It’s getting to the point where I realise my debut novel comes out in less than a week, and I’m just sit here thinking, “I DID IT???”
I’ve been working towards this for so so long. I often say “IT’S BEEN 5 YEARS IN AZKABAN” because it absolutely has and that’s no small length of time if you think about it. These last 5 years have been absolutely exhausting and full of heartbreak and encouragements and successes and nerves and triumphs — and now I get to actually hold my book???? I sometimes don’t know how to believe this is real.
I’ve been busting to share the details of my publishing journey with you! Every author tumbles into publishing a different way, but it’s interesting to read all the versions…so finally, here we go!
And please FEEL FREE when this post ends, to ask me questions! About publishing or A Thousand Perfect Notes! I may use some of the questions in a little Q&A on release day too.
Do you want to know how I started writing? I have one of those fantastic and heart-warming origin stories.
I was about 6 or 7 years old. I “wrote” the Three Little Bears out with eloquent illustrations and then told my family I’d invented it. HEARTWARMING, SEE? Later, at 12, my little sister started writing stories and was getting way too much attention, so I joined in. But it wasn’t till I was actually 15 that I finished a real book (it was probably barely 40K in retrospect ha) and thought, “Yep, this is going to be my life.”
Author. Bestseller. Adored all over the world. Etc. etc.
I grew up as a rather adorable book monster, the kind who’d hide with Tintin and Narnia on Christmas and ignore everyone, and my house was filled with books…so NONE OF THIS IS MY FAULT. I was doomed. I’ve always been obsessed with storytelling and had an incredible imagination — so figuring out I could tell my own stories plus control the ending plus (obviously) get famous for it someday was life changing.
What more could a little sharp-toothed, curious-eyed book monster want?
At 19, I was ready to start querying.
When I say “I researched”, I mean I was freaking obsessed with it. I still am, honestly. I still research and read and watch and listen to so much about the publishing world.
Before I queried, though: I had critique partners. I’d written dozens of (awful) books. I was really into a few teen writer communities and had feedback from authors. I religiously read advice and tips. I didn’t just work hard, I overworked hard, just in case you wonder if younger-me had some chill?
HAHA HAH AH. NEVER, NO.
- Writing out several versions of my query and ANGUISHING over them.
- I entered a few contests to get critiques.
- One (professional) author said, not only did my book not work, my query was awful too.
- I cried.
- Seriously querying is super hard on your self-esteem.
- I queried in the UK and USA. I’m in Australia, but this was 2013 and as much as I researched, I couldn’t find many Aussie agents?! I remember the biggest one took ONLY snail mail! Which they posted back to me…ya, thanks.
- I pretty much angsted and freaked out over making sure I followed every individual agent’s guidelines.
- I GOT REJECTIONS.
- I didn’t actually track it very well, because the rejections were devastating for me and I’m sooo not the whole “Put your rejections on the wall!” type of writer. My opinion on that: the heck no. I put encouragement on my walls, thanks.
- I did about 20-30 queries? Maybe less.
- They were all form rejections except…maybe…2?????
- Mostly there was nothing.
- Technically I’m still waiting to hear back from about 10 agents. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- I started to think Professional Author Who Said I Wasn’t A Good Writer was right…
- Then I got one yes.
- I only needed one yes.
- I signed with Polly Nolan @ Greenhouse Literary UK (who is, by the way, a super agent and our visions for my writing click so so well and I couldn’t be happier)!!! Seriously best moment.
- This took about 10 months all up.
Things did go slowly at first.
I was signed for a dark YA fantasy that I’d been rewriting and rEWRITING since I was 15, so it was like The Story™ but it needed help. We did a lot of editorial work first. (I still have no idea why I got signed loooool. I’m relieved I did! Don’t get me wrong! BUT HOW DID I GET SIGNED.) Then we went out on submissions to UK publishers.
Then we got rejected.
So my agent said, “What about another book? What about a contemporary?”
And I being (a) desperate, (b) incredibly motivated to work my eyeballs out, (c) wanting this dream to be a reality mORE THAN ANYTHING, (d) being excruciatingly good at saying “yes” and thinking later, and (e) really open to advice…
I said “I’D LOVE TO!”
(Note: I had written 15 books before this. None of which were contemporary.)
Apparently, it seems, I am tolerably good at contemporary. I insert a smug little cute smile here.
Because in 2015 I wrote a little book called “Tremolo.” After revisions and edits, my agent suggested the title, A Thousand Perfect Notes.
In 2016, when I was twenty-one, I signed a 2-book contemporary deal with Orchard / Hachette Children’s UK.
I actually got the email at 4am, because WHO SLEEPS (#insomniac #life) and waited until about 8am for my family to rise from the dead so I could just lurk awkwardly and stare at them which is absolutely how you convey you have a book deal. I swear, I’m super good at communication.
I stood atop a mountain for about 6 months, just screaming in relief. I am a good writer. I am worth a book deal. I worked so freaking hard and long for this and I made it.
(Also I apologies to everyone I ABSOLUTELY LIED TO for the 16 months between signing my deal and announcing it. Ha ha hahaha. Oh wow. I am great.)
Has it been a super easy road?! OH YOU SWEET SUMMER CHILD.
Haha hahha no.
As you can see, I didn’t have any magical shortcuts. I didn’t do query contests or pitchwars (I didn’t even have a twitter for ages?!) and I didn’t have 4989 agents asking for me or 9389 publishers vying for my book. I am the poster child of: “IT JUST TAKES ONE YES” for publishing. And it is so true. This is success and I am proud and happy! And freaKING NERVOUS.
I have social anxiety and autism, which makes communicating hard for me, but my agent and publisher has been 100% onboard with meeting my needs. I have a big online audience, but it actually did 0% in getting my book deal. (It’s the writing that’s important, peoples!) And little things went wrong along the way…like my ARCs didn’t have my copy-edits in them, and I didn’t get to do a cover reveal, and there’s been lots of niggling things behind-the-scenes that haven’t been perfect. I have stressed. I have eaten through a few brick walls.
I’m not telling you that to complain. I’m saying publishing isn’t perfectly smooth for anyone! It has its highs and lows. I’m pretty sure 0% of debut authors have got it all together.
And between all the waiting and hoping — I was writing. If I can ever give one piece of advice to writers pursuing publication: WRITE AND WRITE SOME MORE. Write literally millions of words. Nothing makes you better and more confident than sheer amounts of practise.
And the things I still can’t stop happily freaking out about??
Getting translation deals! Seeing people wanting for my book without me having to spend 398 years begging them to read it like I did pre-getting-a-deal (HAHAH LIFE IS SWEET). My editors saying the most AMAZING things about my owrk. Also my editor crying…oh oh my halo just slipped can someone grab that for me.
Having people understand my work. Having professionals improve my work and now my writing is 100 x better and I still can’t get over that. Having my book go to book festivals in Europe! Getting a gorgeous cover (!!!) Knowing I have a SECOND book coming out in 2019. My publishers bought a book off me that didn’t even EXIST yet. I still can’t get over how amazing that is.
And holding my hard work in my trembling paws and knowing that I finally finally did it after I thought I might never get here.
I am all sparkly and my heart is so full right now!
Also, I will just say: getting a book deal is wonderful for the self-confidence. 10/10 would recommend.
Thanks for coming along on this publishing journey! Even if you’ve just started reading my blog or been here for the last 7 years…it’s been amazing to share this with you! Look I’m getting emotional, ugh, someone bury me.
A Thousand Perfect Notes is out in just 5 days!
Okay, wow. This post is so beautiful and pure. Except the part about your halo slipping, but it happens to the best of us. I’m really glad you kept going on your publishing journey, it’s encouraging to the rest of us. I can’t wait to read ATPN and the Boy Who Steals Houses and any and all books you publish after that.
Congratulations, Cait. You made it.
AHH, ALICE, THANK YOU. 😭💛 I mean who needs a halo anyway. I’m totally fine. Ahem. And I’m glad this post was encouraging! I feel like we mostly hear the glittery and impossibly amazing publishing stories, so it’s good to know there are average ones out there. 😂 No glamorous shortcuts for me haha. But I still GOT THERE.
(And can’t wait till I’m flailing over your books on the shelf someday too. 😉)
Wow your journey sounds 10/10 accurate for a majority of my life thus far lmao (let’s hope it keeps going that way xD)
So far my writing journey has been REALLY similar to yours.
I’ve always loved hearing and telling stories (I would look at pictures books and invent a story to go along with it for my little sister), started out drawing comics, eventually learned I couldn’t draw consistently to save my life, looked at that box of old writing assignments where teacher’s praised me and thought “Hey… I like writing too”. *cue 10-11 years of furiously developing my genre preferences, writing style, ideas, character tropes, etc, etc, etc*
And now here I am.
Desperately trying to finish my novel within the next couple years so I can start querying.
And, speaking of querying, a) hOW DO YOU WRITE THEM and b) how do you find the right companies to send them to? I’m a member of my local literary community and know several people who work for/are involved with small publishers [and a couple “small publishers” that are really self-publishers (albeit at a lovely low price)], but I just have… no clue… how to say… “Hey so my novel’s actually done, any chance you’ll wanna publish it?”
