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 tu
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
Really, congrats. I'm totally stoked for you. (Clearly I should stop now ;)
Congratulations! I sure hope you don't forget about all us bloggers when you're jumping on Oprah's couch.
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
Although I'm with Jen, that Big Fat Lesbian title rocks.
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!
R&L: Thanks! This has been a little shot of No-Doz for my truckin' career.
Fabulous!