Jul. 29th, 2014
The Call
In my last post, I mentioned that the jury was still out on my 2nd novel. Well, it isn’t any more!
I was doing fine until they started offering contracts. Then they
offered three in one week, then another, and another, and thenโฆNOTHING.
In my last post, I mentioned that the jury was still out on my 2nd novel. Well, it isn’t any more!
To bring you all up to speedโฆ
Earlier this year I entered a contest. The Search for the Next Killer
Voice was a four stage contest held by the editors of Love Inspired Suspense.
Voice was a four stage contest held by the editors of Love Inspired Suspense.
Stage 1 โ Submit your first
page. No problem. I already had it written.
page. No problem. I already had it written.
Stage 2 โ Submit a synopsis.
Not much of a problem. I had a synopsis written, I just needed totweak it,
re-write it, start over and try again. (A huge shout-out to Mary Denman for
talking me through it at midnight!)
Not much of a problem. I had a synopsis written, I just needed to
talking me through it at midnight!)
Stage 3 โ Submit the first 3
chapters. Bit of a problem. Wasnโt exactly expecting to make it this far and
had to rewrite most of what I already had to make it work for this publisher.
(Never-ending gratitude to Lynette Eason for reading it and giving me hope that
it might work!)
chapters. Bit of a problem. Wasnโt exactly expecting to make it this far and
had to rewrite most of what I already had to make it work for this publisher.
(Never-ending gratitude to Lynette Eason for reading it and giving me hope that
it might work!)
Stage 4 โ Submit the full
manuscript by June 9. Big problem. Way back in March when I sent in my first
page, I never imagined Iโd still be in it at this point. The pressure was
intense. I may have sent outone, two, multiple SOS prayer requests to my writing
and non-writing friends as I wrote during every spare minute and most of the
rest of the minutes of my days and nights. There is no human explanation for
how I was able to finish the book on time. Truly, it was a case of God
expanding my time and energy.
manuscript by June 9. Big problem. Way back in March when I sent in my first
page, I never imagined Iโd still be in it at this point. The pressure was
intense. I may have sent out
and non-writing friends as I wrote during every spare minute and most of the
rest of the minutes of my days and nights. There is no human explanation for
how I was able to finish the book on time. Truly, it was a case of God
expanding my time and energy.
On the evening of June 8, I hit โsendโ and put it out of my mind for a
few weeks. I celebrated my 40th birthday, went on vacation, and tried
not to think about the fact that somewhere in New York, an editor could at any
moment make THE decision about my book.
few weeks. I celebrated my 40th birthday, went on vacation, and tried
not to think about the fact that somewhere in New York, an editor could at any
moment make THE decision about my book.
Which leads me to the stage no one warned me about.
I was doing fine until they started offering contracts. Then theyoffered three in one week, then another, and another, and thenโฆNOTHING.
I did not cope well. I am embarrassed to admit that I was checking my
email obsessively and jumping every time the phone rang.
email obsessively and jumping every time the phone rang.
Because if they want to buy your
book, they call.
book, they call.
On July 23rd, when I checked my email for the 100th
time that day, there it was.
time that day, there it was.
Except it wasnโt what Iโd been prepared for at all. This was neither a
rejection or a list of revisions. My editor asked if I would be willing to make
a significant change to my plot. She needed my response before she could
proceed.
rejection or a list of revisions. My editor asked if I would be willing to make
a significant change to my plot. She needed my response before she could
proceed.
I assumed this meant that if I was willing to make this change, sheโd
send me a revision letter, and Iโd spend the next several months working on the
novel, resubmitting, and hoping for the best.
send me a revision letter, and Iโd spend the next several months working on the
novel, resubmitting, and hoping for the best.
I emailed her back and told her Iโd be willing to make that change.
She emailed me and asked if this would be a good time to call.
 |
| The tweet from my editor after she called. |
I may have screamed a little.
Because if they want to buy your
book, they call.
book, they call.
Iโd tell you about the call if I could remember the details. I was
barely coherent. She even had to ask me if I was saying Yes to her offer. Which
of course I was!
barely coherent. She even had to ask me if I was saying Yes to her offer. Which
of course I was!
Itโs been a week and Iโm still trying to get my mind around it. I have
a feeling there will be a part of me that doesnโt believe it until the day I
hold the book in my hands.
a feeling there will be a part of me that doesnโt believe it until the day I
hold the book in my hands.
 |
| The announcement of the sale! |
I will be continuing to blog as time allows, but the revisions required
are extensive and they are due by the end of September, so most of my writing
time will be diverted in that direction.
are extensive and they are due by the end of September, so most of my writing
time will be diverted in that direction.
God has taught me so much through this process and I have no doubt He
will continue to do so and Iโm looking forward to sharing this experience with
you.
will continue to do so and Iโm looking forward to sharing this experience with
you.
Iโd be so thankful if you would pray for me during this time. There is
so much to learn and so much to do and I so want God to be glorified in all of
it.
so much to learn and so much to do and I so want God to be glorified in all of
it.
Grace and peace,
Lynn
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Lynn Huggins Blackburn Believes In The Power Of Stories, Especially Those That Remind Us That True Love Exists.
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I Love your call story!! No one mentioned Stage 5! ๐ Those words are so true. I imagine we can even make up a stage 6 about going crazy with the revisions and all the crazy that happens after. Congratulations!!
So excited for you and to be able to share in your journey! Thanks for letting us know about the call. Can't wait to read your book. Definitely praying for you as you walk this fun and scary road.
AWESOME LYNN!! You are the BOMB!! BH!
What a wonderful accomplishment, Lynn. Congratulations!!! I can only imagine what that must be like.
A couple people had said you were working furiously (paraphrasing here) to finish your book. Obviously it paid off!
Congratulations again.
Congratulations, LYNN! Oh my, how exciting! I can't believe I didn't even know about this! Hoo-wee! I can't wait to read it. (Please note that I didn't insert an exclamation mark on this last sentence–even though I really wanted to!!!)
Love to you, my friend!