Amazing News!

6 April 2011

I will attempt to refrain from using an excess of exclamation marks in this post, but I’m fairly certain it will be impossible.

I have a book deal!!! The deal was announced on Publishers Marketplace late last night, and it read something (well, exactly) like this:

Erin Bowman’s THE LAICOS PROJECT, about a 17-year-old who has grown up in a primitive town where boys are Heisted on their 18th birthday never to be seen again, and who is determined to find out the truth behind the disappearances, to Erica Sussman at Harper Children’s, in a significant deal, in a pre-empt, in a three-book deal, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger (NA).

I am still somewhat in shock by this. I haven’t stopped smiling in days.

My wonderful, amazing, fabulous agent, Sara, reached out to me on Friday (April 1st) with an email that simply said something along the lines of: “news! call me!” So I did. I was literally shaking with anticipation and thank goodness the first words out of her mouth were “I swear this isn’t a cruel April Fools joke…” because I could not have handled that.

Anyway, Sara shared the good news. I attempted to write down all the details – I failed, mostly because my hand was shaking so much – and by Tuesday we were finalizing the offer.

I am so excited (and humbled) by the fact that HarperTeen is welcoming me to their list. I can’t believe that Erica (my editor!) loves this story as much as I do and I can’t wait for you to all be able to read it!

I’ve been hit by quite a whirlwind of emotions these last few days. I am so fortunate to have Sara as my agent and I am incredibly grateful to have this opportunity to work with Erica and the HarperTeen team. And thank you, thank you to my family, for constant support, and to all my friends in the wonderful writing community, for keeping me sane while on submission. I would not be at this amazing milestone without you. I still feel like this is some surreal dream! My book – my trilogy – is going to be published and available for all to read! I can barely believe it.

Also, one final note. I’ve been sick all week, and let me tell you: Getting a book deal is hands-down the single best remedy for a nasty head cold. I am on cloud nine! :)

Posted in News, Publishing and tagged with

  • http://writertessa.livejournal.com Writer Tessa

    Huge, huge congrats!!!

    • Erin

      Thank you thank you!

  • http://yahongchi.tumblr.com Yahong

    I KNEW IT! I KNEW YOUR TIME WAS COMING, ERIN! Now I’ll be able to say “I knew her before she was famous” ;) ;)

    CAN’T WAIT to read it! <3 <3 <3

    • Erin

      Haha. Yahong, you are too sweet! So excited for you to read it… when it finally hits shelves!

  • http://lindsaycummingsblog.blogspot.com/ lindsaywrites

    yay, congrats!!

    • Erin

      Thanks Lindsay!!!

  • http://Www.amongdahlias.wordpress.com Katy Upperman

    YAY!!! Congratulations, Erin! I’m SO happy for you and can’t wait to buy and read your work!

    • Erin

      Katy, thank you so, so much — for the congrats, for the future support of the book. I hope you enjoy it (when it comes out!)

  • http://www.idtypealittlefaster.blogspot.com Lynn Colt

    I already said this on twitter, but congrats!! Can’t wait to read your trilogy :-D And I’ll have to try that head cold remedy sometime … ;)

    • Erin

      Thank you Lynn. The book deal really did nip the cold in the butt. Highly recommend ;)

  • http://www.sarahenni.com Sarah Enni

    CONGRATULATIONS!!! This sounds so amazing and I can’t wait to see your book(s) on shelves!

    • Erin

      Thank you Sarah!!! :)

  • http://www.jessicaspotswood.com Jess

    Eee! *dances* I’m so, so happy for you!

    • Erin

      Thanks Jess. I have been dancing non-stop myself. It’s impossible not to :)

  • http://NicoleZoltack.blogspot.com Nicole Zoltack

    That’s so awesome, congrats!!

    • Erin

      Thanks so much Nicole!

  • Lisa Schroeder

    So happy for you, Erin – a big, huge congratulations!!!!

    • Erin

      Lisa, thank you so, so much!!! It still feels like a surreal dream. :)

  • http://evermeg.com megan

    I don’t know you, Erin, but found out about this on Twitter. Here’s a few more exclamation marks for you !!!!! Fun to see this kind of news for great books and new writers.

    • Erin

      Thank you for the extra exclamation marks, Megan. No amount can be too many!!!!

  • http://lynna.davidson.wordpress.com Lynn

    I started following you on Twitter a few minutes ago and just want to add my congratulations to your landing a wonderful book deal thanks to your enthusiastic and talented agent. I wish you much success. :)

    • Erin

      Lynn, thank you so much for the kind words!

  • Maureen

    How thrilling! Of course I’m not really surprised. You are a talented and prolific writer! The young adult market will be swooned by your style. Can’t wait to buy your book….I mean your trilogy!

    • Erin

      I’m surprised!! I think I’m still in happy, happy shock :) I can’t wait for you to be able to buy the book (ahem, trilogy) either! I’ll sign copies for you!!!

  • http://www.tiokatokedira.com Tioka

    Wow! Just heard this on Twitter and even though I don’t know you I’m thrilled for you. Huge congratulation. Looking forward to the book coming out. It sounds great.

