Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Four To HarperCollins!

Sorry for being so quiet the last ten days or so. It hasn't been easy! But the announcement is official!


Aprilynne Pike's AUTUMN WINGS, four-book series about an ordinary girl who discovers that she is a faerie sent to guard the gateway to Avalon in the mortal world, and when she is thrust into the midst of a centuries-old battle between faeries and trolls, she's torn between a mortal and a faerie love, as well as her loyalties to both worlds, to Tara Weikum at Harper Children's, in a significant deal, in a pre-empt, by Jodi Reamer at Writers House (World English).


I'm a professional author!!! I have been bouncing off the walls since I got the call that Tara was interested in my book. There have been tons of calls between Jodi and me and I even got a chance to chat with Tara. She's so excited about my series and that makes me really happy.

Janet Reid mentioned on her blog a few weeks ago (and I'm paraphrasing) that as a whole, the publishing industry moves at a glacial pace, but that individual transactions move at the speed of lightning. That was certainly the case with me. We sent the book out on October 29th. We received our first rejection less than 24 hours later from an editor who just didn't think faeries would work for the YA audience. Well, to each their own. :) Twelve days later (which seemed like an eternity to me, but was actually remarkably fast) Jodi called to let me know that Tara was interested and would be taking my book to her acquisitions meeting two days later. I was cautiously elated.:) The next day Tara called with her offer. That was surprising to me; I wasn't expecting to hear anything for two days! It was an excellent offer, as far as I was concerned, but Jodi didn't think it was excellent enough to take the book off the table. I was just thrilled to know that one way or another, my book was going to be . . . well, a book! The next day Tara called back with her pre-empt offer. Within hours, the deal was done.

It was--and still is--so strange to go from just another aspiring author, to a professional author in a matter of hours! (That and recognizing that HarperCollins basically owns me for the next five years!:)) It has been such a roller coaster the last few weeks and I'm so grateful for those of you who have held my hand through this and offered encouragement and support. A book truly is the work of a community, and I'm so glad to have all of you in mine.

Ciao!!

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

hi, i just congratulated you over on AW and i am happy to say it once again. CONGRATS! i have been lurking on your blog for a while and am thrilled for you. HARPERCOLLINS! YAY
-litfa

Anonymous said...

Isn't it strange how EVERYTHING changes, and yet nothing really has? Here's to everything, Aprilynne. Congratulations.

Amy

Jamie Ford said...

Just saw it over on PM! Congrats!

Anonymous said...

And another WOOT for you! I am so happy for you....and so damn inspired. Enjoy the sweet sweet fruits of ALL of your labors, my dear.

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Wow! Congratulations! I so want to read it and buy it for my girls. And that first editor was crazy! My girls adore anything fairy related!

Wonderful news! So when your book comes out I can tell people that I know the author through blogland and that she gave me advice on AW!

Michelle Zink said...

Congrats, again, Aprilynne!

I'm so happy I'll have a partner in crime over the next few years!

Anonymous said...

I'm so proud of you. It always makes me happy when a fellow AW'er finds success. It's like family.

:::sobs, passes chocolate:::

patti

David L. McAfee said...

Wow o wow o wow o wow!

Aprilynne, do you mind if I bow in your direction? Can you come rub my head for good luck? Can ya?

This is amazing news, Aprilynne. AMAZING! FRIGGIN! NEWS!

Congratulations! :)

Robert Hudson said...

That is absolutely fantastic news. Get ready for a crazy ride!

Anonymous said...

During those waiting moments, did you live by the phone -- land-line or cell or both? Even a stranger feeling when you wait for those phone calls being at sea scuba diving!

Congrats! You deserve it with your perseverance!

Sarah Hina said...

Fantastic news! So happy all your hard work paid off (and how!).

Congratulations!!!

moonrat said...

"significant"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we all know what that means!!!! all this time i've had the next JK Rowling reading my blog!!!

i'm not sure i'm qualified to talk to you anymore, but i'll say this anyway--

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jill Myles said...

Congrats - that really is exciting. I'm very happy for you. :)

Kari Pike said...

Wahoo!
We are all so proud of you. You have worked long and hard. It will be so much fun to have your book on our shelves!!!!
we love you!

Anonymous said...

Aprilynne, I have been following your blog for awhile now, although I've never posted before. I am an aspiring Utah writer also, so it has been fun for me to track your progress. And I just wanted to say how thrilled I am for you that your goals are being met! You are inspirational to me and I'm sure many others. Keep up the great work!

Christine

Sharon Maas said...

Aprilynne, not oly is this the greatest thing ever for you, it gives me and many others hope. Well done, and may your books fly off the shelves with faerie wings!

