Tara Lazar Gets “The Call”…But Can She Remember it?

I have a confession to make.

I don’t really remember “the call”.

It happened almost two years ago and it’s a blur.

But I can say the call was a tad anti-climactic.

You see, my editor had already sent umpteen emails to my agent Joan, telling her they loved THE MONSTORE and updating us on where they were in “the process”. I had a good feeling from that initial email…and subsequent follow-ups that kept apologizing for taking “so long” (which, looking back now, wasn’t very long at all for publishing—perhaps four weeks).

There was also a pre-offer email asking if I was open to making changes to the manuscript. Can you guess my response? **** YEAH!

When the call of the offer came in, I was happy, but I also knew it was coming. Maybe Joan sensed this because she tried to trick me. I remember picking up the phone and hearing a long sigh, “Hi…*sigh*…it’s Joan.” After hearing her drooping tone, I thought, oh well, they don’t want it after all that. So when she said, “We have an offer!” it took me a stunned minute to understand what was happening. I am getting an offer. Oh no, I’m not. Wait, I am! I am? I AM!!!!! YIPPEE-KI-YAY! 

(OK, so maybe I do remember the call!)

The joy lasted through several phone calls to family and friends, but by the end of the day I was already thinking…

…when am I going to sell the NEXT book?

Terrible, I know. Can’t I revel in the excitement for more than 139.7 minutes?

It seems with me that it’s always about the NEXT book. When I sold book #2, I THOUGHT THIS WAS A BEAR BOOK, I was already dreaming of book #3. I guess it’s how the Duggars feel about babies…?

So I look forward to the day when I have 19 books and counting.

In the meantime, I know I should be proud of the accomplishment of one book. After all, Harper Lee is content with one book. But something tells me THE MONSTORE movie isn’t going to star Gregory Peck. (Although I envision Danny DeVito in the role of The Monstore manager. One can dream about more than the next book.)

THE MONSTORE characters, copyright James Burks.