Wednesday, July 18, 2012

So This Thing Happened

I was all ready to tell you this, and now I'm feeling all weird about it.

The first time I told three of my girlfriends in person, sitting at a table in a restaurant, I felt my face get all red. My palms were sweaty, and I was seriously nauseated.

Tooting one's own horn is really funny to say (I'm doing what?), but it's actually awkward to do... 

I have a book deal.

I'm getting better at believing it (and saying it out loud), though. And seeing it in Publisher's Marketplace helped. Here's what those guys said:


It's actually a three-book deal, with Simon & Schuster's new Pocket Star imprint. Pocket Star does primarily ebooks. There's an option for print, but it's going to be an ebook first and foremost.

The reason I'm telling you that part is because it means I'm about to be crazy-busy. Here's the timetable we've discussed:
  • ROUGE (Book #1) is due out Nov/Dec 2012
  • Book #2 is due out Spring 2013
  • Book #3, Nov/Dec 2013

They have an option on a Book #4, but at the moment I'm trying to get my head around A-That I have a book deal (!); and B-That I ... huh? What was A?

Seriously, though, I can't help thinking I'm just so GRATEFUL for you guys. I would not have made it this far without my family and friends.

From my first blogging buddies, who kept me encouraged through the agent search; to my critique partners, who still help me make my books better; to Authoress (link), who ran the "Miss Snark's First Victim" contest that this book won; to all of YOU, who've been excited and encouraging and told me you can't wait to read my books.

That's just the nicest thing you could ever say. ((hugs))

Sometimes it feels like my publishing journey has more downs than ups, so for a moment, I'm enjoying this up. It could only be better if you were here to enjoy it with me. Cheers!

Thank you, reader- and writer-friends! I can't wait to share my books with you~ <3

(Note: I'm out of town 7/25, so there'll be no new post. But I'll be back on Thursday, Aug. 2, with a great author-friend interview, J. Anderson Coates (link), who is also a MSFV winner. See you then!)


55 comments:

Laura Pauling said...

Woo hoo! congratulations Leigh! Sooooooo excited for you! :)

Sarah said...

Leigh!!! So happy for you! Nice to see it's coming out so quickly, too--you won't have to wait long (and neither will I! Can't wait to read it!). Congratulations!

Anne Gallagher said...

Congratulations! That is just awesome news.

Unknown said...

Way to go!!!! So happy for you, Leigh. Can't wait to read your books!

Pat Hatt said...

Awesome! Congrats, and quite the schedule too, it can be done, just make sure you move a bit and don't frig up your arm or neck writing so much, been there, not fun haha

Dianne K. Salerni said...

Wow, Leigh!! Congratulations! That is awesome, awesome news! SO happy for you! Is it historical? It sounds like it might be, which thrills me even more.

Unknown said...

Congratulations, Leigh! You deserve it!!

Old Kitty said...

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy dance! Happy dance!! Oh wow!! CONGRATULATIONS!! See?? You are so a super duper shiny sparkly star!!! YAYAYYAYAYAYAY!!!! Take care
x

Faith E. Hough said...

Hooray!!! I can see how your mind would have trouble grasping teh wonderfulness.
Congratulations!!!

Anonymous said...

Yay for you, Leigh!!!

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Way to go! I am so happy for you, Leigh. Now, to put your muse into over-drive, right? You will do fantastic on all three books for the prayers of all your friends will be with you, Roland

Laurel Garver said...

Happy dancing for you, Leigh! You have some crazy days ahead, so feel free to shoot me an e-mail if you ever need to blow off steam.

Eagerly anticipating Rouge and the next awesome projects to follow!

Susan Kaye Quinn said...

Yay, yay, yay!!! So happy for you, Leigh! :)

AMOffenwanger said...

I literally had my jaw drop when I saw that first blue line up there!! YEY!!!!

Carolyn Abiad said...

So nice to see this in print!! Congratulations :D
((hugs))

erica and christy said...

OMGOMGOMGOMG!!!! I LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE this post!!!! (and exclamation points!!!) So happy for you, Leigh, and so glad you got to tell us before your vacation! Now I'm feeling a little light-headed and sweaty, too!!!
erica

Unknown said...

Wow, congrats! That's awesome news.

Kelly Hashway said...

YAY!!! Congratulations! That's such great news!

LTM said...

@Jean--*wink* Thanks so much, my friend! Hope your own books are selling well! ((hugs))

@Kelly--Thanks, girl! Looking forward to your books as well! :o) <3

DEZMOND said...

oooooh, big congrats, big congrats!
What's chanteuse? :)

Amy Jarecki said...

OMG That is soooooo super, frigging AWESOME! Yes! You're getting published with a three (maybe 4) book deal, and now you just need to write. NO QUERY LETTERS.

I AM IN AWE!

Claire Hennessy said...

