Shortly after midnight on August 1st someone handed me a phone. And I saw my book for sale for the very first time. Sitting in the lobby of the Dolphin hotel in Walt Disney World, three hours after the same story had won RWA’s Golden Heart.
Amazing, astounding, wonderful, remarkable, fantastic, brilliant... I feel like Jane in Hill Country Holdup reciting every synonym for GREAT she can remember. It was unbelievable. Holding that phone in the palm of my hand and knowing that people all over the world could download my book this month from eHarlequin.com. I haven’t held the book in my hand yet. And I haven’t opened it up to fan through the pages. It won’t be on book shelves until September 14th.
I got a message from Mary Beth yesterday. She told me she’d bought the book and couldn’t want to read it. Oh My Gosh! Ladies and Gentlemen, someone outside my family and critique partners has my book. And a librarian at conference told me they’d processed the book the week before.
I’m not trying to brag. Totally not my intention.
But this is real. My book has been printed and shipped to libraries and stores. It’s like being the last one at an amusement park and no one else is in line. The attendants let you just keep riding and riding and riding. I don’t want to get off.
I’m submitting my second book to my editor tomorrow. A little more elbow grease and .38 Caliber Cover-Up is ready to go. Now the wild round of publicity begins, then book signings, more edits, writing the next proposal and selling it. Writing the book, submitting, over and over again....
I have to admit that I’ve worked hard earning the right to be on this ride. I’m glad I put in the work and stood in line. Glad I can finally enjoy the thrills of 4 Star reviews and book awards.
More than anything else...I’m glad to be doing something I absolutely love...writing.
THIS WEEK’S LESSON LEARNED: Set your goals and believe you can obtain them. These are more than words. BELIEVE.
Til next time,
Angi Morgan
AngiMorgan.com
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55 comments:
Congratulations on a FAB year. And we thought 2009 was your year. Here's to many years of sucess and professional growth and fulfillment. I'm so proud of you and thrilled for you!
THANK YOU my new friend!
Hugs to your everyday life.
~~Angi
Enjoy, Angi!
Angi,
Mega congratulations. I think I can say I know exactly how you feel. Today someone sent me the link to Amazon where my first book is now officially available as a pre-order. (It doesn't come out until March). Until this moment, it all seemed a little bit surreal.
I'm going to fire up my Kindle and go get me a copy of your book. :)
Congratulations, Angi! It's a time to soak it all up. :-)
Hope... thanks for the purchase. I'm keeping my fingers crossed EVERY person loves it (okay likes it). I look forward to hearing about your first experiences...this is awesome.
~~Angi
Jeanmarie,
Thanks so much !
I just can't stop using the word awesome...cause this is more than an awesome experience.
~~Angi
Congratulations, Angi!! Enjoy every moment of the ride. You deserve it! I saw the book on eHQ yesterday. Must decide if I want an ecopy or print.
Congratulations! My first novel went on sale this month, too, and I know exactly what you mean. But it's just the beginning--now the real work begins! Best wishes.
Lyndi Alexander
Lots of hard work went into this accomplishment. Enjoy every moment. You deserve it.
oh my gosh! I'm sooo glad you shared this, Angi! Well, okay, I'm also totally happy and thrilled for you and all you've accomplished. But right this very minute I'm excited to realize I wasn't dreaming and I can go download HILL COUNTRY HOLDUP. Heading for eHarlequin RIGHT NOW!!!!
Great post, Angi!!! I freaked when my book became available on Amazon. No pic or anything, just a pre-order link. It's an amazing feeling!!!
Congrats, Angi! What a moment that must have been!
How wonderful, Angi! Congrats!!!
Soooo exciting, Angi! And what great timing on receiving the Golden Heart and seeing that book up for sale the next day! Woot!!! Go, Unsinkables!!
Congratulations, Angi! I LOVE hearing about your ride!
Alexa Bourne
Definitely take the time to enjoy it!!! So happy for you :) I can't wait to by my copy and get it signed at your first signing!!
Huge congrats, Angie!!!
Angi, this is awesome, and I'm very happy for you! Congratulations on your baby hitting the shelves and the amazing year you've had. May your next year be even better.
Thank you Lori, Alexa, Regina, and Jena !!
The smile on my face says it all. It's the definition of happiness. (at least for writers)
~~Angi
>>>Margery, Jennifer, and Kim !!!<<<
WOO HOO at least four sales ! (including me LOL)
I'm honored, and humbled. Truly. I appreciate it.
~~Angi
CONGRATULATIONS Lyndi and Darynda on your sales. Lots of hard word and then it really begins, right?
>>Big grin<<
~~Angi
MORE THANKS to Sylvia and Maureen !
And Elisa and Shea!
I appreciate the encouragement and new friends.
This is AWESOME !
~~Angi
I'm writing in twenty minute sprints, and coming here between. Finishing, Polishing, and then submitting !!!