ORION said...

Yeah!!!!! all my blogger buddies got faerie dust on them - I am so stoked for ya!

Welshcake said...

*Delurks*

Aprilynne, you totally deserve this, you've shown such patience and determination.

I hope you sell a gazillion copies, I really do.

brian_ohio said...

This news gave me goosebumps. How exciting. And the new baby at home and now four books and... what else could happen. Wow!

Are your walls holding up?

Thanks for sharing. With a book out on submission myself, I love to hear these stories of success.

Carrie Ryan said...

Yay!! It doesn't seem that long ago when you were querying and then signed with Jodi!! Just goes to show how hard work pays off!! Mega-congrats!!

Karissa Chen said...

wow that is AWESOME!!!!!!! congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holly Kennedy said...

Big respectful bow from a fellow author. This is such wonderful news for you.

Congrats!!!!

Precie said...

HURRAY!!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!

Anna M. Lewis said...

I wandered over here from The Blue Boards (Verla Kay).
Huge Congratulations!
Thank you so much for sharing your process with us... persistence sure pays off!

Nathan Bransford said...

Congratulations!! This is fantastic news!

Chris Eldin said...

Congratulations!!!
You should be floating with the faeries!!
:-)

Kaytie said...

Woohoo!

Count me in for a round of champagne to celebrate your good news!

Anonymous said...

A FOUR book deal? Super congratulations on that! What a thrill!

Charles Gramlich said...

Congrats. Good news indeed.

Anonymous said...

***Big, big grin*****
I'm the proud mom!
I asked Aprilynne if this meant she would be rich and famous. She replied with coyness , "um, maybe famous!" :) Three cheers to fame and fortune!!!! And three big cheers to a girl who's not afraid to work hard and hope big. love mom

Anonymous said...

Yay, I saw this in PM this morning.

I think I remember reading you for the first time way, way back in Miss Snark's last long-lamented crapometer (or am I making things up?). If so, I know how well you deserve this success (and if not, I am still sure you deserve this success!!).

Kasey Mackenzie said...

CONGRATULATIONS! I have been waiting to be able to congratulate you on a sale, though I admit I am way behind in reading your journal due to a promotion at work and much less internet surfing time. *grin* Good for you! It's much deserved! And now I must catch up on things! =)

Kasey Mackenzie said...

Oh, and I meant to laugh about the faeries not working for YA thing...LOL...not bashing the editor at all, because I know taste is subjective, but I loved Tithe and am hoping to pick up Wicked Lovely soon, both of which did phenomenally well with faeries in the YA category. =)

Frank Baron said...

Congratulations!

Savour every second (before the editing begins). ;)

Tyhitia Green said...

Congratulations, Aprilynne! I knew it, I knew it! You were tired of waiting but ended up with a "significant deal" no less. I wanna be you when I grow up! :*) Awesomeness. I cannot wait to read it. When do I get my ARC?? LOL. Congrats again! :*)

Lisa said...

I am so very happy for you. Congratulations and I can't wait to hear more as your fairy tale come true continues. Fantastic and Bravo!

The Anti-Wife said...

Congratulations. What wonderful news.

cindy said...

congratulations! fairies are definitely HOT !! four books is so fantastic. i'm excited for you and jealous. 8)

Helen said...

This is fantastic news! Congrats. Proof that not only does hard work and patience pay off, but that there is also hope for us all. :)

Mary said...

I just popped over from Pub Rants.

This is FANTASTIC news!

Congratulations!!!

Kate said...

Wow. Congratulations!

John Robison said...

That is really the most exciting news, isn't it! That's really great!

You know you can write anytime if you want to talk about the process.

Woof!

Cheryl said...

Wow--huge news! Congratulations!!

I'm glad to see success come your way.

Bernita said...

Just. Sweet.
Congratulations!
The Sidhe have blessed you.

beeswax said...

Last night I was discussing with my Young Women's group the TWILIGHT SAGA and told them a friend of Stephenie's just got a book deal and told them the premise. They said, "That sounds cool," and "I'm going to read it," so your audience awaits you!
They're not big bloggers, but if you put together a email of updates or something, I bet they'd love to be on the list.

Debbie

P.S. I've been lurking on your blog for months, waiting for the news I knew would be inevitable.

Janette Rallison said...

Congratulations!

Adrienne said...

I am a bad bad person! I cannot believe it took me this long to check up on you and read this amazing news! Super duper huge congrats hon!! That is just so amazing, and the series sounds so cool! Big hugs!!!!!

Anonymous said...

.... i hope the series doesnt end.. i already have speels wild and wings,i cant wait to get distined.. she has to choose tamani!!!