How I scored my two-book deal with Pan Macmillan
How it happened, all of the things I've learned so far and what's coming up in 2023!
Aaand we're off! Welcome to the inaugural edition of Wanderlove. Thank you so much for coming along on this exciting ride with me. I’ll be sending out Wanderlove every month-ish (that’s still a commitment!) with my latest writing, book, travel news & tips – paired with plenty of laughs.
First up is THE STORY. Scrolly scroll past my jumbo, beaming face for the full scoop.
So how did I go from no books traditionally published to THREE books due to be published in 18 months?
(FYI you can still grab my digi rom-com Under the Influence here. It’s on sale for just $2.99 in December!)
The short version is: Slush pile! However, I suspect if you’ve read this far, you’re interested in the nitty gritty. I know that I have a handful of international subscribers (Hola, Bonjour, Guten Tag!) so I’ll flag that this info specifically pertains to the Australian publishing industry – but hopefully there are still some universally useful nuggets here for you too!
For anyone not familiar with the terminology, the ‘slush pile’ is the stack of unsolicited manuscripts that are sent to publishing houses via their open submission windows (here’s a handy guide from Writing NSW of traditional publishing houses accepting unsolicited manuscripts right now). I’d heard stories about authors getting picked up from the slush pile (like the wonderful Cassie Hamer) but they were few and far between. I just knew that the slush pile was frequently read by interns and infrequently passed up the chain. For this reason, I’d never really considered it as a genuine way of getting published. Instead, I favoured face-to-face pitching like the Australian Society of Authors (ASA) Speed Dating pitching events and the Romance Writers of Australia (RWA) Conference pitching (I’ve linked this year’s event to showcase the range of publisher and agent opportunities but you can read more about the RWA here including details of the 2023 conference in Sydney – see you there?!)
🎧 Listen to me bang on about what a fantastic organisation the RWA is for aspiring authors with best-selling rural fiction author Maya Linnell and the fabulous Claudine Tinellis on the Talking Aussie Books x Writes4Women Collab here.
I think I attended my first live pitching event back in 2018, and over the years I’ve had some great conversations, formed meaningful relationships with publishers and agents and received lots of encouraging interest and feedback (Under the Influence was actually picked up thanks to an online RWA conference pitch in 2021!)
I so appreciate these events (and am also very aware that as an unagented author having direct access to publishers is unheard of in many countries!) but I was also eager and impatient. There is a lot of waiting in this industry. Much of it can’t be avoided (just think how long it takes to read a book – most publishing professionals read manuscripts outside of business hours) but I was writing lots and honing my craft, so it was frustrating having to wait for the few pitching events to roll around each year (plus, with Covid it became super unknown which of these would still go ahead – even online).
Enter: My “rage” submission era. 🤣
In December 2021, I decided to “take back control” of my publishing dreams. I’d dabbled with open submissions previously, but had never been strategic about it (as mentioned, I didn’t ever really think it was a serious avenue!). Over the next month, I submitted absolutely everywhere I could – including Pan Macmillan’s Manuscript Monday. I had an unsexy (or sexy, depending on your nerd heat level) spreadsheet with the different submission windows highlighted (submit at 5:01pm and it’s all over for another month!)
It felt so good to take action that I went a step further by branding up 2022 as ‘The Year of Creativity.’ I was turning 40, which incited all those textbook “it’s now or never” feels. I knew that making space for my career author aspirations was the best 40th birthday present I could give myself.
I’ve spoken about my newfound woo-wooness 🌝 on Instagram and here’s why:
In January, I signed a contract with Harlequin Escape for Under the Influence.
In February, (@11:21am on Thursday, February 17, 2022 to be precise) I received an email from a publisher at Pan Macmillan who had happened upon my manuscript in December’s open submissions and wanted to read more.
The manuscript was Under the Influence. The same manuscript I had just signed a contract for.
I was obviously beyond thrilled that I’d received more publisher interest (and from my dream publisher no less!) but understandably confused about what to do next. Luckily – thanks to advice from experienced authors cautioning not to sit around waiting for “that deal” and to keep writing – I’d now almost completed three manuscripts. I replied, letting them know that Under the Influence had recently been acquired but that I had other material that may be of interest. I expected not to hear anything back but received a reply to “yes, please send through.” !!!
I followed up once in March, and again in April with a quick “HELLO ME AGAIN JUST CASUALLY CHECKING IN” email, then in April I received a favourable reply from the publisher saying yes, they’d read and really enjoyed my manuscript and would I be interested in meeting?!
I freaked out so hard that I had to forward the email to a writing friend to confirm its contents, then freaked out some more and convinced myself that I was part of some elaborate publishing phishing scheme so had a *very* established and *very* busy author check that this person actually existed. Despite being told this is a very normal reaction, I cringe now looking back at that! I think this is the perfect place to note just how lovely and supportive the Australian writing community truly is!
