Today I’d like to welcome Meredith Zeitlin author of the fun YA contemporary Novel Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters, which comes out March 1rst by Putnam’s.
I’m super happy she’s here today to share her story how she got published with us:
WHAT WAS YOUR JOURNEY TO GETTING PUBLISHED LIKE?
by Meredith Zeitlin (Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters)
What’s funny about this (and by funny, I mean tragic) is that in the middle of the story I’m going to tell you, I did an interview where I was asked this same question.
At the time, I thought the journey was almost over, so I said this:
“I’m in the editing stage right now. I technically have until December ’09 to turn in a final manuscript… Hopefully, it will be out sometime in 2010. Fingers crossed!”
Hilarious, right? Since it’s now 2012 and all?
But I’ll come back to this part in a bit.
I used to babysit for an amazing little girl… who is now taller than I am, by the way. (How did this happen?!?) Anyway, I would read her YA books while she did her homework… and with few exceptions, I found myself very bummed out by them. I thought they seemed cookie-cutter and not very well-written and, most importantly, not at all like the books I grew up with, which were filled with relatable characters who were kooky and awkward and desperately trying to figure things out. Instead these were all about super rich and sophisticated kids, the likes of which I certainly never met when I was fourteen.
Since then, I’ve been turned on to some amazing contemporary YA writers – they are definitely out there! But at the time, I was so disappointed. I thought, maybe I’ll write something myself.
So I did.
My friend Ellen had recently gotten a book deal, so I was able to pump her for advice on what steps to take. I queried agents. I crossed every digit I had. And I got really lucky – I signed with an agent, and she pitched the book, and an editor at Putnam bought it.
It was amazing.
And then… things started to crumble a bit.
Editing is hard, period. Editing when you slowly come to realize that you and the person you’re working with have a VERY different idea of what the end goal is… is like sticking your hand in a meat grinder. A meat grinder that keeps insisting it isn’t a meat grinder at all, but is actually a warm, soothing lanolin bath.
So now we’re back to the aforementioned interview. At that time, I had just spent two months completely rewriting the book in a TOTALLY different narrative style, as directed – and approved – by my editor. I liked the new direction, but it was not at all like the original draft, or the book you’d read today. About six months later, my editor finally got in touch to tell me he wasn’t really sure why I’d done this rewrite. Whose idea was that, exactly? I was gobsmacked. So was my agent. I had a bit of a nervous breakdown at that point. I painted my entire apartment – which has 12 foot ceilings – by myself. I ate a LOT of candy. I made a collection of voodoo dolls. (Okay, not really. But I came close.)
And then I went back to the original version and worked from there. And I turned in a new draft. And waited… and waited… and then I found out my editor had been let go. In an email.
So. I had no idea what would happen next. Would I have to start all over? Would Putnam still even want the book without the attached editor? Could I stand one more well-meaning friend asking me, “When’s your book coming out again? Any day now, right?”
I got really lucky – again. The new publisher, Jennifer Besser, came in and she elected to work on the book herself. My former editor’s assistant, THE AMAZING SHAUNA (that’s her magician name that I just made up), became Jen’s assistant. And this time, things clicked.
Unfortunately, the roster for 2011 releases was already filled up… so I got pushed back again. It didn’t matter that much – by this point I’d shoved the “book stuff” to the back corner of my consciousness and focused on other things. It was a protective measure, of course. But then I got the cover art… and I saw the book listed in Penguin’s catalog… and suddenly, it was all actually happening.
And now it’s REALLY happening.
And I’m incredibly excited. Finally, and completely.
I guess, in retrospect, I shouldn’t have been surprised by the ups and downs of my publishing journey. As you can tell from my book, I’m no stranger to disaster… not when I was in high school, and not now.
Maybe for the next book (and yes – I am working on something new. I haven’t given up! Hope lives!), I’ll just wait til it comes out before I tell anyone about it… think that’d work?
——–
Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters
Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends — sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo — Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.
Things start out great – her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior’s thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because KELSEY has a plan for greatness… it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is in on it.
Kelsey’s hilarious commentary throughout her disastrous freshman year will have you laughing out loud—while being thankful that you’re not in her shoes, of course…
1 shiny copy of Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters.
