The call came as I was waist-deep in books. Literally.
“Are you okay to talk?” my agent, Lauren, asked.
I surveyed the pile of books, taking note of my lack of exit route. “Yes, of course!” After all, I’d read the blog posts and the stories, watched all of the videos about what it means when your agent rings you when your book is out on submission to publishers. My heart began to race.
Then I heard the words offer and pre-empt and, three book deal and, even now, I haven’t fully recovered.
I remained fully professional on the phone but after that, I burst into tears and spent the next week bawling my eyes out at the most mundane things.
Because it was real. I had a book deal. The one dream I’d had since I was small, the one dream I’d had since I finished my book last summer and then got an agent, had come true.
It was ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
I HAVE A BOOK DEAL!!!
In June 2019, Hodder Children’s Books will be publishing my debut novel, The Paper & Hearts Society. It’s the book of my heart, about a book club, a literary road trip, the highs and lows of friendship, and there’s even a bit of romance too.
And it’s going to be a series! There will be a second book out in 2020, and a third in 2021, and I’m over the moon that I get to stick with my characters (who are all my best friends) for the next few years. I hope you’ll love them just as much as I do!
Hodder are part of the much larger Hachette Children’s Group, who publish so many of my favourite authors, like Cat Clarke and Chris Russell, Juno Dawson and Leigh Bardugo… Need I go on?!
The past few months have been a blur of signing contracts, coming up with a new title and preparing for the reveal, amongst my exams and trying to act as if everything is normal. It’s been very hard keeping this a secret!
I’m so excited to begin working on edits and then I’ve got the mammoth task of writing two more books. I will, of course, be documenting the entire process on my blog and my YouTube channel, and can’t wait to share more details as we get closer to publication next year.
Thank you so much, dear blog readers, for supporting me over the years. I’m so excited to start this next chapter of Queen of Contemporary with my new author hat on, and I of course can’t wait for you all to read The Paper & Hearts Society next year.
12 Comments
Lucy Powrie’s Paper & Hearts Society finds its people at Hachette | Bell Lomax Moreton Agency Limited
17 July, 2018 at 5:40 pm[…] Read all about it in Lucy’s own words. […]
Anastasia
17 July, 2018 at 6:52 pmCongratulations! I can’t wait to read The Paper & Hearts Society!
Kizzi
17 July, 2018 at 10:07 pmWow this is so amazing! I watched your writing videos a few months ago and it’s amazing to see that your work paid off! I’m currently writing my first draft of my first book so this has given me hope!
Can’t wait to read your book!
http://www.kizzimay.co.uk
Kizzi recently posted…Circe by Madeline Miller | Book Review
Charlotte
18 July, 2018 at 7:44 pmThis is AMAZING! And all while in the middle of exams? You’re incredible. (And I’m not bitter at all that you’re achieving so much and you’re 5 years younger than me… 😉)
Charlotte recently posted…Books I’m Taking to YALC [2018]
Tasya @ The Literary Huntress
21 July, 2018 at 7:31 amTwitter: lithuntress
Congratulations! It sounds like a lovely book, I can’t wait to read it! ❤
Tasya @ The Literary Huntress recently posted…We Need To Talk About: Severus Snape
Rebecca
25 July, 2018 at 11:08 pmWell done Lucy. It’s so wonderful to hear about your book deal. The Paper and Hearts Society sounds great, we seriously need more friendship books in YA and I look forward to reading it next year.
Aideen
3 August, 2018 at 11:08 amI’m so happy for you! I watch all your videos. I’m even reading a Thomas Hardy book!
I can’t wait to read your book. I just know it will be fantastic.
Thank you for inspiring me to write as well! I’m having more fun than I could ever have imagined!
Fiona
7 August, 2018 at 9:56 pmTwitter: fionajanetweet
That’s amazing! It sounds so cute, a book about a book club would be right up my street! I’m wishing you the best of luck on your publishing journey!
Fiona recently posted…A Review of Puddin’
skool store
10 August, 2018 at 9:24 amCongratulations
deepak gupta
10 August, 2018 at 10:45 amwow! i am exciting.
https://skoolstore.com/
deepak gupta
10 August, 2018 at 10:46 amwow! i am exciting.https://skoolstore.com/
Noah Avery
27 February, 2019 at 11:44 pmThank you for this post and your passion for books. If you have time, you might like my website–famous people and their three favorite books. https://www.3readsocean.com