Comments on: My First Sale by Madeline Hunter, A Million Tiny Steps Before Publication

By: Madeline Hunter

Madeline Hunter — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 07:22:37 +0000

My apologies for the late reply. I was away at a conference. Heather, I found an agent very quickly. That made the years of rejection even harder to swallow, I think. There, but not quite there–that was the feeling. Although I will say that while it was quick, it was not immediate. I joke that the first batch of proposals that I sent to agents were rejected so fast that the rejection letters were in my mailbox when I got back from the post office after mailing them off. Truly, I did not realize mail could get to New York and a response get back so fast! And who says our postal service isn’t efficient.

By: Heather

Heather — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 03:36:27 +0000

Being five years into an agent search (let alone worry about getting published), this post resonated a lot with me. Thanks so much for sharing! I wish I had seen more stories like this when I was just starting out, because my expectations and goal setting might have been more realistic.

btw, Madeline (and I have to ask, although I understand if you decline to answer), how long did it take you to land an agent?

p.s. thank you Miss Jane and Miss Jayne for having these posts. Well, I love all of your posts.

By: Jenyfer Matthews

Jenyfer Matthews — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 20:51:27 +0000

Thanks for sharing your experience – I certainly identify with it. Funny, but I always did think that the slam-dunk wonders were the exception!

By: raine

raine — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:56:21 +0000

Now THIS I can relate to.
Great story. :-D

By: Bonnie Dee

Bonnie Dee — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 17:14:58 +0000

I loved what you said about achieving the dream being followed by a psychological adjustment period. I always think about that. What if the miracle happens, some publisher offers a multi-book deal and you just can’t deliver? I’ve never had my muse completely dry up like that, but then no one has really placed deadline demands on me before. Demands for a product could make a writer’s inspiration run screaming for the hills.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:31:29 +0000

Wow, I just realized that avatar makes my baby look like a gremlin! I’m going to have to change that. He’s really cute and not at all gremlinish I swear!

By: Catherine

Catherine — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:29:28 +0000

I think this is a great story because it’s so much more realistic than someone saying that they sold on the first try. I’m not a writer or an aspiring one. I just love to read. I’ve read a lot of accounts of authors’ struggles to sell. I think that a story like yours would give them hope as opposed to someone saying, “Well I sold on the first try, but keep working. Good effort you!”

By: Meriam

Meriam — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:12:09 +0000

Great story and a true hero’s journey. Incidentally, By Posession is on my keepers’ shelf. It’s a fantastic book.

By: Charlene Teglia

Charlene Teglia — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:25:11 +0000

From another one who wrote at least a million words before that first novel sale, thanks for making me feel like I’m in good company! And Sherry, what a fantastic follow-up story.

By: sherry thomas

sherry thomas — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:04:43 +0000

When By Arrangement came out, Jean Mason, Ms. Hunter’s friend, wrote an essay about her road to publication at TheRomanceReader.com, about the rare stepback cover she was getting as a debut author, the special price, and the back-to-back releases, quite a novelty at that time.

Her success remained vivid in my mind. And I’d always told my husband, I’d like to get the Madeline Hunter treatment when my book comes out. And lo and behold, a million of my own words under the belt and I sold to none other than Madeline’s publisher, got my stepback cover, my sorta back-to-back release (my own fault strict, for writing faster), and the rest is set to unfold in the near future. :-)

By: Jennifer McKenzie

Jennifer McKenzie — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:22:19 +0000

What a wonderful interview. Thank you for sharing it.

By: Ann Bruce

Ann Bruce — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:18:34 +0000

I’m so glad you’re persistent because you’re one of the few historical novelists I still read after making the switch to mainly contemporary and suspense. (Of course, DA got me glomming Loretta Chase and Jo Goodman.)

Luck Plays a Big Role in Getting Published

Must get rabbit’s foot (a fake one), four-leaf clover, horseshoe…anything else?

Of course, my editor says it would help if I can get my full length completed.

Side note to the Ja(y)nes: Um, I can’t see the previous comments.

By: Larissa Ione - Blog

Larissa Ione - Blog — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 12:52:11 +0000

[...] become published, go read Madeline Hunter’s call story at Dear Author. She talks about how she got published, and everything she said is just so true! Well, for me, [...]

By: Ann Wesley Hardin

Ann Wesley Hardin — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 12:35:34 +0000

Oh boy did this resonate! I was a five years, five manuscripts girl. It’s hard to keep going when you’re surrounded by the out-of-the-gate types.

Having a dream come true can be a daunting experience.

How true!

Thanks for persevering, Madeline. Now we have your wonderful books to enjoy!

By: Jill Myles

Jill Myles — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:14:11 +0000

This was a great interview and I’m so glad to hear it wasn’t ‘magical’ for everyone and involved the million words thing.

I’m currently in the ‘have no ideas’ phase myself and I sincerely hope it goes away. Fast.

Wonderful interview! :)

By: ilona andrews

ilona andrews — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:14:08 +0000

I think it’s a wonderful story. Writing is hard work and so much of it hinges on perseverance and not giving in and not giving up. There are many struggling (and published) authors out here who find stories like this inspiring, because it’s proof that hard work does pay off.

By: Kerry Allen

Kerry Allen — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:07:58 +0000

I don’t find that story depressing at all. It’s realistic, with a happy ending (though it’s not really an ending, I suppose!).

Slam-dunk wonder stories are boring. What I love to see are the rejection letters associated with books that eventually got published and sold a bazillion copies. That’s some encouraging stuff…