That First Sale – Guest Juliana Stone
I first met Juliana Stone in July 2008 at Pearson, in the departure lounge for the non-stop Air Canada flight to San Francisco where the RWA National convention was to be held. As is often the case, there were a lot of writers headed to the conference on the same flight and we got to talking. Juliana caught wind of the conversation and came over to introduce herself – she was then a new RWA member and an unpublished author, very excited about going to her first national conference. The next time I met Juliana was when she came to my full day workshop at TRW in January 2009 – 6 months later, she had an agent and a two-book deal with Avon. (She just got her cover – have a peek!)
Since markets are fluid and the only constant in publishing is change, I thought it would be more helpful for you to hear about Juliana's first sale than mine. Juliana and I talked in July – I'm sure a lot has happened to her and her perspectives since then, and she'll pop by today to answer questions.
My questions are marked DC and her answers JS.
DC – Welcome Juliana! Tell us about making your first sale. What did you do when you got The Call?
JS – The Call. Love it! For me the whole process of my first sale took about a week. On September 4th, a Thursday, I came home from buying myself a laptop and there was a message on my answering machine from my agent, telling me to call her back as she had some news about my book. I did so immediately and she said that one editor loved everything about the book, hated the ending and was open to a possible re-write. She also said that a second editor had called back, loved the book and wanted to talk. She told my agent she’d call me on the following Monday. Which came and went with no call. Tuesday she called and we really hit it off over the phone. I was pumped but cautious. This editor didn’t say to me, “oh yes, I’m buying your book!”
Wednesday came and went and I was afraid to call my agent. Thursday, September 11th I was soaking in the tub when the phone rang. I’d brought it in with me and thank god! My agent had called to put me out of my misery and tell me that Avon had offered me a two book contract! My book was sold and the emotions I felt were pretty much indescribable. I called my husband, mom, friends…everyone! It’s an amazing feeling to realize a dream and to live it!
DC – Tell us about your book. Is it the first romance novel you've written? How did you decide where to submit your book?
JS – His Darkest Hunger is my first book. I’m the author others hate! I’d decided to take a serious stab at writing in the fall of 2007. This book I started in May of 2008. I’d started it as a submission for a Nocturne contest on eHarlequin, and the editor asked for the full. I wrote like the wind, finished in 7 weeks and sent it along. I decided at that point to query agents and sent out approximately 8 queries. Within a week I had offers from two. The agent I signed with, Laura Bradford, was at the top of my list and it was an easy decision to make. Together we lengthened the book from its category state and she pitched it in July, to seven different houses, and we sold to Avon/Harpercollins.
I’m in love with paranormal stories and this book has jaguar shifters, sorcerers, vampires, a heroine who can’t remember her past and a former lover who is intent on revenge.
DC – Do you have an agent? If so, how did you decide which agents to approach? If not, why did you decide to go alone?
JS – I am represented by Laura Bradford of Bradford Literary Agency. I decided early on that if I was going to pursue this goal of being published an agent would certainly help me get there. Especially if I was looking to sell in the Single Title Market and hit the New York publishing houses. I researched my favourite authors to see who their agents were. I checked out Predators and Editors, and Agent query. I then made up my list and sent my queries out.
DC – Was there anything that surprised you about selling a book, or about the publisher's expectations from a new author? Anything that you found really exciting?
JS – I think the one thing that still surprises me, and quite frankly by now it shouldn’t, is how SLOW the pace of publishing is. It gets very frustrating sometimes. You feel like you’re always waiting on something. I learned to always look ahead and keep writing.
For me, because I’m such a newbie every stage has been exciting, however, of note….when I first saw my book up for pre-order on Amazon that was a moment and then the day after I returned from Nationals, my editor sent me a first peek at my cover! That is something I don’t think I’ll ever forget!
DC – Have you started to promote your book yet? If so, how?
JS – I have not really dipped into concrete promotion yet. I’ve created an online persona and there are various blogs I visit and partake it. They help to get my name out there. I’m taking part in a center page advert in the RT magazine next spring, but other than that not too much yet. I’m still mulling over the best way for me to go, and I will be working closely with the publicity and marketing department at Avon.
DC – What's up next for you? Will you be writing more books in this series, or are you writing something different?
JS – This series is a planned 3 story arc for sure, with definite possibilities of a 4th and more. I just turned in the second jaguar book, which will be available next fall and am about to write the option for the third. God willing, I’ll snag another sale and continue the series.
I’m also working on YA that I hope my agent will be shopping this fall, as well as a series of shorts for Samhain Publishing, that are romantic time travel.
DC – If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring romance author, what would it be?
JS – First off, write what you love. Secondly, educate yourself about the business side of publishing. Research the agents and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Lastly, please be aware that when you’re in an online forum, chat or blog, thousands of people can be reading your words. Conduct yourself in a professional manner. Be nice and never talk trash about other authors, it’s just not classy!
DC – Thanks Juliana for sharing your first sale story. I'm sure people will have lots of questions for you.
Juliana's website is HERE. Now, who has a question for Juliana, about that first sale or something else?
