New Sales of First Time Authors

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Susan Gable

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Again, to remind you that this CAN be done, for your inspiration, I'd like to post information about several new sales of first books to RWA-recognized publishers.

#1 - Kathleen Bacus sold her first book, CALAMITY JANE, to Dorchester Publishing in a 2 book deal. This book was an RT&Dorchester Publishing American Title finalist. (Which means she sold it through a contest co-sponsered by RT magazine and Dorchester.) Calamity Jane was her fourth completed full-length ms. It will be released in January 2006.

#2- Margie Carroll sold RULES OF ENGAGEMENT to Avalon Books. She has been writing for 2 years, but this was her first completed ms. June 2006 release.

#3 - Sunny Chen sold MONA LISA AWAKENING to Berkley as part of a 2-book contract. Fall 2006 release date. She has been writing for 7 months and this was her first completed ms.

#4 - Marie Donovan sold HER BODY OF WORK to Harlequin Blaze. September 2005 release. She has been writing for 3 years, but this was the first ms she completed.

#5 - Sharon Horton sold MY SHADOW;MY LOVE to Ellora's Cave's Cerridwen Press. Late 2005 release. She has been writing for 7 years, and this was her 5th completed ms.

#6 - Cara King sold MY LADY GAMESTER to NAL. November 2005 release from Signet Regency. King was a 2002 Golden Heart finalist.

#7 - Loralee Lillibridge sold ACCIDENTAL HERO to Silhoutte Special Edition, to be released in Dec. 2005. She has been writing for 20 years but actively pursuing a romance writing career for the last 5 years. THis was her first completed ms.

#8 - Serena Robar sold BRACED2BITE to Berkley as part of a 3-book contract. This young adult novel will be released in May 2006 from Berkly Jam. She has been writing for 2 years and this was the first full-length ms she completed.

#9 - Jessica Titchenal sold HEDOIST'S PARADISE to Ellora's Cave in a 2-book deal. She has been writing for 2 1/2 years, and this was her first completed full-length ms.

#10 - Lois Winston sold RESURRECTING GERTIS to Dorchester Publishing. It will be released in April 2006. She has been writing for 8 years. This was the 7th full-length ms she completed. She was a Golden HEart finalist in 2004, and First-Runner up in RT & Dorchester Publishing's American Title competition. (Again, I'm pretty sure she sold this because of the contest with Dorchester.)

So, there you have. Be inspired. There are 10 new people who've captured the dream! :)

Susan G.
 

Susan Gable

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Cathy C said:
And in the "I was just sitting there minding my own business" file, an author I know was discovered by an editor while writing fanfic on a public site. The editor loved her style, corresponded and asked if she had ever written anything original, and :banana: :banana: she had!


As they say in Galaxy Quest: "Never give up; Never surrender!"

Wow, Cathy, that's an amazing story! I didn't think anything like that actually happened.

(And I LOVE Galaxy Quest. One of my all-time favorite movies. That says something about me, I think. <G> I'll let you all decide what. LOL!)

Susan G.
 
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Sonarbabe

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That's great news for the first timers! That means there's still hope for me. :)
 

Sakamonda

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First-Time Writers

Hey, are all these first-time novelists already members of RWA? Is that how you gather the info? I've been debating whether I should join RWA before my first novel is sold. (it's out on agented submission now). I'd appreciate any advice on whether joining RWA is worthwhile before your first novel is sold.
 

Susan Gable

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Sakamonda said:
Hey, are all these first-time novelists already members of RWA? Is that how you gather the info? I've been debating whether I should join RWA before my first novel is sold. (it's out on agented submission now). I'd appreciate any advice on whether joining RWA is worthwhile before your first novel is sold.

I'd venture to say that yes, most of those (all?) are RWA members. And yes, I did pull the information from an RWA publication.

Do I think joining RWA before you sell is worthwhile? Absolutely, even with all the "stuff" that's been going on with RWA this year.

I joined RWA in January of 2000. I joined the National group before I even knew there was a "local" (and I use the term local loosely - my "local" chapter is about an hour and 45 minute highway drive from me.) chapter. I didn't sell until Feb. of 2002.

One big advantage of being part of RWA is the vast amounts of educational opportunities you can get from it. There are all sorts of email lists where you can ask questions. There are local chapters, on-line chapters, workshops, etc. Then there's the networking factor. Suddenly you're rubbing elbows with all sorts of people who are "in the trenches." We have a monthly publication called Romance Writers Report that features all sorts of articles. There's a listing of contests. (Now, contests aren't for everyone, but there have been books sold because of connections with editors made through contests - especially THE contest for unpubs, the Golden Heart.)

Writing is such an isolated activity. It's always nice to be in contact with like-minded people. The internet has helped that a lot, but still, writers organizations fill that need.

Fingers crossed for you on that ms making the rounds!

Susan G.
 

thistle

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Thanks for the RWA info, Susan. I've been considering joining for a while, but you just gave me that extra nudge.
 

Sakamonda

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Thanks

Thanks much. I sent in my application today.

My novel currently out on submission is more chick lit/women's fiction (i.e., romantic plot is secondary), but the manuscript I'm working on now is contemporary romance. I think RWA will be a big help!
 

Sakamonda

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Thanks

Thanks much for all this info. I sent in my RWA application today.

My novel currently out on submission is more chick lit/women's fiction (i.e., romantic plot is secondary), but the manuscript I'm working on now is contemporary romance. I think RWA will be a big help!
 

Susan Gable

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Sakamonda said:
Thanks much for all this info. I sent in my RWA application today.

