panic. (Ex: COULD I EVEN WRITE?!?! WAS ATPN A FLUKE!?!? have i ever written a novel in my life).
Am I dramatic?? Pshaw.
Anyway. The pitch that everyone pointed to with a YES was for → The Boy Who Steals Houses.
(What about the other contemporaries I’ve written and pitched? Some got rejected, as that’s the business. And some I’ve scoured their cold corpses and gone through their pockets to take scenes for other books.)
TBWSH was officially confirmed to be my 2nd novel around November 2017.
That’s pretty fast ok!! Almost exactly 1 year since it even crawled sulkily into existence.
And next?
edits edits edits edits edits edits edits edits edits edits
Actually the whole process of how TBWSH got to be a final draft felt very different from how it went with my debut, A Thousand Perfect Notes. So basically n o t h i n g is certain. Except cake. Bless cake.
➸ The Boy Who Steals Houses required a rather large edit.
The first things authors do when asked to rewrite something is: cry. I cried. It was a daunting taste and I was a New Green Author Hatchling still (ATPN wasn’t out yet remember). I was also insecure about writing about two things that were very personal to me: (1) anxiety, and (2) autism. When you splatter your heart on the table and people say, “Hm, this needs to be better,” it’s a terrifying moment of: I’m wrong. How could I be so so wrong. I shouldn’t be writing this. Cue me staring into the bottomless pit of despair.
So that life meltdown lasted, um, one day. Then I wanted to work.
The thing with being a traditional author and working with your editor is: they are ON YOUR SIDE. They see your work, they see the imperfections and the gnarly edges that you don’t see. Because you’re way too close to your own vision of the project. Half of my intentions for the story where still in my head. NOT on the page. They kinda needed to be on the page!
So we fixed it. We got MY full vision on the page. I worked with my editors ideas. (My agent is really supportive and close in my journey too and weighs in when I need her!) We made the book 100 x better, kept my vision, polished it, and turned out a book I’m so intensely in love with it makes my heart fit to burst.
Changing your story, your baby, will always be scary. But writing a novel isn’t a one person job. If your editor knows your book’s heart and knows *your* heart, then you’ll both work your hardest to turn this story into a fully incredible novel.
I emphasis this because I get a lot of unpublished writers tell me, “Yeah but I don’t want anyone to *change* me.” And look, I get the stubborn feels? Like I said: this is our baby. Our hardest work. But your editor is here to make it your best work. Not just your hardest. You’ve got the passion. They’ve got the professional knowledge to get your passion into trim shape.
ugh i love just love having people help me with my work lmao otherwise I’m a mess
Things That Changed Between Drafts
- I added in the flash backs!! I LOVE THE FLASH BACKS. These were my editor’s idea.
- Also fun fact: I legit wrote “backflash” every single time in the manuscript and my editor is like, “Uh did you know it’s flashback?” Well there.
- I trimmed some scenes. I felt sad losing them, but also…the book was really long and as cute as the scenes were, they were pointless haha. (But you WILL get to see a deleted scene as part of my blog tour! More details will come!)
- Avery’s character got a large overhaul. He’s my autistic character and I was scared to change him — but also the way he is in the final book? It’s 1000% what I wanted but didn’t quite get to originally.
- The violence…had to be…toned…down. (Lmao. I swear I’m nice in person in real life.)
- Approximately 39849839 typos had to be fixed.
- I actually changed almost ALL the De Lainey kids’ names! The sole De Lainey who kept their name was Jeremy. I named him after A CHILD’S PICTURE BOOK ABOUT A KOOKABURRA.
- And we did a bit of UK vs Australian translating. Apparently the British do not have “eskys”. What’s wrong with you lot.
Right! So the massive edits were finished! Then what?
Then waiting. Looots of waiting. I’d maybe do a few more tweaks. Copy edits came in. I did a last minute panicked fix of the very final pages.
I got to see the cover! It’s designed by Thy Bui who also did covers for: Shadow & Bone, The Astonishing Colour of After and Everless! I originally did hope it was going to be more yellow, because it’s a Goldilocks retelling. But in the end it’s perfect and I was stoked with everyone’s reactions. The keys are utter perfection and fit in with the story so well!
