How I Got my Book Deal

For so long I thought this wasn’t going to happen for me. I hoped and I actively dreamed, but it felt like that, a dream that I would have to wake up from one day. Since I was nine, every birthday wish, fallen eyelash, stray dandelion, and other wishing generating superstition, I pleaded to one day be a published author. And of course I haven’t admitted that until now because talking about said wish is how it quote, ‘doesn’t come true.’ I feel like I’ve lived by those rules for too long. Now as an adult, I think everyone should talk about their dreams, no matter how impossible they sound.

So let’s talk about it.

I used my dream as a coping mechanism. Every time I failed at something or at least didn’t do my best, I’d tell myself ‘one day I’m going to publish my book.’ Surprisingly, it made me feel better. It made that one test or competition seem small in light of my true dreams. But I don’t know if it was that healthy to put every aspiration into an industry known for its repetitive rejection. Yet, I think you need that kind of hope and drive to get a book deal. At least, you have to have the determination to keep going.

Here’s how I did it:

I started CAST IN FIRELIGHT when I was a senior in college (2016). I had finally decided to lay down my first book, which I had written throughout high school, and start something fresh (and let’s admit it, something better too). I wrote the first two chapters (around 6,000 words) during spring break. Then I was off to Europe for the summer after graduation to spend time with my father, who lived in Germany. It was there I vowed to finish it.

I got half way.

Upon returning home, life slammed into me and I scrambled to find a day job. I was whacked with a small life crisis as I struggled to figure out what I wanted to do to make money while pursuing my writing dream. At the time and still after I was judged for working as a retail bookstore seller. But those were great years. After going on a three-month hiatus from productive writing, I wrote CAST IN FIRELIGHT in the next year (2017). It was another year and a half of getting rejected in the query process before finally finding my lovely agent. I wrote a blog about the particular journey if interested.

My agent wanted me to change the ending and that took three weeks or so and then I went on submission pretty soon after. Strangely enough, I had to go to India for my brother-in-law’s wedding when I officially went on submission. With the time difference and how busy I was, I didn’t get to dwell much on who requested and who didn’t. As my agent said, it was the perfect opportunity. Because dwelling and being patient while on submission is the hardest part of it.

She’s right. Submission is hard. And it’s hard because it’s mostly luck at that point. Right timing. Right editor. Right market. All luck.

So after years of hope and hard working guiding me, I waited and wished. Penguin Random House/Delacorte Press expressed interest and the editor said nice things about my voice and main character’s fierceness. I tried to play it cool. Interest is just interest, I told myself in order to keep the hope in check.

But then I got lucky.

On November 9^th at 7pm, I got the news Delacorte Press had made an offer. I was working the closing shift with three more hours of work in front of me. I happy cried in the break room as I called my fiancé and parents. It will forever be the weirdest day of work I’ll ever have. For three hours I sold and shelved books with the dazed realization that in the future my own story would be among them. All that dreaming and wishing was becoming reality. A year later and I’m still reeling just thinking my dream is coming true and people can add CAST IN FIRELIGHT on Goodreads.

Parting note:

The last thing I want is for anyone to read this post and be jealous or feel defeated because it took them longer or they are still drafting, editing or querying. Believe me I understand the feeling and I don’t wish it on anyone.

If I can offer any advice in the process when it comes to the publishing journey it’s – try not to compare yourself to others. And not just because I think jealousy impedes creativity, but because everyone’s path is different. I thought after getting a book deal the track would be straightforward with clear landmarks. And while there are landmarks – if, how, and when you get to them is still vastly different.

Keep dreaming! Keep writing! Keep going! And best of luck to everyone.

Happy writing!