Jess's First
Sale (Or, I Always Know Before It Happens)
Jess Michaels
The title of this article is absolutely true. I always seem to know about big career changes before they happen. When I got my first agent, I was working at a bookstore. Consequently, when the agent called I was out and she left a message, but we couldn't connect for three days. So for three days I knew this agent was going to call me and probably say she wanted to represent me. Same thing with my second agent. This time I was moving and for a month we played email and telephone tag before the "big moment".
With THE CALL, it was no different. I had written my novella Ancient Pleasures during a very rough patch in my life. I knew I was going to separate from my second agent, but couldn't bring myself to make the final decision. Instead, I decided to write something different, something she'd have no interest in whatsoever. Once I'd done it and the agent and I had parted ways, my friend and partner-in-crime Susanna Carr told me to get off my butt, stop moping and send it to Red Sage. I did it.
Within a couple of weeks, Alexandria Kendall, the owner and editor-in-chief of Red Sage emailed me requesting a full manuscript. I sent it off and started worrying. She'd said some very nice things in her requesting email. Did this mean she wanted it? Would she get back to me soon? Weeks turned to months and months turned to four months. When my "four month" reminder popped up, I drafted a quick email requesting a status update.
And that was when the fun began. On October 30, Alexandria emailed me back to tell me they were working on revisions and would get back to me shortly. She also mentioned that they loved the story. I freaked out. They loved my story. They were giving me revisions. What did it all mean? Were they buying my book? What did shortly mean? For nearly two weeks I bit my nails, checked my email every ten minutes and jumped every time the phone rang. Finally, I decided I'd misunderstood her email and gave up.
So when the phone rang at 6:54pm on Tuesday, November 11, I didn't even jump. I figured it was a telemarketer and answered in my "leave me alone" voice. Except it was Alexandria Kendall and she told me she wanted to buy my book. Somehow my husband knew. I don't know if it was in my face or if he just knows me that well, but he started jumping up and down and giving me thumbs up. I think I was coherent. After she said, "We want to buy your book", I kind of lost consciousness. I know I said yes a lot. And okay. But all I could think of was, "I did it. I did it. I did it. It's real."
And that's what I keep thinking. It's real. I did it. I worked hard. I cried a lot (and I probably will cry more. This isn't an easy profession). I laughed a lot. I learned a lot. And I did it.
Ancient Pleasures will be released in Secrets, Volume 11 in December 2004 under the name Jess Michaels.