~~Angi
Wonderful feeling, isn't it? I got so excited when I saw mine. I, ironically, was sitting in my room at the Animal Kingdom Lodge at WDW when I saw the email with the cover. I was in my jammies, and totally alone - the fam was scattered. I jumped up, ran down the hall to my parents' room and banged on their door, scaring them to death. Then I realized I'd locked myself out of the room. LOL.
Congrats, Angi! It is so surreal and fabulous. Congrats again on your GH win and having a second book right around the corner :)
Liz Talley
LIZ !!!
I totally believe that story--especially about locking yourself out of your room.
We did it girlfriend !
~~Angi
We are all so thrilled for you, Angi. Your speech and smile at National said it all - hard work and lots of support can take you to heights you never expected to reach. Congrats on both your sales. Proud of you!
Congratulations, Angi. It's wonderful to see how your hard work paid off. I'll be looking in the stores for my own copy.
What an exciting time, Angi! I hope you are enjoying it ALL!
Marty
Huge congratulations, Angi! Well deserved and hope you're enjoying every minute! :)
Paisley --
As I write the final words on this second sale, I know i couldn't have written this book without my current critique partners.
Hill Country Holdup is the result of an entire village. So many people formed the way I write, helped me perfect, gave encouragement... I truly meant there were too many people to name individually.
Everyone in my life helped in one way or another. And it feels wonderful that everyone is excited about the book as me.
~~Angi
Clarissa, Marty and Gillian ~~
Thanks for lending me even more support today.
Gotta keep writing...
~~Angi
Fabulous news, Angi! I'll pick up your book at the store. I'm looking forward to reading it! And congrats again on your second sale.
Thanks much, Edie !
I can't wait to sign it for you !
~Angi
This just makes me smile. I'm so happy for you.
Angi-
I'm just so happy for you. This has to be such a thrill. I can't wait to hold it in MY hands either--and wave it around yelling, "I know her, I know her!" And, then, I'm hoping sometime to follow in your footsteps. I'll be following your career with great excitement. Congratulations!
Congratulations Angi! Best of luck to you. :)
Maeve and MJ -- glad it made you smile.
Liz, darlin', I have a feeling that your first sale is just around the corner. Oh you who has multiple representation hanging on her every written word ! Best of luck with that.
~~Angi
Angi - isn't it absolutely the most fantastic feeling?!
I can't wait to hear your reaction when you actually hold the book in your hands.
Congrats.
Barbara
www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Angi, how exciting! I like the word BELIEVE! :)
Hey Diana--
Over the past several months people keep contacting me and saying that I've given them hope. I wrote for ten years and then sold...so anything can happen. But the key is to BELIEVE in yourself, find out what YOU want, then make a plan to obtain it. You also have to let go of what's not in your control. But believing that you can obtain that goal is key. BELIEVE !!
~~Angi
Barbara--
I don't know what state you're in, but everyone in Texas just experienced a slight tremor cause I was jumping up and down (with one crutch even) and they might have heard me shout in the five state area.
Oh yeah !! My books arrived this afternoon. I have 48 beautiful, clean, never-thumbed through HILL COUNTRY HOLDUPS. And if you go to my Facebook page, you can see pictures of me opening the box and holding one for the first time.
We even had dinner tonight at a restaurant and kept them on the table. :-)
I ACTUALLY WROTE AND SOLD A BOOK. It's on sale...now!
~~Angi
Facebook: Angi Morgan (Angi Platt)
Congrats Angi!!! That is so exciting! And I loved your acceptance speech at the RITA/GH awards :)
YAY!!!!
I'm so excited for you, Angi!
And thanks for the last word of the post...
BELIEVE.
Congratulations, Angi. May you have many more exciting moments.
Congratulations, Angi! I'm thrilled for you!
Angi, I'm late to the party, but I'm going to the ebook store and downloading it TODAY! Ugh! I'm so freaking excited for you, and for me ('cause I get to read it!)!
!!!!More exclamation points here!!!!!
Congratulations on all of your successes this year! I'm so happy for you and can't wait to read your book. :)
Congratulations Angi! Enjoy the ride, every minute! And congrats on the win and 2nd sale! I'll look for it in stores! Big hugs!
Congratulations to you, and hold onto that feeling. I remember when I found out my book, PULL, was available for pre-order from Amazon. It left me floating, I just kept visiting the page over and over. You've left me waiting for the magical day when I wander into Barnes and Noble and find it staring back at me.
~~ Eliza, Laura, Sandy, Keli, Roni & Marian ~~
A really appreciate the encouragement, congrats, and just the fact that you stopped to read my entry.
~Angi
Jamie Michele !!
You were sooo beautiful and gracious handing me my Golden Heart. You know I didn't hear you say my name? I heard "SEE..." and it was all a blur from that point forward. Thanks for taking care of me.
And a special thanks for buying the book!
~~Angi
Barbara !!
Seeing the books on the shelf is my next big adventure! I can't wait.
~~Angi
I am so genuinely happy, happy for you. You truly do deserve it. Can't wait til I can get my own copy.
CLOVER !! That would be on Saturday, 9-18 at the Barnes & Noble in Hurst ! That's my first book signing. THANKS !
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