I wanted to let you all know that I had some huge news a few weeks ago. I got THE CALL!!
For those of you who don’t know, THE CALL is when a writer like me, who’s been working on my writing for many years and has been submitting to agents and publishers (as well as self-publishing), finally gets notified in some way, either through an editor or the writers’ agent, that they’ve sold their first manuscript to a publisher. This is definitely a Squee!-worthy moment. š
In the writing world, we call the events surrounding thisāTHE CALL STORYāand I finally have mine!!
As some of you may know, Sourcebooks has a program on Wattpad where you can tag your manuscript submit2sourcebooks and it goes directly to an editor. It almost feels like a secret back door into the Sourcebooks clubhouse because not many people know about it, and it doesnāt feel like youāre going through āofficial channelsā. You donāt have to write and submit a query letter, blurb, synopsis, or partial manuscript, and there arenāt any e-forms to fill outānothing. If your manuscript is complete and already on Wattpad, all it takes is about thirty seconds to tag it correctly.
I had a pretty quick response from Sourcebooks saying my book, The Sons Of Gregor MacLeod, a historical romance set in the Highlands, was under review and theyād get back to me in 2 ā 3 weeks, which is REALLY fast in publishing terms. In the end, it took longer than three weeks, but I thought that was probably good news because maybe the manuscript had been kicked up the ladder.
I donāt know exactly how long it took the editor, Cat Clyne, to get back to me because honestly, Iā¦umā¦forgot about it. I was a Golden Heart finalist at the time, and I was super busy with that, plus Iād self-published two short contemporary romances called The Fabrizio Bride, and its sequel The Dāamici Mistake, and I had recently done a MAJOR revision on the beginning of The Fabrizio Bride despite the fact that it had already been published for a while (yay for self-publishing!).
So when I received Catās enthusiastic message on Wattpad about my manuscript, I was thrilled! Unfortunately all I could read was the first few lines of the message on my phone and my laptop was deadāyup, that happenedāand I had to run out the door to get my kids to preschool, so I couldnāt even wait for the laptop to power up. DOH!
Needless to say, I now have apps on my phone for most of my social media and email. š
After rushing back home, I finished reading Catās lovely email, in which she praised my book and the series potential/hook (five foster brothers), sent me her direct email and asked me for more information on the series and myself, plus the full manuscript. I didnāt have time to do all that right away, so I just sent a note saying I was interested and would send the material ASAP. She got back to me asking to meet for coffee at RWAās National conference, which I was attending in a few weeks for the Golden Heart awards.
Slow lizard blink, umā¦YES!
I sent her the material sheād requested plus a note about the revisions I had planned for the book. Unfortunately, it was now the weekend, and I had to wait. But by the time I woke up Monday morning (west coast time), Cat had responded with another email, calling my book āHighlander catnipā and asking if I wanted to set up a phone meeting to go over my planned revisions.
This is when the clouds opened up, sunlight poured down, and the Heavens sang.
Iād been close to a sale several times with my writing in the 27 years since I wrote my first romance. Iād been agented twice for both novels and screenplays, Iād won or placed in several big writing contests, even winning $1000 in one contest, Iād worked with editors, agents, and producers on several different projects, and Iād been paid to revise other peopleās work, but thisāa revision meeting with an editor at a good publishing house on a manuscript/series Iād started almost ten years ago that was so near and dear to my heartāfelt different. I thought, maybe I could finish the revisions in time for Nationals, and Cat would offer for my book after that.
I prepared for my phone meeting by writing up a revision plan and sending it to Cat ahead of time, arranging for my kids to be out of the house, and telling my fellow Golden Heart nominees about my progressāto resounding cheers and support! One nominee in particular (waving at Diane!) said maybe Cat would offer on the book during the phone callāshe wouldnāt go to all the trouble if she wasnāt really keen.
I laughed, thinking wouldnāt that be nice, but then totally dismissed it. I was having a revision meeting. Iād impress my potential editor with my professionalism and insight, and Iād show her I could take notes and work with someone else to make a better book.