Acknowledgements writing time: aka when I freak out because WHAT IF I FORGET SOMEONE. I got all emotional while writing them though, so when you read the acknowledgements: picture me with my heart melting like a pot of warmed chocolate.
The dedication? I used a line out of the actual book:
if lost please return to the De Laineys
This captures both everything Sam feels and everything my readers also feel (!!) because, no joke, I am getting constant messages saying “I WANNA BE ADOPTED BY THE DELAINYS TOO.” Mood, my friends.
And on April 4th it’s going to be in bookstores 😍 and I’m going to be a happy mess.
This book stole my heart. It is both a story where I wrote vulnerable things and also heart things. There were so many times I thought it wouldn’t make it — but it did. And I just…!! Do you want to get an umbrella so I can cry on you, maybe? Because, me right now.
And look, I don’t know what happens after TBWSH. Being an author isn’t a place of guarantees. I have fingers so tightly crossed that TBWSH will do well, sell well, and be loved — and that I’ll be able to sell another book and keep telling you all my heart’s stories. So we’ll see, OK!?
Right now I’m excited and anxious about release day. I’m in love with this book and I can’t wait for you to meet my disaster son, Sam, and his desperate wish to find the home and family he is looking for.
WOW! What an insightful and amazing post. Also duh.. congratulations!!!!
Thank you so much for putting together this in-depth look on what happens behind the scenes and what you went through as an artist to put your work out into the world. It is truly amazing to read.
Thank you, Susan!! I know the behind-the-scenes are different for most writers/publishers, but I’m glad it’s helpful to share my experiences too!
OH MY GOSH I’m so happy for you!
I can only imagine trying to publish a book. (It’s my dream but I’m pretty sure it won’t happen)
I’m so excited to read it!!!
Anyway, congratulations!!!!!!!!! HAVE SOME CAKE. (Vanya cake with whipped cream is delicious is you haven’t tried it… TRY IT)
I’m sorry- autocorrect decided to change a perfectly normal word (vanilla) into a very unusual word. I’m very sorry. Vanilla, not Vanya.
omg I was going to say VANYA?!? it’s the UMBRELLA ACADEMY IN A CAKE! But also vanilla cake is good too. I will eat that instead of eating Vanya.
Alsoooo no self-doubt talk here!! If you work for it, I’m sure you can make it as an author 💛 I mean look at the mess that is me and I got there haha.
I am so happy for you! tbwsh looks soooooooo adorabble I WANT IT SO BAD! You are so inspiring. CONGRATULATIONS
omg 😭💛 thank you!!
Congratulations! I like these kinds of posts because I’m always curious about the behind-the-scenes stuff.
I’m glad you like it! And like, same tbh. I always want to know the behind-the-scenes of other authors, and I know it’s different for everyone, which makes it doubly interesting to read all the ways books come together?!
CAIT I’M SO PROUD OF YOU. I love how open and REAL you are about what it takes to publish a book. It’s so inspiring and awesome! I cannot wait for this book 👏👏
😭💛 thank you, Charis!! You’re so kind and I’m so grateful for your support!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH AND I CAN’T WAIT FOR OTHER BOOKDRAGONS TO READ IT! Your son broke my heart but I also legit whispered “this book is so beautiful” after I finished reading it. It’s THAT good and I want all the world to know it. Supporting you is a huge honor and I will forever love Sam and the De Laineys.
I AM SO EXCITED FOR THAT DELETED SCENE THO. like I need it now??? You can write one whole book full of De Lainey x Sam banter and I will die happy.
WISHING YOU ALL THE LUCK! SENDING YOU ALL THE CAKES! WILL ALWAYS BE HERE FOR YOU XX
😭💛omg Rain, just wait a sec while I go cry on you for a while because this means so much to meeeeee. I love the De Laineys and I’m just so relieved that everyone else loves them too!!
