The Goodbyes - Coming July 12, 2016!
I got a book deal! You have no idea how hard it was to stay quiet about something this exciting.
About the Book
I always do creative exercises when I'm bored. On a four hour drive from D.C. to my childhood home in Pittsburgh, I tried to come up with another reason I might be making the drive.
The answer? I was a rock star going home. I upped the stakes. I was going home to see the guy who inspired all my songs. I upped them even more. He was dying. Boom! I had my hook.
I decided to use this idea for NaNoWriMo, but write it from a male perspective to challenge myself. I wrote the first draft in a month, but took over two years to edit it.
How it Went Down
After the fifth round of edits, I was ready to say "goodbye" to The Goodbyes. I was past my creative due date with this story. I nurtured it, protected it, and incubated it for two years. I knew it was time to let go.
I queried a few agents and generated some interest, but no offers. I was ready to self-publish. Thankfully, I decided to give this book one last chance in the #Pit2Pub Twitter Pitch Party before CreateSpace.
Not expecting too much, I polished my pitches.
This tweet made it happen:
She inspired his hit songs. She has hours to live. A rock star braves a blizzard for a chance to say goodbye. #Pit2Pub #NA #CON #R
I had multiple "favorites" from publishers who requested my manuscript. Three of those requests became offers. In the end, Blue Moon Publishers won me over.
The Deal
On Presidents' Day, I signed the contract (with my lucky pen). Since my manuscript was in great shape, they gave me two options: a July 2016 release, or a 2017 release. I didn't want to wait another year.
Since then, I've been insanely busy making last-minute-literary-magic before turning the manuscript over and getting things ready for my press kit. I just finished writing book club questions. Now, I'm waiting for the second round of book cover designs. Amazing. Surreal. Squeeee!
Thanks to the amazing team at BMP--especially Heidi and my publicist Talia. I'm thrilled to share this journey with such talented women!
