Monday, May 10, 2010

THESE ROSES WERE NOT FOR MOTHER'S DAY or A BOOK DEAL--HOORAY!

As you've probably guessed from the title, my husband brought home these roses on Friday in celebration of my BOOK DEAL. (Happy to report there were also chocolates and dinner out with the kids for Mother's Day.)


So, here's the short form (and it really is short). After signing with my agent, the amazing Catherine Drayton about ten days ago, she turned around and sold my YA verse novel, AUDITION, not just to a fantastic imprint, Viking, but to an editor with whom I am incredibly excited to work. It was pretty hilarious really, since she called to discuss the good news while I was chaperoning a third grade field trip and I could barely make out every other word through the school-bus-chatter din. I must also mention here that she lives in Australia so I can't even imagine what time of day or night she was working on my behalf but I will say to those of you on the fence about signing with a great agent just because they aren't in NYC that this does not appear to be a problem :) 

I've got to admit, I feel a bit like Cinderella. I'm not sure I've really processed it all yet (totally get how Cinderella could have lost that slipper--in the past week I've lost my car keys at least once a day). But, at this point, I am just thrilled to have met some of Catherine's other clients: The dynamic duo of Lisa and Laura Roecker and the delightful Becca Fitzpatrick who were instantly supportive and encouraging. I have become even more grateful for the generosity and support of my SCBWI Western Washington friends and colleagues (some of them AUDITION beta readers) as I struggled to find the courage to submit my manuscript and then to choose my agent--honestly, SCBWI rocks!

The very best thing about selling my manuscript, though, is it feels like I have a new license to write. All of those stolen writer-on-the-side hours creating this manuscript can be remembered with a little less guilt. And I just want to write more and more and more.


50 comments:

Jennifer K. Mann said...

Woo Hoo!!! This is such great news Stasia! Really really exciting, and I can't wait to hear how it all goes! Congratulations.

Cuppa Jolie said...

Wow! Wow! WOW! I mean, what else can I say? :)

Debbie said...

Yippee!!!! So excited for you, Stasia. Glad to read your blog and can't wait 'til AUDITION is out!

Susan said...

So happy for you, Stasia!

Crystal said...

Congratulations, Stasia! What AWESOME NEWS . . . and great Mother's Day presents (both the deal & the roses!) . . . :)

Natalie said...

Good for you! That is insanely fast. It must be an awesome book.

holly cupala said...

WOW, I'm so happy for you, Stasia! An amazing agent AND a book deal! Oh, and there's the extraordinary Mom thing, too. Happy day!

Unknown said...

I am thrilled for you, can't wait to buy the book.

lisa and laura said...

YAY Stasia! Could not be happier for you! So, so, so exciting! Do you know when you're going to debut? I hope you can join the Elevensies! It would be so fun to have you!

Hannah said...

Congratulations!! :D

Frankie Diane Mallis said...

Wow congrats!!!! You're in good company! That's so awesome!

Daisy Whitney said...

License to write -- love it!

Becca Fitzpatrick said...

I know I said it before, but I'm so so happy for you, Stasia!

YAY!!! Can't wait to read AUDITION :)

Blazer67 said...

So pumped for you. And now I feel extra special, since I got to read just a smidge of that story back in January! Congrats.

Kjersten said...

Hooray! What exciting news. So great to hear. Thanks for posting. Can't wait to read your book.

Christina Lee said...

Over from LiLa's blog--A BIG CONGRATS!!!

Unknown said...

Beautiful flowers and such exciting news!!! Congratulations!!! I'm so excited for you, I'm currently feeding of your energy giving myself a new lease on life as well!! I found your blog thanks to the wonderful duo of Lisa and Laura and I can't wait to continue the journey with you...

Sorry I'm late! LOL

Rachele Alpine said...

Congrats, congrats, congrats on the book deal! Your book sounds great!

Unknown said...

Congrats - what an amazing 10 days!

storyqueen said...

This is fantastic!

I love Cinderella/Writing stories.

Shelley

Pam Harris said...

Fantastic news! Congrats! :)

Stasia said...

Thanks so much for all your congrats and good wishes! I am overwhelmed. (And thanks from my husband for all compliments to his flower and gift-giving activities!)

Courtney Barr - The Southern Princess said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! What an amazing journey you are on! ;o)



Visit My Kingdom Anytime

Mandy Hubbard said...

YAY, Stasia!! CONGRATS!!

C. Michael Fontes said...

Congrats! That must be some sort of record!

JEM said...

Hopped over here from LiLa, congrats! (flowers are beautiful, too)

JESSJORDAN said...

Saw the good news on Lisa and Laura's page. Congratulations!! I love verse novels, so I can't wait to hear more about yours :)

Tahereh said...

OMG CONGRATS!! you are a ROCKSTAR!!!

i can't wait to read your book!!!

Kimberley Griffiths Little said...

This is FANTASTIC!!! I'm so happy for you! Such exciting days, isn't it!

Michèle Griskey said...

How wonderful! Congratulations! I look forward to reading your novel.

J. Elizabeth Mills said...

yahooooo!!!!

Lisa_Gibson said...

Woo hoo! Congrats! Giant congratulations acutally!! That's so awesome. Can't wait to read Audition.

Kristin said...

Congrats, Stasia! I cannot imagine processing that news on a bus full of third graders!! LOL!

Anonymous said...

Congrats, Stasia! What an inspiring story!

Larissa said...

Congratulations! I had to LOL about the busful of third graders - I teach preschool, so I feel ya there.

Michele Thornton said...

An agent and a book deal in 10 DAYS??? That's impressive, and a bit annoying, but very wonderful!

Shannon Messenger said...

First of all, New Follower! *waves*

Second of all--CONGRATULATIONS. OMG, that might be my new favorite "how I sold my book" story. Here's hoping you're an elevensie because I cannot wait to read Audition. :)

Laura S. said...

This is amazing! I love hearing about other writers' success stories! Congratulations!!!

Dawn Simon said...

Woo-hoo! I'm sooo excited! Congratulations! Hugs--big, big hugs!

Hayley Lovell said...

Congratulations!!!!!!!

Elana Johnson said...

CONGRATS!! There's nothing better than news like this. :)

Molly/Cece said...

Yay!!!! Congrats, Stasia! I'm so thrilled for you. Glad you posted.

A Pen In Neverland: Angela Peña Dahle said...

Fantastic! Hooray on a big scale. When you win, authors everywhere win, so kudos galore!

www.a-pen-in.neverland.blogspot.com

Stasia said...

Thanks for all the congrats, folks! One of the best things about writing childrens/YA books is the wonderful community of fellow writers you meet. I especially loved Pen-In-Neverland's comment because I agree, we are all in this together, all trying to write our own best books, and all trying to create a body of work that will engage, delight, challenge and inspire young readers.

Susan Fields said...

I just came over here from Dawn Simon's blog to share your good news - congratulations!

Suma Subramaniam said...

Congratulations Stasia! I read about your book deal in Dawn's blog. It's just going to get more and more exciting from this point. Wow!

Caroline Starr Rose said...

I don't know how I missed this news. Congrats!!! Hooray for novels-in-verse. Please keep me posted on your progress.

Stasia said...

Thanks, Susan, Suma and Dawn for swinging over from Dawn's delightful blog (she is amazing!) and for your kind wishes. I'm meeting with my editor next month and will definitely post about the revision journey as it unfolds.

Stasia said...

Oops, I meant to thank Caroline, too. We verse novelists need to stick together :)

Paula said...

WOW, congrats!!! Sounds like you may have set a record. Look forward to reading AUDITION!! Enjoy!