Because I am smol young bean and they are big scary grown-ups who don’t like to listen to me
Eeeeep!! Someday I will be flailing over your books tOO AND THIS IS FANTASTIC NEWS.😉 And honestly it’s so good to have like a childhood/teenagerdom of writing and just loving it! I think it means we sometimes take longer to write well because we’re so young…like I mean, my books didn’t get reasonable until my 16th! Which is insane! And I know other people get published on way earlier projects. But hey, I had fun while I was learning. 😂
GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND. Seriously there are endless resources for querying tips and advice. There are whole sites with like lists of which agent takes what, and also twitter is often great for stalking agents! (Erm, following….nicely…😂) And like it definitely depends on who you’re going through. If you want to do small press, then their website probably has guidelines for submission? All agents will have websites that tell their guidelines too!
And honestly there’s also no reason to tell anyone your age when querying. I was querying at 19, but I didn’t mention my age AT ALL. Treat yourself like a professional and everyone else will too. 😉
I would love for you to flailing over my books! Because I have a distinct feeling I will be flailing (and probably crying) over yours! And yes, I feel like starting young is DEFINITELY helpful, especially when you write YA, because I cannot tell you the amount of YA books where I just stare at the page and go “That’s not how teenagers act.” I personally haven’t gotten a lot of projects completed, but I’ve done so MANY projects that I feel like I’ve written a gazillion novels xD
Ah Google. The only thing I’ve been able to consistently trust throughout this journey xDDD
Lol that’s sounds like it wouldn’t be too hard, but I’ve met a lot of these publishers in person so they know I’m a smol bean and keep telling me “Wait ’till you’re older” and I don”T WANNA
Finishing is important though!! You have to do that part too! 😉
And honestly…those publishers don’t sound like people you’d want to work with at ALL if they’re being like that to your age?!? I would definitely be looking for people who will treat you as a professional instead. 😳 Avoid anyone who isn’t respectful and excited about your work!
Ah yes
Bringing all the plot together and then letting your little children go off into the big bad world without you there to make your lives miserable.
And thank you. I’ll definitely be considering other options, but they are one of my easiest insights into publishing at the moment, so I can’t cut them loose just yet xD
UM HELLO I LOVED THIS POST!! Mostly because I’m OBSESSED with reading Publishing stories because they are SO interesting because it varies so much with different authors?! AND HELLO YOU KNEW in TWENTY SIXTEEN. Holy heck, here I was asking about book deals and release dates a year ago and you were like “Uh. Oh. It’s not up to me so i have no idea!!” I mean it kindaaaa sucks you didn’t get a fantasy published BUT I MEAN ATPN IS FANTASTIC AND TBWSH SOUNDS SO GOOD TOO. But like fantasy is my FAVOURITE thing ever and I really hope I get to read a dark stabby fantasy novel by you one day!! Ahhh I’m so excited for release AND my illumicrate box shall be here soon (in like a couple of hours!) 😉
AHHHH I’m so glad you enjoyed reading it, Ilsa, you fantastic bean you.💛😍 And it is so interesting to read publishing stories right?! Every time I see an author announce their deal I’m like: “OK now tell us your entire process we must know now.” 😂😂
I LIED to you all for so long. I am so sorry.😂
Maybe one day I will get to write fantasy too?! Fingers crossed! I really do love writing contemporary though and I’m so excited to be an author and just telling stories so (!!!)
It is the BEST Illumicrate box. I’m not biased at all, of course. 😇😇😇
Oh! This is a wonderful READ! Thank you, thanxshuu, thku!
Thank you for reading!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Wowwwww, Cait. I have goosebumps right now and I’m so damn happy for you as I read this. I’m so so so glad things went well for you and ughhh I can’t wait to read you book❤️❤️❤️
OMG THANK YOU.💛 THIS MEANS SO SO MUCH TO ME.
Awesome post! So excited for ATPN. <3
I'm curious where you would recommend new authors look for agents TO query?
Ahhh thank you!💛 I hope you like it!!
And oh wow, I’m trying to remember haha. I did a lot of just googling? And went on places like querytracker…I think there was another one but I can’t even remember now. But seriously: google EVERYTHING. I was google’s BFF.
This is so cool. Cait, and absolutely, absolutely deserved, not that you need my validation (that said, you’re the excuse I’m giving for eating three different kinds of cake today)
I do want to be published. I want to write, professionally, and be published. But I’m in no hurry, because I never want to be a fulltime author (though I might change my mind on this) and I want to write for other things, like journalism and academia as well. at the moment, I have less time than I’d like to be able to give my writing, and I am making my peace with that. That said, I still love asking questions, so….
How did you know that dark fantasy book was the one you wanted to query? Why is there a gap between book deals being signed and being announced? (I assumes it’s for publicity?) Do you want all your books published? do you feel trapped by writing only contemporary to be published so far? how did your family react when you told them about your deal?
THANK YOU, SHANTI. I AM AN EMOTIONAL BUCKET. Seriously my Vulcan facade is slipping someone send help. 😭💛💛Also I feel you blame me for eating cake a LOT and I just want to say I 1000% support and endorse it and think you’re living your best life.
That’s super cool that you want to write AND do other things!! I know writing was like my whole life dream, but I think it can be really good for your writing to actually have other interests/professions. It gives you a bigger scope of things to write about!
1. Honestly I don’t even know… 😂It was kind of just THE BOOK that I’d always been writing, always been obsessed with. I was pretty devastated to shelve it, but not hopeless at least!
2. It’s kind of because contracts take a while to get together!
3. Omg definitely not my older ones.😂The newer ones, yes. I dreeeeam.
4. Not trapped, tbh. I mean I want to write fantasy someday as well, but I really love writing contemporary and I love the reaction it gets! (Aka tears and shrieking.)
5. I think all our faces bROKE from smiling so much.😂
oooh I thought of another question: being a more fantasy oriented writer, what writing styles/skills from fantasy transfer into your contemporary writing? or are they pretty similar?
Honestly, lately I’ve been writing more contemporary 😂 so it’s hard to say?! I think my voice is pretty consistent but I make less internet meme jokes in my fantasies. (I mean I TRY TO. But my readers say “Cait…” and I have to retract sadly.)
I FINALLY ORDERED ATPN this week!!!!! I can’t wait to get it!!! I went on book depository and was like ‘right well it’s been far too long and I still haven’t ordered it’ and it happened to be on sale (yay for the student budget!) and Book Depo will post it to me and LIFE IS GOOD. I love your message in this post: it only takes one yes. I think often the books which get a thousand publishing houses begging for the rights and such get a lot of publicity, and that’s fine, but it’s good to remember that most publishing isn’t like that. Anyway, so excited for the last few days and I’m so glad to have been on the journey with you, just a bit 😀 😀
(Could you tell your critique partners? What’s the scene that you had to edit the most? What’s a big thing you had to cut out of the book? What inspired you to start writing a contemporary about music? )
THANK YOU, SHAR. THAT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME. IT TRULY DOES. AHHHH. And it is kind of cheap on BD isn’t it?! So nice of them. 😂😂 And yes!! I think it’s so much more common to hear the “shiny sparkly” stories where an author got a 6-figure deal with 1948 publishing houses begging for them…and the rest of us feel that’s so unattainable. And I LOVE that some authors get that, but it’s also totally fine to be the person working slowly and quietly towards their dream?! Getting that one yes! that first book! Starting small and growing! 😍
Questionssss:
1. I’m not sure what the Critique Partner question means, sorry. 😂😂
2. A lot of the darker scenes had to be edited a lot! they started off…too dark apparently. oops.😂
3. Nothing, can you believe!
4. And I actually am going to do a blog post on this I think! But it’s mostly because I always was a musician + a bit obsessed with retellings and wanted to retell a classical musician’s life!
Cait I am so happy for you and so proud of you! You deserve this all the way!! Obviously you know I am a writer but lately I have been keeping more to myself, have been writing more for myself. I started writing in earnest much later than I would have liked to and I’m still trying to find my voice and my rhythm 💛
ESTHER. YOU ARE SO KIND. 😭💛💛💛 *SENDS YOU ALL THE CAKE* And hey I am a huge supporter of writing for yourself! My second book was a fully “I’m going to write about all the things I want to” and I had no idea if it’d ever get picked up…but miracles happen?! I’M ROOTING FOR YOU AND YOUR JOURNEY TOO!!
This post is amazing and I literally teared up reading it.
I know I’ve said this before…but I’m so, SO, SO happy for you, Cait! You 100% deserve all the publishing happiness in the world. <3 <3 <3 And I'm sure there's going to be many. many more books coming from you after '19 too. 🙂 I'm seriously TERRIFIED that I'll never be published again. As much as I LOVE my debut (which I do, obviously, otherwise I don't think it'd have made it to the being-published stage) I want to take my career in a different direction as my heart is 1000% in high/epic fantasy and it's LITERALLY MY DREAM to have a SFF book out in the world.
And ahhh!! It's getting so close to release day!!!!
I’M SO EMOTIONAL AJFKDSLAD. 😭💛💛I got so emotional writing this, I swear…there goes my Vulcan facade. 😂
And I so so want to read more books from you, Kara! ! I’M ROOTING FOR YOU. And also completely understand wanting to switch directions…like I’d love to publish a fantasy someday and I honestly never thought I’d be a contemporary writer.😂But it turned out really well for me?! I do love writing this genre and the response I’ve gotten for ATPN has been insane and my heart is so full. ahhhhhhh
Oh wow I love this post so much!! Thank you for sharing your journey with us; it’s always so encouraging to hear other writers’ journeys! Also, allll the applause for how hard you work! *thunderous applause*
A question I have for you is: You said you watch the publishing industry very closely; what resources would you recommend to stay on top of it?
