Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris

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The Contract is in the Mail!

The Contract is in the Mail!

by Anne R. Allen

 

This is the stuff a writer’s dreams are made of.

I got an email from an acquisitions editor last night that said:

“I started reading Food of Love tonight… And I love it…the characters are so real and the situations so fascinating…

Bravo. Wow, even. I’ll get a contract in the mail to you tomorrow.

I will definitely be proud to publish and promote it. Speaking of which, would you mind if I begin mentioning it on Twitter, on Facebook, and perhaps in my blog? Those could help to build excitement about its release.

Please let me know as soon as possible.”

And, um, I did say yes. He hopes to publish it by early fall. Then hopefully, my other backlist book, the Best Revenge—and then he’ll look at my current work.

I’m going to be back in print! I have a career again.

I’ve been knocking on agents doors for five years since my old publishing company went under, and I’ve gone through the waiting game of agents sitting on partials and fulls for years at a time, only to send a curt form letter, letting me know they’re the windshield and I’m the bug.

But Popcorn Press contacted ME. Yes. The editor liked my blog and my writing style and said he might be interested in my backlist. I didn’t respond right away. I was so sure the agent who had my full was going to take me on and want my whole list.

But…of course…in the end, my road to corporate publishing went the same old/same old route.

So I sent the two books off to Popcorn Press at the end of June.

I was going to go indie if this didn’t work, but indie scares me—I’m not good at being there in the jungle all by myself.

So this is perfect for me. No agent/boss. No marketing department undermining my editor. No waiting three years for the launch. Just an honest partnership with a real person.

Oh, and did I forget to mention, “squeeeeeeee!” ?

July 22, 2012

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About Anne R. Allen

Anne writes funny mysteries and how-to-books for writers. She also writes poetry and short stories on occasion. Oh, yes, and she blogs. She's a contributor to Writer's Digest and the Novel and Short Story Writer's Market.

Her bestselling Camilla Randall Mystery RomCom Series features perennially down-on-her-luck former socialite Camilla Randall—who is a magnet for murder, mayhem and Mr. Wrong, but always solves the mystery in her quirky, but oh-so-polite way.

Anne lives on the Central Coast of California, near San Luis Obispo, the town Oprah called "The Happiest City in America."

Comments

  2. Ruth Harris says

    Anne! Awesome is totally the word! I'm sitting here smiling & wondering if you've come back down to earth yet? Don't hurry, btw. Not that we don't want you but this is a moment to savor.
    I'm thrilled for you & I know all your legion of fans, are too. The roar you hear will be us cheering you on.

    PS: love the truffles. Edible!

    Reply

  4. Cathryn Leigh says

    Wait, you mean real authors also go Squeeee too? *giggles*

    Congratulations! Wow, so thrilling! Gosh I can only imagine what it must be like! *jigs with excitement for Anne*

    :} Cathryn Leigh (is also going squeee, but internally as she's at work)

    Reply

  6. KarenG says

    Hooray for the hungry small publishers out there!! And hooray for you! I know I would love any book you write because of your blogging voice. Will put it on my to read list! Will help with a blog tour if you wish!

    Reply

  8. Anne R. Allen says

    Thanks so much everybody. I'm still kind of floating around.

    KarenG–absolutely. I'd love to guest blog for you! I'm so jazzed I'm already getting offers.

    Now I have to find out when it's actually going to launch.

    And anybody who's in my area–yes, the launch party WILL include truffles.

    Reply

  9. Yvonne Osborne says

    That is awesome news and encouraging to hear your story. You must have about fallen off your chair! I can't imagine getting an email like that. Best of luck to you with Popcorn Press.

    Reply

  11. Neil Vogler says

    Huge congratulations, Anne. This couldn't have happened to a nicer person, and how great to be going into a process that you can feel truly excited about.

    Welcome back to print…

    Reply

  20. Ben says

    Anne, you've been a growing influence online and it was a question of time before you got picked up. I'm very happy for you. 🙂

    Reply

  22. JenniferWriter says

    Congrats on the wonderful news!!!

    You give back so much to other writers on your blog, I'm thrilled to hear that you're getting some writer love of your own.

    I hope this is only the beginning of a new chapter for you. Keep us posted as you continue on this journey!

    Reply

  25. BECKY says

    Oh my gosh, Anne…I'm doing the Happy Dance for you! I can't believe you didn't write most of your post in all caps, with tons of exclamation points!!!!!
    Congratulations…and I love your book cover!

    Reply

  29. Derico Photography says

    How absolutely fantastic for you!! Keep me updated if they choose to use the cover… that would be exciting for me as well! Either way, congratulations again! You definitely deserve it!

