Booking It

Two years ago, I wrote a book called Randolph Street. I sent the manuscript to my now-agents, Browne & Miller, and they signed me two weeks later over lunch at a Paul Virrant hot-spot. Foodie book, foodie lunch place, foodie people...it was all just meant to be.

After Danielle, Joanna, and I cleaned up the draft a bit, the ladies did their thing and created a killer pitch that went out to editors in New York City at the Big Five publishing houses. Soon, the replies came in and meetings were set up. But when my agents crossed paths with an editor named Margo from Harlequin at a conference in Vegas, it became as close to an instant match as you can get. 

"Send me the manuscript when you get back to Chicago," Margo said. Danielle and Joanna did just that. Just a couple days later, Margo was bringing Randolph Street to the acquisition table and the deal was made. They acquired Randolph Street (renamed now as BURNED) as well as another novel I wrote, HUSBAND MATERIAL, and we cancelled all other meetings. We had found the perfect home for my books under a new imprint at Harlequin called Graydon House.

There's no glitz or glamour, tricks or tips, bells or whistles with this post. I'm simply sharing how it all went down for anyone who a) cares or b) has a similar aspiration. 

Sealing this deal is my dream come true. I've wanted to be a professional writer since I was 12 years old, penning articles for the KidNews section of the Chicago Tribune. Now, I get to write juicy novels for one of the biggest publishers in the whole world. The 18-year wait was worth it.