(P.S. I plan to go to my local bookstore on ATPN’s release day, and have them order a copy in! Can’t wait to read it! <3 )
THANK YOU FOR READING IT.😍 And it’s always interesting to know how writers get to where they are right?! I always stalk other writers’ origin stories like this too.😂😂
Ah haha okay saying “twitter” probably sounds bad, but following publishers/agents is super good with keeping up-to-date with the moods of things. I also read a lot of publishing blogs back in the day (like publishingcrawl) but I was more intense with those while I was querying. Anyone (blogs/industry professionals) who’s talking about the industry = read their articles! It’s super helpful.
AWWWW, MELISSA!! I’M SO SO HONOURED BY THAT. 💕 I hope you like it!
Honestly, this was just the loveliest of posts Cait <3
I had a smile on my face the entire time because it's so clear how happy and proud you are AS YOU SHOULD BE! You worked so freakin' hard and it paid off! Not to go overboard or anything, but J.K Rowling is the poster girl for "it only takes one yes" as well– that's all it ever takes. And if anyone thinks that's easy–working your butt off so you could even get that one yes–they can go stab themselves for all I care.
I know you don't really know me in RL or anything but I honestly feel so proud and happy for you. It's going to sound weird but you remind me so much of my RL best friend who is autistic and has anxiety and communication is really difficult for her as well (she is also wickedly funny like you are) and I connect so much to everything you say because I see it all the time and she is the best person I know.
I honestly cannot wait to read TPN and I've been hovering over the pre-order link for The Boy Who Steals Houses ever since you announced it because my mind says it's irrational to pre-order a book a year before it comes out by my heart says I need it in my life and I'm just ensuring that it will be lol
Anyways, SO THRILLED FOR YOU and also SUPER EXCITED TO READ EVERYTHING YOU WRITE!
<3
I am GLAD you liked it.😂And haha yes good point about JK Rowling 😂 although I feel like she’s not a good comparison story for anyone anymore looool with how ridiculously famous her books are. But it does take that “one yes” and I know we tend to hear all the stories of people having a 6-figure deals and 12 publishing houses auctioning off their books…and that’s AWESOME and I bear no grudge against those lucky authors! But it’s not the reality for most of us.😂And that’s totally okay!! It doesn’t matter how you get here, so long as you do. :’)
And aww, no it’s SO encouraging of you to say! I appreciate it!! *sends you call the cake* 💛💛 And clearly you have excellent friends because she sounds amazing.💛
Ah hahaah you are so nice to preorder, honest! I can’t even with how much that means to me. I hope ATPN lives up to expectations. 😂😍😍
I think she is the best comparison story BECAUSE of how famous her books are now. Just think of all the people who rejected JK when she’s one of the biggest writers in history now. Like, that one yes was all she needed to prove that her books are good and worth investing in (also, I feel like it must be very satisfying to know all those people who told you no are eating their hats and facepalming themselves lol)
I think the “one yes” stories are far more common than the other kind, but BECAUSE it’s so uncommon we actually hear more about those super deals. Like, there is no “point” in reporting on the “normal” kind because that’s the norm, and people tend to retweet and re-tell those amazing, shocking success stories. I would rather hear more “one yes” stories, though. I find that far more helpful and hopeful than those crazy ones because let’s be honest, the chance of us being that one in a million case is rather miniscule ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
She is incredible. I don’t really deserve her most days but luckily for me, she doesn’t notice lol
I’m pretty sure it will live up. Not saying that randomly–I have loved every WIP that I have seen of yours and I love your writing style and the way it flows in blog posts, reviews, and Instagram. AND we have a really similar taste in books. Sure, a book is a completely different medium and bound to be different, but it will still hold your unique voice which I always love ^_^
I do know what you mean with JK Rowling, but I honestly don’t think it’s wise for authors to compare themselves to her. Sorry. hahah. It’s just her books are such an anomaly with how famous they got (literally the most famous children’s books in the world) and that’s not something anyone else has achieved, so I personally think it’d just suck to be aiming for that? Hope that doesn’t sound defeatist!
And that’s why it’s important to tell the “one yes” stories for sure! Totally agree! It’s more encouraging and attainable for newbie authors to read!
Aww yoU’RE TOO LOVELY. YOU’RE MAKING ME GET ALL EMOTIONAL. 💛💛
I don’t think you need to aim to be JK (I certainly am not aiming there lol) but I do think it’s such an amazing source of hope (for me, personally) to know that one of the biggest authors of our times has received countless “no”s. Like, ‘course I’m gonna get a lot of no if even JK got them lol All you need is one person to believe in you ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
ATPN IS ON ITS WAY TO ME! I REPEAT, IT’S ON ITS WAY! Now If TBD will work it’s magic the way it has for the last year I’m gonna get it in one to two weeks so fingers crossed!!
Congrats on getting your book published, Cait 🙂 It sounds like you were seriously committed and it must have been a stressful journey. I’d like to publish a book one day but haven’t worked as hard as you haha. I’m actually writing an essay on literary agents for my uni course right now so I know the struggle of finding an agent! It seems really hard to find an agent so I’m so happy to hear you found one! Also I’m looking forward to reading your book and will be buying it when it comes out ☺️
Thank you, Charlotte!!💖 And YES. I don’t go into things by halves haha, it has truly been my dream and obsession for absolutely years. (Nearly 10 years now tbh.) And yes finding an agent is SO hard and that’s why I’m so lucky and…surprised…I got one with a book that still needed so much work hahah.😂 Changed my LIFE.
Good grief, I, AKA doesn’t cry over books, just got emotional reading about your publishing journey. Is there any hope for dry-eyedness when I read ATPN next week? There’s not is there. Dammit.
THERE IS NO HOPE. *tackle hugs you* 😭😭💖💖 I’m so glad you enjoyed reading this though!! I was pretty emotional typing it up!
But hey, being the first author to really make me cry would be EVEN MORE SPECIAL, right? 🙈😄
Cait, I am so happy for you! I know I haven’t been active in the blogosphere recently, so I haven’t been cheering you on as much as I wanted to, but gosh, I’m so happy for you I could cry. Obviously our experiences are not identical, and I don’t have a book deal, but I can totally relate to your feeling of five years in Azkaban. I seem so excited to read your book! And also your second book! afjkdljfgjhvmgxxfhgccsdf
Still waiting for my yes, but stories like yours give me hope.
So, for my question for your q&a, I guess I would ask, during the periods of discouragement and rejection, how did you manage to keep writing? Because I don’t know about you, but it gets extra hard for me when it feels like everyone hates my work.
Also, lurking and staring is obviously the BEST way to tell anyone about a book deal.
LIZ!!! It feels like forever ahh!! HELLO!!!💛And omg I can’t wait till I’m picking your book off the shelf too…your writing posts always gave me such inspiration and flails too!!
Honestly I’m trying to remember since it was 4 years ago 😂😂 but my writing journal says I wrote about 3 books in that year?! So I think that was massive distraction time.😂 But seriously rejection made me feel like absolute muuuud, especially when it was from people who SHOULD be offering advice/encouragement and not tearing down?! Forever salty at that author contest I entered.😂
YOU DESERVE EVERYTHING AND MORE CAIT. I’m so happy for you. I discovered you on Twitter like almost a year ago but you’ve been a huge part of my life ever since. That is not even an exaggeration. You encouraged me to write more and read more and I’m so grateful for that.
It’s so nice reading about your journey. What languages will ATPN be translated to? I’m just curious. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. WE LOVE YOU AND WE’RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR WRITING JOURNEY 😄
RAIN THANK YOU. 😭💛💛THIS HONESTLY MEANS SO MUCH TO ME. It’s so surreal that I’ve got here (!!) and knowing I have so many epic bookworms and writers shouting encouragment means sooo much.
(And it’ll be in Polish and another language I can’t announce yet!)
Hey cait…I must say that you are very inspirational for me. I have been following you for 2 years and totally believed that you would make it some day. I am so excited for your book I can’t even tell you. Also could you give me some advice on writing. Especially how to end a book because thats a place I always get stuck at. Also a big hearty congratulations for your debut.
Awww, this is so kind of you to say! I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH. 💛
Endings are really hard! I feel you need to focus on a couple of things, like figuring out if you need to leave it open for more books or if it’s a standalone. Also giving your characters finished arcs is important. And most of all, making sure the stakes are high for the finale!
Bravo, Cait!! A long journey but you’re in the thick of it and thanks for sharing how it’s gone for you.. <3
Was there anything about your editor that screamed yes to you (besides their "yes" lol)? For 1000 Perfect Notes, what sparked the story? Do characters just pop into your head like magic (they do for me) or are they inspired by anyone in your life? (I know that there will be #ownvoices autism rep 😀 ) Did you have any input in the cover design?
Thanks for this post! And for answering questions 😀
Aww thank you!!💛💛I’m so glad you enjoyed reading this!!
So 1. I mean…the “yes” was pretty great.😂
2. Retelling a classical composer’s life, but if it was modern! I can’t say which for spoilers though, but you’ll know when you read it!
3. Like a bit of both?!? I tend to actually think of the story I want to tell first and then build it around a character. But I rarely get like fully-formed characters RIGHT away. And I don’t use life inspiration…I mean, I THINK I don’t.😂Bits sneak in, I guess?!
4. No! But I loved it from the first second!
(Oh and ATPN doesn’t have any autistic characters. 😉That comes in The Boy Who Steals Houses in 2019 though!)
Ack sorry about that 🙂 Looking forward to both!! And it really is such a lovely cover!