    Reply

  30. Ranae Rose says

    Awesome! I'm so happy to hear this, Anne! 🙂 I also really like the cover. It'd be great if they decide to use it.

    Reply

  31. Vivacia says

    Congratulations Anne, this is fabulous news. It shows that there's always light at the end of the tunnel – it's just sometimes a really, really, long tunnel.

    Reply

  32. Ann Best says

    Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! I'm so happy for you!!
    Ann Best, Author of In the Memoir, A Memoir of Shattered Secrets

    Reply

  34. Elizabeth Spann Craig/Riley Adams says

    Wonderful news! Congratulations, Anne…this sounds like a wonderful opportunity for you! 🙂

    Reply

  41. Patricia says

    What an inspiring story, Anne. I loved it! It just shows what we all know, right? Persistence and perseverance and belief in yourself CAN get you where you want to go!
    Patti

    Reply

  42. Anne R. Allen says

    Wow! Thanks everybody. I can't tell you how much it means to get so many encouraging comments. You all mean a lot to me.

    Yeah, I've been persevering, all right. But I realize now I was going about it all wrong. I kept trying to get an agent, but agents can't take on anything that won't please the corporate bosses, and if you write "outside the box"–no matter how well you write–you're never going to please the guys in the marketing department.

    For innovative writers, it's probably better to go with a small press. Small publishers are springing up everywhere, and I see them as the future of publishing.

    The fact this is the first small press I've queried shows I probably should have gone this way a long time ago.

    Still, I'm glad I've found Popcorn. It's so small that it's a labor of love for the owner, so this will be more like a partnership than a boss/employee situation.

    Reply

  47. fOIS In The City says

    YOU ARE THE TOPS !! THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DON'T CHECK ON MY BEST BLOGGER FRIENDS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS …THEY GO OFF AND GET THE BEST NEWS EVER.

    Seriously Anne, I can't think of anyone else who deserves this type of news more than you do. To continue to believe in yourself after all the time you have waited to find another publisher and to encourage the rest of us in spite of your own rejections … you are such a trouper and I am happy for your great news.

    All the best and that cover is as you say … the most perfect 🙂

    Reply

  51. Searcher says

    Awesome awesome awesome! I don't know you, but i'm always so happy to learn when one more writer gets the chance to be read by the world… Feeling so happy for you and the world by and large 🙂

    Reply

  53. Linda Gray says

    This is wonderful! I've only followed your blog for a few weeks, but thoroughly enjoy it. I've thought, for about a year now, that good small publishers seem like an excellent option more than ever, given what's going on in the industry. Can't wait to hear about your process! Many congratulations!!!

    Reply

  54. mesmered says

    Anne, I'm late to this party as well… but congratulations and well done on your persistence. I admire you. perhaps you might like a blog interview at some point?

    Best wishes.

    Reply

  55. Pk Hrezo says

    Congrats, Anne! That's wonderful! I'm feeling all the positive energy rush around me with your awesome news!

    Reply

  57. mindprinter says

    Wonderful, Anne. It couldn't have happened to a more deserving person. I am dancing along with you.

    Brava!

    Paul

    Reply

  60. Churadogs says

    Congratulations! This is wonderful news. It never ceases to amaze me how people head off in one direction, then life hands them other plans so they doodlebug off in another direction, then, if they're lucky, their doodlebugging has taken them to a place where, Ker-whump! life hands them their original plans back . . . only better.

    Reply

  62. Anonymous says

    Anne,
    Such wonderful news. I, too think the cover is perfect. Will look forward to reading the book when it is out.
    Don't forget to let Susan know for NW so she can post it in the kudos section.

    Judy Guarnera

    Reply

  65. Anne R. Allen says

    You guys are the best! I can't tell you how much it means to see your encouraging words. After all these years, maybe it's all going to come together. Just heard from my publisher that his designer likes the cover, and only wants a few tweaks for thumbnail clarity. And he just tweeted how much he loves the book. And this is the one that agents kept telling me was "over the top" and "unpublishable."

    Reply

  69. Michelle Davidson Argyle says

    Anne!!!!! Squeee!!!! I have to email you, but I just wanted to say congratulations here. I'm so very, very excited for you! Popcorn Press looks fantastic and just perfect for you and what you were looking for in a publisher. I LOVE that they found you and your beautiful work. *HUGS*

    Reply

  70. Anne R. Allen says

    Domey and Mary, thanks so much. And Michelle, thanks for this AND your email. I'm so jazzed. The editor is super-enthused and that means so much to me. Just signed the contract and put it in the mail.

    Reply

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