Matt Converse's Blog
February 13, 2015
My debut as an author
After a year and a half of queries with my novel, novella, and several short stories, my life changed on January 9, 2015.
You know the routine, you finally see the awaited email and you can tell even before clicking on it, it's a rejection because you can see the first few words. "Thanks so much, unfortunately..."
Instead, what I read made my heart stop. "We absolutely LOVED Behind the.."
OMG! I hurriedly clicked on it and the next line was offering me a contract with Comet Press, which was attached! I was, in a word, hysterical. Ha. I called my Mom sobbing and she thought something was wrong until I just started reading the email to her. Then I called my friends who'd probably given up thinking I'd be published. I was over the moon.
I read over the contract, asked a few questions from a friend about it, signed it and now I'm an author. It would be an Ebook only so I figured things would move fast but it appeared my novella was being fast tracked, the next thing I hear the publication date is March 2nd! It was all happening so fast. A few days later, I got back the edited version and a few days after that, Cheryl sent me the cover photo. It looked so good, and it was even my idea; I was surprised they wanted my input. But they did a great job, it's sexy and provocative but not cheesy.
The next thing I know it's available for presale. And now, just six days in, it is the highest ranked book of any kind on Amazon for Comet Press or SeX Files! I'm not sure why but between the blub and the cover art, something's going on. Maybe it's the 50 Shades influence on the publishing industry. Well written or not, it's had a big impact and erotica is a hot market.
In short, it's been a whirlwind and the best roller coaster ride of my life, and I don't want to get off.
You know the routine, you finally see the awaited email and you can tell even before clicking on it, it's a rejection because you can see the first few words. "Thanks so much, unfortunately..."
Instead, what I read made my heart stop. "We absolutely LOVED Behind the.."
OMG! I hurriedly clicked on it and the next line was offering me a contract with Comet Press, which was attached! I was, in a word, hysterical. Ha. I called my Mom sobbing and she thought something was wrong until I just started reading the email to her. Then I called my friends who'd probably given up thinking I'd be published. I was over the moon.
I read over the contract, asked a few questions from a friend about it, signed it and now I'm an author. It would be an Ebook only so I figured things would move fast but it appeared my novella was being fast tracked, the next thing I hear the publication date is March 2nd! It was all happening so fast. A few days later, I got back the edited version and a few days after that, Cheryl sent me the cover photo. It looked so good, and it was even my idea; I was surprised they wanted my input. But they did a great job, it's sexy and provocative but not cheesy.
The next thing I know it's available for presale. And now, just six days in, it is the highest ranked book of any kind on Amazon for Comet Press or SeX Files! I'm not sure why but between the blub and the cover art, something's going on. Maybe it's the 50 Shades influence on the publishing industry. Well written or not, it's had a big impact and erotica is a hot market.
In short, it's been a whirlwind and the best roller coaster ride of my life, and I don't want to get off.
