Monday, August 25, 2014

EXCITING NEWS—I Have a Three-Book Deal!



As some of you know I went to Swinger on Birches Writing Retreat in July. What most of you don’t realize is that there’s a tradition at that retreat. If a writer goes to the beach below the inn where the retreat is held, picks out a pebble and holds it while they read a passage from their manuscript to the group, if they want it bad enough, they will get a book deal.




So, I went down to the beach. But I couldn’t pick out just one stone. Three of them called to me. I held the stones while I read from the young adult thriller that I had out on submission.  And, a few weeks later, the universe smiled on me. But she decided to add a huge plot twist.


The YA thriller I read from at retreat wasn’t the first manuscript I had go on submission. My first manuscript went out a little over a year ago and failed to sell. Well, to be more correct, my agent and I quickly decided to stop pitching the manuscript because it was YA gothic with paranormal elements and the market for paranormal had waned. We figure it was better to tuck that manuscript away and bring it back out when editors started looking for paranormal again.

I’m guessing you know where this is headed, so I’ll cut to the important part.  Turns out an editor that we hadn’t heard back from loved the first manuscript and was willing to buck trends for it—with a slight change.   My young adult gothic manuscript is transforming into a new adult paranormal.


I’m thrilled to announce the MOONHILL trilogy has sold to Selena James at Kensington Books (as in a three-book debut deal—or three pebbles).

I am so freaking happy! Thank you to Selena and to my agent, Pooja Menon, for loving MOONHILL and having faith in me.  

Here’s a blurb and official announcement Publisher's Weekly 






22 comments:

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    1. Thank you! I'm so excited and can't wait until it comes out!

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  2. PAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! This is so awesome! Huge congratulations!!! :D

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    1. Thank you. It's so true that this business feels like it's going no where, then it leaps ahead.

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  3. Huge congratulations, Pat! I am SO happy for you - and I love the description in the PW announcement!

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    1. Thank you! I'm so thrilled and grateful. I feel like Moonhill is in the hands of the perfect editor and publisher.

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  4. Congratulations! Aren't you glad you made the adjustment in the story? And held those three rocks?

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    1. Very much! Yeah, I wonder what would have happened if I stuck to the single rock suggestion :)

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  5. What a wonderful story!!!! Congratulations times THREE!!!
    Vijaya

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  6. Wow! Great story! I'm so happy for you, Pat!

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    1. I really wanted to share how long my submission time took. Most often us writers hear about overnight responses and success. But months passing without word, sometimes means absolutely nothing. I couldn't be happier.

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  7. Yahoozers!!

    And thanks for sharing the long submission time. I'm living that and the timing is perfect. I'll keep waiting and hoping.

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    1. Kathy, I have total faith that you'll end up with the perfect agent and editor. Keep writing and putting yourself out there like you do :)

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  8. What a terrific story. Congratulations!

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  9. Just heard about this...CONGRATULATIONS! Such exciting news! Can't wait until it's out!

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    1. Thank you, so much. I'm totally excited and can't wait to share it.

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  10. Oh my goodness, what a blessing from the universe, beautifully told and unfolded! Congratulations. I'm so happy for you.

    I know all about what you've gone through. It took me over a hundred agent rejections but earlier this week, one wrote (based on my submission way back in May), to say she'd like to represent me. The world is a mysterious and wonderful place when we open to all the possibilities.

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    1. Here's a huge hug. That's such wonderful news! And I definitely understand the pain you went through. The querying process is not an easy one.

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