Amazing News: Big Things are Happening!
I just signed a publishing contract! And all it took was … A single Tweet?
A Dream Realized
For the past couple months, my absence here has been gnawing at me. I can give a million reasons: new dog, work schedule, busy at the farm, traveling, etc. Truthfully though, I’ve been biding my time. I was hoping the next post I’d write would, in fact, be this one. And here we are.
I am proud to announce that I was offered (and accepted) a publishing contract for Chronicum with a Colorado-based publisher called Literary Wanderlust! While I learned so much through the process of self-publishing my first novel, The Education of Ryan Gregori, with this new project I’ve been yearning to experience the traditional publishing route. I believe that partnering with publishing professionals who believe in my work will help me reach a larger audience, grow as an author, and take me one step closer to the ultimate goal:
Writing full-time. Some day.
I don’t just want a writing career. I want this to be my career. I’m ambitious. I’m committed. And my new partnership with Literary Wanderlust is a step toward making that goal a reality. It’s a dream realized, and I can’t wait to work with them to bring Chronicum to a bookshelf near you.
But now that I’ve shared the big news, here’s the really good part. Getting here didn’t exactly follow the path I’d imagined.
The Road Most-Often Travelled
The typical path to a traditional publishing deal goes something like this:
- Research relevant literary agents/publishers that accept unsolicited manuscripts.
- Write and send lots of query letters.
- Wait …
- Keep waiting …
- Be patient … (I have nothing but respect for literary agents and independent publishers—they work so hard to bring incredible stories to print)
- Take the rejections in stride. Send more letters.
- Wait …
- Hook someone. Send more materials. Wait again. Get accepted.
- Victory!
It’s a long process. It takes a lot of work, patience, and heart. I was in the thick of it.
Enter #DVpit …
The 280-Character Golden Ticket
A few years ago, literary agent Beth Phelan had a remarkable idea: have a Twitter pitching event for authors from/writing about marginalized communities. It would be an opportunity to showcase work from underrepresented voices in the writing world, and bring more diverse voices to print.
The rules were simple. On the prescribed day, authors would tweet a pitch for their unpublished manuscript no more than once per hour, and no more than six times during the day. Interested agents/publishers that accept unsolicited manuscripts would “like” tweets as an invitation to query/submit materials.
Since its inception, #DVpit, as the event was called, has matched at least 100 writers with publishing professionals.
I’m proud to say I participated in the event this past October, and I may be the 101st. Hopefully not. Hopefully I’m the 105th, the 117th, the 189th …
There can never be too many diverse voices in the modern publishing world.
In any case, I wrote my six allotted tweets, and in the early afternoon on a particularly rainy October day, one of my tweets lit up with a red heart.
Patrick Munnelly, the acquiring editor from Literary Wanderlust was requesting a query, the first three chapters, and a synopsis for Chronicum. 280 characters opened the door, and you’d better believe I was sending the requested materials off as fast as I could.
A week later I got a response. Literary Wanderlust wanted to see the entire manuscript!!! I was at work at the time, and I think I cartwheeled across the entire pool deck. Even now, knowing the outcome, I can still feel that initial thrill.
Fast-forward five weeks and I received an email from Susan Brooks, Literary Wanderlust’s Editor-in-Chief.
Accepted! Cue the fireworks in my brain!
Imagine defying the odds and being able to make such an unlikely statement:
I got my publisher on Twitter!
The Deepest Gratitude
Chronicum is special. Of course, I’m biased, but from the day I started writing this book, I knew it was unique. I’ve worked tirelessly (and will continue to work) to make sure it is not only interesting—perhaps even thrilling—but beautiful. To be matched with a publisher who believes in it enough to bring it to print is such an incredible honor.
I’m so deeply grateful to Beth Phelan for creating #DVpit, Patrick Munnelly for asking for more, and Susan Brooks for taking me on. The Education of Ryan Gregori was a wonderful chapter one in my writing career. I’m waiting with baited breath to read chapter two.
And I’m so grateful to you, dear reader. As I mentioned in a recent letter to my newsletter subscribers (you’re one, aren’t you? No? What are you waiting for?):
A writer is nothing without his readers.
Thanks for your time, your interest, your patience, and your loyalty. I can’t wait to work with Literary Wanderlust to bring Chronicum to a bookshelf near you.
Share your thoughts! If you’re a writer, have you ever considered a Twitter pitching event? Have you read any #DVpit books? Are you as excited as I am that Chronicum has a publisher? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks as always for reading,
Gregory