Oh don’t be sorry! I probably haven’t been clear and I’ve been mixing things up talking about two books all the time now. 😂
I am soooo glad you have a book coming out. I broke my book buying ban JUST for your book. LOL Seriously I love your blog and i bet your book is gonna be AMAZING!
THAT HONESTLY IS SO LOVELY OF YOU!! I’m so honoured!! 😂💛💛💛
i just want to say good job =d I followed your blog enough to know you worked your ass off
Aww THANK YOU!! You’re so so nice!! 💛💛
So so many congratulations!!! I loved reading about your journey!💞
AWW THANK YOU.💖💖
I wrote a lot when I was younger, none of it very good, but I dabbled in a bit of everything, short stories, playscripts, poems, whatever I could. Then for a while when I was a teenager, I just wasn’t feeling very inspired, didn’t really have any ideas of anything I wanted to write so I wrote a LOT of fanfic. In the last couple of years, I’ve finally picked up writing my own original stuff again and I did NaNoWriMo in 2016 with my current WIP, This Is Not A Love Story. Then I kind of dithered for a year or so, as I wasn’t really sure how to go about the whole editing malarkey and whilst I was doing that I started on another first draft, which became Underground Magicians. In the last few months, I found a critique partner who has really helped me out with getting the ball rolling on editing TINALS and I just finished my first round of revisions this week. I guess one of the things I’m struggling with, is how do you know when your book is read to query? I’ve read a lot online about writing queries and that kind of thing, so I think I’m set on that, but I’m not sure exactly how to know when your book is ready to be sent out into the world! Congrats on your books, I’m so excited to read both of them!
Ahh I loved reading your origin story too, Jo! LOVE IT. It’s great that there are so many paths and reasons that lead us to writing and ahhh I’m so proud of you for finished your first round of revisions. ALL THE CONGRATS FOR THAT. Every step is an amazing thing!
And it is hard to know when your book is ready to be out in the world, but you sound like you’re on the right track: you’re getting feedback and doing revisions. So as long as YOU think your book is good and strong, then I say go for it. (Unfortunately a weak query can hurt a strong book bleh, and this is why querying sucks! And why I’m so surprised I got an agent because my query was pretty ungreat haha. So anything is possible!)
Aww thank you! Yes, it’s amazing how we can all take so many different routes to get to the same place. It certainly feels like a big step forward, and I’m actually looking forward to the next step in the process now that I know what I’m doing!
AGH, I know you’re right, but I just wish there was a more finite way of knowing that you’re done! I reckon I will probably have to do a few more rounds of revisions before it’s actually ready to go, which will give me time to work on my query!
Wow Cait, this was so fun to read!!!! It’s amazing and wonderful that you got a double book deal so young and I very much hope that we’ll see way more than two books out of you!! I’m not a serious writer myself (I do better in my head than on a page), but your story was so great to hear!! Maybe someday I’ll get serious 😄
Also: huge props to you for not giving up after all your rejects!!! I would have given up after like….3 😂😂
Aww thank you!! 💖💖 This is so kind of you and sooo encouraging too. I appreciate it more than I can say!
You are inspiration on top of inspiration. I am so freaking happy for you. 😍
omg thank you!! YOU ARE TOO LOVELY.
Yesterday I got an email from Book Depository that said your book is on its way to me. Thanks for sharing your journey. I always like hearing how authors got started.
OMG BLESS BOOK DEPOSITORY WE LOVE IT SO MUCH. 😍😍 And thank you for reading this!! It was really awesome to be able to share!
I loved reading about your journey! It’s inspiring because I’ve heard so much about how hard it is to get published, so it’s exciting to see that people can actually succeed and that all that hard work is for something in the end (and it sounds like you’ve worked really, really hard).
I’ve pre-ordered A Thousand Perfect Notes and I live in the UK, so I should get it in just a few days! I can’t wait! And I’m almost as excited for the beautiful cover as for the story itself. 😀
Thank you so much for reading!! And it IS hard work but I don’t think it’s impossible at all…and maybe overwhelming, but little steps! (And yessss, I definitely worked really hard for this haha.🙈) Also THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ORDERING IT. It means the world to me and makes so much difference!!
I am not a sweet summer child, I’m a salty winter adult… And good, job, you did it. You created something the world will see and he heart broken by.
Ok I do have a question, why Tremolo for you original title? What does it even mean?
Also is it possible your books might some day make it to America? Cause I might shove them down my friends throats and it would be better if they can just walk into a bookstore or library and get it rather than swimming across the ocean to Britain and getting it there or ordering it on Amazon and having to wait a few days and risk it coming in damaged.
I’m so sorry for excluding the salty winter adults in my post, RECOGNITION TO THEM TO. (Honestly need Salty Winter Adult on a mug now.) 😂
Anyway THANK YOU. It’s such a privilege to get to tell stories and to have made it this far and I’m so glad it worked! And “Tremolo” is a musical term…so probably a good thing my agent was like “we really need to work on this”…haha.
You can ask your local bookstore to order it in! They should do that. I’ll only end up in America if they buy the rights, so like fingers crossed?! But I have no idea if they’ll want a small fish like me.😂 But B&N and Amazon also do have it.
Wait it will be available at B&N!? Like will it be available in stores or on the website!?
I believe it’s up on B&N now!
I’m so glad you got that one yes, Cait. <3
Aww thank you!! 💛💛 I’m so lucky and happy ahhhh!!
So you are super brave to query. I’ve never written a query letter in my life. I don’t know how. It terrifies me. I wish instead of pre-calculus in school, I could’ve taken a “How To Query” class. Seriously, why don’t they teach useful stuff in school?
Like you, I started writing when I was 7! Although it was not The Three Little Bears, but rather some castaway shipwreck short story for a school project inspired by a picture in one of our textbooks about people on a dessert island inhabited by goats. (do not ask what textbook that was, I have no clue) I wrote SOMETIMES after that, but it was short things like kickbutt school assignments and lyrics I’d then sing for friends on the bus in the morning. (btw, totally wanted to be Miley Cyrus growing up) I wrote my first novella when I was 12 and became obsessed with writing THE GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL after that… but usually I was teased about my writing and had this nasty habit of finishing a project then immediately throwing it in the trash. It’s a bad habit I still have today.
I participated in National Novel Writing Month when I was 15 and that’s when I wrote my first novel! And then I kept writing more and more and finally, after graduation, my boyfriend and I had an epic breakup (his fault) and I wrote him into a novel, killed him, and then went on to self-publish that novel… then self-published a dozen other books in a span of 2.5 years. THEN I GOT A STALKER, took down all my writing, author social media accounts, and basically erased myself from the internet as much as humanly possible BECAUSE WOW YOU INCONVENIENT LURCH. And I’ve not written a book since. I’d like to. I don’t know if I’d send out queries because I quite like the freedom of self-publishing, but maybe getting published by an actual publishing house would cut down on the number of toads who say things like, “You’re not traditionally published? Well, you must not be a real author.” FIGHT ME.
Yep. That is my charming HISTORY OF WRITING.
Also, I’ve been meaning to ask for ages, but you should write a blog post on how to query, because even if it doesn’t solve my inability to query overnight, I feel it’ll still be an entertaining read and make me slightly less terrified. Also also, Book Depository emailed me about your book because I pre-ordered in December and I just about threw my computer across the room in my sudden outburst of excitement. GET IN MY HOT LITTLE HANDS, BOOK.
That is all.
They definitely should’ve taught querying in school for sure. Also they are HARD. It’s so hard to sum up a book in like 2 paragraphs and also make it interesting and also try to add in like your qualifications at the end when you have none.😂
Hey but at least your story was more original and not outright devious plagiarism. (Am I Slytherin?! WE CAN NEVER TELL.😂) And honestly wow our stories are so similar though. Brain twins! (Wait, that’s probably scary.) And that’s awesome you started/found NaNo so early! I can’t remember when I first participated…eek. Maybe 2014? It was horrible. I have regrets lmao. Also excellent coping strategy for dealing with your ex. What could be better.
I’m sorry about your stalker though…wow. That’s terrifying. And I hate that it ruined your writing and publishing. 😳😳 I hope you’re ok though.
(And definitely hate that indie authors sometimes aren’t considered “real”! It’s just a different way of doing it!)
I kind of should write a querying post but also don’t reallllly know how because my query letter wasn’t super great. 😂😂Google will give you better help than I can.
YAS BOOK DEPOSITORY, WE LOVE YOOOOOU.
So ridiculously proud of you Cait!
I didn’t know you read my blog. 😂
This was really encouraging to read because you’re lowkey living my dream. XD Love this post.
I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED IT.💛💛💛
Oh, Cait!! I’m so happy for you – I can’t wait to read it on release day! You so deserve this. I have my tissues ready 😉
Omg thank you, Kat.💛💛I appreciate this SO MUCH.
I’m so glad I found you through Twitter! Your down to earth and funny tweets give me life some days! As did this blog post!!
I’ve been writing stories for as long as I can remember. But then college happened and I kind of forgot. I forgot what made me ME.
So here I am, at almost 28, slaving away editing my first ever full length novel (while also writing the second one), and trying to navigate this whole publishing thing. Scary. To say the least.
But this post just gave me hope and made me so so SO happy. Congrats to you!! You did it!!! <3
Aww, thank you for reading it!💛 (And reading my tweets!) And omg best of luck with your novel…it is scary to tackle this huge thing but SO POSSIBLE and I think hardwork really does get you places!
AWWWW CONGRATTTS! I am SOOO happy for you! Can’t wait to read the book!! :))
Thank you SO SO MUCH.💛This is so kind of you!
