Where Were You When…Part 3
Making the New York Times remains one of the landmarks of an author’s career. Enn Bocci, publicist, reached out to a number of authors to ask them where they where when they received the news of this occasion and I thought it would be fun to share these series of stories with you. If you’re an author with a story to share, please let us know: jane@dearauthor.com
***
Author Name: Jodi Ellen Malpas
Book that you FIRST listed with: This Man Confessed
Who called you? Agent/Publisher/Editor on group call
Where were you? In bed! It was 11pm here and 6pm in NYC!
Were you with alone? with family? in public? Kids were in bed. Called Mum who lived down the road. She came running up in her PJ’s!!!
Author Name: Jennifer Probst
Book the you FIRST listed with: The Marriage Bargain
Who called you? My publisher and editor from Entangled – Liz and Libby
Where were you? I was out and they spoke with my husband to tell them the amazing news! When I arrived home, my husband was pacing and shrieked at me to call my publisher now!! I did and I they told me I hit the NY Time. I was in the middle of my kitchen, gazing at the torn up floor I had never been able to replace because I was so broke for so long! Once I actually believed they were telling me the truth, I laughed and cried at the same time, and my husband and I did a dance. Best. Moment. Ever. Well, at least one of them lol!!?
Author Name: Samantha Young
Book that you FIRST listed with: ON DUBLIN STREET
Who called you? My agent
Where were you? In my office working.
Were you with alone? with family? in public? I was alone when my agent called me and I had to hold in my squeal. To her I said, ‘Oh wow, that’s fantastic.’ and played it pleased but fairly cool… While inside my head it was more like ‘OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD’. As soon as I got off the phone I squealed really freaking loudly and then called my mum to squeal down the phone to her. There may have been some happy dancing around my flat.
Author Name: Katy Evans
Book that you FIRST listed with: REAL
Who called you? My amazing agent Amy Tannenbaum.
Where were you? Were you with alone? with family? in public?
I was happily in my favorite writing couch, in my study/writing office, madly working on REAL’S sequel, MINE, when the phone rang. I love my agent and adore talking to her, but sometimes when I get an unexpected call, you wonder if there is an issue. Like….a price listing gone awry on one of the vendor sites. A problem with schedule. Something! So when I saw her name, I puzzled over what could she could be calling about and pictured the worst. That the MINE release date would be pushed back….or something along that tragedy. Instead, she told me REAL had hit the NEW YORK TIMES at #5. It also hit the USA Today and the Wall Street Journal lists. I found myself in my husband’s arms five minutes later as I processed all the awe, feelings of unworthiness, of humility, gratitude, and more. :)
Author Name: Tammara Webber
Book that you FIRST listed with: Easy (June 24, 2012 list)
Who called you? my agent (Jane Dystel w/ Dystel & Goderich)
Where were you? at home
Were you with alone? with family? in public? I was alone. I answered the phone as I was walking out of my (home) office, done working for the day. When she told me, I just sat right down on the floor and said, “What? What?” My husband walked by, saw me and rushed up to me, worried I’d just gotten bad news because I looked so shocked.
I love this topic. It’s just so joyful!
@AnnaM:
Exactly- JOYFUL! So nice to read about squealing and happy dancing :-)