    • Erin

      Thank you so much Tioka!

  • http://www.nataliasylvester.com Natalia Sylvester

    Congratulations, Erin! I’m new to your blog, but I read about this deal in my email this morning and remember thinking how amazing that must be for a debut author. Hope you’re feeling better soon (I’m sure this is a great start!)!

    • Erin

      Thank you Natalia, and welcome to the blog! I am indeed feeling better. This book deal has helped with that phenomenally ;)

  • http://emy-shin.blogspot.com Emy Shin

    Yay! Congratulations, Erin! When I saw Weronika’s congratulations last night, I knew this must be it, since I know she has subscriptions to Publishers Marketplace.

    This is really amazing, and I am beyond happy for you! I really can’t wait to hold a copy of THE LAICOS PROJECT in hands.

    <3

    • Erin

      Thank you so, so much Emy!! And thank you for sharing the good news on your blog as well. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it! :)

  • http://www.thewordsonpaper.blogspot.com Tracey Neithercott

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    OMG Erin I’m so so so happy for you. It was only a matter of time. Your book sounds great and I’m so excited you sold a trilogy.

    Big huge hug from me!

    • Erin

      *hugs back* Thank you so much for the congrats. And the additional exclamation marks! I have a feeling they will be a staple in my vocabulary for quite some time!!!! :)

  • http://elizabethbriggs.blogspot.com Elizabeth Briggs

    Congrats! This sounds awesome.

    • Erin

      Thanks Elizabeth!

  • http://meredithmccardle.com Meredith

    A huge congratulations to you! That’s awesome news!

    • Erin

      Meredith, thank you so much for the congrats!

  • http://twitter.com/#!/sarahbgoldberg Sarah

    Many many CONGRATULATIONS! And may I say: your book sounds AMAZING, and I will be so excited to read it!

    • Erin

      Thanks so very much Sarah!!! I am so excited for you to read it. I just hope you’re patient. This is going to take a little while… ;)

  • http://jmartinlibrarian.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/falling-under-by-gwen-hayes/ @jmartinlibrary

    Oh, Erin! The book is soooo good, and this deal couldn’t have happened to a more wonderful writer/agent pair! Isn’t Sara the bomb????

    I’M GOING TO BURST FROM HAPPY SILLY GIGGLES!!!!

    • Erin

      Sara is the most amazing agent ever. Man did she rock this deal! I am so excited. Thank you for all the congrats, Jenny!!!

  • http://jennrush.blogspot.com Jennifer Rush

    Congrats!! I was sick the day I got my offer too. :-/ But it sure made me feel better (until I passed back out again)!

    The book sounds fab. Can’t wait to see it on the shelf!!

    • Erin

      Thank you Jennifer! And the happy news is really helping with my cold… :)

  • http://agenevievetucholke.com April Tucholke

    Way to go, crit partner! I’m thrilled to have been on this journey with you. What a wild, wild ride.

    • Erin

      APRIL!!! Thank you so, so much. Seriously, this wouldn’t even be happening if it weren’t for all your awesome feedback, suggestions, comments and guidance on the early drafts of LAICOS. You, crit partner, are amazing!!!

  • http://carol-in-print.blogspot.com Carolina Valdez Miller

    I saw that PM announcement and thought, “Ohhh, that sounds gooood,” just didn’t make the connection between it and you. Oh my word, so awesome! Congratulations!! Such fantastic news. So happy for you!! :D

    • Erin

      Haha. Too funny. Thank you for stopping by and saying congrats, Carolina!! I really appreciate it :)

  • Stacey MacGovern

    Erin, AMAZING!!!!! Can’t wait to walk into Barnes and Noble and see your books someday! Congrats!!!

    • Erin

      Thank you so much Stacey!!!

  • http://www.faeriality.blogspot.com shelli

    so exciting! congrads!

    • Erin

      Thanks Shelli!

  • http://lesliequander.com/ Leslie Quander Wooldridge

    Erin, this is amazing news! I read about your success on Tracey’s writing blog. Big congrats to you!

    • Erin

      Thank you so very much Leslie!! Can’t wait for you to be able to read it!

  • becca

    i think this is truly amazing erin! congratulations, you definitely deserve this recognition :)

    • Erin

      Becca!! Thank you so, so much!!! Miss you tons. I’ll be in the DC area for a writing conference over the summer. Depending on my schedule — and when you get back to the astates — I’d love to catch up. Even if it’s only over a cup of coffee! :)

  • http://www.martzbookz.com Martha Ramirez

    This is so awesome!! Congrats!!

    • Erin

      Thanks so much Martha!

  • http://holes-in-my-brain.blogspot.com Audrey

    YAY YAY YAYYYYY!! congrats times a million =)

    • Erin

      Thanks Audrey!!!

  • Shaun McGovern

    Congrats Erin! My mother just forwarded the good news. Everyone is very happy for you. Can’t wait to read it.

    • Erin

      Aw, thank you so much Shaun! I’m excited for everyone to read as well, although it will still be quite some time before it makes it to the bookstore shelves.