It felt too easy. No one else had a publishing story that went, “finished my book, pitched in to a publisher at a conference, she took it, seven months later she asked for more, two months later she signed it…”
Every other author I’ve met has a long list of rejection letters. I don’t. Grace has charmed everyone who’s ever heard about her. I know she’s loved, because those first beta-readers were ruthless enough to ensure the later beta-readers (delta readers?) loved it right off, without reservation.
But good though it is, publication coming so easily seemed surreal. Where was the challenge? the suffering for the art? the constant re-sending of the manuscript? I asked if perhaps we could move up release to the summer so I could get in a book tour before school started, and the editor was open to look at that, if the editing went well, when he started it in February. Everything was going just too smoothly.
Then the shoe dropped, and January 31st as I read the email that the publishing house was closing down and that the contract was voided, I actually thought, “Ah there we go. That’s what I was expecting would happen!”
Now Grace Awakening is off to meet a new publisher and the waiting game begins again. Hopefully only another week or two before I hear, and hopefully I hear that they love her as much as everyone else loves her, and is eager to have her out in the world representing their publishing house! Wouldn’t it be awesome if they fast tracked, and got her out by July so I can do a really thorough summer book tour?
Shawn L. Bird 
I found my book “The Mandolin Case” to be sort of like the good marriage I’m so fortunate to have. At first it was all excitement and exhilaration, but then as it settled into a routine it was more just comfortable. It was all good though. One day you wake up and realize how lucky you were because even though it never made you rich and famous, it forever changed your life for the better.
Dr. B
Yes Dr B, I am finding that already, myself. Because I printed and bound a few copies that have been read by students and teachers in the area, it’s got a lot of buzz. So many people want a copy for everyone they know, because they read it and loved it. I am introduced as an author, which blows my mind. Grace has changed everything.