Thursday, December 3, 2015

I Have a Publishing Deal!

by Katy White

I can't tell you how long I've dreamed of writing these words. Actually, I can. Since grade two (that's what we call second grade in Canada). I wrote stories for my dad and mom about the Heart People--hearts with faces and stick figure arms and legs. The boy heart had muscles and the girl heart had lips and eyelashes, of course. And high-heels, on account of her impeccable taste. They played on slides and swing sets at the park together and were madly in love. I sold those books (bound and illustrated horrifically by yours truly) for 25 cents a pop. Do you know how many penny candies you can buy with 25 cents? Twenty-five! I was candy rich those days, my friends. Candy rich.



What was I talking about again? Oh, right! So I've wanted to publish a book since that moment and have written stories ever since. One of them landed me my remarkable agent, Bree Ogden, and that same book and agent found their way to a fabulous editor, McKelle George at Jolly Fish Press. And now I have a book deal. Actually, a two book deal. Which I can still hardly believe.

I can't stop smiling. Even after my family hit a deer over the weekend and totaled our car and had to stay the night in a motel that failed the Bates Motel auditions because it was too friggin creepy (and the showers were too small!) and the village of 131 people made me miss the booming village of 850 people I grew up in because at least we had stop signs and actual people, because I'm pretty sure this place was populated solely by zombies or similarly undead-slash-soulless inhabitants and...and...I'm off on a tangent again, aren't I? Excitement does funny things to my brain (and so did that motel. I'm not kidding about the creepy).



Okay, Katy, focus. Where was I? My book. My book! My debut novel, SEEKING MANSFIELD, will publish in Spring, 2017 from Jolly Fish Press, and the companion novel is still TBD. I'm writing under the pen name, Kate Watson, because it turns out I have the most common name in the world (thanks a lot, Husband). The book is a contemporary young adult retelling of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, one of my favorite books of all time.

I love it. I hope you will, too.

If you're interested, check out my Facebook page, Twitter, newsletter, and website for updates, information, and general Katy-related quirkiness. :)

Also, if you have any tips on what to do now, please share them! Either way, thanks for sharing in the excitement with me. :)



16 comments:

  1. Tips: Disney World. Need I say more?

    I need to read Mansfield park, now, to be ready for your book! Gonna add it to my school year reading list.

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    1. Haha! We actually went to Disneyland this weekend! Great minds. :)

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  2. Congratulations! How exciting. I love Mansfield Park--can't wait to read yours!

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  3. Hooray! Congratulations, that is wonderful. =)

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  4. Yay! I'm so excited and happy for you!! I know exactly how you feel, it's so surreal and amazing! We should celebrate!

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    Replies
    1. Seriously--we have great timing! Congrats to you, too, Nikki! I'm thrilled for you!

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  5. Congrats! I'm doing a happy dance for you!! :-)

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  6. What wonderful and exciting news! Congrats. Love your tangents and can't wait to read your NEW BOOK!!!

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