22 thoughts on “That First Sale – Guest Juliana Stone”
Great interview Deborah!
Hi Juliana! You have such a remarkable first sale story — and your cover is amazing! You were definately blessed by the cover gods.
I noticed the guy on the cover wears a tattoo. What is it? Does it mean anything in the story?
Also –
How did you come up with the idea for the story? Flash of inspiration or did you have to work at it?
Great interview Deborah!
Hi Juliana! You have such a remarkable first sale story — and your cover is amazing! You were definately blessed by the cover gods.
I noticed the guy on the cover wears a tattoo. What is it? Does it mean anything in the story?
Also –
How did you come up with the idea for the story? Flash of inspiration or did you have to work at it?
Hey Suzanne! I researched Aztec tattoos and sent a bunch in to the art department. The one on the model was chosen from that. In the book, these markings distinguish the “warrior” shifters from the regular class!
And this particular story came to me as an opening scene. One where my hero had his sights sent on an ex lover in order to “take her out” She’d betrayed him and his unit and he wants revenge. That one scene led to the rest and I just went with it and wrote!
Thanks for stopping by!
Hey Suzanne! I researched Aztec tattoos and sent a bunch in to the art department. The one on the model was chosen from that. In the book, these markings distinguish the “warrior” shifters from the regular class!
And this particular story came to me as an opening scene. One where my hero had his sights sent on an ex lover in order to “take her out” She’d betrayed him and his unit and he wants revenge. That one scene led to the rest and I just went with it and wrote!
Thanks for stopping by!
Jaguar Jules! Slow? SLOW? Your writing journey–idea-to-agent-to-sale–is the Molson Indie for authors. =)
Great interview and good, sound advice.
Jaguar Jules! Slow? SLOW? Your writing journey–idea-to-agent-to-sale–is the Molson Indie for authors. =)
Great interview and good, sound advice.
Haha, I know it was fast and I’m so blessed, but man, it’s all the waiting afterwards that sucks. I guess bottom line, no matter where you are in your writing journey, there will always be wait times!
Haha, I know it was fast and I’m so blessed, but man, it’s all the waiting afterwards that sucks. I guess bottom line, no matter where you are in your writing journey, there will always be wait times!
You are such an inspiration. I get this big goofy grin whenever I read about your journey. Enthusiasm rocks!
I’m so in love with your cover I could frame it and hang it on my wall. (Please tell me you’ve got a poster-sized version in your office:>) Avon always has great covers, but yours is definitely a stand out. Can’t wait to read it!
You are such an inspiration. I get this big goofy grin whenever I read about your journey. Enthusiasm rocks!
I’m so in love with your cover I could frame it and hang it on my wall. (Please tell me you’ve got a poster-sized version in your office:>) Avon always has great covers, but yours is definitely a stand out. Can’t wait to read it!
I agree with Barbara…your cover is so gorgeous, Jules! 🙂
I loved the interview! I so can’t wait to get my hands on these books! April isn’t coming fast enough. Though your Feb. Samhain release will nicely tide me over… 😉
I agree with Barbara…your cover is so gorgeous, Jules! 🙂
I loved the interview! I so can’t wait to get my hands on these books! April isn’t coming fast enough. Though your Feb. Samhain release will nicely tide me over… 😉
Hi Juliana! Your first sale story incredible! As slow as the process seems it all happened to you so fast. I also get a really big smile whenever I hear your story… And not just because you’re a great writer, but because you’re a great all around human being. Your advice to writers is spot on too. And your cover? … Delicious!!
Hi Juliana! Your first sale story incredible! As slow as the process seems it all happened to you so fast. I also get a really big smile whenever I hear your story… And not just because you’re a great writer, but because you’re a great all around human being. Your advice to writers is spot on too. And your cover? … Delicious!!
All of this is well deserved. It has been a pleasure and inspiration to watch. I can’t wait to add a Juliana Stone to my favs shelf along with Gena Showalter, Christine Feehan and Susan Sizemore.
Way to go, Jules!
All of this is well deserved. It has been a pleasure and inspiration to watch. I can’t wait to add a Juliana Stone to my favs shelf along with Gena Showalter, Christine Feehan and Susan Sizemore.
Way to go, Jules!
Wow! What a wonderful first sale story, congratulations. And, I’ll reiterate what everyone else has said…FAB cover! Thanks for the advice – great interview!
Wow! What a wonderful first sale story, congratulations. And, I’ll reiterate what everyone else has said…FAB cover! Thanks for the advice – great interview!
@Barbara, thanks for your kind words….I love my cover…and let’s face it, they’re as important a marketing tool as any….so again, very blessed!
@Barbara, thanks for your kind words….I love my cover…and let’s face it, they’re as important a marketing tool as any….so again, very blessed!
@ Cari! Sweet, yes my Samhain release Black Legacy comes out Feb 3rd, so quite excited about that. Hopefully I get a cover for that book, really soon! Thanks for stopping by!
@ Cari! Sweet, yes my Samhain release Black Legacy comes out Feb 3rd, so quite excited about that. Hopefully I get a cover for that book, really soon! Thanks for stopping by!