My debut novel is going to be PUBLISHED!!!

I'm so excited!!! Yesterday I got news that Lucky Press LLC want to publish my debut novel! I am so thrilled, excited, and oh my God I'm probably still in shock because I really just can't believe this is finally happening to me!

Janice Phelps Williams, publisher of Lucky Press LLC, and I have been sending emails backward and forward now for about a month. But I thought my chance to be published by them ended last Friday when she sent me letter saying that she was NOT going to publish my book. She didn't think it represented me as the writer I portray myself to be online. And she was right. You see, I have grown as a writer so much since finishing Dead in The Corner of My Bedroom (this title is going to change by the way, which I will get your imput on tomorrow!), and she didn't think it would be wise to publish it as it was.

Despite thinking that the plot was good and well-structured, she thought the meat of the story lacked the heart and soul that I've put into other writing she's read online. She said it basically read like chick lit, when she was expecting it to be more literary. Not that chick lit is a bad genre, it's not, it's awesome, it's fun, it's entertaining, and I love reading it now and again, but it is just not a genre Lucky Press seek to publish. Nor is it really my style. I know it's not my style. Why did I write the novel like that then? I'll get to that in a minute.

But Janice believed in me, and so sent me some feedback with the 'not yet, not now' verdict on Friday night, But she also offered me the opportunity to send her revisions and/or any other work for consideration at any time. I felt miserable. Shoved pizza down my throat, watched a stupid romantic comedy. Tossed and turned in bed, stared at the ceiling for a while, but eventually asked myself: 'Do I really want to publish this book as it is when it doesn't represent who I am anymore?' and the answer was a definite, 'No.'

When I went to sleep, I had a dream about how I could revise the story. I woke up in a panic and immediately sent Janice an email, asking if she would be willing to read my revised first chapter and give me another chance to prove myself. I revised it immediately and in a fit of frenzy and tears in 5 hours on Saturday. I proofed it, sent it off, and bit my nails until I woke up the next morning (yesterday) with a big 'YES, I want to publish your book!' in my inbox! What???!!!????? (See, hard work pays off in the end!)

So, now I have a tough schedule of revisions ahead of me. But I know I can do it. I have the drive and passion to pull this off. And it's not going to be so difficult because the plot is staying exactly how it is. All I have to do is work my magic and beautify my prose. I can't wait to get stuck into this book again and give it the heart that it deserves.

Now, the reason it read like chick lit was because I listened to some advice from a lit consultancy that suggested I focus on making it more commercial. I didn't listen to my gut, which kept telling me that I'm not a commercial fiction writer, I'm a literary writer, and I rewrote the book in a commercial style. MY BIG BAD. But I've learned my lesson now, and I found a wonderful publisher who believes in me and trusts me to make the necessary revisions to make my novel shine.

Thank you, Janice! You have a heart of gold and you've made my ... life! :o)

PS: If you'd like to help me choose a new title, please drop by tomorrow! :o)

Have a great day! SQEEEE!!!!!