The publisher lived in a different state from me so let me know when they’d next be in town. The dates coincided with a much anticipated holiday to Port Douglas for one of my best friend’s (three-times-postponed) wedding. Luckily, it wasn’t the date of the actual wedding, so I made the decision to cut my trip short and forgo a trip to the Great Barrier Reef (please stay alive coral so I can visit you one day). It wasn’t a tough decision; my gut told me it was the only one.
I wasn’t able to move my flight, so I purchased a new ticket home. The first of three tickets purchased. 😂
While I was still in Port Douglas my new flight was re-scheduled to a later time. It completely spooked me, as the last time I’d been in Queensland I’d ended up having to stay an extra night because of flight cancellations. So I purchased another earlier flight – just to be doubly safe. That night I had a nightmare (yes, perhaps wedding wine induced!) that the airline went bust and I never made it back. Another flight on a different airline was purchased. I felt that strongly about this meeting. Thank you, Virgin for my eventual and timely flight home! 😂
The catch-up went amazingly well. The publisher was so kind and we had an instant connection. Most importantly, I felt understood as a writer – both my voice and what I was looking to achieve. Even though I was hopeful, I was realistic that it might not go any further than my manuscript being circulated internally.
In May, my manuscript, plus the synopsis for the manuscript I was finishing up, was taken to an acquisitions meeting. This is where the BIG decisions are made by the firm’s stakeholders – not just by publishers, but other departments like the all-important sales team! I knew it was a morning meeting, so by 1 pm when I hadn’t heard anything I ordered myself a commiseration chicken curry. I had a mouthful of curry when my phone rang. I got the two-book deal!
The rest, as they say, is history! Well, history that is still mostly to be written (don’t worry, the book’s done!) Duck a l’Orange for Breakfast will be published April 2023 and my next novel will be published the end of 2023/beginning of 2024.
I’m beyond excited to share every step of this journey with you. I’m currently proofing the first typeset pages of “Duck” (as it’s fondly referred to around here) and I look forward to sharing more about the story and, of course, THE COVER real soon!
My (hopefully helpful) learnings so far:
Keep writing! Often your first book won’t be your debut. It may be your “training” novel, or even become book #2 or #3!
Don’t be shy about following up on interest. Publishers are always on the hunt for fresh voices but are also busy, so some polite follow-up can be helpful … within reason! I’ve heard horror stories about aspiring writers slipping manuscripts to publishers and agents under toilet stall doors, so definitely don’t be that person (also, the Australian publishing industry is small, so behave well!)
Say yes to ‘writing things’ where you can. If you can make that event/workshop/meet-up work – do it! Not only is supporting other authors so important, but you never know where that next opportunity is lurking (including in open submissions).
Remember, the market can change rapidly, so try not to get disheartened. A few years ago I was told that rom-com wasn’t selling … fast forward to BookTok and queen Emily Henry!
The best DIY writer’s retreats!
Given its huge success, ‘The Year of Creativity’ is being extended into 2023. Congratulations, Year of Creativity! This means more idyllic writing spots and travel are on the horizon. I’m often asked how I find writing-friendly stays, so in my next newsletter I’ll do a round-up of the favourite places I’ve stayed both domestically and overseas and the things I look for (and what I avoid as a female often travelling solo!). Plus, how I make the budget work! My books always contain travel, yes, for tax deduction reasons (LOL) but travel also remains my main source of inspiration!
What’s next?
Like most people, I’m ridiculously excited for the end-of-year break! I said to a friend over the weekend (who is currently completing her PhD, so is in a similar headspace) that my brain feels like a scooped-out rockmelon. The spoon is still scraping the sides, trying to get every last scrap of fruit, when I’m not entirely sure there’s anything left in there! At least I’m a happy little scooped-out rockmelon. 😂
Next week, I’ll be a writer-in-residence at a local art gallery, Art Bau. I’m excited to have a dedicated space to proof pages of 🦆 and make progress on my current manuscript.
I’ll be sharing news about a book club I’ll be running with Art Bau owner, Frankie Morgan, in partnership with the Northern Beaches Council shortly. So if you live in the area keep an eye out for that!
Finally, if you’ve made it this far, you’re certainly deserving of some read recommendations! I’ve thought long and hard about my favourite books of 2022 and have settled on two. The beautiful prose and tenderness of Still Life by Sarah Winman has stayed with me all year, and Five Bush Weddings by Clare Fletcher is delightfully observational, and gave me a proper belly laugh at a time I needed it most. Both books are excellent holiday reads!
Until next year (gah!) I wish you a wonderful and safe holiday break.
Yours in Wanderlove 💕
Karina x
P.S. If you have feedback about Wanderlove, have questions about the publishing process or just want a chat, either contact me here or hit up my DMs.
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I'm late to the party but loved reading all of this, Karina! :) !!! Xx