It happened when I least expected it. I used to roll my eyes when people said stuff like that: God dropped my future spouse/my calling/my dream into my lap when I least expected it.
I promise I won’t roll my eyes anymore.
For those of you who don’t know, I’ve written a novel. Several, actually. In 2013, I entered one into the Genesis, the big annual contest hosted by ACFW. When the list of semi-finalists came out and my name wasn’t on it, I sat down on the staircase and contemplated giving up this writing thing.
I’m so glad I didn’t. Instead, I made a list of agents to cold query and wrote this post for Go Teen Writers: Lessons from a Loser. I also queried one editor, who actually commented on that very post.
Who knew, 17 months later, that editor would email me with a contract attached.
Which I signed.
I want to hug that thing and praise Jesus for a dream come true. I want to blab to the whole world that this wasn’t supposed to happen at 22, only 4 years after I decided I wanted to write a book, only 2 years after I wrote the book whose title graces the top of that contract. I want to whisper to everyone and no one, hey, I have a book deal.
And, actually, it’s a series. WhiteFire wants all of it. The whole story. All three books. I could just explode into bubbles and starbursts at the very thought.
I want credit for deleting all the exclamation marks I used to create this post, so I didn’t overwhelm you, the one who would have to wade through them to get the whole story. ;)
Thanks for being excited for me! <– That one I just can’t help!
More:
- the sowing of the dream // on @KindredGrace
- The Night a Dream Came True // also on @KindredGrace
And WhiteFire is SO excited to have you, Rachelle! It’s been fun getting to know you through the years at GTW and watching you grow as a writer…and it’s gonna be super fun going through this publishing thing with you!
Well, that was fun, “approving” this comment. ;) Thank you, Roseanna!
Congrats lady!
I”m happy for you! :)
Thanks, Alexis!
‘Thrilled for you, my friend! Sending huge congratulations from Seoul, Korea!
Thank you, Derek!
Whooaaa!!!! SO EXCITING!!!!!! Congratulations! I can’t wait to get my hands on these books!!!!!! :D
Thank you so much, Jenna!
*Thrilled!* Just reading this post makes me happy. Exploding “into bubbles and starbursts” is a beautiful way of describing how we feel when dreams come true. Lovely! I hope and pray that the rest of the journey is beautiful.
Elisabeth, you are a blessing. Thank you!!!
That’s so exciting–congratulations! I look forward to hearing more about your book(s)!
Thank you so much, Serena! :)
Congrats! I’m so excited for you!!!
Thank you, Hannah Mary! :)
Rachelle, I am SO very excited for you. This is a journey I am sure you’ll excel at, and I cannot wait for the day when I can buy a copy of your book online and discover what your story is all about. Congratulations – enjoy this! :)
Rissi, you are such an encouragement to me! Thank you, my friend! :)
So cool and so excited for you! I need to remember that the dreams I have will happen when I least expect them too. Some days that is so much easier to trust in than other days!
So true, Tara! But it’s worth the wait. :)