I had this vision of how it would happen.
It would start with a phone call – or maybe an email – at a time when I least expected it. I would take in the news with a mixture of disbelief and detachment, slowly absorbing what it might mean. I would immediately call my husband, then my parents. Both times, I would shriek as I shared the news, maybe shed a few tears.
Things would move quickly after that. The news would spread. There would be more phone calls, questions, and paper work. But eventually the dust would settle, and I would close my eyes and wonder is this really happening?
Of course, our visions rarely match reality. As it turns out, there was no shrieking. There were no tears, no rapid succession of phone calls. Instead, the news stayed hidden and silent, the excitement was kept subdued, out of fear of it all slipping away.
But then last week – after many email exchanges and conference calls, after lots of questions and lots of answers, after weeks of a quietly building anticipation tempered by an impatient fear – I signed a publishing contract for a book that has been years in the making.
And then, with the blue ink barely dried, I went back downstairs to break up a fight over Legos, dole out snacks, and figure out what to make for dinner.
There may not have been exuberant shrieking or happy tears or a rapid succession of excited phone calls (due entirely to my irrationally pessimistic fear of jinxing things), but let me tell you, the realization that this book has found a publishing home is every bit as satisfying as I had hoped.
And I still find myself wondering: Could this really be happening?
13 Comments
Woo hoo! Congratulations! That is such exciting news, I can’t wait to buy it 🙂
Thanks!!!
Eeeeekkkk!!!! I’m SO excited for you! (there’s your shrieking…) 🙂
Ha, ha! Thanks, Lori. I’ve kept this news to myself for so long, and the process was so long in the making, that by the time everything was finalized some of the shriek-factor had worn off. Though now that the news is out, it definitely seems more shriek-worthy than ever. Maybe it’s not too late for me to do a little shrieking after all 🙂
Congratulations! That’s huge!! I’d be over the moon if it were me, and I am so happy for you. 🙂
I’ve been so afraid that it wouldn’t work out, that I haven’t really let myself absorb the news or get excited. Though it is definitely starting to sink in now.
CONGRATS!!!
Congratulations, Christie! What wonderful news — a dream come true! What’s the book about?
Thanks, Jen. It is a collection of essays about grace, connection, and the human spirit.
That is such awesome news!! Congratulations!!!
Congrats! What a big day and accomplishment for you!
This came as no surprise to me….it was just a matter of WHEN it would happen.
For your whole entire life whenever you made up your mind about something
you worked hard at whatever it was you wished to make happen……and did not
let up until your goal was reached!!!!! You are an inspiration to many. Wish I had
some of that determination that you have….you must have gotten a bit of that from
dad! CONGRATS…CONGRATS….CONGRATS!!!! Can I be the first to purchase it….
and will you sign it too??????????????????????????????????????????????????????
OMG such wonderful news!! I am so proud of you! Anyone who reads this blog can attest to your writing skill, it was just a question of persistence. And that you have!