I am EXCITED! TBWSH is one of my most anticipated releases and I’ll definitely be buying it. I also hope that one day America will buy your books so I can recommend them to my friends without having to loan them out. Also I saw one of my Goodreads friends got an arc and said that this is even MORE heartbreaking than ATPN, I’m ready to be broken again
Thank you for being excited !! 🙌🏻 And tbh I’m really curious to know which of my books is more heartbreaking…it will be time for a poll at some stage when people have had a chance to compare. (Obviously I’m very professional here and this is a good thing to do. 😂)
I love that you shared this story! Not only was it super interesting, but also inspirational. Also makes me think of a book I just read, “Go Set A Watchman”… from what I’ve heard that was draft one of “To Kill A MockingBird” and wow how far that story came! Can’t wait to read your book! Also, your interview is live on my blog this coming Wednesday.
keturahskorner.blogspot.com
Aww thank you, lovely!! 💛💛I just feel so grateful to all my blogging friends for your support too!!
AHH its a physical book! Congrats! I think I remember when you shared the Pinterest board for it during NaNo?
It sounds like it was a bit of a different experience than your debut… hope you get a chance to catch your breath now, it sounds like it’s been a marathon!
I’M SO HAPPY HOLDING IT!😍 And omg yes…back when it was that mess of a NaNo book!? I’m still so shocked that it worked haha. NaNo books can be revived!! (And honestly it has been A Lot happening. 🙈Guess it’s back to the drafting process now haha.)
I’ve been so busy that I didn’t realize it was coming out so soon AHHHH I’M SO EXCITED FOR IT!!!!! And the cover is so gorgeous <333
ALL THE FLAILS. ✨🎉💕😍💕😍💕😍
I have been on a book buying ban since January and, so far, I have been succeeding. But that’s mainly because UK bookstores didn’t get The Dead Queens Club in. This one may break me. April was always going to break me, because there are a couple of things out this month that I would love to read ASAP…
“The violence…had to be,,,toned down” is a mood.
I mean I should probably apologise but like alsooo if TBWSH breaks a ban then 😘 I’M SO GRATEFUL.
(Apparently I’m scaring the children. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )
Oh I’m SO happy for you Cait! This was such a cool insider kind of post to read! XD I know I’ve been worrying a lot about the future of my own writing career because I’m thinking way too far ahead about what would happen if I ever did get published and if I could even handle everything that comes with it. Which is stupid, since I haven’t even started my first draft yet! XD
But I guess I picked a good day to post your interview since it kinda goes with this post! It’s up now if you want to see it!
https://thefrozenlibrary.wordpress.com/2019/03/23/the-boy-who-steals-houses-author-interview-with-c-g-drews/
And I CAN’T WAIT until my copy of TBWSH comes so I can read it as a reward for getting through Camp Nano when I’m done. 😛
Definitely don’t overthink things before you even get your draft finished!! It’s really important to JUST WRITE to start with. Get your book as good and polished as you can…then start worrying about the publishing. 😘 Also thank you for posting the interview!!
I’m trying I’m trying! 🥺😰 It’s just REALLY hard not to overthink, especially with things I hear about through blogging.
Awe you’re welcome! 🥰
WHAT NOOOOOO WE HAVE TO WAIT TIL THE NINTH? UNFAIR CAIT.
also what the heck is wrong with Brit’s? why they don’t have eskys? (still tryna decide if it should be eskies or eskys)
I absolutely cannot wait for TBWSH and the deleted scene !!!! sounds amazing. I am buying it on the ninth, no questions.xxxx
I’M SORRY, RHIANA. I’m not sure why Australia is dragging the chains here tbh. But does this mean I get release day cake, twice??? 🙌🏻 (also thank you so so much for being excited!!)
AHHH OMG CONGRATS CAIT!! I am so proud of you and i am sure your second book will be amazing!! I have followed your blog for a couple of years now and you’ve been such an inspiration for me as a blogger and now your a published author and ajajshah I just cannot wait to read The Boy Who Steals Houses!! Great post as always :))
omg Jamie 😭💛 this is going to make me feel aaaall the things. Thank you for reading my blog for so long (suffering through my nonsense haha) and just being so supportive and encouraging!! It means a lot to me!
The 9th? tHE NINTH!? you have betrayed your country. You said the 4th. I cannot wait five more days.
But anyway, congrats! It’s amazing to see your second book and I hope to see it in the flesh (in the page?) soon. But apparently not as soon as anyone anywhere else in the world.
I’M SORRY. I feel bad 😭😂I forgot that Australia likes to do things on their own time. Island time? Why are we so disagreeable. 😂 Eeep, but thank you!! IN THE FLESH <-- sounds super creepy and I'm here for it.