The day came, the kids vacated the house, I printed off multiple copies of my notes, got a fresh notepad, and tested several different pens to take notes with during the callāand I spread them all out perfectly on my dining room table. Being a theatre grad, I even did a few voice warm-up exercises, so Iād speak more clearly.
The phone rang, and all that was promptly forgotten as I chatted with Cat (who may be the nicest person in the world!). When it came to talking about the revisions, I did most of the talking until she said something along the lines of: Actually, Iām prepared to offer on all five books in the series. I stopped talking. I no longer had any words in my head.
I couldnāt have been more shocked. And I was excited, yes, but really just so damn stunned. Then I tried to be all cool (ācause selling your first book happens every day) and not emotionally vomit all over my new editor. Oooh, and didnāt that sound amazingāMY EDITOR!!
Yup, here came the emotional vomiting, although by then I think weād finished the call and hung up. Now there was fist pumping and spasmodic happy dancingāand no one to share it with. I called my husband and got his voice mail, my dad was out of town, the kids were gone. Thank goodness my writing bestie picked up or I may have imploded. I HAVE A FIVE BOOK DEAL FROM SOUCEBOOKS!!
I talked to her for almost an hour, walking around my house because I couldnāt sit still, mind reeling, occasional spurts of tears. Finally my hubby called, the kids came home. I emailed my dad, Skyped overseas friends, and announced to fellow Golden Heart nominees and my local writing chapter that Iād SOLD!
Still, it didnāt seem real. It seemed more real when I got my agent Kevan Lyon, met with Cat at the RWA National convention, went to the Sourcebooksā author dinner, and had to give my agent due dates for the rest of the books, including the due date for the first book, which I was still revising.
But you know when it became really real? One week ago when I hit send at 5:30 in the morning and sent Cat my first book.
Yup. Shite just got real (it is a Scottish historical, what did you expect?). Now onto book two. š
The Sons of Gregor MacLeodāa five book Highlander historical romance series, coming out the Fall of 2017 by Alyson McLayne.
Huge Congratulations, Alyson!!! I can’t wait to read the entire series!
Thanks Tina! I can’t wait to write the entire series, lol!
I love this story for, oh, so many reasons. Itās so upbeat, so inspirational. And I nearly spit my coffee out laughing a time or two.
So what else did I get from this post? NEVER give up, no matter how long it takes. Iām so thrilled for you Alyson! Congratulations and many, many sales!!
Hi Maggie! I’m so glad I made you laugh, lol! Yes, persistence is key for anything in life, but especially artists!!
That makes me smile so big, Alyson! So happy for you.
Thanks Angie!! It took me days to stop smiling, lol! And then I smiled all over again when I was writing the blog!!
Congratulations, Alyson!!! So happy for you! Thanks for sharing your call story.
Thanks Carrie! Looking forward to your call story next! š
Congratulations!!Perseverance pays off! Savor the moment and get busy. š
Hi Jean! Thanks for commenting. š YesāMust. Get. Busy!
How exciting, Alyson!!!! It’s awesome to hear how you’ve persevered, kept writing, kept working and succeeded!!!! Cool cool Call Story– and very well-deserved! Congrats!
It’s always fun to share in the excitement and good news with fellow authors. Here’s to lots of sales and readers who love your stories and clamor for more! š
Thank you so much Pris! From your lips to readers’ fingers on those buy buttons, lol! So glad you liked the post and thanks for commenting!!
Congratulations, Alyson! Loved your call story. Hope this series does amazing.
Thank you so much, Lena! I’m so glad you liked my story. š
Wonderful story, Alyson! So glad we could talk with you about your wonderful news at E.C’s book-signing. Fantastic news, and clearly very well deserved! May you have many more such stories! š
Hi Celia! Yes, I think you were one of the first few people I toldāI’d just found out that afternoon. I think I was still in a daze, lol! Looking forward to seeing you in the fall. š