My novel currently out on submission is more chick lit/women's fiction (i.e., romantic plot is secondary), but the manuscript I'm working on now is contemporary romance. I think RWA will be a big help!

Coolness! Welcome! Hey, RWA has a new category for the Ritas (our awards) called something like Mainstream with Romantic Elements - because we do have many people who have moved into Chick Lit, or other types of "women's fiction."

I hope you find that RWA is a help. If you have any questions that I can maybe help you out with, give me a shout!

Susan G.
 

Sakamonda

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Thanks Susan

Thanks much, Susan. Where are you located? I look forward to getting my RWA materials in the mail.
 

Susan Gable

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Sakamonda said:
Thanks much, Susan. Where are you located? I look forward to getting my RWA materials in the mail.

I'm in Erie, PA, where the weather for the last few days has been just gorgeous. :) (That's to make up for the long winters we have. <G> )

Susan G.
 

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About a decade ago, Terris McMahan Grimes, a first-time novelist, signed a three-book deal with one of the major paperback publishers in the U.S. Her first novel, Somebody Else's Child, won awards. It was in print for years, but no longer. Her second (a follow-on series mystery, Blood Will Tell) was well received. Unfortunately, she was unable to finish the third (not her publisher's fault). Darn shame. I had read a draft and liked it. (It was set in part in a building across the street from my own office.) But she ran into plot problems toward the end. The third book appears in an Amazon listing of her books, but it was never actually published.

--Ken

P.S. Msg. does not pertain to a new sale, but still seemed pertinent in this thread that may be read by a few who somehow think that first-time authors are never published.
 
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Susan Gable

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ResearchGuy said:
P.S. Msg. does not pertain to a new sale, but still seemed pertinent in this thread that may be read by a few who somehow think that first-time authors are never published.

LOL - Ken, I wonder where those people think we published authors come from, then. I mean, once upon a time, we were ALL first-time authors. We didn't spring from the ground with a publishing contract, you know?? <G>

I'm glad that so many of you found inspiration and hope in this thread, because that was my intent!

Susan G.
 

Susan Gable

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Inspiewriter said:
Hi Susan!! Didn't know you were here! You are always very helpful to new writers!

---Robin

Yo, Robin! Good to "see" you here! :) (See what a small world this biz is, huh?)

I got a new RWR yesterday, folks, and there were three more First Sales listed. Don't give up!!

Susan G.
 

Robin Bayne

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Susan Gable said:
Yo, Robin! Good to "see" you here! :) (See what a small world this biz is, huh?)

I got a new RWR yesterday, folks, and there were three more First Sales listed. Don't give up!!

Susan G.


Very small biz indeed. *insert nodding smilie here*
 

Susan Gable

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I'm glad this thread came to the top, because I got the September RWR, and there were...brace yourself...17 new authors reporting their first sales!

Here's a breakdown:
5 were to Harlequin: One Love Inspired, one Love Inspired Historical, one Blaze, one Everlasting, and one American.

8 were to Triskelion
1 to Ceridwen
1 to Berkley, in a 2 book contract
2 to Avon, both new authors getting 3 book contracts

Keep the faith! Keep writing, tweaking, polishing, and submitting!

Susan G.
 

brainstorm77

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yeah its a excellent thread that does inspire me.. :) Thanks Susan for the updated info.
 

Sonarbabe

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Still having a whispy dreamlike sigh from this end.... Man, I need a cookie, but at 10:30 in the morning, would a Cookies & Creme Poptart have the same effect?
 

Susan Gable

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Sonarbabe said:
Still having a whispy dreamlike sigh from this end.... Man, I need a cookie, but at 10:30 in the morning, would a Cookies & Creme Poptart have the same effect?

Heck, cookies are pretty much the same thing! Eat the COOKIE! <G>

I'm going to get me some cookies I think, too. I'm having a minor nervous breakdown, trying to get a proposal finished so I can take it with me to the Harlequin offices tomorrow morning and HAND it to my editor. <G>

MUST HAVE COOKIES! <G>

Susan G. -- who likes PopTarts, too.
 

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Susan Gable said:
Heck, cookies are pretty much the same thing! Eat the COOKIE! <G>

I'm going to get me some cookies I think, too. I'm having a minor nervous breakdown, trying to get a proposal finished so I can take it with me to the Harlequin offices tomorrow morning and HAND it to my editor. <G>

MUST HAVE COOKIES! <G>

Susan G. -- who likes PopTarts, too.

I would opt for the Oreos with peanut butter filling. You can't go wrong with that combo. I can't imagine walking into Harlequin headquarters and handing anything to an editor. I would trip over the potted plant, spittle on myself, get the editor's name wrong, get MY name wrong, give HER a paper cut and then faint. In the end, I would either have security escort me out, or land a book deal out of sympathy. LOL
 

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Thanks Susan! Your posting was exactly what I needed today. Tomorrow is my only day off (work 11 off 1) and I was debating even taking my laptop home since I know I have a ton of housework to do but that can wait! I rather be writing my first novel!

Sherry
 

brainstorm77

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Sonarbabe said:
I would opt for the Oreos with peanut butter filling. You can't go wrong with that combo. I can't imagine walking into Harlequin headquarters and handing anything to an editor. I would trip over the potted plant, spittle on myself, get the editor's name wrong, get MY name wrong, give HER a paper cut and then faint. In the end, I would either have security escort me out, or land a book deal out of sympathy. LOL

Imagine see your book on the shelves in the bookstore!!!! How cool would that be???? :)
 
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