Saturday, December 8, 2012

Success is Sweet

I just got my contract for the Chinese New Year story I submitted! I'm very, very excited. Johnene wrote that it was the first story written for that holiday they've ever received. The on-sale date is January 24, but look for it a week ahead of that.

22 comments:

Sherri said...

That's excellent, Kate.
Well done!

Fay Knowles said...

Congratulations, Kate! And what an unusual idea for a New Year story. I'll look forward to reading it. Fortunately, we can buy "Woman's World" in the Bahamas. It's quite popular here.

Anonymous said...

Good for you, Kate. Smart idea.

Tamara said...

That was me, Kate -- Tamara. I couldn't read the number in the "prove you're not a robot" box, and I was fumbling around and it posted. Again, congratulations.

Kate Willoughby said...

Thank you, Bernadette!

Oh, Fay, I didn't know you could get it there. That's fantastic.

Thanks, Tamara. I hate those prove you're not a robot things. I find myself refreshing over and over to get a code that I can actually read. I'm sorry I had to reinstate it. I was getting too many spam comments. :(

Mary Jo said...

Kate, that is great news. I thought you didn't have much hope for selling that story and maybe had forgotten all about it by now. I can't wait to read it at last. They better not skip me this time. In the last couple of months, I have missed two issues. I will have to call and complain to Customer Service at WW.

Big BIG congratulations on this sale!

Kate Willoughby said...

I've had maybe three issues in six years not show up in my mailbox.

Tracie said...

Congrats!

Tracie said...

Kate:

When did you send that story? I sent one in August and haven't heard anything yet. Is it still too soon to get a response? Is there a way to find out if they received it?

Kate Willoughby said...

I submitted it June 29, 2012. :)

It's not too soon, nor is it too late. If you don't hear in six months, resubmit.

Tamara said...

Tracie, that is a long time; maybe it's being considered. You must be closely watching that mailbox.

Fay Knowles said...

Hi Kate - yes, copies of Woman's World fly off the shelves here in the Bahamas! Unfortunately, I haven't bought one for a while, as I had become a bit despondent after been rejected by WW a few times! However, I will start buying them again and will definitely make sure I get a copy with your Chinese New Year story in it!

Cynthia Sherrick said...

Congrats, Kate! :)

Kate Willoughby said...

And thanks for all the congratulations. Unfortunately, the check hasn't even arrived, but I had to have the car repaired. The bill? $868. Boom. Merry Christmas. LOL

Mary Jo said...

You are up late, Kate, or early! Isn't that just the way with "found" money? In one door and out the other. I received a check a few days ago--and it will almost pay for my house insurance.

Fay, "a few" rejections from WW? I don't know how many no thank you's others have collected, but I probably have at least thirty. There are only 52 romance pages a year, so it is something of a crap shoot. Just write the best you can and hope for the best.

Tamara said...

When I heard the number of submissions WW receives for the two genres, I said to a fellow WW submitter, "Where are all these writers?" She pointed out that, when you break it down into the number per state, it isn't that many.

Tamara said...

I may have changed the subject here a little, but I believe the reason we get so many rejections is the number of submissions they receive. They have choice!!

Kate Willoughby said...

Mary Jo, I woke up at 3 and couldn't get back to sleep. Grr. It happens to me once in a while. After about half an hour of denial, I eventually get up, make coffee, and get on my computer.

Yes, they sure do have a choice, but I have to believe that at least half of the submissions are instant rejections.

Mary Jo said...

So, Tamara, did they take your Valentine story? I wonder how many of those they had to choose from? I hate to think what the odds are on that holiday.

Kate, you are so smart. Thank your ancestors!

Tamara said...

Yes, I bet they stick half of the submissions back in the envelopes half-way down the first page. No word yet on the Valentine story. I am trying not to be excited because I have so much competition and I know it's up against some good ones. My accepted story should be out soon, and I paid off my tv and computer with the loot.

Fay Knowles said...

Mary Jo - thanks for your encouragement. I'll keep trying!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Kate! What a wonderful Christmas present you've received!

Best wishes,
Tressa