I've been sitting on this news for over four months now, and I can finally announce that Gina Welborn and I have signed a three-book plus three promotional novella deal with Kensington Publishing. This series has been several years in the making. Gina and I brainstormed it back in 2014, pitched it at the American Christian Fiction Writer's Conference that September, and then gave it to our agents to send out queries. Although we had lots of interest, no one actually bought it.
In July of 2015, we got word that there might be a glimmer of hope with Kensington. By October, we knew it was going to their publishing board for review, then we got word they wanted it but had to wait for final approval in November. About mid-way through December, we found out we were going to be offered a contract. SO exciting!! And then we waited...and waited...and waited some more for the contracts to arrive. Even after our agents and Kensington hammered out the fine print kinds of details, it took another two months before fully executed contracts arrived so we could shout the news.
My agent tells me that it's not uncommon for contract negotiations to take this long, but it felt like glaciers form faster than this process. Most likely because I'm not very good about keeping such phenomenal news to myself. And because, for Gina and me, we've been living this story for two years already.
To say we're thrilled is an understatement. To say I'm terrified is also an understatement. When you get an eighteen page contract from a publisher with a New York, NY address and there's no suite number because they take up their own building, it's...it's...
How do I even describe that?
I'm beyond grateful to be co-writing with someone I love and trust as much as Gina. We hope this turns into a long and mutually satisfactory relationship with each other and with Kensington Publishing.
And, yes, we've already got an idea for another three-book series.