Hidden Worlds Books: How I Got my Agent: Jennifer M. Eaton PLUS Giveaway #month9squad

Tuesday 31 January 2017

How I Got my Agent: Jennifer M. Eaton PLUS Giveaway #month9squad

I am so excited that EMBERS IN THE SEA by Jennifer M. Eaton releases today and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Jennifer M. Eaton, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a Perfectly Posh, Posh To Meet You Set ($20 value), and an Alien Charm Necklace US Only courtesy of Jennifer & Month9Books. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

Title: EMBERS IN THE SEA (Fire in The Woods #3)

Author: JenniferM. Eaton

Pub. Date: January 31, 2017

Publisher: Month9Books

Format: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 300

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | TBD

Alien scientist David has dealt with disappointment his entire life, but failing to breathe life into the planet Mars is his greatest regret. Out of options and in need of a new home for their people, the alien Caretakers rekindle their plan to inhabit Earth. First they will have to eliminate the human race, including Jess, the only human David holds dear.

Humanity has one final chance at survival. David needs to emulate Earth’s precipitation on Mars. But the catalyst to make it rain lies in the fathomless depths of Earth’s ocean.

The clock is ticking down to humanity’s last hours as Jess and David face a world more alien than either of them can imagine. The sea hides secrets, but some secrets don’t want to be found.

How I queried one book and ended up with a three book deal!

A few years ago, I was in full query mode, sending out Fire in the Woods to agents and editors, getting rejections (as all authors do) then revising, rinse, repeat.

I was lucky enough to meet and speak with the YA editor of a Big Five Publishing house, who asked to read the first fifty pages. She rejected as well, but with wonderful feedback stating: “I loved the story, but the voice was not authentic enough.”

I chewed on the feedback for a while and made a frightening decision. I decided to draw on my acting training from high school, and I pulled myself into the character of a seventeen year old girl. I locked myself in there, started on page one, and I let Jess tell the story in her own words.

That meant breaking rules. And in writing, I am not one to break rules, but I figured it was worth a try.

Immediately I began to see a difference in the interest in my novel. Then, one day, the editor of Month9Books tweeted: (paraphrasing) “I just started a YA sci fi with such a unique voice”. I held my breath and watched her twitter feed closely. I became a mess when she started talking about “can’t put it down” “aliens” “action”. I bit my nails down to stubs over a week, and then the tweet came… I think it was about 1:00 in the morning, and she said something about a book hangover, and that she’d be offering on this amazing manuscript tomorrow.

The next day I woke to not only an offer for Fire in the Woods, but a contract offer for a three book series based off book one.

Woohoo!

So, if you are a writer, my advice is to keep trying, keep revising, and take feedback seriously. You never know when you are going to hit that sweet spot.

About Jennifer:

Jennifer M. Eaton hails from the eastern shore of the North American Continent on planet Earth. Yes, regrettably, she is human, but please don’t hold that against her. While not traipsing through the galaxy looking for specimens for her space moth collection, she lives with her wonderfully supportive husband and three energetic offspring. (And a poodle who runs the spaceport when she’s not around.)

During infrequent excursions to her home planet of Earth, Jennifer enjoys long hikes in the woods, bicycling, swimming, snorkeling, and snuggling up by the fire with a great book; but great adventures are always a short shuttle ride away.

Who knows where we’ll end up next?