Skip to main content

Got my contract!

Captain’s Log, Stardate 07.06.2006

For all you writers—check out my Story Sensei critique service Summer Sale! Get a 10% off coupon just for entering!

Blog book giveaway:
My Thursday book giveaway is LOVE ONLINE by Kristin Billerbeck and Nancy Toback.
My Monday book giveaway is RECONSTRUCTING NATALIE by Laura Jensen Walker.
You can still enter both giveaways. Just post a comment on each of those blog posts. On FRIDAY (not Thursday), I'll draw the winner for LOVE ONLINE and post the title for another book I'm giving away—PLUS . . .

Save the date! On Friday July 7th, to celebrate the release of THE REDEMPTION by M.L. Tyndall (my good friend), I'll be posting a contest for a free book AND two free tickets to see the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Curse! But you can only enter all day on Friday, July 7th!

Ronie’s trip to California: I got to spend some time with Ronie and her family when they visited Dineen’s place yesterday!


TMI:

Writing: I got my contract yesterday! How weird to see it in black and white. I’m going through it now, although I understand less than 20% of what’s going on. I think I’ve even been assigned my 10-digit ISBN numbers for three of the books in the series. Now THAT is hecka surreal.

My agent Wendy already went through the contract so I don’t expect to find anything worse than maybe a typo or two that escaped her fine-toothed comb. She has been FABULOUS throughout this entire thing.

Okay, let’s be crass and talk money in suitably vague terms. I can’t imagine NOT having an agent for this. She negotiated a higher advance than I ever dreamed I’d get. Don’t get me wrong, it’s totally true when they say not to quit your day job, but her diligence has given me a little more pocket money.

If you don’t have an agent when you get a contract (or even before that), get one NOW. In fact, much of the number-crunching was actually done on the Profit and Loss statement drawn up BEFORE my manuscript even went to committee, before it was approved for publication. So it was vital that I had Wendy as early as that stage of the process.

Comments

Ruth said…
That is so cool that you got your contract, I am so excited for you! :) I'm surprised Zondervan hasn't already assigned your books the new 13 digit ISBNs...aren't they supposed to go live next year or something? I've been seeing books with both 10 and 13 digit numbers around here at work. Anyway, thanks as always for your terrific insight!
Anonymous said…
Ain't it grand? And hecka surreal. ; )

Have fun, lady! And congrats!!!
donna
Congrats on getting your contract!
Anonymous said…
CONGRATULATIONS...how exciting to have the contract in hand. :) I'm thrilled for you. :)
PatriciaW said…
Congrats Camy! I'm sure it's a tremendous feeling. Imagine how you'll feel when you see the cover art or actually get your author copies? Savor the ride...
Julie Carobini said…
Congrats, Camy! It's a relief, isn't it?

Happy writing,
Julie
Unknown said…
That is so awesome! Congrats!
Sharon Hinck said…
Isn't it fun reading all the gooble-dee-gook? LOL! But even with all the legal jargon, it IS exciting. You're being partnered by a major publisher and your book is going to get out there and touch hearts. HOORAY! A special moment. Be sure to celebrate it somehow. :-)
Geekwif said…
Congratulations! Even with all the legal gunk, it must be so exciting to have it in your hands!
Just Nancy said…
Congrats on the contract! It really is an amazing feeling! Enjoy it and celebrate!
Anonymous said…
Congrats! What an awesome feeling, especially if you're liking the numbers you see! ;-)
Anonymous said…
Congratulations, Camy. It must be wonderful to hold that contract in your hands and to "feel" the reality of it.

I was following your next clue for the treasure hunt and sort of going off on tangents. I came to 2 places that reminded me of something that I feel is important.

I may have mentioned somewhere that my mother was always upset that at church they prayed for the missionaries and the people who were ill but never prayed for the people that the missionaries were ministering to, to have the Holy Spirit prepare their hearts for what the missionaries were doing for God's glory. Never were the caregivers of the sick mentioned and she herself knew from almost 10 years of caring for my father after his stroke, how much prayer support she truly needed.

Anyway, to get to the point: I think we should be praying *now* already for the Lord to prepare the hearts of those who will be reading your books. He knows for whom these books will be a special blessing and our prayers will be meaningful.

I think I told you about the other Christian writer, Angela, who first got me on blogs. She wrote to her newsletter group about 6 months before her book came out to ask us to pray that God would prepare the readers for the message he wanted to convey to them through her book. Once it was out, she was amazed at how many people were touched by God through what she had written. The book is already in its third printing.

