Sunday, March 18, 2012

Release Party Day 1-"The Call" For Champion


Welcome back to my party! I'm so thrilled you decided to join me. I promised to share THE CALL story with you so, here we go!

Every writer waits desperately for THE CALL from an agent, an editor or someone to tell them they have a great story with great potential and the person wants to publish or represent it. At once it's the most wonderful feeling, but it can be overwhelming as well.

I did not get a call. I got an email.

On November 6th I submitted Her Highland Champion to Decadent Publishing. On November 30th, I left the house about 6:30 in the morning and didn't get home until about 7:30 that night. I subbed in an elementary school and then went straight to my PT tutoring job for a couple more hours. I still had NaNoWriMo words to finish, I was exhausted, but I decided to check my emails before I jumped in to win NaNo. (Yes, my emails OFTEN become my procrastination tool! Anybody else have that problem?)

I saw the email from Decadent Publishing and thought, "Damn, ANOTHER rejection!" I don't know why I thought that first, probably because I'd trained myself to expect a phone call for a sale. I debated whether to open the email right then because I wanted to stay positive and focus on my NaNo words. (I'd had a hard time with NaNo and a few days prior I hadn't been sure I'd be able to win.) But I did open it, read the words "would like to offer a contract" and immediately teared up. Yes! Validation! Someone else besides my friends believed in my writing! (My family believes in me too, but few of them have actually read my work.)

My first call was to my mother and then I started emailing and texting other family members and close friends. I almost couldn't focus to finish my NaNo words, but I did. Okay, I wrote a bit, checked emails, wrote a bit more, checked & sent more emails, and wrote more. I admit I choked up quite often whenever I got a response from someone or when I thought about my story hitting the cyber shelves. I STILL can't believe it even though it's now FIVE days away!

I honestly don't remember how I truly celebrated. I'm sure I took myself out to eat and then celebrated with a toast with some friends. But that was about it. How would you/do you celebrate a dream coming true?


All right. Remember to comment to get in the running for the 1st prize, an Amazon gift card. I'll choose a winner from all comments through midnight on Monday night. Then I'll post the winner's name early on Tuesday.

12 comments:

  1. Congratulations Alexa!!
    Enjoy every moment of your release party, you deserve it.

    I remember when my naughty nibble was released I was sitting at my MIL kitchen table hitting the refresh button on my publishers website and when it went live, we all screamed / cried / laughed. It was a great day and I look forward to it for you too.

    Not long to go...
    Tam x

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  2. Congrats Alexa on your first release. I remember when I had mine about two and a half years ago! Enjoy the moment your first baby hits the digital shelves! It's an exhilerating feeling of accomplishment, you should be so proud. I grinned, and cried and grinned some more. It's a moment to cherish forever because it's the first step on a new journey of unending possibilities. :P Hugs

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  3. Whatever form the call takes, it's got to be thrilling. I'm enjoying the countdown to release day so I can say, "I knew her back when."

    Congratulations, Miss Lexi!

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  4. i'd be be bawling happy tears LOL then shouting and screaming - see hard work and persistence does pay off CONGRATULATIONS bf :) - and i look forward to many many more great stories!!!!

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  5. Congratulations on making your dreams become a reality! You certainly deserve it!
    I would celebrate my calling my Mom and grandmother and dancing around yelling "I did it!"
    I can't wait for the release and making it my first summer read!
    Best Always,
    Michelle Laurie

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  6. I well remember the day I got "The E-mail" on July 15, 2006. I celebrated by taking my then-9-year-old daughter to see a touring production of "Cats" - which is what we'd planned to do anyway, as I'd had the tickets for a month. But the whole time I kept repeating "They like my book!" with something like wonder.

    Congrats and best of luck with Her Highland Champion, Alexa!

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  7. Congrats on your upcoming release, Alexa!

    That day is a day you will never forget. I remember mine very well, too. And yes, I did cry. LOL

    May your release day be just as exciting!
    ~Jessica

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  8. Thanks, Jessica! I imagine this whole week will be awesome!

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  9. I love your celebration idea. I'm itching for release day! Congratulations, m'dear. You deserve great things.

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  10. Yay!!! I'm so thrilled for you and I can't wait to read your story!!

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  11. Jan, thanks so much for your support!

    Vonda, I hope you'll like it considering how much you love Scotland!

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