Continued from previous post...
In MAY I worked on my rom com sequel whilst I waited to hear back from the full MS sent to Champagne Book Group. I also submitted to three literary agents, a UK publisher and took part in #KissPitch and #WMPitch whilst continuing to work on the crime novel for my fellow author.
On 11 May 2021 the email of my dreams arrived. Champagne Book Group a US Publisher, sent me an offer letter and draft contract for my rom com novel Christmas Evie. I was so happy and excited it took all my willpower not to tell everyone I knew about it immediately. Having spoken to some fellow romance authors, I took their advice and checked that the publisher was on the RNA Trusted Publisher List (it was) and joined the Society of Authors (which a writer can join once they either get a publishing offer/draft contract or sign/publish with an agent/publisher) so that they could take a look at the draft contract and advise me in negotiating. I was also very lucky in that an agent (one of my dream ones) very kindly offered to take a look at it too and with this feedback I re-negotiated the contract. Never underestimate the kindness of agents, fellow writers and the advice given on your author journey, I know I will always be grateful.
I finished the month by entering the Comedy Women in Print Prize.
In JUNE I attended an RNA NWS Meet the Agent Zoom where I came close to getting an agent as she asked for the first 30 pages and the synopsis and we were in email dialogue until July. I took part in #PitMad, garnering requests from Champagne Book Group for my other novels and requests from another US Publisher Gold Dust Literary. Then I entered my MG novel (novel 1) into the Guppy Books MG Competition, submitted a short piece to Northern Gravy, first chapter, synopsis and covering letter to two agents for RNA VC, took part in #PBPitches and continued to work on the rom com sequel (novel 9). I also submitted my crime novel (novel 2) to the Madeleine Milburn Mentorship and the Deborah Rogers Foundation Writers Award, attended three Simon & Schuster writing workshops and edited the first half of my first romantic suspense novel (novel 5).
In JULY I took part in the twitter #NNAS #needadeal #mybookpitch and garnered a like from HarperNorth (I am currently editing my crime novel to submit) and signed the contract for the publishing deal with Champagne Book Group with the novel due for digital publication in November. Whilst I was working on new chapters of the sequel to my rom com, I found out that I had been longlisted in the Guppy Books MG competition. I was beyond thrilled to be longlisted and concentrated on making sure the next section of the novel I sent through for the next stage was the best I could make it in the timeframe.
GUPPY MIDDLE-GRADE OPEN SUBMISSION LONGLIST ANNOUNCED!
July 12, 2021
For the second year running, Guppy Books opened its portholes for unpublished and unagented writers – and wow, what a response we had! With over 300 entries, it was exhilarating to see the talent and creativity in these entries. We have managed, with difficulty, to whittle down the entries to a longlist of 36, as listed below.
Hello everyone,
Thank you so much for sending in your entry for Guppy’s open submission window. I was so impressed with the standard of writing, the original ideas and the incredible energy that went into all the submissions. It was a hard task to whittle 300 down to 36 and it’ll be harder still to choose the shortlist. I had the help of some brilliant students from the publishing course at Oxford Brookes – and it was a tough job!
Huge congratulations to those who made the longlist! You will hear more about the next stages individually by email.
Acquiring books is such a subjective thing, and as true of most editors I have said no to many books that go on to do great things; so if you don’t make it onto this list I hope you don’t feel too disappointed. It has been a pleasure to read all the submissions and thank you again for your participation.
With best wishes
Bella Pearson
Publisher
Guppy Books
LONGLISTED ENTRIES
Karen Naylor
Olu Oke
Debbie Longstaff
Emma Norris
Essie Brammer
Lucy Mesanges
Alex Webber Smith
Laurie Lascos
Emily Randall
Christopher Galvin
Sam Oaten
Katja Kaine
Caroline Sellon
Tracy Curran
Ashia Mirza
Maureen Tai
Natalia Godsmark
Naomi Conran
Zoe Rogers
Amy Feest
Kate Walker
Georgina Frame
Matt Cowan
Susan Bain
E Floyd Hall
Fiona Spence-Arnold
Damara Allen
LJ Moss
Jessica Nelson
Emma Bradley
Sarah House
James Dixon
Zareena Subhani
Cathryn Norris
Kate Poels
Mel Stephenson
On 12 July I attended the Writing Chance: Get Into Writing workshop with Michael Sheen, the Welsh Children's Laureate, an award-winning women's playwright and Empire magazine's female director. Then I took part in #carinapitch on the 14th and #OneDay2021 on the 15th, and attended the RNA virtual conference. I submitted more of my MG novel to the next stage of the Guppy Books MG competition, my YA novel to the SCBWI Undiscovered Voices competition, my crime novel to the ELEVATE Cornerstones mentoring scheme (which I received some excellent feedback from) and to a literary agent. I also entered the Awais Khan twitter Masterclass giveaway and applied for the Arvon Writers Week twitter competition, took part in #SFFPIT, attended an Opening Pages workshop and submitted my first romantic suspense novel to Orion Dash.
Luck was on my side again as I won a place in the Awais Khan Masterclass and was given a free Masterclass and a half-price offer for the Arvon Masterclass. Both were informative and excellent sessions, so if you can afford or they run a competition again, I would recommend both.
In AUGUST I continued editing and entered the RNA Jenny Colgan Curtis Brown opportunity. I also took part in #canlitpit, wrote more chapters on the rom com sequel, sent author/marketing/social media information to Champagne Book Group and started on my editing using their Workbook. On 19 August I attended a Write Mentor editing workshop and entered a MG pitch competition on the 31st.
Part Three to follow...
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