The Call

This is the sixth post in a seven part series called, "An Author's View of the Publishing Process."

Part 1: A Book Concept Takes Shape
Part 2: Writing the Non-Fiction Book Proposal
Part 3: My First Writers’ Conference 
Part 4: Tweaking Titles in Preparation for The Big Pitch
Part 5: Oh, The Rejection!

During the time my book proposal languished in the black hole of the publishing world, I received several more rejections from publishers. I started getting anxious. My stack of rejection letters was growing, while my list of potential publishers was rapidly shrinking. I seriously began considering self-publishing.

I have nothing against self-publishing; in fact, several agents and editors strongly recommended I self-publish, suggesting that my book would likely do well within my small target market and that I could reap more of the profits.

On March 30, 2006, I contacted WinePress Publishing Group, known in the Christian publishing industry as one of the best custom publishers. The editors, whom I’d gotten acquainted with at conferences and at writers’ group functions, were thrilled that I’d nearly decided to self-publish.

About two hours after I contacted WinePress, I received a phone message from the publisher I’d met the previous summer at the International Christian Retail Show. His message said, “Hi, give me a call back when you can…no hurry.”

“NO HURRY?!”  I’d been waiting five months, not to mention the previous three years, for a phone call from an editor. I started analyzing the editor’s tone of voice and his words. “No hurry.” Does that mean he’s going to reject my project too, and he just wants to be nice about it because he met me in person? But no other editors I’d met had rejected my project via phone – they had either e-mailed me or sent a letter via postal mail or they hadn’t responded at all. What did this phone call mean?

My husband called and I told him: “I’m calling this editor back. This is the publisher I really, really want to work for, but they’re probably going to reject me, so be prepared.”

Then I called the editor. When he told me they wanted to offer me a contract, I laughed and cried at the same time.

My husband walked in the house seconds after I hung up the phone. I was sobbing like a woman whose best friend has just died. He took me into his arms, prepared to console me, and I gasped, “They want my book. I can’t believe it!”

Continued in the next post

For more news and information about adoption, please visit my Website, www.laurachristianson.com, or my Christian Adoption Blog at adoption.com.

Comments

[Foster Mom hoping to adopt]

I go online to this website for information on adoption and foster care and don't understand why there is a series of articles on publishing a book. It sounds like a hard emotional journey but that journey is of no interest to me.

If the website advertises articles on adoption and foster care than I think the website should stick to those types of articles imho

thanks you

[joe mama]

Foster Mom needs to learn how to click a button if she wants info on her topic. If she doesn't like hearing what the (WF) author of this website has to share, she can skip the article. Or better yet, she can write her own website. Get real and learn to deal!
I like this website BECAUSE it offers variety.
Thanks for sharing, Laura!