I’M SO HAPPY FOR YOU CAIT! 💖 This post is so beautiful, thank you for sharing your journey! It’s really obvious that writing is your hobby and being an author is your dream, and you worked REALLY hard (or in your words, OVERWORKED REALLY hard) to achieve it. And you did it!! And you are here!! Your book is coming soon!! I can’t be more happier and prouder, I can’t wait to read your book- and your next books! 💖
GO CAIT!
THANK YOU, TASYA, THIS IS SO KIND OF YOU AND I HAVE SO MANY EMOTIONS AHHHHHH. And omg so much work but SO worth it and I’m really glad it all turned out. 😍 I was so emotional writing this and ajfdkslad this comment is too lovely. 😭💛💛💛
This is so wonderful and beautiful and amazing! I’m so happy for you!!
Aww thank you so much this is so kind of you!💖
r.i.p I tried to comment on this earlier and my internet died so LET’S TRY AGAIN
a) omg I am SO EXCITED for your release! And this blog post gives me so much hope and joy and pride!! you did it!! hooray!!
b) I just added your agent to my query list because I had actually seen the agency website and somehow lost the tab??? but YAY now I have your agent in my clutches MWAHAHAHA
c) I finally got my beta reader feedback (tHANK THE LORD) so I’m rewriting my novel for (hopefully!!!) the last time! If everything goes right and according to my seven thousand plans, I’ll be querying by the end of July/beginning of August! this is so scary but your journey gives me hope!
also, question: did you have anyone beta read your dark YA fantasy novel before you submitted it? And do you use beta readers now? I pray for the day when I don’t have to bc their critiques HURT my SOUL
Ahh thank you for commenting again then!! that is so nice of you! 💖
And ajfkdlsa I’m so glad you’re excited, IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME. I JUST CAN’T STOP FLAILING. 😍 And good luck with your querying! And the rewriting! Although every time i say “this is the last rewrite” lol lol…my book smacks me in the face. 😂 But AHHH QUERYING SO SOON.
And yes I had beta readers the whole way through. They are vital, honestly, because you’ll never catch all your book’s problems on your own, because you’re too close to the project, you know? Like there’ll be stuff you THINK you explained, but you didn’t.😂 And I still definitely have betas! I hate to be the bearer of bad news…but I legit think there will never be a day when you don’t need feedback to improve your work!
YAYAYAYAYAY I’m so excited for you!!! Your book sounds amazing and the cover is gorgeous and I’m so, SO EXCITED! I’m so glad you finally got an agent and a publishing deal! That’s so cool. EEEEEPPP! #fangirling
Amber @ Escape Life in the Pages
THANK YOU AMBER, THIS MEANS A LOT TO ME.💖
I AM SUUUUPPPPPPERRRR EXCITED FOR YOU! Like you have no idea. (Ok, that’s dumb. You do because there’s no way I can be more excited than you because it’s actually happening to you! AAAHHH!) I cannot wait! The whole part wherein you talked about your agent saying maybe you should write a contemporary, I was thinking about how surprised I was that your first published book is not a fantasy. XD Also, that’s super cool that you got signed for a book that you hadn’t written yet! If I remember properly, doesn’t that usually just happen in the non-fic world of publishing and then only in the fiction world of publishing if you happening to already published? THAT IS AMAZING! Congrats again!
AWW THANK YOU!! it seriously means so much to me 💖💖 And omg everyone was SO surprised I wasn’t writing fantasy.😂So funny. But hey it has cake in it, so you know it’s still by me. 😉
Actually getting signed for books you haven’t written yet isn’t *too* uncommon, but I do feel it’s not something a lot of debut authors get offered! So I am VERY lucky and so honoured to have a publisher who believes in me so much. Serious confidence boost, I tell you.😂
My questions on traditional publishing are… how do you write a query? What EXACTLY is it? (I still don’t know 😂 #professional) Where do you find people to query to? What’s the order of everything? (like you have to get an agent? And they pitch the book to the publishers? Still vague on this 😛) How do you send the query? (physical mail, email?) How good do you think you have to be at writing before you start querying? (that’s a big one for me) Do you need to have a book finished when you start querying?
Yeah, I have a lot of questions. 😂 But I’m so glad that you’ve done this because my poor wee brain probably couldn’t take MORE research all over the internet. (And when you talked about overworked hard, that’s a pretty accurate description of me right now 😂)
It’s probably too much to explain querying here, I suggest googling a lot. 😉 There are great tutorials out there and it’s something you really need to be aware of if you’re pursuing traditional publishing. But yes, most publishers don’t take unsolicited manuscripts, so you sign with a literary agent to pitch you to them. Getting an agent to offer to sign you is the first big hurdle, I think! Anyway, yes, google is your friend! Research is necessary. It might be overwhelming, but you honest have to do it! (Like I said in my post: It is something you have to do a LOT of.)
“…and waited until about 8am for my family to rise from the dead so I could just lurk awkwardly and stare at them which is absolutely how you convey you have a book deal” LOL!! Omgggg you are hilarious!! 😂😂 many, many congratulations to you!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Ah haha I’m so glad you enjoyed reading this!💖💖THANK YOU.
Thanks for sharing Cait! I’m so excited for you! I’m about to start it now so I can have a review out in time for publication 💜
Omg thank you!!💖💖 this is so kind of you and I’m SO JUST DARN HAPPY!
Seems like you can make me cry in both fiction and non fiction Cait because now I am all teary! You work so incredibly hard and you know I’m so proud of you <3 I can't wait to see you succeed with lots of books under your name.
I’M TEARY TOO AND THIS IS TERRIBLE. I’M SUPPOSED TO BE VULCAN.😂😂 But omg thank you so so much for being amazing, Jeann.💖💖I truly flail that I have such supportive and incredible friends!!
Oh my goodness, this post is so beautiful and pure and lovely & I’m actually so, so happy and excited for you!! It’s so great to see “behind the veil” of what really goes on on the way to get a book published, and people often only see the the result, but never the hard work. I’m majorly digressing now, but ahh I added your book to my TBR & I can’t wait to read it. :’)
Congrats again on getting published!! I HOPE IT GETS ALL THE PRAISE AND ACCOLADES IT DESERVES. <3
Omg I’m SO GLAD YOU LIKED IT. I was really emotional writing it, I swear. 😭💛💛 And yes I truly wanted to talk about like the behind-the-scenes level of work here, because I’ve had a few people kind of sound like I just “had it made” and I’m like NO LOOK AT THE YEARS OF WORK I PUT INTO THIS! IT WASN’T A MAGICAL MIRACLE. It was calculated scheme lol lol. 😂😂
Anyway thank Yoooooou! This comment is truly so nice and means so much to me!
Also, I forgot to add that I admire you so much for managing to write so much & blog & always reply to comments & blog-hop?? You’re honestly goals. 😭❤️
This is such a lovely post! Thank you for sharing! I love seeing peoples publishing journeys. I’m hoping to query for the first by the end of the year and I can already feel the rejections haha. But I only need one yes. This will be my mantra!
I do have a question to do with autism though, you mentioned both your editor and agent were 100% accommodating and that you found out about the publishing deal via email….. Did you get to skip all the calls and do it all via written…..stuff? I know The Call is so far away from where i am right now and I don’t know if I’ll get that far but I’d love to know if that was something you discussed with your agent (I’m totally assuming you struggle with phone calls, sorry if you don’t!)
Eeepe, thank you for reading and I’m SO glad you liked it!! I think it’s great knowing how other authors got to where they are too. I always used to stalk these kind of posts pre-being-published (ok I still stalk them now 😂It’s always interesting!) And YOU ONLY NEED ONE YESSS! *wishes you all the best with your querying*
Yes, actually, I didn’t have to do The Call. I also didn’t tell my agent I had autism until I got a book deal.😂(I didn’t KNOW when I signed with her though, I just knew I had serious social anxiety issues.) And I was terrified that the inability to take phone calls was going to cancel me out of being a published author…but it didn’t. And that seriously makes me cry with happiness. So it’s all been emails and everyone was really supportive and fine with this!
That’s so good to know! Thank you! I was terrified not being able to talk on the phone was going to make the whole agent thing impossible! When did you discuss it? Like did you mention it in your query or much later when your agent asked for a call?
I think my agent first brought up having a phone call when she offered to represent me. But she already knew I was Australian so it was a bit like “how can we coordinate this” to which I asked if we could just keep emailing! And it was totally fine! No hassles!
This was so neat to read! I figured hard work was about 98% of it. You have amazing work ethic, if anyone deserves to be published it’s you Cait! I can’t wait to read your books.
YES. So much hardwork! And it’s really great that it pays off, right?! And aww thank you, Skye!! You’re so amazingly supportive and I’m so grateful over all these years!!
Aww Im so glad it all worked out for you and in a few days your book will be out in the world. Rejections sucks, especially when you pour yourself into something and you get rejected but you pushed on and finally got an agent and now you have two books coming out. Could you tell us how you wrote the query letter that got you your agent? Like the format. Cheers to you
Oh absolutely! Rejection is AWFUL and will never stop being painful, but there are so so many good parts to writing?! So many successes and high moments and just genuine amazingness. 😍 I’m so glad I have this opportunity to tell stories!
I can definitely do a query-letter post for sure!
