Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Big News

From today's Publishers Marketplace:

Suzanne Hayes and Loretta Nyhan's I'LL BE SEEING YOU, a story of unexpected friendship told through letters shared between two American women on the home front during World War II, to Erika Imranyi at Mira, in a two-book deal, by Anne Bohner at Pen & Ink Literary and Joanna Volpe at Nancy Coffey Literary & Media Representation.

So...how did this happen?

Magic? Happenstance? Accidentally?

I fell in love with Suzy's words on her lovely blog. She read mine, too. We connected. We emailed. We discovered.

Both of us had projects on sub and waiting is hard and lonely. We became friends.

One day Suzy said, in her charming and enthusiastic way, "Let's write a book together while we wait." I said, in my best Spicoli voice, "Uh...okay."

We're both history geeks, the World War II era in particular. When Suzy suggested we write letters to each other as women waiting for their men to come home from the war, I was all over it.

When I got that first letter, my character came to me, fully formed, and started talking. It sounds crazy, but Rita became real, as did Suzy's character, Glory. I found myself refreshing my inbox, hoping a new letter would pop up. I had no idea when this would happen---sometimes days would go by.

When a letter did come, I'd take one look at the Dear Rita subject line and my heart would shake. The computer couldn't bring it up fast enough. My fingers couldn't type a reply fast enough.

We ached for these characters, laughed with them, cried for them. And when the last letter was written, we cried for ourselves. Because it was over.

But then, it wasn't. Our agents, Joanna Volpe and Anne Bohner, loved the book. Later, a wonderful editor, Erika Imranyi at MIRA, loved it as well.

We couldn't be happier. And we couldn't be luckier. How can we adequately thank the people who are making our dreams possible?

And, Suzy, how can I thank you enough? My crazy East Coast twin? Someday we will meet face to face, and you'll take one look at me and know what this has all meant. Love you.

L

24 comments:

  1. I'm crying now. There are no words for this.

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  2. Congratulations! What an amazingly fun way to write a book. I seriously cannot wait to read it.

    Well done, both of you!

    Shelley

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  3. Oh, Suzy...

    And thanks, Shelley! We can't wait for you to read it!

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  4. Congrats to both of you! What a great story behind the book - can't wait to read the stories IN the book! Best wishes!

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  5. Congrats to both of you! This is SO DESERVED!!

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  6. This post made me cry. I'm so proud of you both and I can't WAIT to celebrate with you gals! You are amazing writers with an amazing story and I'm so happy that the world will get to know Glory and Rita the way we have. XOXO

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  7. Thanks, Julie! You were the first person to ever encourage me to write. Do you remember? Must have been junior year. I showed you a truly terrible poem and you said it was the best you'd ever read. I've never forgotten that!

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  8. Love love LOVE!

    CONGRATS to both of you!!!!!!

    LOVE this concept, how it happened, the relationship between you (the real lives you and the fictional you) two, this post...love it all. :)

    SO happy for you!!

    Celebratory *hugs*,
    Lola

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  9. You guys are so awesome and supportive. THANK YOU!!!!

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  10. This is so awesome.

    I'm here because LiLa told me to be, and now I'm glad they did. I'm your newest follower, so:

    Nice to meet you!

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  11. Crying. AGAIN. I love that such a beautiful, moving, incredible story has an equally beautiful one behind the scenes. Congrats to you both!

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  12. Hi, Matthew! Welcome! So nice to meet you, too.

    Actually, I discovered Suzy's blog through LiLa's...there's a whole lotta LiLa love here!

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  13. Congrats, and what an amazing story behind the project! It definitely sounds like a fun time. :)

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  14. Such wonderful news, Loretta! I'm so happy for you! I can't wait to read your and Suzy's book. It sounds fantastic!

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  15. Eeeeep!!!!! I'm SO EXCITED for you and Suzanne!!! I can't stop grinning!! AND I can't wait to read it ;o) CONGRATS!!!!

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  16. First, I am soooo sorry that I haven't been reading up on blogs and saw this news at Lisa and Laura's place first.

    Second, CONGRATU-freaking-LATIONS! I am so happy for you and I absolutely love how this book came together. How beautiful!

    Celebrate big, lady!

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  17. Lisa & Laura are you talking you up like crazy! Being the sweeties they are I had to stop over... because if they love you like they do so will everyone else!!!

    Congratulations on such huge news! SO EXCITED FOR YOU! And now a happily new follower!

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  18. Welcome, Jen! Thanks for the kind words!

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  19. :-)

    One of the best calls I've ever had to me....

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  20. I think it is so amazing how you both connected and created. Can't wait to celebrate your amazing accomplishment?

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  21. HOW DID I MISS THIS?? That's what I get for just skimming PM and not really reading. Congrats to you! Just listening to you describe how the story came to life is a beautiful thing. Creativity begets creativity. Looks like you two are a perfect match.

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  22. Congratulations! Haven't been on the blogs much these days and glad I stopped in to catch the fantastic news.

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  23. Thanks for stopping by, everyone! I really appreciate it!

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  24. This might be the coolest blog post I've ever read! What a wonderful story. CONGRATS!

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