To squee about!

Huge congratulations to two – yes, two – wonderful writers, good friends, and former Fanlitters who have just signed with agents: Maggie Robinson and Manda Collins! Congratulations, ladies! I know great things are in store for you both, and I can’t wait to squee over your sales.

(Man, are we setting NY on fire or what? It’s squee-a-minute around here. Who will be next…?)

As for what I’m up to – I’ve been spending the last few days preparing character descriptions and plot outlines of all three books for the purposes of assisting the cover art designers. It’s terribly exciting, I must say. My editor and I did chat about possibilities in SF, but I really have no idea what style the covers will turn out to be. (There was a meeting about them, evidently, which occurred while I was out of the country. A whole meeting! Really, the idea of people having a meeting in NY about my books while I was scarfing cheap beer and boiled peanuts on some beach half a world away…it’s just so very cool.)

Honestly, I’m just stupidly thrilled that they care enough to ask what my heroes and heroines look like. I can’t wait to see what the artistic geniuses at Ballantine create.


12 comments to “But wait, there’s more!”

  1. Kelly
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    · August 26th, 2008 at 6:16 am · Link

    Congratulations to Maggie and Manda! It’s amazing to see the wonderful success of so many Fanlitters in so short a period of time!

    It’s got to be incredibly exciting to be moving into the production phase with your books, Tessa. Do you have preferences at all for what type of covers Ballantine uses (characters, landscapes, etc.)? I can’t wait to see what they come up with!



  2. skirbo
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    · August 26th, 2008 at 6:52 am · Link

    This is all so exciting, congratulations ladies! It’s an exclusive club you’ve all joined recently and for so many successes to come out of so small a group is just unprecedented I think.

    Tessa, three years ago would you ever have thought you would get to this point? Especially in such a grand and successful way?

    It’s really amazing to me how many lives that contest really changed in a big way. I may not have won or published (yet), but I still have my job (and my Emmy nomination, thank you very much).

    The funniest part of all? Avon hasn’t picked up any of these amazing new authors. How ironic is that?!?



  3. terrio
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    · August 26th, 2008 at 7:36 am · Link

    Major SQUEEE-AGE for Maggie and Manda. This is all so exciting. It’s like watching all the kids in your graduating class become famous. LOL! Years down the road, I may be tapped to talk about one of you in a True Publishing Story. 🙂

    Tessa – I can’t wait to see your covers. Thanks for letting us share in all this excitement with you. It’s much deserved and here’s to many more covers in the future!



  4. Santa
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    · August 26th, 2008 at 7:42 am · Link

    I am over the top for Manda and Maggie! It’s been such an amazing year for FanLittin-BonBon-Squawkees. Just amazing.

    Hearing you talk about cover art puts a visceral element to your publishing journey. I’m getting all sorts of delicious images in my mind’s eye and I haven’t read all the stories yet but the bits I have are fuel enough!



  5. Elyssa Papa
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    · August 26th, 2008 at 8:38 am · Link

    Congrats again to Maggie! And I just saw the news about Manda on Romance Vagabonds—congrats!

    It’s been a whirlwind of Bon Bon writers signed lately! How exciting!



  6. Janga
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    · August 26th, 2008 at 11:09 am · Link

    Hurrah for Manda and Maggie! It has been such an exciting summer with all these grand announcements, and I am prepared for the excitement to continue in the months ahead.

    Tessa, does each step in the process make the dream seem a little more real? We’ll have to throw a virtual party when your first cover is released for public viewing.



  7. Maggie Robinson
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    · August 26th, 2008 at 3:58 pm · Link

    Thanks Tessa (and everybody) and yay for Manda, who has the most contest-finaling book ever! Can’t wait to read it all!

    Covers! I’m hoping for half-naked. In the snow. Wait. It doesn’t snow in the islands, does it?



  8. Sindee Sexton
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    · August 26th, 2008 at 7:40 pm · Link

    Congrats to Maggie and Manda! Rockin!

    Sindee



  9. Lynne Simpson
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    · August 27th, 2008 at 4:00 am · Link

    Congratulations, Manda and Maggie!

    I still remember Maggie’s FanLit entry told from the cat’s POV. Wasn’t there a line to the effect that cats are not fond of scones nor, indeed, baked goods of any kind? 🙂 I loved that.

    And mandacoll’s entries were always favorites of mine, too.

    How cool that both of you are on your way to getting book deals!



  10. Manda
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    · August 27th, 2008 at 7:17 am · Link

    Aww, thanks Tessa! And hey, it’s a fanlit reunion! I’ve missed you guys:) Thanks for the kudos. It still seems surreal to me. But, I’m sure that will change when I start revisions;)

    And congratulations to Maggie, too! My chaptermate is a client of Laura Bradfords and adores her. You’re going to do wonderfully!

    And Tessa, how cool about covers! I can’t wait to see what they come up with for you!



  11. Lara Lee
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    · August 27th, 2008 at 10:29 am · Link

    Congratulations to Manda and Maggie! It’s wonderful to see all these Fanlitters succeed! I wish you both much success in the future.

    So exciting about your covers, Tessa. You must be so excited to see the results. Hope they are all that you dream about!



  12. Kim
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    · August 27th, 2008 at 10:52 am · Link

    How awesome!!! Congrats Manda and Maggie!

    Tessa–I really can’t wait to see what covers they come up with. I hope it something incredibly romantic and girly.