I’M SO HAPPY FOR YOU AAAAAA. But seriously, it’s awesome that you’re being so honest about you journey because it gives hope to me and my future self, who definitely wants to publish a book of my own one day- also as an Australian!! I am so excited to read your book holy guacamole
THANK YOU, RAE, IT HONESTLY MEANS SO MUCH TO ME. I SHALL NEVER STOP FLAILING AHHHHH. And I hope to see and flail over your books on the shelves someday too!!
Wow that sounds like a long and hard journey to publishing but I’m so glad you made it! I was just curious though if you hadn’t got the deal would you have thought of self-publishing?
Anyway, all the very best for the release of ATPN and hope TBWSH is coming along well on its way 🙂 I’m so freakishly excited to read them both!
Eeep I’m so glad you enjoyed reading this!!💛And THANK YOU! SO EXCITED.
As for the self-publishing question, probably not? If ATPN hadn’t sold, I would’ve written another book and gotten there eventually. 😂
Such an inspiring post, Cait! Its actuallu really encouraging (especially the part about the Professional Author who told you your writing was awful, when all of us KNOW that is completely false. It makes me feel so much better about the (generally constructive) criticism I get.) I also like how “average” your story is. Hard work and dedication WILL get you somewhere and that’s exactly what I needed to hear.
As for a question: what part did you find hardest/most challenging? At what point were you most discouraged? And at what point were you most encouraged?
Aww thank you for reading and SO glad you enjoyed this! Also YES. I think a lot of people like to snip that “publishing is all luck” and while luck/timing does play a part… hard work seriously does too?! Like my publishing journey wasn’t miraculous or perfect but it WORKED and I didn’t stop, and I think that’s really important. (And proves we can all have the potential to do this!!) 💛💛
I think the waiting is honestly the wORST. Like knowing someone is reading a draft of your book that they might give the green light to…or hate. *cries* And I was definitely gutted when my first book (that I signed with my agent for) failed and I had to go back to writing a new one.
Best moment?! Firstly signing my agent, because that was like the moment of: “HEY YOU CAN WRITE AND IT’S GOOD!” Such validation. 😂😂 And then my book deal!! Just meeting (online!) my editor for the first time and hearing how much she loved my book! 😍😍
That sounds amazing! Congratulations on all your hard work and your amazing books 😉
Great post, you’ve done an awesome job on your blog, and you most certainly deserve all the kudos and cake, I’m enjoying the various baked goods involved in your photos (the dark-chocolate strawberry tart one looked tasty). Can’t wait to get my hands on A Thousand Perfect Notes ^_^
If my family has delicious looking food in the house, I 100% have to take photos with it.😂😂 I’m so glad you enjoyed this post and THANK YOU!!! you’re so supportive and amazing and it means a lot to me!
STILL SUPER HAPPY AND EXCITED FOR YOU, CAIT!!! You already know I thought ATPN was a gem and I loved it. 😉 I love how you said that it only takes one yes. THAT GOES FOR SO MANY THINGS. Just the approval of a single person can make your mood go from 0 to 100 real quick. ♥ AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS. I’ll be screaming on Twitter when your book comes out!!!!!!!!!
AIMEE, THANK YOU!! 😍😍 I’m still flailing so much that you liked it!! (Although honest, I wouldn’t have been mad if you didn’t. 😉 😂💛💛) And ajfkalds I’m just forever flailing that I’ve gotten here and it hasn’t been fast or always glamorous, but it’s been GOOD. And I’m so happy!
SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!! I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE BUT I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, ALL THE LOVE MATE!!!
THANK YOU , IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME!!! FOREVER FLAILING!
That is a beautiful publishing journey! And quite entertaining to read too. I’m so excited to read your book! My pre-order is in the mail, and hopefully it will arrive before the end of the year. The snail mail is particularly slow over here.
As for questions about your book, where did you get the idea from? Do you have a favorite among your own characters?
Aww thank you!! And omg you preordered. *sends you all the cake while cries happily all over the place* 💖💖
So I basically got the idea from TONS of places, but the main one was wanting to retell a classical musicians life! And I have a really soft spot for the 5 year old little sister, Joey. 😂She is terrifically terrifying.😂
I’m so so SOOO proud of you Cait! You inspire me not to give up on my own publishing dream. <3
I AM FOREVER CHEERING YOU ON TOO, MY LOVELY FRIEND!😍
I’M SO PROUD OF YOU AND ALSO SO EXCITED
AHHH THANK YOU ANNE. I’M SO HAPPY!! 😍😍
I LOVE THIS POST SO MUCH *cries of happiness* *fails crying bc has no emotions at all* tbh I feel like I have a friend in you Cait *plays You’ve Got A Friend In Me*
I really really really really really really love reading/seeing/hearing about everyone’s writing journey. Like you said, it’s so different for everybody, and I like knowing it all xD And also, it’s so nice to know that you also went through a lot of difficult moments before you signed with your agent……and then before you got a book deal….like, we the aspiring writers can look up to you when we’re struggling cuz you don’t mind saying it was hard and you ate a lot of cake in the way. I love it. It reminds me of something Victoria Schwab talked about in a podcast in 88cupsoftea.com (I highly reccomend you to listen to it if you haven’t already. And it also has other interviews with famous authors like Leigh Bardugo and Susan Dennard). That podcast and this post have inspired me very much, thank you for that Cait.
My writing journey started in December 2016 when I had this story idea in my mind and started writing the first chapter. I didn’t know anything about writing or publishing or the existence of blogs about books. Basically, I didn’t know anything about the writing-reading world. I just knew I had read Hush, Hush and I was in love with Patch Cipriano and also that I wanted to get this idea out of my head and poured it into a word doc. But then I started rewriting the first chapter over and over and over and over (classic new writer mistake)…..and when I finally thought about giving up, I searched for writing tips and advice and that’s where it all started. I found writer blogs and reader blogs and I met the booktube/authortube community, and I that’s when I had the revelation that I wanted to be a writer, for a career (still though I’m planning to do other things besides writing). And also that’s when I opened my blog. Then I met a blogger from Spain who introduced me to your blog and I BLESS HER FOR THAT. Then I spent months without writing, I was only focused on my blog and reading books, books and books and books and books (I’ve never read so many books in my entire life like I did in 2017, and still, it wasn’t that much). Until I found out here was something called NaNoWriMo and I decided to participate and I got the story idea for what would be ‘Drakaina’, a YA fantasy about a soldier with dragonfly wings (I think I already mentioned this project to you once). Anyhoo, here we are now. I’m getting prepare to write a first draft in July Camp and I couldn’t be more excited and terrified cuz there’s a lot of worldbuilding to do.
I have some contemporary ideas (by some, I mean SO MANY OF THEM AND THERE IS ONE WHO WANTS TO MAKE PEOPLE CRY, I CRIED BY JUST THINKING ABOUT ONE SCENE. SEND HELP), but I don’t feel ready to write them tbh, so I’m just here doing all the things a writer do (like screaming, that’s a good example) when writing fantasy (my fav genre in the whole universe). And I do hope you publish a fantasy novel!! I’m freaking excited to read a fantasy of yours!
Now, here come the amount of questions (here are some cookies in case they are a lot *hands you a bag of cookies*): (1) How do I know my query is good? (2) I’ve heard that you have to tell your future projects or story ideas you have to your agent/editor, although I don’t know well how that is, is it true? Do authors send first drafts to their agents/editors, or are they send outlines? I don’t know how I’d feel if that’s the case bc I’d prefer to write at least the second draft before sending it to somebody, anybody…. but anyways, I don’t know how the process is. (3) I’m a little concerned I’ll never find a CP, sometimes I feel like I need someone to talk to that understands the writer life (my mother is always like…’so? you’re great, you’ll do great’…..and sometimes I need something more than that xD)………any advice? (4) This isn’t a question, but more like a demand lol, I’d like to see more of that Davy Jones retelling I saw you wanted to write on instagram xDD (5) Did you make a playlist for ATPN/TBWSH?
Aww i’m so glad this was inspiring for you! That means a LOT to me, because I feel like a smol green newbie who’s just flapping around not really knowing what I’m doing still.😂 But I do think it’s important to talk about stories that aren’t that “instant massive success” like sold in 3 days or got a 6-figure book deal or whatever. Those are NICE, but not the norm.😂 And it’s okay to start small on our journeys!
Okay but I LOVED hearing about your writing origin story! THIS IS AMAZING and I seriously wish you all the best with your work and writing!! It’s so awesome how you’ve been reading a ton to learn too (seriously the best way to get better at writing). Also I totally think it’s fair to wait to be ready to write things! I have a heist series I’d love to write, but I don’t feel *quite* ready yet, so I’m practising and working up to it.😂
*eats all the cookies*
1. I honestly can’t answer about knowing if your query is good.😂
2. Okay that’s REALLY far advance in the process, so you definitely don’t need to worry about it yet! And all agents/editors work differently, so that’s something you would discuss with your agent (when/if you get one) and they’ll let you know what they want. As a general thought though, they probably wouldn’t ask for 1st drafts. I personally write pitches and then usually discuss them with my agent before plunging into writing. But seriously…focus on your first book. 😉 That’s the important thing.
3. You definitely need critique partners! You’ll never see everything about your project that needs help by yourself (TRUST ME😂). I still make super dumb mistakes because it’s obvious in my head, but I didn’t get it on paper. I met my CP’s through blogging, so that was a good place to start! I also was in a bunch of teen writer communities back in the day and we all swap-critiqued for each other a lot. Maybe try to find an online writer’s group?
