Wednesday, August 10, 2016

SOLD

When you sell your first manuscript, you're ecstatic. Your lifelong dream is (finally, always finally) coming true. You did it. You really did it.

But you can't make a career out of selling your first manuscript (unless your name is J.K. Rowling or Stephenie Meyer). You've got to keep selling them, and as I mentioned in this post, that was the one thing I hadn't been able to do.

Until now.

From Publishers WeeklyBrett Wright at Bloomsbury has won at auction Krista Van Dolzer's Don't Solve the Puzzle, a middle-grade murder mystery set at a math camp, with built-in logic puzzles that readers can solve alongside the main character. Publication is scheduled for winter 2019; Brent Taylor at the TriadaUS Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.

If you've been a longtime reader, I can guess what you're thinking: What the heck is DON'T SOLVE THE PUZZLE? Only slightly better known as Clyde the Second, DON'T SOLVE THE PUZZLE is a companion novel to DON'T VOTE FOR ME, also known as Clyde, and features Esther Lambert, an art kid from DON'T VOTE FOR ME who ends up at a math camp by mistake.

When Bloomsbury showed up on Brent's submission list, I couldn't have been more excited. Some of my very favorite authors are published by Bloomsbury (hello, Shannon Hale and Lindsey Leavitt!), and when I was browsing my own bookshelves, I was surprised to see how many of my books had that funny-looking archer on their spines. But the first interest in the manuscript came from another press, and when it became clear that neither of these publishers was going anywhere, Brent set up an auction. I'm sure you can guess who won:)

For more information on DON'T SOLVE THE PUZZLE, feel free to check out the "Books" tab at the top of the screen. I hope you'll have as much fun reading it as I did writing it.

21 comments:

Ellie said...

CONGRATS!!!! That's amazing news!!!

Leslie S. Rose said...

Whoo hoo! Great big squeezy hugs.

Don McFatridge said...

What great news. Good things happen to good people! I'm very happy for you.

Cheers,
Don

Anonymous said...

Good for you! Congrats!

Ryan said...

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!
Auction?!!!!!!!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!
When you have as much money as Jo Rowling I wanna swim in your rooftop pool.

Write Life said...

Krista, it's been a while and I was doing a quick scan and saw your news.
So happy for you. Very, very happy!!! Congratulations.

Candice Conner said...

Oh wow, auction!!??

That's so exciting! Congratulations, Krista!

JeffO said...

Excellent news--congratulations, Krista!

I don't read MG much anymore, now that the kids are long past that stage, but this sounds like a lot of fun.

Way to go!

Maria said...

Congrats! Can't wait to read and share with my sons. Sounds right up their alley!

Heather said...

Congratulations! This is such great news!

Laura Moe said...

Congratulations! Well deserved.

Connie Keller said...

Congratulations!! That's wonderful news!

Leandra Wallace said...

Woo-hoo, congrats! Bloomsbury is definitely awesome!

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Thanks, Ellie and Leslie!

Thank you, Don! I think bad things also happen to good people, but it's nice to be riding the wave right now:)

Thanks, Anon!

Thanks, R.C! I don't think I'll ever have a rooftop pool, but you're welcome to come to dinner anytime you might be in town.

Thanks, Linda! You picked a good week to stop by:)

I know, right, Candice?! I was blown away. Thanks for the well wishes!

Thanks, Jeff! If you start writing MG, you'll never grow out of reading it;)

Thanks, Maria! I hope they enjoy it.

Thank you, Heather, Laura, and Connie!

Thanks, Leandra! Bloomsbury is WAY awesome.

Traci Kenworth said...

Congrats, Krista!!

Unknown said...

Big congraulations!

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Thank you, Traci and Erin!

Anonymous said...

Never doubted it. Like in my own (minimal) artistic endeavours, word-of-mouth, toe frimly dipped water, makes all the difference. All authors begin with the struggle, (recall the starving times of Stephen king if you mind not the comparison), and the immense numbers of failed manuscripts, and llok to today when he could write the Gettysburg Address on paper towels, and sell millions. And besides, one life affected is worth it all.

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Thanks for the kind words, Dad:)

Ben Spendlove said...

Gah. I completely missed this. Congratulations! I'm happy for you.

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Thanks, Ben! I'm sorry I didn't see this comment sooner.