Tell me your overnite success story

Well, it may not have been overnight, but I got a 3-book deal six weeks after my agent started subbing. In the publishing world, six weeks is like a heartbeat!

Mine wasn't overnight either.

The agent was - almost. She asked for the full manuscript, we hand-delivered it on the Tuesday, and on Thursday morning at 09.01 am the phone rang...

The publisher business took four weeks to get a two-book deal - but the first one into the auction was on the phone within a week.

Unfortunately, it still isn't 'success' unless the book now goes and sells to the public...

Two-book deal with RH three weeks after submission by my agent.

JJ

Wrote the book in 5 days, revised over the course of 2 weeks, submitted, got a rejection a week later, submitted to another editor, got a full request within a day or two, and got a contract offer 24 hours later.

thethinker42 said:

Wrote the book in 5 days, revised over the course of 2 weeks, submitted, got a rejection a week later, submitted to another editor, got a full request within a day or two, and got a contract offer 24 hours later.

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thethinker42 said:

Wrote the book in 5 days, revised over the course of 2 weeks, submitted, got a rejection a week later, submitted to another editor, got a full request within a day or two, and got a contract offer 24 hours later.

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Jeez! Give me some of what you were drinking for those 5 days!

My first wife and I got married within two weeks of meeting, does that count?

If you want a real success story talk to her divorce lawyer.

My agent got the full on Friday and offered on Tuesday.

Not quite a month after we went on sub, we had our first offer. A few days later, a second offer. A week after that, an auction and a deal (oddly, on a Tuesday again).

My agent requested my partial the same day I queried. Then, two weeks later asked for the full. Two more weeks and she offered representation. I've been on sub for two weeks now.

Well, the only part of my story that was overnight could have been a disaster.

I sent out my first handful of queries a couple days before Thanksgiving in 2005. Really just testing the waters (and getting pressured by my writing group!).

The next morning, I had a response from an agent who sounded very excited, wanted to see my first 100 pages.

However, things quickly began to feel sticky once I'd sent the pages and we had a phone conversation. Agent was very critical, made a sort-of offer if I agreed to major re-writing under the agent's tutelage.

Only then did I start doing more research, found AW, realized agent had not much of a track record and an "iffy" reputation.

Politely, with mutual good wishes, we ended our discussion. I kept on querying.

Nine months later, I got an offer from a solid NY agent. A year later, we had a publisher. The book came out in January 2009.

My overnight success story

(This was my first book, however. And I'm in my 50's. So that part of the story should offer encouragement.)

[Placeholder for my success story, overnight or otherwise]

Wayne K said:

My first wife and I got married within two weeks of meeting, does that count?

If you want a real success story talk to her divorce lawyer.

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I'm still waiting for mine. Hope it comes while I'm still on this planet.

These are some amazing stories--congrats, all you overnighters!