4. I’D LIKE TO WRITE IT.😂
5. I don’t listen to music so unfortunately no playlists! But ATPN references a ton of classical pieces that you can look up and listen to while you read. 😉
Why Tremolo? Or should I wait and read the book to find out? Will it tell me?
Also congrats!!!
It’s a musical term! 😂And it kind of references the mother’s hand-shaking illness.
Thank you!
Aww, congrats Cait! This was really interesting to read – I knew it was crazy hard work to become an author, but I didn’t know what it entailed other than being buried in 6,000 drafts of the same chapter!
I’ve added your book to the top of my birthday wish list, and I hope you have the best release day ever! It’s gonna be a hit, I can feel it! 🙂
It’s definitely different amounts of work for different authors, but yes!! SO much backstory and history to getting this book deal for me! I’m so glad I got there.😍 And fajkdlsad thank you for supporting my work, it means so so much to me!
I love this poooost. Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂 And AAHHH CONGRATS ON YOUR BOOK COMING OUT IN ONLY FOUR DAYS ALDKJSLJKF.
THANK YOU DEBORAH IT’S SO UNREAL AND I’M SO HAPPY!!😍
Your success story means so much, specifically because you are in Australia! Do you live in a big city or a town? I live in NZ so I completely understand what you mean when you talk about publishing houses – there are so few around “down under”! For NZ, I suppose it’s because we have less people in our country than people in middle-sized cities of other countries haha. Can you imagine if we lived less than 40 years ago? Before the great internet and the world of email – what would have happened with your work then???
Haha, yes, it would’ve been a very different life/world trying to get published back then! Everything was very different. (And I live in a very tiny town. 😂Only 7K people.)
This is such an inspirational post for everyone, Cait. So excited that you are now a published author. Lots of cake needed for the book birthday.
Aww thank you so so much.💖💖 It means the WORLD to me how lovely and supportive the book blogging community is being! I have so many emotions! 😍
Congrats on your upcoming debut! Wish you all the best with your future novels.
How did you find agents to query to? I understand you did a lot of research. Where are those pesky agents hiding?
Personally I’ve been into writing since I was a kid but have only been writing fanfic for the past few years, and I struggle to balance studies and consistent writing – so it’s hard to finish anything. Reading about your journey has been inspiring though! I’d love to get to the point of publishing a novel one day. 🙂
Aww thank you, Karen!! You are so lovely!
And honestly…I think just googling for the agents. 😂 I can’t remember exactly. I think I was on something like querytracker too? I know there’s a lot more agents now and it’s great to follow them on twitter and such and see their wishlists!
Hah I’ve never understood how people find agents and publishers! They always just seemed like big Powers That Be that just released novels out of nowhere. But Google… It really is your best friend. I’ll keep that in mind 😀
Haha yes! Google knows everything. 😂😂
What are some tips you have for learning about querying/looking for an agent? And how do you know that an agent is right for you?
Probably just researching a lot: make sure you read their guidelines carefully, do lots of googling on how to be professional and write a good query. You basically don’t stop researching this for months! And it’s great.😂Lots of epic knowledge to gain there.
As for the how-do-you-know-if-the-agent-is-right-for-you…I’m not even sure! I got VERY lucky, clearly. I only had one offer and emailing back-and-forth with my agent was really positive and encouraging and our visions for my book worked so I went for it!
Wow! This is super inspiring as well as a bit depressing XP
For my part, I’ve been working on this book series for five years. Around two years ago, I started querying for the first book. I sent out twenty or thirty queries, I think? Both to publishing companies and agencies. Either flat out form rejections, or I was completely ignored. After doing this for a year and a half, my mom said we should self-publish it. I took it to two professional editors, paid someone to do the graphic design for the cover, and then assembled it. Since then I’ve been contacting reviewers (which is how I found you, actually lol) to get reviews for it and advertise. Now I’m about to make my first order of 1000 copies in preparation for the release date at the end of July 😀
I’m very happy for you, though! This is an awesome accomplishment!
I’m happy that you found another way of getting your book out there that suited you! As long as you’re happy, I say all publishing paths are valid. 😊
They are all valid, yes, but yours is like a dream come true (if I’m being honest 😉 ). I’ll get there eventually, though. Just gotta keep working at it <3
Wowee! I am so impressed and happy for you 🙂 As someone who went through the journey, I can say that it doesn’t get any easier, but it always gets better 🙂
Thanks, Oliver! I’m really excited to see where my publishing career takes me for sure!
Hello!
Congratulations on the book deal-hard work really does pay off, it seems! I am a writer without a publisher or, sadly, an agent. I have a couple of questions for you:
1. How did you get an agent? I am in the US and befuddled about the process!
2. How did you come up with a title?? I have a book written, but I’ll be damned if I can title the thing! Nothing seems right for it, but I have OCD and am a bit of a perfectionist…
Thank you for being so open with us, and good luck!!
Nikki
Hi Cait!
This is Nikki again. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to be repetitive! You answered my question about agents already, and, bless you, I’m on querytracker now.
My question about the title stands,
And I have one more for you:
How in God’s name do you know when you are done with the book?
Every time I look at it, I am picking it apart and doing rewrites. My critique buddy says leave it be, it’s fine, but (as I mentioned above), I have OCD, and the book has to be perfect.
Also, I wanted to tell you that I think that you are incredibly brave! It is hard to function sometimes with social anxiety, and you have overcome, lady!
Thanks again!
Nikki
Aww thank you!💛
1. Lots of research! I suggest googling and reading lots of articles from agents!
2. I didn’t! Haha. My agent re-titled it. Titles aren’t make-or-break for getting a book deal or an agent.
I’ve been following your journey for a while, but this is the first time I’ve posted. (Sorry – I’m one of those awful people who lurks and never comments – the kind of people who are SO DAMN ANNOYING…. anyway).
It’s amazing to read your journey, but so so painful. I’m not hating on you at all – I am GENUINELY happy for you. But you got that one yes. At TWENTY ONE! And I’m still waiting.
Our stories are pretty much identical (except I know for sure that my first ‘novel’ at 13 was 50K because it was for NaNoWriMo heh. It conveniently finished right at 50k. Funny that 😉 ) only our paths diverged. I got ill (mentally), went into hospital for 5 years straight, and gave up on life.
I’ve been out for three years and gradually started writing again. Recently my mood has been too low. But I’ve queried and written lots of novels, short stories, flash fiction, poetry, done lots of character workshopping, saved up money to get a professional editor… and nothing. No yes for me.
So, I am SO happy for your happy ending. And I say that without bitterness. But…. it doesn’t happen to everyone. I look forward to reading ATPN. (I’ll probably cry before I’ve started reading at the thought that maybe in another life this could have been me but there you are).
This comment isn’t supposed to be bitter and mean; I hope it hasn’t come across that way. Following your journey has been a pleasure: you have a zest for life that is beautiful and I’m sure carries to your writing. I am proud of you, though I don’t know you. I’m just selfishly sad. Please don’t take this as a hater post.
All the best, I can’t wait to read it. TWO DAYS!
AWw you’re not awful! I TOTALLY get how it’s sometimes awkward to comment on a blog for the first time, but so so glad you did! It’s lovely to *meet* you.💛💛 And aahhhh thank you so much for being excited about my book! I’m HAPPY.💛
And of course it’s frustrating when someone else succeeds and you’re still stuck. I’ve been there. And I mean, I’m not bestseller lmao, so that’s like the ULTIMATE goal for someday (totally out of my control I know, but I can wish!) So the biggest thing I can say is: you have to keep going. Literally let NOTHING stop you. If I can get this far with social anxiety so bad I often can’t leave my house … then I believe in you. 😉 It can also be an escape too? Like if you’re struggling with depression.
Let yourself be sad, but don’t let it stop you, okay!? I promise someone else’s success is not your failure.
SO MANY QUESTIONS, but I’ll limit myself.
1. Do you have a list of online resources that helped you through this process? Like learning about the publishing world, queries, etc. I feel like I have no window into there right now because I’m simply uneducated. Any resources including writing/editing/publishing ones would be helpful!
2. Does this book deal allow you to not work a full-time job? Not asking for specific $$$ you received for publishing your books, of course, but wondering if these deals allow you to not have a “day job” in order to pay the bills.
3. YAY CONGRATS! (not a question)
1. I did but I didn’t keep them haha. I’m terrible right?! But yeah, mostly I was just constantly googling and researching and collecting articles. From authors was very helpful too. And one website I’ll always rec is goteenwriters.com (you don’t have to be a teen for it to be useful!).
2. I can’t live off my writing as of yet.
3. THANK YOU!💛
I’m so glad you made this post, Cait! It’ll be a long time before I start querying because I need to actually start writing again first but hopefully, I’ll be a lot more confident by then because I’m hopeless at communication and I take rejection way too personally to do it now (plus I don’t have a book to actually pitch, oops 🙊)
I’M STILL SO EXCITED FOR ATPN!! I haven’t been able to preorder a copy because of money issues, but as soon as I’m able to afford to buy books again, I’ll definitely be getting a copy!
Ohhhh believe me, I totally understand!! Rejection SUCKS and I hate how people are like “it’s not personal”…like heck it is?!? If we write part of our soul into a book, the rejections are personal!! And it’s always hard to tell the difference between “they didn’t get my writing” vs “my writing needs to get better”. But anyway, I do believe in you!! I would love to see your stories on my shelves someday so I’m rooting for you!!
