Joan Wright Mularz

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My Road to Traditional Publishing

“In the end, what makes a book valuable is not the paper it’s printed on, but the thousands of hours of work by dozens of people who are dedicated to creating the best possible reading experience for you.” 

John Green

In 2017, I had the germ of an idea for a new book. My inspiration was threefold: 1) Having lived in Europe for a time, I was impressed by the multi-nation appeal of the over-the-top spectacle of the Eurovision contest and how it provided an entrée to success in America for a select few. Since Russia has participated since 1994, I thought it would be interesting to explore how the success and decline of one of its groups in the U.S. might affect the family of the band members, especially a teen child. 2) As a native of New York City, I wanted my characters to inhabit a city I love. 3) Having written a 3-book series with a teen girl protagonist, I wanted this one to feature a teen guy and his buddies.

I started work on it, but real life intervened. First, my husband received a serious medical diagnosis, and navigating that was more important to focus on. Second, we made a major life change with a move to a different state which consumed more of my energy. It wasn’t until the end of 2018 that I found some writing support groups in my new state and picked up the beginnings of the manuscript again.

In December 2018, I joined Palm Beach Gardens Fiction Writers, and in early 2019, already a national and New England member of SCBWI (the Society for Children’s’ Book Writers and Illustrators), I joined the Palm Beach County chapter. Both groups critiqued bits and pieces of my writing.

By April 2019 I was making slow but steady progress on my new book, and I was enjoying the warm weather and the quiet outdoor balcony where I wrote most days.

On May 23, 2019, my laugh for the day happened while reading a section from my book manuscript aloud. It ended in "Are you serious?" and Siri answered, "Yes. I'm not allowed to be frivolous."

In July 2019, I joined the newly-formed Florida Treasure Coast chapter of Sisters in Crime. I was already a member of the national and New England groups. Presentations by accomplished writers increased my writing knowledge and helped me tighten the story.

On October 10, 2019, I finished a chapter that had been torturing me for weeks, and I knew where I was heading next.

In January 2020, with the book manuscript in progress, my online research history seemed weird. It included: The sound of spit, mango water, the breakfast burrito song, locker smells, Landshark beer history, effects of eating crayons and ways to flirt with strangers without being creepy.

In June 2020, after many drafts and revisions I sent the manuscript to ten beta readers (five young adults and five adults, including one who speaks Russian to check the Russian references for validity and sensitivity).

In July 2020, I received responses from the beta readers. They were encouraging and also contained useful feedback.

On July 25, 2020, my manuscript got some excellent feedback from an agent through the SCBWI FL online conference (Critique-A-Palooza). I was learning lots and inching closer to publication.

Before I started querying agents and editors, I knew I needed to find and pay an independent editor to look over it and help me get it in the best shape for submission. 

On September 18, 2020, following some reliable advice, I put out a request on the well-respected Editorial Freelancers’ Association web site.

 Within days, I received over 50 emails of interest. I waded through the list, looking at their CVs to find the best possible fit for me. I was looking for experience with YA and a knowledge of NYC where the story is set.

They were all talented professionals, but I narrowed them down to five, to whom I sent letters of interest, plus some chapters for sample edits. I notified the rest that I was thankful for their interest but wouldn’t need their services.

When I received replies from the five, I narrowed again to three whose work seemed compatible with mine.

After careful consideration, I chose the one who was the best fit. On September 30, 2020, I signed a contract with an editor in Arizona. She had 35years of experience as an acquiring editor for traditional publishers in both New York and California, and knew the YA market well.

In November 2020, I received the suggested edits and a manuscript evaluation. She gave me some great feedback for increasing the pacing and tension. I soon began working on revisions.

In January 2021, I participated in another FL SCBWI online conference, and the following month, I began querying agents and editors who were open to submissions from conference participants.

That same month, February 2021, I also started querying small publishers who were open to submissions from members of Sisters in Crime. The requirements were slightly different for each publisher, but they included Bio, Contact Info, Synopsis, Outline, Theme, Projected Audience, Marketing Plan, Success Rate, Recommendations, and One Chapter.

On February 20, 2021 one of the publishers requested more info: a synopsis and 30 pages. Then on March 18, 2021, they requested the entire manuscript. The following month, April 2021, they made me an offer, and I signed a publishing contract.

In April 2021, while I was waiting for the revision work to commence with my new editor, an author friend offered to read the manuscript, and I received more helpful feedback.

On May 22, 2021, I received the first suggested revisions from the editor the publisher assigned to me. For the next month, we went through several levels of polishing.

As of June 28, 2021, my book was heading for a final review with yet another editor at the publishing house. My baby is getting closer to birth.