Booking It

Two years ago, I wrote a book called Randolph Street. I sent the manuscript to my now-agents, Browne & Miller, and they signed me two weeks later over lunch at a Paul Virrant hot-spot. Foodie book, foodie lunch place, foodie people...it was all just meant to be.

After Danielle, Joanna, and I cleaned up the draft a bit, the ladies did their thing and created a killer pitch that went out to editors in New York City at the Big Five publishing houses. Soon, the replies came in and meetings were set up. But when my agents crossed paths with an editor named Margo from Harlequin at a conference in Vegas, it became as close to an instant match as you can get. 

"Send me the manuscript when you get back to Chicago," Margo said. Danielle and Joanna did just that. Just a couple days later, Margo was bringing Randolph Street to the acquisition table and the deal was made. They acquired Randolph Street (renamed now as BURNED) as well as another novel I wrote, HUSBAND MATERIAL, and we cancelled all other meetings. We had found the perfect home for my books under a new imprint at Harlequin called Graydon House.

There's no glitz or glamour, tricks or tips, bells or whistles with this post. I'm simply sharing how it all went down for anyone who a) cares or b) has a similar aspiration. 

Sealing this deal is my dream come true. I've wanted to be a professional writer since I was 12 years old, penning articles for the KidNews section of the Chicago Tribune. Now, I get to write juicy novels for one of the biggest publishers in the whole world. The 18-year wait was worth it.

Meet the queen of oversharing.

Every so often, you find yourself reading a book while waiting for your OBGYN to knock on the door and start the exam. Not as often,  you find yourself laughing uncontrollably at said book because in the first 9 pages, the main character has accidentally blown out her butt hole. How and why…I’ll let you find out for yourself when you pick up a copy of Summerlandish.

Summer Land is a wicked good, no-holding-back writer living in Australia with her two adorable kids and hot husband. I’m not sure how I crossed paths with her over Instagram, but I am sure glad I did. Her book is bananas and my only regret is lending my signed copy to my mom, who will end up keeping it for herself.

Get to know Summer below with a little Q&A:

Q: As a tell-all memoirist myself, I often get asked: “how did you decide to put it all out there?” For me, there came a point where I didn’t turn back and thought, Oh, what the hell – let’s do this. You?

Five or so years ago, I probably couldn’t have written my book. I felt embarrassed and ashamed about some of my “mishaps” and “experiences.” But then one day I realized that I loved where I was in life and that my past was actually really normal and in reality, pretty funny. I began by sharing stories on my blog, summerlandish.com, and received a positive response. It allowed me to find my voice and gave me the courage to write my book.

Q: What did your husband think of the book? His family? Did they already know most of these stories or was it a surprise?

Paul loves that I wrote a book. (I think he thinks I’m smarter than I am.) As an over-sharer himself, he respects my need to share every gory detail of my life. There were a few stories he didn’t know, but I made sure he knew everything that was in the book before it was published. As for his family – they’re conservative and chose not to read it, which I’m actually super happy about. (Holding eye contact with his mom after knowing she read about me masturbating with Vaseline would be difficult to maintain.)

Q: Who would play you in Summerlandish, the movie?

Oooooh hmmmm!!!! I like to think Kristen Bell would play me. (Maybe people will think I’m naturally blonde, super bubbly and the owner of a six-pack.)

Q: When people ask you what your book is about, how do you respond?

I say it’s my not-so-serious memoir about how I raised my ovaries in middle class America before moving them to a tiny mining town in rural Australia. Depending on who’s asking, I might also add that it’s a tad off-color.

Q: Best part of the publishing process? Most challenging part of the process?

My editor at Hardie Grant Books pushed me to write a better book than I had originally planned. Initially, I wanted to do a collection of essays, but the she pointed out that readers need to become emotionally invested in me in order to finish the book. If they get closure after each chapter, then what’s driving them to keep turning the page? Having something published that I’m genuinely proud of has been the best part. That and the #SummerlandishSelfe hashtag. I LOVE seeing my readers taking my book with them on holiday!

Hardest part? Killing your darlings! Hardie Grant cut a few parts of my book that I really liked. Thankfully, I was able to publish them on my website.

Q:At what age will your daughter be able to read the book?

Whenever she wants! I am a very open and honest person and don’t think that there is anything too shocking in my book for my own child to read. Plus, it’s a great guide for her to know what not to do in life. (Tattoos, cliff jumping…)

Q: Sum up being a parent of two little cuties and a couple of dogs for us.

I absolutely loved my childhood and am so thrilled to get to pay it forward. I try my best to make sure my kids and dogs have the most fun every day. My main goal is to get them to laugh and feel loved. (And pose for Instagram photos, obviously.)

Q: What’s on deck for your next books and when can we read them?

My next book, tentatively titled, I Now Pronounce You Husband and Ex-Pat, is due out in 2016 via Nero Books! It’s all about being a newlywed, new mum and fairly new ex-pat in the Land of Oz!