Please also pray for Angela herself. I haven't heard from her for over two months. In her last blog entry on April 29, she wrote about damage done to her home by weather and some challenges she was facing. I've written her an e-mail but received no response. So I'm worried about her because she always answered any e-mail promptly just like you. Thanks, Camy and anyone else who will pray.
Rebekah said…
Congrats, Camy!!! I'm so happy for you. I look forward to reading them!!
congrats!!

So not going to be jealous that you hung out with D and Ronie without me... hell what am I saying, yes I am!
Carmen said…
congratulations on your contract. I'm jealous. I keep getting good feedback from agents, (great plot but hard sell, great read but too short, great concept, etc.)

I guess I just keep plugging. Any advice you could give would be much appreciated. :)

Popular Posts

Lena’s Diamond Shawl – A Free Knitting Pattern from a Regency Spy Novel

In my book, Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 7: Spinster , my heroine Lena is recovering from sickness and uses her favorite shawl to keep warm. 🧵 Click here to download the FREE PDF of the pattern. Here’s the short excerpt from the book that mentions the shawl: 📖 Excerpt from Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 7: Spinster Lena still felt a chill as she sat in the sunlight streaming through the window of the Viponds’ drawing room. She was swathed in her favorite lace shawl, a gift from Melinda, who had knit it in Lena’s favorite color, red, along with cream and pink stripes. Tabitha finished pouring the tea and handed her a cup. Lena tried to smile as she took it, but her face felt stiff, like hardened clay. She was an utter failure. Despite all her training as an agent, she’d been undone by a malicious woman and a locked balcony in the rain. Had she given up too quickly? She’d been deterred by the railing, believing it would have broken under her weight. She had also been shivering t...

Writing Goals for 2007

Captain’s Log, Supplemental I considered cheating on my goals for this year, but decided I was being a wimp. So here they are: Here are the goals required by my contract: Book 3 in the series marketing info sheet due March 15th Book 3 manuscript due June 1st Book 1 substantive/line edits due sometime in Jan/Feb Book 1 galleys due sometime after that Book 2 macro edits due sometime in Spring? Book 2 substantive/line edits due, I’m guessing in Summer. Book 3 macro edits due sometime in October, I’m guessing Dang, laid out like that, looks like I’ll be busy. Here are my personal writing goals: Long-term goals: --Complete two manuscripts and a novella by December 31st, 2007 (I have to write the two manuscripts, but I’m trying to push myself and write a third project. I chose a novella since it’s easier than a full novel.) Short-term goals: --Write a short story this year (I keep putting it off because I’m such a perfectionist about it! I think I’ve got to get just the right plot, etc. bef...

Free Christian Romantic Suspense Novels by Camy Tang / Camille Elliot

Curious about what my writing is like? Here’s a list of all my free books and the free short stories, novellas, and novels that you can read here on my blog. I’ll update this post as I add more free reads. Christian Romantic Suspense: Necessary Proof (Sonoma series #4.1, novella) Click here to buy the FREE ebook on all retailers Alex Villa became a Christian in prison, and because of his efforts to help stop a gang producing meth in Sonoma, he has been set up for the death of a cop. Can computer expert Jane Lawton find the evidence that will prove his innocence before the gang eliminates them both? Fantasy short stories: Pixies in a Garden in Kyoto There were pixies in the garden. Since she was in Kyoto, she was certain they were not called pixies, but she didn't know what they would be called in Japanese, and they certainly looked like what she imagined pixies would look like. The King’s Daughter The trees in the King's garden were full of colored pixie lights. The...

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th...

Read the beginning of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 1: Archer

Pride and Prejudice meets Mission: Impossible If you love witty banter, secret agents in cravats, fierce heroines, and slow-burn romance with high-stakes suspense, then welcome to my world of Christian Regency Romantic Suspense! This is the two prologues and chapter one from Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 1: Archer , the first installment in my epic-length historical adventure series. I originally posted this excerpt in weekly parts, but I’ve compiled everything here so you can read it all in one sitting—no need to click through multiple posts. Before the excerpt begins, here’s the back cover description so you know what to expect: ⸻ Part one in a Christian Regency suspense series with slow-burn romance and a supernatural twist She met him again by shooting him. Unmarried after four Seasons of towering over her dance partners, Miss Phoebe Sauber learns she will be cast out of her home when her father remarries. Feeling betrayed by her father and God, she misfires an arro...