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What a cute book! HAHA. I absolutely love the cover. Was Meredith part of the planning stage for the cover design?
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I will always love a fun read. Meredith good luck with your book, the cover it is gorgeous, it makes me smile. Ahh the freshman year, the memories (I am a senior now)….
thanks for the chance to win.best wishes.
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That's quite a story! I would have definitely eaten a lot of candy in your place as well Meredith. Lots and lots of candy. So glad things worked out in the end and that your book is finally making its way to all of us who can't wait to read it! Thanks so much for the giveaway too:) *fingers crossed*
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This would bring back some interesting memories….school….glad I'm no longer there!! The idea just terrifies me. *shudders*….I'll stick to just reading about it. 🙂
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Wow! That is quite an amazing journey. And very personal too. Thanks for sharing it. I still feel like Contemporary YA is a new genre for me. I'm still getting to know it, but what I've discovered is that I'm loving it way more than Paranormal YA because it doesn't seem so cookie cutter.
Thanks so much for the giveaway! I'd love to enter. 🙂
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A fun interview. That sucks that the book had to go through that to finally get to the shelves. I want candy now! I can't wait for your full review. Your little tantalizing tease at the bottom peaked my interest.
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Oh and Meredtih the voodoo doll line was great 🙂 I would have loved to see that collection!
My recent post Bargain Book Bin: In My Dreams by Cameo Renae
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YOU won the Giveaway!!!! Congrats!!!!
Danny recently posted..Waiting on Wednesday – Danny’s Edition {51}
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Thanks for sharing that story!
That cover is beautiful…I have the feeling that I will be able to identify with the characters in the book 🙂
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hi commenters!! thanks so much for reading my post; just wanted to stop by and say hello and answer any questions… Von – I had exactly ZERO PERCENT input on the cover. (surely you're not surprised, right? le sigh…) that said, i love it too, and feel so lucky that the designer really got the vibe of book. wait til you see it in person – it's sparkly!!
thanks to everyone for entering the giveaway – i can't wait to hear what the winner thinks of the book! 😉
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Wow! What a story! Great that you had such a positive outlook, though I'm sure that wasn't always the case. Man would I have been p.o.'d at the editor that got let go for the rewrite. But maybe that's why the editor was let go??!! I'm so glad you got published. I'm doing a book tour with WOW for your book so I already have a copy. It's on my list to read and you sent me a fabulous guest post! I know the book will do really well!!
Heather
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First of all, this book is AMAZING! And I'm SO glad you had to go back to the original because it honestly shouldn't be any other way. It turned out perfect!
But I have to say that the journey sounds incredibly stressful. Every author has their own story but most all of them go through horrors like you did. It's quite terrifying. Kind of makes me get why so many self publish these days, WAY less stressful! Answering to others about your own baby cannot be an easy task.
See you all at my blog tomorrow for my review and Wednesday for my own guest post with Meredith!
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The premise for the book sounds awesome! And so do the characters:)
ccfioriole at gmail dot com
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Wow you know I could not e an author simply because the editing/publishing process sounds so overwhelming. I'd probably die of stress or something. I want to read this book real bad though I've only heard great things about it it looks so cute!
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Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me. I would love to read this book. Tore923@aol.com
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Fourteen and FRUSTRATED. You have my attention. I seriously want to know what the bet entails.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
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such a good synopsis. The story shows how much it takes to write a book; a lot of effort. Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
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Ohh, I really like the sound of this one. But gosh, that's quite the journey! I'm so glad you got the new agent and that it worked even better. I'm sure I'd have panicked more than once during that time myself. Congratulations on finally having it out there soon! :DD
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Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me. I would love to read this book. student.caprino[at]gmail[com]
exclude me if its only usa
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i just looooove this cover:):) awesome giveaway thank u:)
olgara18@hotmail.com
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Sounds like a fun read!
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What a fun interview! Love the cover! Thanks for a great giveaway!
sariahwalters at gmail dot com
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The Winner is Heidi!
Congrats!
Danny recently posted..Waiting on Wednesday – Danny’s Edition {51}
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[…] and only 2 (two!!) contemporary stories. I both loved incredibly – no doubt here. (“Freshmen Yeah & Other Unnatural Disasters” and “From What I Remember”) However, if you let me pick the book all by myself I will […]
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