Debut Author Interviews

How did you celebrate your book sale?

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How did you celebrate your book sale?

I recall there were a lot of “Oh my God’s” involved and feeling like I was walking on clouds for about a week.

Then I went and bought a pair of Gucci shades. And no, they don’t block the sun any better than my cheapie sunglasses, but they look hot.

How did you celebrate your book sale?

1. I danced around the kitchen with the dog who is as tall as I am and was really happy, but probably because she thought it meant rhinestone doggy jewels and milk bones galore.

2. I kept trying to call people and tell them it was OFFICIAL. Everyone was at meetings.

3. I got scared and nervous and worried, because it was suddenly, actually REAL and real can be terrifying, good, but terrifying.

4. I hugged everyone who walked in the door.

5. I apologized to the cat for all the dog dancing and gave her some wet food.

I am obviously a party animal.

How did you celebrate your book sale?

I bought a Nightmare Before Christmas hoodie at Disneyland (we were on our way there when I got the call)—and then Monday I gave notice that I was quitting my job. Then when the advance came, I sat up one night with my spouse & paid off the bills. Umm, and I smiled a lot and worried a lot.

How did you celebrate your book sale?

I was visiting in-laws in the boonies of Southern Indiana (we’re talking no cell phone reception and more deer stands than houses — don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful country … just a bit remote). So, after getting off the land line with my agent, my husband and I drove 20 miles to the closest small town and hit the Dairy Queen for a Blizzard. That was just fine with me — I’ll take ice cream over a margarita any day!

How did you celebrate your book sale?

We went to Disney World. Literally.

Several years prior to my offer with Harcourt, I was desperately trying to finish a chapter while my boys were tearing through the house like maniacs. They were about eight and seven at the time, and I promised them if they would be quiet and let Mommy work for just fifteen minutes longer, then we’d use my advance money to go to Disney World if I ever sold the book.

Big mistake.

For years, I kept hearing, “Did you sell the book yet, did you sell the book yet, are we going to Disney, huh huh huh?”

When I finally got that blessed email from my agent - oh my gosh. You should have heard all the yelling, screaming, jumping, and “I’m going to Disney World! I get to meet Mickey!!”

Then when the kids got home from school, my husband and I told them the good news.

How did you celebrate your book sale?

I had already planned a weekend in NY, and found out just a few days ahead of time Candlewick wanted my book. I went to NY and had a wonderful time, feeling high on good fortune and happiness. I bought a scarf and somet toys from street vendors, feeling expansive. I returned home on my birthday and as my kids helped me blow out the candles on the cake, I had a spine-tingly feeling that my life was just beginning to turn a corner. A week later I met my amazing future husband on an amazing first date, and two months later I was engaged!

So, okay, that’s not really exactly “How I celebrated,” but all those events happening at once feels tied together somehow. Everything came into my life at once, so much love and good fortune that it far outweighed anything I could have bought myself or done.

When the actual advance check came, I took my kids out to dinner at a non-McDonald’s place. That was our big monetary treat!

How did you celebrate your book sale?

I danced, for about a week. And I’m not a particularly good dancer. :)

How did you celebrate your book sale?

When the first offer came in, I rushed out to the garage. You see, my husband always seems to be tinkering in the garage when good news comes in. Like when I got my agent, or when I got my 2nd agent. I jump around on the basketball court like a crazy woman until he comes out of the garage and asks why I’m so happy.

So when the first offer came in on my book, I returned to the court and jumped around like a maniac. Then a long, jaw-clenching week followed because my book went to auction. When we accepted the “deal”, I was happy, of course, but also terrified. It can be a bit scary when your dreams come true. And all that jumping is really hard on the knees.

How did you celebrate your book sale?

Shoes.

How did you celebrate your book sale?

This will sound odd, but I went to feed bears at the research station where my husband works when he’s in the country. Well, it wasn’t so much feeding as watering… Bears are asleep during the winter, but we make sure there’s water just in case they wake up thirsty. And we check on them to make sure they’re comfortable and cozy, etc. I don’t remember doing anything else except working on a memoir manuscript. I must have just been too stunned to comprehend what had happened. :)

How did you celebrate your book sale?

When I got the call from the agent that she wanted to represent me, I celebrated with Oreos that a writer-illustrator friend sent. (Thank you Amy M!)

When I got the email that Bloomsbury was making an offer, soon, I told everyone at my mom’s birthday party that weekend. I’d been the black sheep of the family for few years (not my fault!) and was anxious to disprove them. So I blurted the information even though I didn’t have any details yet.

Our SCBWI region’s Advisory Committee (AdCom) was meeting that weekend too. I told a few members about the impending sale via email, and when I arrived at the meeting they surprised me with champagne in real crystal to toast my book.
It was one of my best moments as a writer. I still get teary eyed thinking about it.

How did you celebrate your book sale?

Like Armstrong on the moon, I commemorated the Call (i.e. the moment when my agent called to tell me about the first offer on INTO THE WILD) by saying something very articulate and profound: “Great! Really? Wow. Oh, wow, really? That’s so great! Really? Wow.”

Then I instantly called my husband. And then I had the terrible thought that maybe I had dreamed this moment one time too often and now had actually hallucinated it. (Not that I have a history of hallucinations, but hey, there’s always a first time, right?)

All I can say is: caller-ID is one of the best inventions ever. My agent really did call — the caller-ID proved it — and a few days later, she called again with the news that we had multiple offers on the book. The second time around, I had had several days to hone an even more articulate and profound reaction: “Really? Oh, wow, wow, wow! Really? WOW!”

Oh, yeah, I’m quick on my feet.

Anyway, after I pinched myself about a zillion times, I went to the nearest bookstore and bought myself a book that I’d been eyeing. Just seemed appropriate to celebrate a book sale with a book purchase.

How did you celebrate your book sale?

1. Screamed.
2. Laughed.
3. Sat on the couch and looked at the wall.
4. Went out for sushi with my alwaysthereforme husband.
5. Screamed.
6. Got kicked out of the sushi bar.
7. Screamed.