Omg, that is fantastic! Three books! Wow, that's quite a schedule. Congratulations and good luck!

M Pax said...

Major awesome, Leigh!! Congrats, congrats, congrats! Seems there should be a more enthusiastic word.

The deal is well-deserved, and I can't wait to read it. :)

Stina said...

I've been dying for you to finally go public with this. Awesome job, Leigh!!!! :D

DL Hammons said...

(((BEAR HUG UNTIL YOU CRY UNCLE)))

This is so awesome!!! I am beyond ecstatic for you!

Congratulations! (I even spelled out the whole word for you...as hard as that was to do!)

Mark Murata said...

Congratulations, Leigh!

Donna K. Weaver said...

Oh, my heck! This is so exciting for you. Congratulations!

Lisa Gail Green said...

OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!! I'm so EXCITED for you!!!!!! That is awesome news! I'm going to go tweet about it.

LTM said...

Thanks, Amy! Yep, I'm a little nervous, but here we geaux! (And I would be happy if I never had to write another query letter again as long as I live. We'll see. ;o) <3

Anonymous said...

Congrats! on the most excellent news! I celebrate with you in your success!

Jolene Perry said...

I am SO completely ecstatic for you. Totally well-deserved, and yeah... I can't wait to read them either.

if you need another set of ideas as you edit... you know where to find me ;)

Theresa Milstein said...

WoW WoW WoW! Congratulations! After all you're worry and patience, it's paying off. YaY! I'm thrilled for you.

Unknown said...

Congratulations! I can understand your apprehension. Saying it out loud makes it seem like it might disappear.

LTM said...

@Jenn--Thanks! And that might be part of it. LOL! Still adjusting mentally. :o) <3

Jennie Bailey said...

Congratulations!!! I'm so excited for you -- and I can't wait to buy it and read it!!!

Talli Roland said...

YAAAAAAY!

So thrilled for you, Leigh. You've worked hard and you deserve every little bit of success that comes your way. Don't be shy! We want to celebrate with you!

Massive hug.

Golden Eagle said...

Congratulations! That's AWESOME!

Anita Grace Howard said...

Woohoo! I'm so proud of you, lady! You have EARNED this, in spades! Now, get busy on that book 2. You're about to be moving at breakneck speed. LOL

A.L. Sonnichsen said...

Yay, Leigh!! I'm sorry I'm a few days late responding to this wonderful news (blame: vacation). I am so excited for you and I love the description of your book. It sounds so intriguing!! Congrats a million times over! YAY!!!!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

SQUEEEEEEEEEE!!! That's soooo wonderful!! I'm so happy for you! Congrats!!

Jennifer Shirk said...

WOOT!!! So excited for you!!!!

Ella said...

Congrats Leigh! woo hoo, this is wonderful news~ You are so deserving...I can't wait to read it~
ATB 555 <3

KM Nalle said...

EEEEEEEEEEEEE!

OMG. I'm so excited for you. I can hardly wait.

LisaAnn said...

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am absolutely freaking out over here!!!!!!! Yay for you!!!!!!!!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Leigh .. that's just wonderful news - you must be overjoyed ... congratulations and here comes the future ... cheers Hilary

Matthew MacNish said...

How did I not comment on this?

Tracy Jo said...

Whooooo-hooooooooo!!!!!!! Leigh, I am so excited for you. That rocks! I can't wait to read your books and follow this new journey you are on. I am doing a little morning, coffee dance for you. ;-) HUGS!!!

StratPlayerCJF said...

Hi Leigh!

Been a bit AWOL from the blogging world here in July, so just catching up now.

And wow!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! That is absolutely wonderful, and I'm so happy for you!

PK HREZO said...

Hey Leigh! I'm late to the party, but a 3 book deal???? That's amazing and wonderful and wow I'm just so excited for you!! Can't wait to help you promote them!
But yes you're gonna be busy busy! that's a really good thing tho!! :D

LTM said...

@Chris--We've missed you! And THANKS!!! It's scary-exciting-nerve wracking... And I can't wait to get the show on the road. Now's when the readers decide. *EEP*!!! omg. I feel sick--LOL! <3 ((hugs))

Anonymous said...

Good luck with the crazy busyness! Congrats! on the exciting news and thanks for sharing with us!

Creepy Query Girl said...

Aaaaaaahhh! I can't believe I'm so late to the game here! HUGE congratulations! That's awesome news!

Lydia Kang said...

I'm late to this blog post but not the news. So happy for you, girl! You deserve it!

Glynis Peters said...

CONGRATULATIONS! Wow, I am so peeved your post went into my spam box! I will have to check it out more often as I miss fantastic news like this! Well done, and good luck for the future.

Glynis Peters said...

CONGRATULATIONS! Wow, I am so peeved your post went into my spam box! I will have to check it out more often as I miss fantastic news like this! Well done, and good luck for the future.