Friday, January 15, 2010

Slush works

In August 2007 I got a cool query and a couple of sizzling first pages. I requested a partial, read it and loved it. I requested the full and LOVED it. I offered. He accepted.

I sent it out to a bunch of editors who also loved it.
I sold it.

Two years later (almost to the day that book was delivered to the editor) THE BREACH by Patrick Lee is on the NYT Bestseller extended list at #29, and hanging out on the USA Today list at #124.

Slush works.

Patrick Lee and The Breach are living, breathing, bestselling proof of that.

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34 comments:

  1. Anonymous1/15/10, 3:03 AM

    Love reading this!

    Congratulations to Patrick Lee and you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gary Corby1/15/10, 4:31 AM

    Yay for Patrick!

    Yay for Janet!

    Life is good.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shelby1/15/10, 7:39 AM

    big congrats! ok.. but what is 'slush' and how does it 'work'.. in the context of the book coming out?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Robin Becker1/15/10, 8:19 AM

    that is awesome and inspiring! Yay for slush!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Josin L. McQuein1/15/10, 8:27 AM

    But... but... this goes contrary to all of the rules.

    Unpublished people never get published!

    Agents don't read the slushpile!

    Agents hate books (and writers, and reading)!

    Editors hate books (and writers, and reading)!

    No one buys books by new authors unless they're famous!

    /snarky morning attitude

    Congrats to both of you. Hopefully The Breach will find a nice, comfy spot on the NYT list and stay there for a long time.

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  6. Furious D1/15/10, 8:40 AM

    Congrats for you and Patrick Lee.

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  7. MAGolla1/15/10, 9:11 AM

    How awesome! It definitely gives one hope to keep writing and improving on the craft--that includes queries and sizzling first pages that are supported by a quality manuscript.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Elizabeth Holloway1/15/10, 9:45 AM

    I'm so happy for you both! Now to get my query to rise to the top of the slush pile...

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  9. Alli Sinclair1/15/10, 9:59 AM

    Congrats to both of you. And thanks for sharing an uplifting story - there is hope!

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  10.  Patrick Lee1/15/10, 10:05 AM

    Thank you!!!! I still make a slushy squiiish sound when I walk. Then again this is Michigan, in January...

    Still have my copy of the 2007 Guide to Literary Agents, where the amphibious assault on the slush piles began! Every step since then has been amazing.

    Thanks everyone for the cool comments! This still feels surreal...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous1/15/10, 10:07 AM

    What an encouraging post! Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Shelly 1/15/10, 10:15 AM

    Congrats!

    HOPE.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Unknown1/15/10, 10:20 AM

    It's always encouraging to hear stories like that!

    Congrats!

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  14. Joanne Levy1/15/10, 11:04 AM

    HUGE congrats to you both! I love hearing these stories.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Rebecca Knight1/15/10, 11:36 AM

    Thank you for this, Janet :). Congrats to you and Patrick!!

    What an awesome success story!

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  16. Deb Vlock1/15/10, 12:41 PM

    Such fantastic news! Congrats to you both! :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Margaret Yang1/15/10, 12:56 PM

    I just LOVE a happy ending!

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  18. Kristi1/15/10, 1:07 PM

    Congrats and yay for the slush pile!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sandra Cormier1/15/10, 1:30 PM

    *Smiling*

    ReplyDelete
  20. JS1/15/10, 1:44 PM

    Congratulations, Patrick! Great cover and great blurb. I look forward to reading your book.

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  21. Jenny Bent1/15/10, 2:13 PM

    YAY. CONGRATS Janet. Love you!
    Jenny

    ReplyDelete
  22. Tricia J. O'Brien1/15/10, 2:27 PM

    This is so wonderfully refreshing after reading the Wall Street Journal's "Death of the Slush Pile."
    Huge thanks to Janet and Patrick for an uplifting morning.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Colette Martin1/15/10, 3:23 PM

    Oh this looks like my kind of book!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Lydia Smith1/15/10, 4:30 PM

    I read the first page on Amazon. It is a hot novel. You were right about it.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Dawn Simon1/15/10, 5:43 PM

    Thanks for the inspiration! :)

    Congrats to you and Patrick!

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  26. Anonymous1/15/10, 6:56 PM

    That's awesome! Congratulations to you both.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Maria1/15/10, 7:39 PM

    Congrats, happy news all around!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Jemi Fraser1/15/10, 10:25 PM

    Woohoo! Congrats to you both! LOVE the cover :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Ronda Laveen1/16/10, 1:48 AM

    Doncha just love it! When a thing is right, it's RIGHT! Congrats.

    ReplyDelete
  30. McKoala1/16/10, 5:59 AM

    I am so into the slushpile.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Steve Stubbs1/16/10, 12:11 PM

    Congratulations. From what reviewers are saying about it, it is guaranteed to become a movie and make you and the author rich.

    Which makes me wonder: you are going to keep blogging after you become rich, aren't you?

    ReplyDelete
  32. Keith Popely1/16/10, 5:49 PM

    Janet, how it this considered "slush" is you requested his manuscript? If a book that goes through the query/manuscript request/agent sale process is considered slush, then what is not considered slush?
    Thanks very much.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Judith1/17/10, 11:55 PM

    Blogging Works! I read this & was in Denver's Tattered Cover today, browsing & picked up The Breach. I skipped around, reading a few pages here & there and, based on that and your recommendation, I bought the last copy.

    I do like thrillers but I don't know that this would have jumped out at me if I hadn't seen it mentioned on this blog.

    Congrats to Patrick & Janet.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Crystal Posey1/18/10, 7:34 PM

    *sigh* That cover.

    ReplyDelete

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