Saturday, August 30, 2014

Dreams Really Do Come True!

Signing my first contract!
I’ve dreamed of being a published author for over five years. When I visit a Christian bookstore, I dream of finding a novel with my name on it. I imagine what the cover looks like, and the feel of the printed pages. That wonderful day my words would be read by more than family and critique partners. But, after many rejections, I despaired of this ever taking place. Still, I trusted in the Lord’s perfect timing, knowing that since He gave me the talent, He would use me, when and how He chose.

About a month ago, I received a call from my agent. Her words sent me straight to the ceiling. Barbour just notified me that they’d like to publish your novella “A Bride for a Bargain.” I was practically screaming and jumping around while on the phone with her but I managed to compose myself and listen while she explained the deadline, release date, etc. Then I told my family and they were absolutely thrilled too. We all did a wild happy dance! If this were not enough, later that evening, I received another call from my agent saying that Barbour would like to publish another of my novellas as well. So, in May 2015, my novella “A Bride for a Bargain” will release. Then in July, the other novella “The Substitute Wife” will hit the shelves.

If you’re not sure what a novella is, let me give you a frame of reference. A typical novel is 90,000 words, or about 300 pages. These shorter stories are 20,000 words, or around 70 pages. Each of the collections will feature nine stories, all revolving around a similar theme. If you’ve seen one, you know what a great job Barbour does putting them together and how fabulous they are from cover to content.

I’m still in awe of this wonderful opportunity God has given me. One of my greatest dreams has been to touch people with my words and to use them to lead others to Him. Now this dream is a reality. Everything I write is only because of His grace, and I give Him all the glory!

On a side note, I recently created an author Facebook page, and I’d love for you to stop by. Also, my website amandabarratt.net will go live within the next month or so. Once the website is up, I’m planning on doing less with this blog, and more with that and my  Facebook page.

Thanks to all my wonderful blog readers who have shown me such support! I’m blessed by all the people God has put in my life.

-Amanda


2 comments :

Lady Bibliophile said...

OH WOW!!!! So excited for you, Amanda! It must feel surreal to finally be at that point and get that call. :D

Congratulations, and may this be the first of many more books to come!

~Schuyler

-b9 said...

Gosh, dear, you're so truly adorable; cannot wait till we're in Seventh-Heaven to write together...

Would you puh-leeze help a plethora of wurdz which are look'n for a home in thy novel? Yay! Whew. Thank you profusely...

Q: Can anyone tell me the difference between K2 and IQ? A: Nthn. In Seventh-Heaven, we gitt'm both for eternity HawrHawr Need a few more thots, ideers, raw wurdz or ironclad iconoclasms? Voila!!

VERBUM SAT SAPIENTI: As an ex-writer of the sassy, savvy, schizophenia we all go through in this lifelong demise, I just wanna help U.S. git past the whorizontal more!ass! we're in (Latin: words to [the] wise)...

"This finite existence is only a test, son," God Almighty told me in my coma. "Far beyond thy earthly tempest is where you'll find tangible, corpulent eloquence". Lemme wanna tella youse without d'New Joisey accent...

I actually saw Seventh-Heaven when we died: you couldn't GET any moe curly, party-hardy-endorphins, extravagantly-surplus-lush Upstairs (in [the] end without end -Saint Augustine) when my beautifull, brilliant, bombastic girly-girl passed-away due to those wry, sardonic satires.

"Those who are wise will shine as brightly as the expanse of the Heavens, and those who have instructed many in uprightousness as bright as stars for all eternity" -Daniel 12:3

Here's also what the prolific, exquisite GODy sed: 'the more you shall honor Me, the more I shall bless you' -the Infant Jesus of Prague.

Go git'm, girl. You're incredible. See you Upstairs. I won't be joining'm in the nasty Abyss where Isis prowls
thesuperseedoftime.blogspot.com
infowars.com
-YOUTHwitheTRUTH
-------------------------------
PS Need summore unique, uncivilized, useless names? Lemme gonna gitcha started, brudda:

Oak Woods, Franky Sparks, Athena Noble, Autumn Rose, Faith Bishop, Dolly Martin, Willow Rhodes, Cocoa Major, Roman Stone, Bullwark Burnhart, Magnus Wilde, Kardiak Arrest, Will Wright, Goldy Silvers, Penelope Summers, Sophie Sharp, Violet Snow, Lizzy Roach, BoxxaRoxx, Aunty Dotey, Romero Stark, Zacharia Neptoon, Mercurio Morrissey, Fritz & Felix Franz, Victor Payne, Isabella Silverstein, Mercedes Kennedy, Redding Rust, Phoenix Martini, Ivy Squire, Sauer Wolfe, Yankee Cooky, -blessed b9...

God blessa youse
(trust-in-Jesus)
-Fr. Sarducci, ol SNL