This post was honestly so inspiring. I would ADORE to be traditionally published someday, but — as you said — I’m one of those people who are SO SCARED that someone will try and change my original vision. It frightens me to no end, but I know that if I ever get an agent and an editor, they’re just going to want my book to be the absolute best book it can be. And getting to see even a glimpse of your own struggle with changing things to make them better is so insanely inspiring. Part of the reason I love your books and your blog so much is because you’re so real and honest about everything when it comes to writing and publishing. Thank you so much for that. <333
AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SECOND BOOK CHILD!!!! ASDFGHJKL I AM SO HAPPY AND EXCITED FOR YOU!!!! *flails eternally*
omg thank you, Kenzie! 😂 And I truly believe you’ll get here someday soon too!! And yeah I think there’s a lot of weird “fear spreading” that goes on before you get published? Like I was under the impression that once you went traditional, you had 0% control over anything. I mean, yes you have to give up full control of course! And it doesn’t always go to plan. But you’re literally collabing with professionals to make your work better?! I mean, holy heck, I’m so glad no one had to read my first drafts. 😂😂They were bad! This version is much better!
And ajfkslad thank you. I really do want to talk about the honest things too, good and bad. 💛💛
This book is AMAZING. It’s already in my top 5 books of this year, and I can’t wait to shove it down everyone I know’s throats and scream about it from rooftops and in train stations and on my blog, and when my real copy turns up I am going to post it all over instagram until people start unfollowing me for posting the same thing. (The ARC is pretty too though…)
Thank YOU for being an amazing author with some truly beautiful stories to tell. You make our lives as readers so much better.
I’ll just be over here FLAILING forever !!! 😍😍 My day is made, truly!!
YOU’RE SUCH AN INSPIRATION AND COMFORT. HONESTLY, I FEEL A BIT LIKE YOU’RE THE WRITER BIG SISTER TELLING ALL OF US LITTLE WRITERS THAT IT’LL BE OKAY, AND SHOWING US HOW IT’S DONE.
ALSO I’M VERY EXCITED ABOUT TBWSH BECAUSE I KNOW I’M GOING TO FALL IN LOVE WITH IT IMMEDIATELY. I JUST HAVE A LOT OF AGGRESSIVELY POSITIVE FEELINGS TOWARDS THIS BOOK, WHICH IS WHY I CAN’T STOP SHOUTING.
I HAVE A LOT OF AGGRESSIVE POSITIVE FEELINGS FOR IT TOO. And also I am very pleased to be the big sister here, telling you all I’m still panicking even with my books out 😂 At some point I will get it together, bUT IT IS NOT this day.
Reading this post just made my heart grow 3 sizes bigger and warm up and I feel like a happy melting marshmallow okay. I’m so, so, SO happy and proud of you and I can’t WAIT for your book to hit shelves and bookstores and online bookstores and to read and love it. It’s so interesting to read the entire behind the scenes stuff and to see how much has changed, too, between your draft and all the edits. Also, I love flashbacks and definitely looking forward to reading these 😀
Thank you for sharing this and ahhhhhhhhh excitement, SOON yay!! <3
😭💛 omg thank you, Marie. I swear I’m SO emotional for this one and it’s making me all asjfdklads just to write up these posts. I’m so glad you’re enjoying reading them!
I’m SO excited for this book!!!!!! But mostly grieved because I live in America and so I won’t be able to get it from the library, and I’m too broke to buy a cracker much less a book.😭😭😭😭 so I’m really hoping that I’ll get lucky and win your giveaway🤞
Congrats again!!!!!!!!!!!
Most crazily, ~Olive
Or wait isn’t it already over????? Idk my brain is a hard boiled egg today
Aw thanks, Olive!! You should still be able to request your library buys it though, even though it’s not in America! 💛
I remember seeing you write about The Boy Who Steals Houses previously on this blog – oh my God I’m so happy for you that it’s now being published. Honestly, you deserve this, Thanks so much for being so open about this process and giving us a peek behind the curtain – this was such an interesting read. WELL DONE CAIT YOU DESERVE THIS!