(You might be able to request it from a library? That helps too!!) 💛💛💛
Dude, this post gave me the chills, because it’s just so damn inspirational! I mean- it is the best lesson ever, about hard work paying off, about perseverance, And it DOES only take one yes! (But I so feel you- the rejections would physically pain me, I think? People actually put them on their walls? I would have some sort of burn pile for those haha.) I honestly don’t understand how you are expected to keep quiet about all the excitement though. My big mouth wouldn’t have lasted 16 minutes, let alone 16 months ha. Enjoy every minute of Release Week™ because you earned it!
THANK YOU, SHANNON.💛💛 Honestly you’re the best ever and SO encouraging afdjkasld. I appreciate all the kind and uplifting things you’ve said over the years, okay??? *sends you at least 9 cakes that I haven’t even nibbled on*
I can’t understand the people who are like “but at least a rejection is proof you’re trying”! I mean…yeah…but I don’t wantttt that on my walls?! I’ve been collecting super nice messages and tweets and I’m going to put THEM on my walls soon. Positivity!!
This makes me so happy. You have worked SO HARD and you deserve ALL the success! And it’s so inspiring that you kept going–I don’t know what I would do if I had an author tell me my writing was never going to work out/wasn’t good enough etc. The fact that you were able to keep working and writing is just amazing and now you’re a published author!!! Buut I am wondering, do you have plans to return to the fantasy you were righting and try to get that published? Because I know any fantasy you would write would be super dark and something I’d love to read.
AWW THANK YOU.💛💛 I appreciate this SO much. And honestly there were a lot of wildly bad setbacks, but I’m glad I didn’t listen?! (I’m so stubborn apparently haha.) And once I get a goal, I literally with chew through mountains to try and reach it. And afjdksal I’m jUST SO EXCITED TO SHARE MY STORIES!!
Going into fantasy all depends on whether publishers want it from me! I’d like to think I will try, at least, someday. 😉
My journey as a writer kinda started at 11 which I mentioned to you on twitter haha, but basically I’ve always been reading, haven’t known a world without books in it and it sounds terrifying to think about it to be honest. But I had been writing poems and I enjoyed writing but the idea of writing a book to me was…scary but exciting. When I started secondary school I needed a distraction, I’m a shy kid, I got better throughout school with coming out of my shell, but having someone I once called a best friend totally walk away from our 5 year friendship; I think has knocked me back, But throughout secondary school literally I was reading, writing, watching TV for the first two years of school as I had no internet access unless I used my parents computers. I have a mix of finished stories and an absolute ton of unfinished ones ooops. But finishing my first draft, it wasn’t actually typed funnily enough, back then I did a mix of writing by hand in notebooks and on my laptop.
I still have the notebook with the first draft I ever finished, I was…14 and it took me less than a year to finish I think and it’s paranormal. But I think I would probably be a mortified ball reading it through, cause typos and can I spell?! Sentence structure, what’s past and present tense? Can I English? Apparently not xD
So it’s been 7 years of me writing stories, and I’ve gotten into writing poetry again and I’m exploring writing lyrics, I just have a love of words and how they can make you feel so much all at once. How they connect and resonate without, I also love telling stories. I think I have an idea now of the story I want to write at some point, and it’s probably going to be contemporary not paranormal but…it’s a story close to my heart so we’ll see hehe.
Also I took a huge leap for me, the other day I emailed my tutor at college, as I’m at a creative college for music, graphic design and asked if she knew anyone in the music department who could help with my songwriting. As I wanted to improve and actually get better. It’s probably the most nerve wracking thing ever – like honestly I’d rather shove one of my stories at them then show them my lyrics. But…we all have to face the self doubt and take a chance. Otherwise we’ll never get anywhere.
Omg Chloe, are we like twins?! I relate so much to this too. 😭💛I was the shy kid who struggled with people SO much and books were my glorious refuge…and I also had friends ditch me rather abruptly, which was really hard to get over (and really confidence shattering, right?!) *sends you cake and hugs* I’m glad you found writing through it all though! It’s so amazing how it can grow with us and change our worlds! And just falling in love with words and storytelling (in any form or type) is SO special.💛
I so so hope you get some positive paths open up for your lyrics!! GO, CHLOE. I’M ROOTING FOR YOU!
Well, there it is. If your voice in the novel is anything like your voice in this blog…you have it made:) Actually, I think after having read the “Look Inside” preview over yonder there at Amazon Books, it is.
So, I’m ordering my copy.
Oh. Thanks Evelina, you led me here via your review of “A Thousand Perfect Notes” over at Goodreads.
I so relate to your journey, Cait! I think most of your readers do as well. They all seem to say, “God, when will it be my turn?” I sometimes think that God is like a lot of agents…”If you don’t hear back from me in six months, you may assume that I’m not interested in your request.” Ha ha.
Didja’ wake up that next morning, though, look in the mirror and smile at the girl looking out at you? “Damn, I almost didn’t query her!!!!!”
In my first query way back when, I excitedly pitched my brilliant book to an agent, and I said to her (not having self-edited that query well enough), “…is a completed and polished novel of 1,000,000 words…” I got a very kind reply, lol. “That’s a pretty long novel Mr. Michener, er…”
But anyway, did I say, “WAY TO GO! CONGRATS!” Can’t wait to get my copy. If I send it to you, would you sign it? 🙂
Aww thanks for ordering a copy and thanks so so much for stopping by my blog! I’m really honoured you’ll try my book!
And lmao yes with the agents. Often times it’s just dead silent, but you move on and you try others?! I think it’s helpful also not to pin like ALL your hopes on one agent, or one way. That way you can celebrate the successes and not have milestones you can never reach.
And omg! That’s a terrifying typo to make. 😂😂
(And I can’t offer signed books atm, but I truly appreciate that you asked!)
This is so inspiring! Congratulations on getting published, Cait! I’m waiting for my copy of ATPN in the mail.
THANK YOU, JULIE!! 💛💛 THIS MEANS A LOT TO ME!
Aw, your post is making me all emotional too!
I’m a writer but much, much earlier on in the whole process. I’ve finished a couple of first drafts and… yeah. Revision sucks. I am not good at it. YET.
I am also reading your book RIGHT NOW and I’m not very far in but I did struggle to put it down for doing things like cooking dinner and getting my kids from school, so… That’s a good start, right?
AWW!!! It made me super emotional too honestly. 😭💛I’m so lucky to have gotten this far and be able to share my books with everyone!! And omg I’M SO HONOURED YOU’RE READING MY BOOK THANK YOU. 💛
Thank you so much for sharing your publishing journey with us, I’m always interested in hearing about that! I’m also very happy for you , it’s amazing to see a fellow blogger and writer have success 🙂 (also Happy late book birthday!! I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy 😍)
Oh my goodness. I love this story. I’m about to send out my first query and it is TERRIFYING. Like, I already know it’s going to be rejected, along with the others I send out at first (because I KNOW that’s what happens, and I’m preparing myself for it), but I’m still terrified to actually get that rejection. And I only have two other (not finished) books to fall back on, unlike your 15 million, so that’s even scarier. (I DO plan to finish the one while I’m querying, though.) But I’m going to do it. I’m not going to give up and I’m not going to let rejection convince me I’m not good enough!
By the way, I LOVED your book (like I knew I would). It came while I was at my writing conference, which put me a bit behind, but my review is going up this week along with a giveaway (of the other copy I bought because I was too antsy to wait and I didn’t know if TBD or Amazon would get it to me sooner—TBD won.) 🙂
AHHH NICOLE!! I’M WISHING YOU ALL THE LUCK!! And honestly it’s terrifying getting rejections (and it still is tbh😂)but you have to start somewhere right?! But yes yes, do it!! I believe in you!
Awww *happy tears* This means so much to me thank you thank you for reading!!
So, did you have a book to present to the agent right away or did you just pitch and idea and the agent helped you fulfill your dream? I’m American so it might work differently here but also I’m still curious as to just HOW you got an agent. Did you go on a website? How did you pitch yourself?
No querying is the same no matter the country. You should do some very in-depth research on the querying process (there are plenty of people who have written up detailed resources). Google is your friend. And no, you don’t query an agent without a finished and polished manuscript. This is a business arrangement. An agent is looking for a book (and author) they can sell, so just having a good idea doesn’t prove you can actually write a good book!
Alright, thanks for responding so fast!
This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your journey, but mostly thank you for your bravery. Society makes it difficult for us to admit our anxieties. So, thank you. And I will buy your book. And the next one (see, you’ve made two sales! Celebrate with cake!)
Thanks so much for reading!! And aww, I hope you enjoy my book ahh!!
Ok. I feel so bad about this. I blame being in the revising cave for the last three months. I know you from bookstagram but I had no idea you were a writer too! 😅 I’m so thrilled you got an agent and you debuted this year!
You’re an inspiration Cate!! Thank you for sharing this journey!
Aww that’s okay!! I’m so glad you found this post then haha. I do tend to flood my feed with ATPN photos these days too. 😂
omgosh.
I just finished reading your debut novel, and I’m in love.
And I don’t even like contemporary.
I’ve started querying about two weeks ago, and I have a total of two rejections. Although I am really, really bent on successfully being published, these slow replies (of REJECTIONS!) makes me want to give up. However, after reading your blog post, I am seriously motivated.
Congrats and thank you! (for both the beautiful book and your motivating testimony)
Aww thank you so much for reading ATPN! It means a lot to me that you tried it. 💛And I wish you all the best with your publication journey too! Don’t give up!
I’ve had this post in my mailbox for MONTHS. I finally read it! So now I know 🙂 I’m really glad you got that yes, and also, maybe glad you didn’t sign with an Aus publisher, because the books might have never reached us here!