…one giant leap for Twenty Years Later.
In a dramatic break with convention, this will be a short post. I had such glorious plans to write a response to the amazing debate on the post about artistic double standards, but that was derailed by something rather wonderful.
A small press has requested the full manuscript of Twenty Years Later after reading the first fifty pages!
Needless to say that kind of derailed the day; I had to indulge my inner perfectionist, then write a response to a few questions they asked and then catch up on the rest of my work.
I’m shattered, and so relieved that I worked on the podcast of Chapter 3 over the weekend. It’s up and ready for your listening pleasure.
I’m not going to tell you who the press is, as that would be rude, but I wanted to share a couple of things that won’t reveal who they are, in the hope that the fellow aspiring writers amongst you will find it helpful.
The first thing is that they were interested in this place. I guess this has officially become my author platform! I had no plans for it to be that when I started it, and over the last couple of months I’ve been thinking about making a ‘proper’ author platform for Twenty Years Later, but it seems that I was a little late.
They asked for stats, so I took a look and was pleasantly surprised. Since launch 6 months ago 2,220 unique visitors have stopped by. Wow. Not big in the grand scheme of things, but seeing as I haven’t applied any of my SEO knowledge or online PR skills to this (what my mundane secret identity does in the day), I’m really chuffed. That’s quiet, organic growth – real people finding this blog by personal connections over the web. Gorgeous.
So, if you’re a writer with a blog, and you’re making submissions, be aware that your place may well be looked at before you’re ready!
The publisher noted how many comments there are, so I wanted to say a big thank you for bringing such vibrant conversation here. Thank you, it means such a lot to me – and impressed this small press too.
Secondly, they wanted to know more about why I had written this book and (in a round about way) my thoughts on the target audience age. Luckily I had thought about both recently and so I could reply quickly, but thought you should know so you can be prepared too. You’re probably all way ahead of me anyway!
And the other thing? Well, it’s a comment they made after reading the first fifty pages. I hope you don’t mind me sharing this, lovely small press!
The writing is solid, there’s good pacing so far, and the tone is interesting . . . kind of like a post-apocalyptic Dickens novel.
A post-apocalyptic Dickens novel – how cool is that?!
Okay, I’ll put the ego away and go and collapse. I have a long day tomorrow and many miles to go before I sleep….
P.S. If you like the podcasts, please do leave a comment there – the publisher is watching you 
P.P.S. Turned out not to be short after all… Hey ho.
Hi Emma, I’ve only had time to listen to one podcast, and it was marvelous. It’s good to know that there is at least one small press in the world with good judgment! Best of luck.
BTW, Though no novelist, I read quite a bit, and was a Top 500 Amazon Reviewer before I stopped writing reviews there.
Em, this is great news! What a terrific thing to have as a disruption to one’s plans for a regular old Tuesday!
I can’t wait to hear how things develop.
Great to hear such good news. I’ve recently had another rejection, but the agent gave me names of two editors to approach myself. So I guess there was a bright lining. Perseverance is the key.
Ooh, good news indeed! I hope they feel able to take it to print – I want a copy nooow!
Great news, Emma. No more than you deserve. Please get in touch with me through my site’s contact page as I’d like to chat about something.
Congratulations on the request! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
So many congratulations for you! Can’t wait to see it in print!
How very exciting Emma! Hope the ‘lovely small press’ takes it all a bit further (if you’re reading, Lovely Small Press, I’m sure we’ll all buy a copy of Emma’s book …) I’m really enjoying the podcasts, thank you for posting them.
Congratulations too on the 2220 uniques – quite an achievement for six months. Here’s to the next 2220!
Great stuff Emma! Will keep things crossed for you. It’s heartening to know that the blog / site / relationships count for something in the world of publishing, or at least the small press bit of it. Thanks for sharing!
How cool is that? Way cool. It sounds like the small press is wondering if your blog has enough built-in customers to buy the book . . . I bet it has plenty!
Yay! How wonderful and exciting, Emma! I’m cheering and jumping up and down for you. I’m wishing you much luck and crossing my fingers. (Oh, and Lovely Small Press Publisher, if you’re watching, this is one more reader who will buy all of Emma’s books.)
!!!!!!!!
More later…
Congratulations, Emma! And Lovely Small Press Publisher: there are even folks from outside England who’d love to read the book! There’s one German eager to buy the book!
POST-APOCALYPTIC DICKENS! I think these three words alone would convince me to buy the book, even though I don’t need convincing, having already heard the first chapters.
This Small Press is a wise and discerning outfit. I feel it in my waters.