Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Just Can't Make This Particular Story Believable

On September 8th, 2011, a mere ten years after I started writing my first of what are now (almost) four completed manuscripts and a few hours before the annual kick-off party I host for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer's Conference, I got "the call" from my agent.  A certain editor named Terri Bischoff had not only made an offer on my Mrs. Frugalicious mystery, but the deal was for an utterly incredible three books.

I was still on the phone when Terri, who happened to be in town for the conference as a guest editor, walked into my house with an outrageous grin. She'd read my manuscript, pushed it through acquisitions and gotten an offer pulled together so I could not only announce my first book deal at the conference amongst my friends, but so she could be there when it all went down!

l spend my days describing scenes and scenarios, but I'm not sure I have the words for what it's like to have your editor standing in your house when your agent calls to tell you you're about to get your first publishing deal.

Suffice it to say, it was one of the best, most incredible, days of my life.

Terri bought my series, in part, because she'd read and liked my stand alone mainstream suburban satire called THE BIG BANG.

Which leads me to today.

And then back to that day.  

Sitting with me in the family room while I was on the phone with my agent and answering the door for Terri (who happened to be having lunch with Beth Groundwater) was Ben Le Roy, the editor and publisher of Tyrus Books.       


Don't believe it when you hear the old cliche that lightning doesn't strike twice.

I'm here to tell you, it can and does.

Not sure what time this will hit Publisher's Marketplace today but check this out:
Former Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers President Linda Joffe Hull's The Big Bang, pitched as Desperate Housewives with Fertility Issues, to Ben LeRoy at Tyrus Books, for publication in Fall 2012, by Josh Getzler at Hannigan Salky Getzler (NA).


When I used to whine to my husband that everyone else was getting publishing deals and I was just sitting there day after day banging my head on the computer, he'd always say, "Someday you'll have your own crazy, amazing story to tell."

Who could have imagined my story would be so far-fetched as to include both of my editors sitting in my house together on the same unforgettable day?














8 comments:

Lois Winston said...

Linda, if you wrote that scenario into a book, you'd be told the premise was too unbelievable. Truth definitely is stranger than fiction. Congrats!

Robin Allen said...

This is so unbelievable, it has to be true. Congrats on all the lightening strikes!

Shannon Baker said...

CONGRATULATIONS on the Tyrus deal! So happy for you!(Congrats on the MI deal, too, but that's been said already)

Beth Groundwater said...

Wow, Linda! Congratulations on the new book deal with Tyrus Books! You are going to be one busy author.

I remember having lunch with Terri and my agent when she took a call from your agent and discussed a deal proposal with "a new author." All very exciting, and I couldn't believe that it was you and neither one of you said anything to me until the next day!!! Of course, you hadn't accepted the deal yet at lunchtime, but I can keep a secret. ;-)

Linda Hull said...

Kinda just in shock! Must be the double lightning strikes.

Kathleen Ernst said...

That's a great story! Congratulations.

Unknown said...

Excellent news, Linda! Congrats to you & Josh!

Linda Hull said...

Thanks guys! A day like this makes all the blood, sweat and tears seem almost worthwhile!