It takes more than one person to write a novel, and any author who doesn’t admit that is either lying or an egomaniac. In my case, it took a whole lot of people for VINTAGE to go from a glimmer of an idea to a manuscript to a real-life book that hits bookstores in March. Here are five of them, or five categories of people, since I couldn’t actually narrow it down to just five individuals.
First, there was my very patient husband, who didn’t complain, or only minimally so, when I took off for a critique group meeting or yet another late-evening editing session. He also gets credit for not thinking I was completely insane for wanting to do, and thinking I could do, this author thing in the first place, when I have a perfectly good law degree. My husband has encouraged me in an endeavor that requires me to hang out alone for long periods of time, leaving him with the toddler, the dog, and the dishes. Did I mention I love this man?
Second, my parents and my inlaws deserve a huge thank you, too. If they had been paid, in anything other than baby boy smiles, for all the hours of childcare they’ve provided, they’d probably be able to take a well-deserved luxury cruise with all the money.
Third, my writing group, a sassy gang of women writers that calls itself the Novellas, read draft after draft until the story stood up in the way I wanted it to, and even in ways I wouldn’t have seen if it were not for them.
Fourth, my editor, Rachel Kahan, and the team at William Morrow / Harper Collins, for polishing VINTAGE to a shine, and taking it from just a Word document to an actual novel, with a beautiful cover, that I can hold in my hands.
And last, but certainly not least, VINTAGE would never be making its way into readers’ hands if it weren’t for my agent extraordinaire, Christina Hogrebe, and her super smart colleagues at the Jane Rotrosen Agency. Christina’s enthusiasm for Violet, April, and Amithi was obvious from the first time she read it and called me to talk about it before she even finished the manuscript.
So, as my book baby makes its way into the world, I can’t really say that it’s mine. It belongs to all of the above.
Photo credit: Sweet-Paper.com
I love your group’s name! And AMEN–it took so many people to help make my book. 🙂
Great shout out post, Susan. I agree it takes a village. Self publishing is fine for some, but I know I need the village. Almost time to find an agent. gives me chills!
Can’t wait for your release!
b
Good luck with your agent search, Barbara! And stay tuned for the posts here next week. We each will be talking about the process of finding our agents or publishers and the moment we got “the call.”
Perfect! Thanks Susan.
Echoing Heather here–your group’s name is awesome! My group doesn’t have a name (note: discuss this at our next meeting).
I couldn’t agree more that a book also belongs to the agent/editor. That has been one of the best parts of this journey for me. They’re the first people who fall in love with your book without even knowing you (everyone else that’d read it up until I started querying, a small part of me still thought, oh they’re just being nice). And they’re so great at what they do, it’s amazing to have them on your side.
You’re going to make my agent mad I didn’t mention her in my post. Way to up the stakes, Susan!
I want your husband! 🙂 It continues to amaze me how communal our efforts as authors really are.
My biggest lesson after my novel was published was this: the book belongs to each reader individually. It’s no longer really yours or your editor’s or your agent’s.
If novels had wings we’d be just letting them fly, which sort of, we are.
Lovely post!!
Hi Susan,
I love this site. I also want to sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind words.
It’s fun to read and dance around the other blogs here at the Big Dance.
Love, Mom