Do you all remember Blog Reader Kristin who Saved the Day?
She was instrumental in keeping the blog alive back in 2019. (I've failed miserably on keeping it up, but that's probably because I haven't been to Malice in three years...right?)
But I digress.
I heard from Kristin recently (ok, October) with this wonderful news:
Hope you are doing well. I'm just wading through your QueryShark cove to share some giddy news. I signed a publishing contract with Lake Union Publishing for my debut novel.
It would've taken me eons longer to arrive at this writerly-milestone had you not helped me with my query -> that got me my agent -> who sold my second (technically, third) novel. And it all started with me fangirling your blog. Thank you. T.H.A.N.K. Y.O.U.
Well!!
That's some very awesome news, so I immediately swam over to
Amazon and pre-ordered her book The Hint of Light.
Way to go, Kristin! All that hard work has paid off.
ReplyDeleteAnd, HELL YES, Janet's blog has been incredibly helpful to so many people (more than anyone probably knows)
Congrats, Kristin! I'd love to read your story about getting this book published. Did you go through Query Shark? How did you get your first book published?
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, here's your book on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Hint-Light-Novel-Kristin-Kisska/dp/1662512511/ref=sr_1_7?crid=1QMUBYYXT24L4&keywords=The+Hint+of+Light&qid=1680522885&s=books&sprefix=the+hint+of+light%2Cstripbooks%2C103&sr=1-7
I faithfully check your blog daily as part of my morning coffee routine. We met at a writer’s conference in NYC – maybe in 2017? You asked me to query you on my historical fiction about Belgium’s King Leopold II – and though you passed, your advice about my query and your comments on my first pages were constructive. I kept at it and kept learning. That debut novel, The Unintended Heiress, was finally published in February. My second novel, Bewept, is scheduled for release in July. Thank you for the motivation and the investment of your time in helping writers.
ReplyDeleteThe proof is always in the pudding!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure that is the correct sentiment?
Congrats Kristin! Take the time to celebrate and appreciate the hard work you put into it. It's always awesome to see fellow readers here succeed.
ReplyDeleteAnd Janet, take this as confirmation that your efforts here are appreciated and do pay off, even for those who aren't vocal. Your posts, and the community they have spawned help feed those of us still navigating the shallow waters out here. So even in sparse, we hope you do continue.
In that light, it would be cool to have some kind of forum for this crowd to actively communicate even outside the post threads - advise, critique swap, exchange betas, casually converse, etc, especially during lean periods. Like a reef subreddit or something. Just a thought.
And back to Kristin - echoing Kitty. Always like hearing how you got across the goal line!
Another quiet reider here, but I check the blog nearly every day in the hopes of a new post!
ReplyDeleteHuge congrats to Kristen, and enormous thanks to her for her part in keeping the blog going.
That is awesome Kristen. And I love this blog still. And I have been here for almost a freaking decade. A decade. Where did the time go? I hope everyone is doing well, hanging in there, fighting the good fight.
ReplyDeleteBIG CONGRATS! You did it, Kristin!
ReplyDeleteBig congratulations, Kristin, and Colleen, too! What great news to start the week.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Kristin! I'm so very grateful, you said NO! to Janet stopping this blog.
ReplyDeleteTo echo EM, where does the time go? I've been coming here for a decade too. Still writing, still learning. It's a long gig for me. I love coming here for Janet's advice and remarks, and for the community of Reiders.
Congratulations to Kristin! The journey to publication can be a long one, but it's always nice to celebrate a new wonderful book on the shelves!
ReplyDeleteHi Janet & fellow reef dwellers,
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the bookish support. I'm definitely feeling the love today!
I second Steve's suggestion. These past ten years or so, I've enjoyed following the comments connected to each of Janet's blog posts and flash fiction contests. She created an online *salon* of writerly dialog and banter. A safe space--well, about as safe as a writer can feel with a beneficent shark circling.
Happy wording, y'all!
Kristin
Huge congratulations Kristin! Fabulous news!
ReplyDeleteI love a success story! Yay Kristin!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Kristin! So happy when a Reider gets published and grateful you saved this blog.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Kristin! That is awesome. I like to see a fellow Reefer out there.
ReplyDeleteI'm very glad the Reef is still alive, too!
Wonderful news! Congratulations, Kristin! It sounds like a wonderful book. I've preordered as well.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Kristin and Colleen!
ReplyDeleteThere are a few of us in a Facebook group, but I understand not everyone uses Facebook. Janet has said this isn't something she's able to do - I know from experience that running a forum is a lot of work.
I'd probably join a forum or some such if someone set it up, but remember, we can't reference Janet in its name - that could be professionally awkward for her.
If anyone is interested, the Facebook group is called The Writers' Room.
As I'm reading these comments, the late/great Kari Lynn Dell comes to mind. She described her venture into publishing: Somehow this clueless newbie wandered into what is known as one of the most cutthroat industries in the world and managed, time and again, to stumble over the best people it has to offer.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteCongrats Kristin!
Always a delight to see a fellow Reider make it through the gauntlet.
Congratulations, Kristin and Colleen.
ReplyDeleteKregger, I think what you are saying is I need to eat more pudding to get published? Okay, I can do that ;)
Lovely to see everyone here *waving*.
Kregger Pudding? So it's not drinking and smoking?
ReplyDeleteBig congrats to Kristin and Colleen!
ReplyDeleteWow, miss a day (ok, a week if you're scoring at home) and you miss some REALLY BIG NEWS.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Kristin on the fantastic news. So cool. And Colleen too.
What a great day in the neighborhood. Let's fly the flags at double staff.
Just saw that Book Depository are closing their doors later this month :( I guess Amazon are tightening their belts as well.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Kristin! Love this supportive community!
ReplyDeleteWow am I late to the party! Congratulations, Kristin! And congratulations to Colleen as well! How very wonderful!
ReplyDeleteSad to hear about Book Depository though. Yikes. They stopped delivering to the place I live a while ago, but I used to buy a lot from them. (Maybe that's why they're shutting down??) Amazon tightening their belts is good news for exactly nobody.