Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Doing the Happy Dance!


Amanda posted about Milestones.

As writers we put in a lot of hours with the occasional Red Letter day few and far between. So when they do come around we get verrrry excited.

Advance copies of KRK book to have arrived. (The Uncrowned King). Here is Sassy cat investigating the books.

AND ... drum roll, my wonderful agent, John Jarrold, has sold my new fantasy series The First T'En to Solaris. Yaaay! They'll be releasing the books in 2012.

The other thing that's got me doing a Big Girl Squee is this:

"The King's Bastard is currently is in the top 20 of the UK's paperback science-fiction and fantasy chart."

See Solaris's full post here.

As fellow writers you all know how many years go into writing a trilogy, how you pour your heart and soul into your work, never sure that the books will ever see the light of day. So you know how thrilling it is to achieve publication.

It is like a big hand reaching down out of the publishing sky to pat you on the head and say 'There, there, you weren't kidding yourself all these years. You really can write!'

To paraphrase a well known advertising campaign. It did not happen overnight. I had written 10 books before I was 25. (Thankfully none of these will ever see the light of day. Blush). And in the last 8 years I must have written another 11 books.

How many completed books do you have sitting on your hard drive?

20 comments:

4thguy said...

So jealous right now :P Good luck with the trilogy.

Rowena Cory Daniells said...

Thanks, 4th guy.

So how many books have you finished????

C Kelsey said...

I, sadly, don't have any books actually finished... Which is really dumb because if I combine my works on my old laptop and my new laptop, there's probably the better part of 500,000 words just there. That doesn't include all the stuff I did on computers that no longer exist.

Anonymous said...

Six. Three in the hands of an agent.

Top Twenty!!!!! Congratulations, Rowena. _And_ a new series sold. Sounds like a Red Letter Week. Possibly Month.

I'm hoping Amazon gets KRK to me in time for vacation. Cool air and the sound of the ocean in the background makes for excellent reading conditions.

Anonymous said...

How many completed? Uh... 9, with another.... 24? outlined and plotted.

Congrats, Rowena! Nice to see the MGC growing in its influence and power. Muwahahaha *cough cough* sorry...

Sarah A. Hoyt said...

Congratulations, Rowena!

I finished eight books before the very first book that was accepted. Of course, now I think they all need rewrites.

Sarah A. Hoyt said...

Jason,

PIKER! :-P

4thguy said...

I'm ashamed to admit that I have finished only one book that could be considered publishable, but I haven't lost hope! Currently working on a serialized novel that will be available for free reading "Tall Tales" http://4thguy.blogspot.com/search/label/tall%20tales

Rowena Cory Daniells said...

C Kelsey,

500,000 words. hmm. That's 5 books if you'd only finished them.

Rowena Cory Daniells said...

Martapam said:

'Cool air and the sound of the ocean in the background makes for excellent reading conditions.'

A crackling fire and the sound of pages turning, makes for good reading. The sound of someone else doing the mowing, while I hide away in the bedroom makes for good reading. In fact, I can't think of much that doesn't. (Well, kids crying, Muuuuum, so and so hit me!).

Six books finished, 3 with an agent? Well done, Matapam. Will keep my fingers crossed for you.

Rowena Cory Daniells said...

Warpcordova,

Nine books finished with a lot more plotted out. Sounds like you're on on a role.

You know, once that first book/series sells, you'll have back up books ready to go.

Rowena Cory Daniells said...

Absolutely, Sarah.

I'm going to be cleaning up the three books that are due out in 2012 before I send them off. But the story arc is there and that saves so much time.

Rowena Cory Daniells said...

4th Guy, it's good to set goals.

I set short term ones. (Get this book finished by the end of July. Am struggling with this).

Long term. (Get the new series cleaned up and sent to publisher by deadline next year).

And dream goals. (Make enough money off my writing not to have to work, so I can write full time. Heaven!).

Chris McMahon said...

Fantastic, Rowena. Enjoy the feeling and make it last. Talk about a double-whammy with the First T'En series picked up as well. Break out the champagne!

Is the First Te'En also through Solaris?

Chris McMahon said...

Oh - yep, just re-read your post - it was to Solaris. Sweet.

Rowena Cory Daniells said...

Thanks, Chris.

You know how long it has been between major sales for me. This is very satisfying

Chris McMahon said...

Rowena it really gives me boost to see you break through after so long. I feel like I have shared your struggle - and it give me hope.

Great to see a good news post as well:)

Rowena Cory Daniells said...

Chris, that's why we writers have to stick together!

Synova said...

Fabulous!

That is so exciting. :-)

Rowena Cory Daniells said...

Thanks, Synova.

You write and write and then something good happens to make it all worthwhile.