Monday, November 24, 2008
Another BG Sells First Novel
Congrats time again! Cynthia Ruchti has sold her first novel--to Abingdon. They Almost Always Come Home will be released in the spring of 2010. Here's her email to me:
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Thanks to you, Brandilyn, I was encouraged to request an appointment with Barbara Scott, Abingdon Press fiction acquisitions editor, at the recent ACFW conference. I wouldn't have thought to do that without your suggestion. Barbara is so warm and enthusiastic, and obviously passionate about her role in developing Abingdon's fiction line.
Like a good girl, I followed through and sent her the requested proposal shortly after conference. She read it immediately and literally within a couple of hours emailed to ask me to send her the whole manuscript. (This is the story that took second place in the 2008 Genesis Contest in women's fiction).
From the minute I began working on this story in the spring of 2007, I had a sense that I'd finally found my writing "voice" and a compelling story coupled with the author vulnerability so many talk about. Was I willing to go deep enough to write the story the way it deserved? Yes. On my knees.
Although the main characters' issues are vastly different from anything I've experienced, I do know the pain of wondering if my husband would come home from a trip he took to the Canadian wilderness, as does Libby. Libby would leave her husband...if she could find him.
So many lessons here. Because the manuscript was completed and all the hard work done to get the synopsis and blurbs and market analysis and back cover ideas, I was able to send her the full manuscript within a few minutes, after praying hard but quickly!
I signed with Wendy Lawton (my dream agent who is perfect for me--great mix of business acumen and a momma's/sister's heart) the day Barbara told me she wanted to take it to committee. And here we are! In far more ways that just this one, I owe a lot to you. How many hundreds of novelists say that to you every day? Thanks. Now, the work begins!
Blessings and deep gratitude,
Cynthia
www.cynthiaruchti.com
http://splashinginthedeepend.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/cynthiaruchti
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Congratulations, Cynthia. We are thrilled for you!
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6 comments:
Allow me to be the first to send a hearty congratulations to Cynthia, and a special thank you to Brandilyn, for posting about Barbara and Abingdon.
My novel, 'Surrender the Wind', a CBA historical romance, was
also accepted and will be released in the fall of 09. It is a dream come true, and a miracle that I happened upon Brandilyn's post that morning after praying for guidance.
I really have a strong feeling that the Abingdon fiction line is the beginning of something fantastic in CBA, and will be a great success.
Rita Gerlach
INDEED we celebrate with you, Cynthia!!! Sincerest congratulations, my dear friend!
Congrats, Cynthia. Thanks for sharing your story. It's so exciting!
What wonderful news!
I had the privilege of being part of Cynthia's crit group for a time and was able to read They Almost Always Come Home. It's a fantastic story--I'm so excited it'll be out there for everyone to read.
Congrats, Cynthia! It always encourages me when I see other authors do well.
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