Comments on: My First Sale by Joanna Bourne

By: Joanna Bourne

Joanna Bourne — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:58:18 +0000

Thank you so much for the kind words about the ‘Spymasters’. And (or) I’m glad you liked the ‘First Sale’ story.

What I really want to hear is the other side — an agent or editor’s story about the ‘First Calls’ they’ve put through.

I imagine it would include lines like:

“… found the phone again. It had dropped in the sink …”

“… yelling ‘It’s the editor! It’s the editor!’ in the background …”

“… bit her tongue, so it sounded like, ‘thath wunnerthul …”

“… a minute of absolute silence. Then a gurgling not unlike that of the character she killed off in Chapter Eleven …”

As to Her Ladyship’s Companion — the long-ago gothic that is, if I may I say so, deservedly Out of Print.
I have dropped it on my agent’s desk,
(thump-lette.)
(It’s only a little book.)
I will let her decide what to do with it.
Levelling rickety tables comes to mind, or propping open windows, now that summer is upon us.

Hi Sherry — (waves)
Yes, the AAR interview is a cool interview, but largely because you were half of it. Is there anyone who hasn’t read Private Arrangements? If so, they should rectify that immediately.

And the countdown begins on Delicious.

By: Keira Soleore

Keira Soleore — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:24:02 +0000

Joanne, too funny! Loved your call story.

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:41:02 +0000

Marianne – That was my thought too. I would think that even in e-form, she’d be able to sell a few copies.

By: Marianne McA

Marianne McA — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:27:11 +0000

Just thinking about that – those prices suggest there is a real demand for the book. And, in that there is a connection to the current series, I imagine that there will be many readers who’d like to read it for the sake of completeness.
Would the rights have reverted to Ms Bourne by now? Would it be possible to make it available again – perhaps as an ebook?

By: Marianne McA

Marianne McA — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:08:27 +0000

Just read ‘My Lord and Spymaster’ today, and really enjoyed it. And I did buy a copy of ‘Her Ladyship’s Companion’, but at a non-collectible price.

(I just checked – on Amazon.co.uk, it starts at £58, and goes up to £265. If anyone wants to pay £265 for a copy, I’ll reluctantly part with mine…)

By: Sherry Thomas

Sherry Thomas — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:32:37 +0000

I think Joanna gives some short answers about her long absence from publishing and when she's going to write Adrian's story in this interview at AAR. Disclosure: I'm in the interview too but you can skip my part. :-)

By: courtney summers » tunes

courtney summers » tunes — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:09:34 +0000

[...] think Joanna Bourne’s first sale story on Dear Author is my absolute most favourite yet. You should read [...]

By: SonomaLass

SonomaLass — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:21:43 +0000

This amazing writing voice is why we love your books, Joanna. Reading this story made me want to laugh and cry, and put me right there in the moment with you. Thanks for sharing this terrific anecdote, and here’s to MANY MORE books from you!

By: Roxanne St. Claire

Roxanne St. Claire — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:11:24 +0000

What a wonderful story told in a magnificent voice! Loved every word.

By: Maya

Maya — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:07:22 +0000

“….faster to crochet the manuscript…”
“…I sent in my favorite three chapters…”

Ha ha ha!

By: Bev Stephans

Bev Stephans — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:50:15 +0000

As Ciara asked, “Why did you wait so long to write the second story?”

I loved the Spymaster’s Lady and am looking forward to My Lord and Spymaster.

Are you going to write Adrian’s story? His character is just waiting to be filled out.

By: Ciara

Ciara — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:21:47 +0000

But why did you wait so long to share the brilliance of your creativity with a second work? I adored the Spymasters Lady and cannot wait to read My Lord and Spymaster. I hope you write us many many more books!!!

By: Sherry Thomas

Sherry Thomas — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:11:31 +0000

I had to look up nescience but it was worth it!

By: Jill Sorenson

Jill Sorenson — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:48:48 +0000

I loved The Spymaster’s Lady. Annique was magnificent! Can’t wait to read the next. Thanks for the call story.

By: Janine

Janine — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:26:12 +0000

I pounded it out on a selectric typewriter. There was something called carbon paper … No. I won’t go there. Suffice it to say this was a long time ago and the woods were full of the cries of mating pterodactyls.

I laughed out loud at this part. What a wonderful story! Thanks so much for sharing it.

By: Carolyn Jewel

Carolyn Jewel — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:39:47 +0000

Oh my gosh! What a great story. That really must be a first, the author making the call.

By: Shari Anton

Shari Anton — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:11:16 +0000

Great story, Joanna. Just wanted to let you know how much I’m enjoying your Spymasters.

By: Lynne

Lynne — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:59:03 +0000

This story made me smile, and I’ve not even had my coffee yet. Thanks for sharing with us, Joanna! :-)

By: Ana

Ana — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:38:55 +0000

What a great story Joanna!

At the end of the second month I was perfectly certain something had happened to my manuscript. Sea monsters, ravaging New York. Mothra. Train robbers, making off with the mail. Pod people.

LOL. The tricks our imagination plays!