Contract

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:06:10 GMT

Let's talk about one of the most exciting parts of the publishing journey. Ta da! Receiving and signing The Contract:

The point between selling the book (the book deal) and receipt of the contract varies, but 4-6 months is typical. Ninety nine percent of authors experience anxiety attacks during this waiting period, wondering if their editor will change her mind about acquiring the manuscript. This is called Being Neurotic. There is no cure, not even receipt of The Contract. But it helps.

The Contract is a written agreement between the publisher and the author in which both parties agree to work together to help the book be as successful as possible. The publisher promises to edit, publish and sell the book, and the author promises to help these efforts to the best of her ability.

Some parts of the contract make the author smile. Like learning her publisher will consult with her in regard to the book's cover art.

Some parts make the author laugh. Like the fact that theme park rights are reserved by the author.

Some parts make the author think dreamily of the future. Like learning her manuscript will at some point be an actual, physical hardbound book.

After carefully reading over The Contract, and agreeing to the terms, the author signs her name on the line:

While most authors are severely serious creatures, signing The Contract has been known to bring out a goofy, cheesy side. Although it is worthy of a good eyeroll, some authors do in fact kiss The Contract.

My secret

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:11:44 GMT

. . . is out.

I am no longer an agented author. Really. It's true.

No, I didn't ditch my agent (she's too awesome). It's just that as of today, I'm a soon-to-be-published author.

*screams at ear-rupturing decibels*

From Publishers Marketplace:

Becca Ajoy Fitzpatrick's HUSH, HUSH, a sexy and dangerous romance about a teenage girl who falls in love with a fallen angel with a dark agenda to get his wings back, to Emily Meehan at Simon & Schuster Children's, in a two-book deal, for publication in Spring 2010, by Catherine Drayton at InkWell Management.

What makes me most emotional about this is that it really happened a lot faster than I expected. Catherine subbed my story to editors last week . . . and two days later called saying offers were starting to roll in. My book was going to auction!

Well, the smoke has cleared and what's sitting before me is a once-in-a-lifetime, this-is-what-dreams-are-made-of opportunity. Now that I've had a few days to really absorb what this means, I've gone from the squeeing-with-euphoria stage to the what-did-I-do-to-ever-deserve-this? stage. Seriously, I'm on the brink of tears. Fortunately, I have good friends like kaz_mahoney and patesden who reminded me of all the hard work I did over the summer . . . dreams aren't achieved without work :)

So, yeah. Book deal. Me.

O. MIGOSH.

!!!!!!!!!

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Becca Fitzpatrick

Contract

My secret