Monday, March 19, 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?














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