Friday, May 12, 2006

Say your prayers...

...light your candles, invoke your mojo, cross your fingers, toss a penny in a fountain--however you call for divine intervention*. Bad Company has left the building.

My agent's building, that is. It's on its way to a number of publishers (I probably shouldn't say how many, but it's a good healthy number that shows up in many myths). By this point, it's probably on the desks of several editors or their lovely underpaid assistants.

Hey, if you're one of those editors, Googling me after getting the submission, you should know I always make my deadlines and always send holiday gifts. I crave editorial feedback like the Olson twins crave diet pills.

Unfortunately, if an offer is made, I won't be able to announce it on the blog until the contract is completed. My agent, rightly so, prefers it that way. I always worry when authors shout to the world,
I JUST GOT THE CALL 2 MINUTES AGO!! OMG OMG OMG!!!
that they've totally tipped their hands. That they've lost negotiating power with the publisher because now they can't walk away from the table without embarrassing themselves in front of their friends/blog readers/listserv buddies.

I got the offer for Eyes of Crow in February 2005 and couldn't announce it here until June when the ink was dry on the contract. By then the exuberance had worn off and I didn't have any OMG!!!'s left in me. I was too busy trying to finish the novel.

Bottom line: don't expect to hear any more on this for several months. And don't ask, because I'll either be frustrated and grumpy that no one has made an offer, or frustrated and giddy because someone made an offer and I can't tell you.

*On second thought, scratch the superstitious rituals. Ciara, my heroine, doesn't believe in any of that crap**. Just hope along with me.

**Her words, not mine.

3 Comments:

Oh Jer,

That's where writer friends come in. We understand the frustration, applaud the exuberance and dance Snoopy dances. Then we wait and hold your hand.

The talk may not be fit for the blog, (I, too, like to hold my cards close and keep a poker face) but it is definitely meant for emails.

;)

Posted by: Blogger moonhart at 5/12/2006 10:19 PM

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Posted by: Blogger Jeri at 5/12/2006 10:30 PM

Thanks for the virtual hand-holding, moon. I'll need it!

Posted by: Blogger Jeri at 5/12/2006 10:35 PM

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Jeri Smith-Ready

Jeri Smith-Ready is a Maryland author of adult and teen urban fantasy.

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