[Discussion] I GOT A SIX-FIGURE BOOK DEAL (or 1.5 years & 3 books on sub)
Hi PubTips. I'm back. You might remember me from my query (2 years ago now!) for WHEN THE SEA BURNS RED, which was the book that got me agented (this agented success story was deleted when the book went on sub, but you can see the first version of my query here). You might also know me from this query for a literary horror book that is still in my drafts.
I came back to share my story here with this community because posts like this one accompanied me through many long nights of spiraling while on sub. Please ask me anything that might be helpful in the comments. I will try to respond to everything I can.
TLDR: I didn't get agented until Book 2, and didn't get a book deal until Book 6 / WHITEFISH (which got interest on sub after 2 weeks and sold at auction in both the US and UK in a six figure deal).
THE LONG VERSION
After getting 46 full requests and 6 offers of rep, WHEN THE SEA BURNS RED (Book 2, fantasy romance) ended up dying on sub after three months—we did get a Canadian offer and a contingent UK offer, but ultimately I turned down this interest given my desire to debut in the US.
We then went out with a second book (Book 3, horror fantasy), which also died a quick death.
A couple things to note that made this timeline possible:
- My agent subs wide. We do one round, and she gets relatively quick responses
- I was lucky to be in grad school the last two years so I had a lot of free time to write
- I kept drafting while on sub. I knew that even though it sucked (and it really sucked) the only thing I could do for my chances was to keep writing, so that once a project died, I would have something else ready to go
Because of this, we were in a unique situation where when Book 3 died, we had three books to choose from for next sub. Two fantasy, one horror.
WHITEFISH (the book that ended up getting me my offer) was the 6th book I'd written in the last 2.5 years, the 4th book I'd written after getting agented, and my 3rd book on sub. I had already finished writing it by the time Book 3 died on sub. In fact, several editors who passed on the horror fantasy mentioned wanting to see this one specifically since we included it as a potential pitch for a two-book deal (which admittedly was devasting and a huge blow to my pride at the time).
Because the premise was catchy—a Michelin-starred chef indebted to a wealthy New York family spirals into madness as he grows increasingly obsessed with the merman he is supposed to serve them—and "eat-the-rich" literary horror was having a moment, we decided to skip over Book 4 and Book 5 in favor of subbing the more "commercial" Book 6.
My agent sent WHITEFISH out to both US and UK editors (roughly 40 editors in each territory, or 80 total) on March 31, 2026. We received our first call request two weeks after, on April 14, 2026. Four calls with US imprints later, we had three offers and went into auction. A separate four-way auction in the UK followed in short order.
Now, a month or so later, we're here.
Put bluntly, I couldn't believe it when it happened. I still can't believe it now.
Since we closed on both sides of the Atlantic, I have had the privilege of announcing (much sooner than most get to), getting my edit letter, and receiving so many lovely messages from authors I admire and read obsessively about wanting to read my book. Honestly, I've been waking up at 5am every day waiting for the other shoe to drop. It hasn't yet.
Here is what I would say now that I've made it to the "other side:"
- Querying stats do not always translate into sub success (though they certainly can)
- Fast rejections on sub really are a good sign (the pitch is working), though they still hurt like hell
- Be it premise, craft, or what ever other superfluous reason have you, I’m still not sure why this one sold whereas my others didn’t. A pinch of luck maybe!
Traditional publishing really isn't for the weak. I wanted to give up so many times. The only thing that kept me going was a love for the act of writing itself and the incredible community I met through the act of putting myself out there and posting about my stories on various platforms—that and reading other people's stories of success after perseverance.
I have no idea how WHITEFISH will do when it releases, and I also have no idea if I'll ever sell Book 4 / 5 / or any other future books. But, for now, I am just incredibly grateful. Thank you for being a part of my journey.