the prom

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know that I like to spend approximately one out of every 10 posts bemoaning the difficulty of finding a publisher for my Big Fat Lesbian Novel. And if you’re AK, you’ve actually seen me shed tears about it. You’ve counseled me through a long drive on the 5 as I blubber, “But how do I know if I’m a real writer?”

So imagine my surprise when—after two solid years of rejection letters (most of them form letters too, with the exception of one encouraging note from an editor whose press promptly went under, and one “not for me, but keep on truckin’” email from a kindly agent)—two presses said yes in one week.

“It’s like being asked to the prom by two people,” Amy said wisely. I will add that it was like being asked to the prom when you have frizzy hair and are fatter than all the other cheerleaders and actually quit Girls’ League because they planned the Christmas dance and you just knew you wouldn’t have a date, and you turned out to be right.

And, like being faced with two potential prom dates, you find yourself in the odd position of being thrilled and agony-ridden at the same time. Further complicating matters is the fact that the person who asked you first—with elegance and affection—is not actually the person you like the most.

So after much hand-wringing and friend-polling, you go with your true love, the one your gut tells you is right for you, and you hope that Date #1 meets a nice girl who loves him deeply and doesn’t stay mad at you for too long.

***

Okay, I’m going to cut this little fairytale short in case Jen Joseph at Manic D Press—the press I am so proud and thrilled to share with Michelle Tea, Francesca Lia Block, Beth Lisick and a bunch of other awesome writers—starts to think I have some weird crush on her. She’s totally straight, for the record. But she publishes people’s Big Fat Lesbian Novels and she’s gonna be a fun editor to work with.

Calla Boulevard, my friends. Look for it in 2009. (You won’t have to look that hard—I’m going to be talking about it a lot.) Thank you to all of you for your support (and if you just skimmed my whinier posts, I’ll never know).

Comments

Claire said…
Dude, awesome! (It's possible I come off more surferish on the web than I am in real life. Ah well, seemed appropriate given the prom theme.)

Really, congrats. I'm totally stoked for you. (Clearly I should stop now ;)
Anonymous said…
Yo! So deserving. So popular. And sounds like an awesome fit. They do some nice covers over there at Manic D, I've heard.
Anonymous said…
Wow - that is so awesome! I kind of wish it were called Big Fat Lesbian Novel, but Calla Boulevard is nice, too.

Congratulations! I sure hope you don't forget about all us bloggers when you're jumping on Oprah's couch.
Congrats Cousin Cheryl! I knew you could write another one. Your mom would be smiling! Your patience and rejection paid it off :-) "Third" year is a lucky charm.

By the time you get a book, how about wearing a crown, cape and walk on a red carpet ? I do look forward to getting your next book.


Again congrats!
Love you,
Cousin Laura
Kat said…
Bravo, Cheryl! I can't wait to read it again! I hope you reflect and report on the editorial process; I think we're all curious about it.
Tracy Lynn said…
Dude, that is fantastic and it couldn't have happened to a better writer.

Although I'm with Jen, that Big Fat Lesbian title rocks.
P.S. Don't forget to hire the body guard in case the Paparazzi harass you :-)
erin said…
Yay! Congratulations Cheryl! I can't wait to read it. :)
Cheryl said…
Claire: There were lots of surfers at my high school's prom. Or so I heard, since I wasn't actually there.

Meehan: Yes, their covers are brightly colored and sometimes feature slugs, aliens or many-legged monsters.

Jenny: When I go on Oprah, I plan to devote all my time to talking about the evils of antidepressants. I've done the research.

Laura: Thanks--I think my mom would be happy too, which will hopefully make up for the times she's frowning down on me as I eat junk food and act like a brat to my dad.

Kathy: This time you won't even have to hole-punch it and put it in a binder!

Tracy: I would have called it that, but I didn't want Nia Whatsherface to sue me.

Erin: I'm hoping to do a reading or two in the Bay Area, since Manic D is based in SF, so hopefully you and Erin will be able to help me celebrate in person!
Unknown said…
i think i text congratulated you but for good measure i'll tell you again here: congratulations! and, for the record, picking the true love even when you feel a little guilty is definitely the right thing to do. i'm really happy for you and proud of you, cheryl.
RT said…
Keep on truckin', indeed. Nicely done!
Cheryl said…
V: So many media, so many ways to say congratulations. So, the same to you--on colleges and the commercial!

R&L: Thanks! This has been a little shot of No-Doz for my truckin' career.
Don Cummings said…
YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

Fabulous!

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