Right now I have written offers from six different publishers (so far).
Yes, six.
Yes, all of them well-known publishing houses.
I know, I’m gobsmacked too.
I’ve spent the last few weeks talking with each of them, on the phone and face-to-face – wonderful and lengthy conversations about writing, editing, history and Elizabeth Macarthur.
I must say that everyone I’ve spoken with has been incredibly friendly and nice. And all very keen to win me over. I’ve never heard so many people say so many lovely things about my writing!
The offers are more complicated than I naively expected, too. They all differ in terms of advances (and how the advance will be paid – often in installments); royalties (and at how many books sold the royalty percentage rises); marketing plans; rights management; e-books; second books; and a whole heap of other things I really don’t understand. Very glad to have my agent Jacinta di Mase in my corner, fielding the publisher’s emails and encouraging them to up their offers!
While the financial aspects will certainly be a factor in my decision-making, I’m in the very privileged position of being able to choose which publisher will be best for what I hope to achieve.
It’s all so much more than I dared hope for.
Jacinta and I will meet next week to discuss the offers. Until then I guess I’ll continue to wander about in a daze, all distracted and grinning.
People debate “when are you a writer?” And I think it’s when you write. But you know you’re a real writer (or retired politician) when you’ve got offers from publishers. Well done, you must be enjoying yourself immensely.
Thanks Bill, and yes I’m having a wonderful time right now! I agree that you are a writer when you write. Having a publisher makes you an author.
Yeehah! That is so exciting!!! Lap up all that praise – you deserve it!
I’m not sure I do deserve it but yes, I’ll lap it up all the same! Thanks Sarah.
Wow go you! That is my dream <3
Thank you! It was my dream too – so definitely keep following yours.
Wow! This is V E R Y exciting Michelle. I’m smiling wide as I write this – I’m so very happy to read this latest news. It’s fantastic! And sounds like a very enjoyable daze to wander in :-) Well done!
Thanks Gail, that’s really kind. I may even give the daze a little alcoholic assistance this evening – cheers!
Well I am not surprised at all, because it is high time we the general public had a bio of Elizabeth to read! We learned about her at school, but of course we learned more about her husband and not enough about her…and so we can’t wait to get our hands on this book of yours:)
Thanks Lisa, I really do appreciate your support. Although I still have to actually finish the jolly thing. All this is excitement is leaving me too distracted to make much progress right now!
Right-i-o!
*sound of whip cracking!*
Time to get back to work on it, then :)
Ha ha. Okey dokey then. But maybe a teensy little drink first…
Wow Michelle I am so happy for you!! big Congrats.
Thanks Annie. :-)
Congrats to you, think of all that hard work (and to come) – then enjoy.
Thank you, and you’re right – still quite a long way to go.
Congratulations! A wonderful dilemma to be in. Hope the right choice becomes apparent.
Thanks Nathan – I hope so too!
Wow! Just wow!
Yep. Couldn’t agree more.
Congratulations – if that many publishers are fighting for you, your book must be great – I can’t wait to read it!
Thanks Sharkell – Not finished yet but I’m writing as fast as I can (too scared of Lisa not to!!) ;-)
Congratulations and well deserved. I can’t wait to read your book. It is I believe an important story that every high school student should learn, so I am sure you will have a great market.
Thank you! It’s funny you should mention high school students – one of the options on the table is to produce a second version of the biography for YA readers (as a high school text book, I guess).
This is totes amazeballs! Big congrats!!
(and I loved the octopus book BTW – thanks heaps x)
Ta muchly! And so glad you liked the octopus book too.
Congratulations and well done for your hard work. It is always good to see when it is paid off.
Thank you! That’s very kind.
My pleasure and all the best with your future endeavours.