The makings of a book deal

Yesterday between picking up my kids at school and darting off to my book group, I announced on Facebook that I have book deal!

When I finally made it back home, I was overwhelmed (in a good way!) by all the well wishes and congratulations. After working on my memoir for five years–including the past 14 months with my agent extraordinaire, Carrie Pestritto–it sure feels reassuring to receive that kind of response.

Here’s the announcement on PublishersMarketplace.com, the industry’s bible for book deals:

Susan Blumberg-Kason’s GOOD CHINESE WIFE, a look at the author’s tumultuous five-year marriage to a man from central China and the serious cross-cultural issues she faced as she struggled to adapt to traditional Chinese culture and to her husband’s increasingly abusive temperament, to Stephanie Bowen at Sourcebooks, in a pre-empt, for publication in Spring 2014, by Carrie Pestritto at Prospect Agency.

I am so thrilled about this deal for many reasons. First, I have a publisher!

Second, the offer letter was like a dream come true. It was just as enthusiastic as Carrie’s offer of representation last year. Throughout the submission process, Carrie kept me grounded and told me that finding an editor was the same as searching for an agent. It takes patience, a lot of patience.

And third, I feel like I have a ready-made home at Sourcebooks. They have an amazing list of memoirs set abroad, and are whole-heartedly invested in building this list. Here are just a couple:

Check out Amy Thomas’s super cute book cover. I loved her memoir about her two years in Paris.

And here’s Amy Elizabeth Smith’s page-turner about her year traveling and teaching Jane Austen in six Latin American countries.

I’m so honored to join this fabulous group, including several more set in the Middle East. Did I mention that Sourcebooks has had nine recent New York Times best sellers? Or that they’re the fastest growing independent publisher in the US? Or that they’re headquartered just 30 minutes from my home?

Next week I’ll have my first meeting with my editor. It still feels surreal to write or say that.

In the months to come, I’ll share news of my release date, my cover (!), promotions, my future book trailer, and anything else of interest in this exciting process.

Thank you for your support!