It's First Friday again. Doesn't the month fly by?
Here's a question I'm asked quite often by non-writers, who are usually mystified by the whole publishing process. How did you find your publisher?
Well, Avaloners? How did you?
I entered my manuscript in the Claymore contest through the Killer Nashville conference and was one of the top three to go on to the final round with Avalon editor Chelsea Gilmore as judge. Well, I may not have won the contest, but I did "win" a contract with Avalon. My first mystery, "The Blond Leading the Blond", will be released this October!
I sold my first book THE MAD HERRINGTONS to a new publisher called Regency Press. It went out of business at the same time Avalon started publishing historicals. A friend who is published by Avalon--Kathy Carmichael--told me to submit. I submitted the manuscript and Erin bought it.
Fourteen years ago, I queried Hilary Sares at Kensington with story lines on two books. She asked to see both and called me a week later with an offer to buy both of them for the Precious Gems line. By the time the line died I'd figured out I wasn't busy enough and had sent in LOVE IS to Avalon. They bought it and the rest is history. Sixty three books later (some are not published yet) I'm still in love with my job!
I met an Avalon editor at a networking event, pitched my story over lunch, and she was intrigued enough to request the full manuscript. By the following year, I had a contract.
How interesting. Everyone found Avalon using a different path. Having had rejections from HM&B which I was targetting, I looked elsewhere for a publisher my stories might suit. My rejections from HM&B were what we call 'good' rejections. In other words the editors liked the writing and the story but the tone just didn't fit the line.
Avalon stood out as a publisher who might like what I write. I was correct and in 2006 my first book The Right Chord was contracted for a 2007 release. I was thrilled and still am each time another book is accepted.
My experience was like sticking a pin on the map. I met Lia Brown at a writer's conference last summer. I hadn't thought about writing for Avalon but another Avalon author told me she loved writing for them so I presented a book I thought Lia would like. She didn't! I pitched another. No. I had one last chance. I just kept talking. Wait a Lonely Lifetime is scheduled for release in mid 2012.
7 comments:
I entered my manuscript in the Claymore contest through the Killer Nashville conference and was one of the top three to go on to the final round with Avalon editor Chelsea Gilmore as judge. Well, I may not have won the contest, but I did "win" a contract with Avalon. My first mystery, "The Blond Leading the Blond", will be released this October!
I sold my first book THE MAD HERRINGTONS to a new publisher called Regency Press. It went out of business at the same time Avalon started publishing historicals. A friend who is published by Avalon--Kathy Carmichael--told me to submit. I submitted the manuscript and Erin bought it.
Fourteen years ago, I queried Hilary Sares at Kensington with story lines on two books. She asked to see both and called me a week later with an offer to buy both of them for the Precious Gems line. By the time the line died I'd figured out I wasn't busy enough and had sent in LOVE IS to Avalon. They bought it and the rest is history. Sixty three books later (some are not published yet) I'm still in love with my job!
For my very first manuscript, I hired a book doctor, and she recommended that I submit Wings to Fly to Avalon Books
I met an Avalon editor at a networking event, pitched my story over lunch, and she was intrigued enough to request the full manuscript. By the following year, I had a contract.
How interesting. Everyone found Avalon using a different path. Having had rejections from HM&B which I was targetting, I looked elsewhere for a publisher my stories might suit. My rejections from HM&B were what we call 'good' rejections. In other words the editors liked the writing and the story but the tone just didn't fit the line.
Avalon stood out as a publisher who might like what I write. I was correct and in 2006 my first book The Right Chord was contracted for a 2007 release. I was thrilled and still am each time another book is accepted.
My experience was like sticking a pin on the map. I met Lia Brown at a writer's conference last summer. I hadn't thought about writing for Avalon but another Avalon author told me she loved writing for them so I presented a book I thought Lia would like. She didn't! I pitched another. No. I had one last chance. I just kept talking. Wait a Lonely Lifetime is scheduled for release in mid 2012.
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