Aww this means a lot to me!! Thank you for saying this! And omg yes once upon a time it was just a little wip for NaNo on my blog ahhh, it’s so exciting thinking that it actually went somewhere! 😭💛
SO MUCH YES FOR EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK. *flails eternally*
😍😍YOU ARE AMAZING.
I’m so incredibly excited for you Cait for the 2nd book release that you have! (Also psst can I please have a signed book plate if that is a thing?) I just received my copy and I can’t wait to read it and to shout about it from the rooftops because ILY
omg thank you, lovely 😭💛I’m both extra emotional and happy about this one !!! And I don’t think there will be any bookplates this time?
CAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT I’M SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!
I literally never check my WordPress reader, but now I’m going to start to every day because I never want to miss any of your posts 😂 I do have 2 questions, though.
1. I’m Canadian; what’s an esky?
2. Do you think people should read ATPN before TBWSH?
omg thank you!! 😍 And I *think* maybe I have the emails working again?! Like fingers crossed ajfdksald.
1. Ok GOOGLE the Esky. 😂Nobody knows. I’m mortally wounded.
2. They’re both total standalones and won’t spoil each other, so either way is fine! There’s an Easter Egg in both connecting them, though!
I think you got email working again, because I got a post notification yesterday. 😉
“ugh i love just love having people help me with my work lmao otherwise I’m a mess” FJSDJJ sameee Cait
this was so interesting to see your process & how your meltdown lasted for one day & how your processes for ATPN and TBWSH was so different?? WILD. I’m so excited to read one of your novels, although I’m unsure if I should just wait for it to come out in the US or something?? I’M CONFIDENT YOU’LL BE PUBLISHED HERE. if not, i’ll just force them lmao <3
I know right?! The DRAMA, Cait. 😂 I swear authors are the most dramatic people and editors probably take calming teas while they deal with our nonsense. (Well my family were the ones taking calming teas, but ya know.)
It’s not coming out in the US unfortunately! If you wait for that, you’ll probably never read it.😂 It’s up to you though! No pressure from me whether to read or not haha.
Gah, I am SO EXCITED. I can’t wait to meet Sam and Avery and the De Laineys!!! Thank you so much for sharing your heart and soul with us! I love this post and how you expressed the process and all the feelings. Just a few more days!!!
😍😍 omg thank you, you are so kind!! It’s so nerve-wracking having a book come out, but also SO amazing. I’m really grateful for everyone’s support!!
I’m so excited!! Less than a week to go!
IT’S NEARLY HERE 😍😍😍
I’m so excited for this book and I can’t wait to get to know Avery and the De Laineys! Also, what the hell are eskys? :’) Anyway, I hope you have an amazing publication day/week/month and I fully expect you to celebrate with cake. ♥
omg nobody knows what an esky is!!! I should’ve kept it in and educated the masses.😂It’s like a…cooler? Something you put food in and it keeps it cool while you travel?😂
And thank you, Inge 😭💛
I LOVE getting these behind-the-scenes looks at how books are completed! We see tons about the writing process, but the editing/publishing process can be so vague and mysterious. This is awesome.
So how does a two-book deal work? I didn’t realize TBWSH wasn’t even written when you got that deal. Was the second contemporary supposed to be something else originally or did they love ATPN so much, they knew they wanted another contemporary from you, no matter what it was about?
OMG, how violent was this book that it had to be toned down?? xD I’m so nervous for these feels.
I’m super curious about why character names change. Did your editor have a specific reason in mind for each one or were they just really against certain names, LOL?
No lie, I had to google what an “esky” was . . .
Ahhh I’m so glad you liked it! And I feel that way too?! Like pre-publishing, I felt like I went in knowing nothing because this is the cloak-and-dagger side apparently…meh. 😂
And yes basically! I don’t know how all 2-book deals work but basically I was just contracted for a YA contemporary, and we’d decided on it later. Which is why: cue me writing 39849 books in desperate worry that I wouldn’t come up with one that was good enough.😂 (Also, I knoooow, I know. ATPN was toned down too.😂Bless my editors for saving the children’s innocence here and telling me to chill out.)
Some fo the name changes were my decision? And some were my editor’s suggestions.😂Honestly once you have so many characters in a small book, you start to panic over keeping the names different haha.
Thanks for writing this post! It was so inspirational.