More Proof: Another First Book Deal

[JennaGlatzer]

So this guy, Marc Giller, wrote asking if I might like to interview him for Absolute Write. (Amy's doing it, by the way.) I checked out his site and liked what I saw, but most of all, I liked this:

http://www.hammerjack.net/blog/editors_agents/index.html

18 years and 8 unpublished novels before he made it to publication.

18 years, but he perservered, found a great agent... and his first novel has just been published by Bantram Spectra (Random House), with a second one to follow. Great reviews.

Then, here he is on Fox News:

Windows Media Format (http://www.hammerjack.net/video/straka_hammerjack_072605_300.wmv)
Real Player Format (http://www.hammerjack.net/video/straka_hammerjack_072605_300.rm)

Listen to those last two sentences.

"Dream come true. Absolutely everything I expected it to be."

I wish that same feeling on every not-yet-published novelist here!

[alaskamatt17]

Thank you! That gives me hope. I've only managed to accumulate three unpublished novels and it's only been four years for me, but I've been starting to feel lately like I'm never going to get published. this gives me hope. Even if it takes me eighteen years to get there, it'll be worth it to me.

[Mistook]

Let's see... in 18 years I'll be... 54! Yay!

[Thomma Lyn]

How inspiring! Thank you for posting this. :Clap:

[marcusgee]

Thanks, Jenna, for posting about my novel HAMMERJACK.

And here's hoping that it doesn't take everyone else 18 years to get that first one published! But if it takes a couple of novels, take heart--even the craziest dreams come true, if you keep working at it.

I think the toughest part isn't the rejection slips so much as those times you get so close you can almost feel the pen in your hand signing that publishing contract, only to get turned down at the last second. This has happened to me more times than I care to admit--but when it does, you have to look at it as a backhanded compliment. "Yeah, you're good," the editor/producer is saying, "but this story just ain't our thing." A lot of times this leads to offers to pitch new material, which in a convoluted way is how my novel ended up getting published.

So even bad news can have some positive implications--which is how you need to look at the sumbmission process, if yer gonna survive in this biz! So keep reading, keep writing--and keep dreaming, because that's how it all happens.

Copious amounts of caffeine help too, but that's another story... :)

[azbikergirl]

Let's see... I started my first novel about 16 years ago, wrote three more, fumbled around with a few other stories for ten years, rewrote the fourth novel twice (and revised it three more times)... maybe I'm getting close! :) Thanks for posting that, Jenna. I'm nothing if not persevering (some might say stubborn).

[ricaykw]

When I first glanced at that I thought it meant he was only 18 years old. And I was like I don't know if that so much inspires me as much as it makes me feel unaccomplished. When I read it again, I figured it out :)

[JennaGlatzer]

Marc, glad to have you here! I think you accumulated a lot of wisdom in those years while you were waiting for publication. ;)

Every now and then we get a skeptic around here who says it's impossible to break in with a major publisher as a new novelist, so I love hearing stories like yours.

How's the publicity/marketing process going? Way to go on the Fox interview!

[marcusgee]

I wouldn't call it wisdom so much as being a glutton for punishment! Still, it's been a lot of fun, even adventurous sometimes.

Doing publicity has been a real eye-opener. First-timers like me (unless you're Elizabeth Kostova) typically handle the bulk of their own promotion, which was something I didn't entirely expect. Bantam lends you the services of their publicist, of course, but that only goes as far as sending out the book for reviews in the major trade publications and some newspapers, along with a few websites. Doing local media, casting a wider net--that's all on you, so you better be prepared to do a little legwork!

Doing the Fox interview was great, not to mention pure luck. Mike Straka, the guy who interviewed me, gets hundreds of books sent his way--but he just liked the storyline, and the way I approached him, so it all just kind of worked out!

I've also done a local radio interview after doggedly pursuing the on-air talent to ask for a slot, and gotten a mention in my big local paper after several e-mails to their book editor. So as you can see, sometimes you have to knock on the door a few times to get people to answer--but after a while, they usually do. You'd be surprised what happens when you just ask politely. :banana:

[cwfgal]

Congratulations, Marc! Enjoy the ride!

Beth

[Cabinscribe]

Jenna, thanks for sharing this inspiring story! It's just what I needed today!

Marc, congratulations!

You must be so happy!

:snoopy:

[WriterInChains]

Congratulations Marc! http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/smilies/emoteClap.gif

Your web site is very entertaining & inspiring, I was ready to go out & find a copy of "Hammerjack" even before I read the reviews on Amazon!
It's nice to know that being insanely stubborn can pay off.

Have a great day!

[azbikergirl]

Doing publicity has been a real eye-opener. First-timers like me (unless you're Elizabeth Kostova) typically handle the bulk of their own promotion, which was something I didn't entirely expect. Bantam lends you the services of their publicist, of course, but that only goes as far as sending out the book for reviews in the major trade publications and some newspapers, along with a few websites. Doing local media, casting a wider net--that's all on you, so you better be prepared to do a little legwork!
I noticed that absolutewrite has quite a few articles on promotion. I've read a few so far, and they're really helpful. For those who haven't found them yet, check out http://www.absolutewrite.com/novels/articles1.htm#promoting

[marcusgee]

Hey, thanks everybody for making me feel welcome! Glad you like the Hammerjack website too. Funny, but in the beginning I wasn't even sure of what to post up there--until I started laughing over some of the experiences I had on this long, looooong road. It definitely helps if you don't take yourself too seriously!

So does beer, but then you don't get much writing done... :ROFL:

[Pencilone]

Marc, you are an inspiration. News like this keep me on track.

:Clap:

[sassandgroove]

Hmmm...18 years, so I'm still in the game!!! Yay!!:Hammer: I've only been working on my first novel since 2000, longer if you count that I got the idea from crushes I had when I was 12!

Congrats to you Marc. :):)
Time for Dancing!:snoopy: :snoopy: :snoopy: :PartySmil :TheWave: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:
Maybe i went a little overboard on the smileys......

[LightShadow]

20+ years, 13 unpublished manuscripts, I finally got an agent. Still plugging away, waiting to see if any publishers bite. Thanks Jenna, this story reminds me that there is a rainbow beyond the horizon.

[ChunkyC]

Welcome aboard, Marc. And congratulations on achieving the dream!

I have a friend who slogged for twenty years before getting a publishing contract. His second novel is coming out next month. So yes, it can be done. Like so many pros tell those of us who are feeling frustrated; perseverence!

[marcusgee]

Hey, Douglas... Congrats on getting an agent to rep your work! That can be almost as tough as making a sale. Pat yourself on the back and keep your fingers crossed. Life can change pretty quickly when you reach this stage of the game.

Proof postive, everyone, that a writer keeps on writing!