YAY! I Mean BOO!
I have cool news to share. I've sold my first two books to the lovely folks at Little, Brown and Company.
I'm an author!
Both books are about the little guy on the left there, Ghost and his friend Monster. The first book, Ghost Eats it All, is due out in time for Halloween 2006, and the next book, Ghost Gets Dressed is scheduled in time for Halloween 2007.
The people I've been working with at Little, Brown are just out of this world fantastic to work with. I love it when editors and art directors adopt you as part of the team. It's really the way I like to work. So a big thank you to Liza, Patti Ann, Fatimah, and Saho!
Also, a huge thank you to Maggie, my rep, who put all the wheels in motion.
Since my blog has kind of taken on an air of the "How-to," here's my advice on how to act when you sell a book.
- As soon as you get the email, scream some happy sounds.
- Reread the email in case you misinterpreted.
- Dance in your chair.
- Worry about whether you should call your husband or your rep first.
- Come to your senses and call your husband.
- Scream some more happy sounds.
- Reassure your dogs that you're not screaming at them.
- Call your rep, your parents, and your sibling(s).
- Reread the email, just to be sure.
- Happy sounds.
- Drink a cup of tea; all those happy sounds are hard on your throat.
- Email your critique buds with the news.
- Read their happy screams for you.
- Worry that you weren't supposed to tell your critique buds yet.
- Call your mom to make sure she won't be upset if you dedicate the first book just to your husband.
- Reread the email in case you were dreaming.
- Happy sounds.
- Start writing the next one.
See how easy that was?!?
YAY!! I've been waiting and waiting for you to post the big news and nearly let the cat out of the bag on my blog. SO very happy for you Janee! I can't wait for halloween to come along!!
Posted by: rozroro | February 28, 2006 at 04:13 PM
WOOHOO!!!! Yay, Janee!!! I'd like to place a pre-order, please. :-)
Also, love your "How-to" list! Too funny!
Posted by: patrice | February 28, 2006 at 04:24 PM
How wonderfully exciting and incredible (well not incredible since you are so talented). Congratulations!
Posted by: violetismycolor | February 28, 2006 at 04:47 PM
Yay Janee!!! I'm so excited for you!!
Posted by: Laura | February 28, 2006 at 05:18 PM
Congratz! Janee! I am so happy for you! Now, tell us how you did it. Did you sell them on your dummybook with art? Did you sell them on a written manuscript? You say, "adopt." What do you mean by that?
Posted by: Don | February 28, 2006 at 05:21 PM
Oohh! Congrats! I do some design work for Patti Ann and she is so wonderful. I would love to hear about your process- and your ghost is just too cute!!!
Posted by: Chickengirl | February 28, 2006 at 06:12 PM
Congratulations!! That ghost is SO cute! So...boo! ;-)
Posted by: Alison | February 28, 2006 at 06:25 PM
That is so wonderful! Many congrats to you! I love the instructions. :)
Posted by: Courtney | February 28, 2006 at 07:25 PM
YEEEEHAWWWW!! I'm so proud of you, Mother Hen! You are my role model!! I wanna be just like Janee. Love that little Ghost. He's the cutest thing ever! Teach us, oh wonderful author/illustrator genius. You go girl!!!
Posted by: Deb | February 28, 2006 at 07:39 PM
Congratulations. How exciting. I've been dying for cute, new Halloween books to come out for children.
Have your publisher drop me an email and I'll review them.
Alyice
Editor
Posted by: Dabbling Mum | February 28, 2006 at 07:42 PM
oh Janee this is just wonderful, I'm so happy for you! I can't wait to read them!!!!
Posted by: Paige Keiser | February 28, 2006 at 07:48 PM
YEAH!!!! This is just wonderful news. Congratulations!
Posted by: Kim | February 28, 2006 at 08:03 PM
WAY TO GO, JANEE!!!!!!!!! But, I am not surprised!
I know you will be famous!
Posted by: Barbara Johansen Newman | February 28, 2006 at 09:25 PM
This is great! Congratulations! The character looks so cute.
Posted by: wynlen | March 01, 2006 at 05:10 AM
Congratulations, Janee. That's great news!!!
Posted by: Debi | March 01, 2006 at 06:26 AM
My imagination is already spinning, wondering what happens when the ghost eats it all (I'm picturing an increasingly large ghost, which leads naturally into the next book where he/she/it discovers a need for a new wardrobe.)
I love the titles, I love the art.
Posted by: mark heath | March 01, 2006 at 07:20 AM
Way to go Janee,
Sooo proud of you, and no you didn't tell your critique group to soon. We were chomping at the bit and crossing our fingers.
Two fingers crossed, 2 books, maybe we should cross our toes too. Then you'll sell 2 more, and you can buy the lattes and the biscottis.
Brenda
Posted by: Brenda Sturgis | March 01, 2006 at 08:21 AM
Ha Ha! The instructions cracked me up!! 2 books! I must of missed that, I thought it was only 1. Way to go you deserve it!! Can't wait to get my copies!
Posted by: Holli | March 01, 2006 at 12:08 PM
Congrats! That's wonderful news! Cute character too.
Posted by: Amelia | March 01, 2006 at 03:14 PM
Janee...the little ghost guy is adorable! No wonder they want to contine his saga! And we know which way YOUR saga is going, too...up, up, UP!! Congrats!!
Liz
Posted by: Liz Goulet Dubois | March 01, 2006 at 03:41 PM
That is so great, Janee - congrats and many, many more. I'll look for these on the shelves.
Karen
Posted by: karen lee | March 01, 2006 at 05:09 PM
Hi Janee,
I just dropped by to check out your blog, and found this wonderful image of the new little Ghost character. He is so cute and friendly. Congratulations on the two books, and what fun to be working with such nice folk.
June
Posted by: June-Goulding | March 01, 2006 at 06:57 PM
Janee,
YIppeeeeeeeeeeee!!! COngratulations! loved your suggestions for celebrating....how fun!
Have a blast on your journey.
Posted by: Amy M | March 02, 2006 at 09:04 AM
That's fantastic, Janee! Congratulations!
Posted by: Chris Barton | March 02, 2006 at 08:38 PM
Whoop! Happy noises coming from over here, too!
Posted by: *jenny | March 02, 2006 at 09:25 PM