In The Forest of Harm took me about two years
to write, spread out over a four-year period. When I started to
market the novel, I was not represented by anyone. I knew that finding
an agent could be a long and frustrating process, so I bought a
copy of Writer's Digest Guide to Literary Agents and began to try
and figure out what agents might fit well with me.
I worked hard on writing the most exciting query I
could come up with, submitted it to the ten top agents on my list,
and waited. Five responded positively. From those five I chose Robbie
Anna Hare because I loved her enthusiasm about the book. I remember
feeling like I had really accomplished something --- getting an
agent interested in my work.
In The Forest of Harm sold quickly, in about
three months, although it seemed like an eternity at the time. I
was in a constant state of anxiety and checked my e-mail about a
hundred times a day. When the word came that I'd gotten a two-book
deal from Bantam, I was out and Robbie Anna had to leave a message
on my answering machine!
I didn't know what to expect when my book sold. I
got a wonderful phone call from Kate Miciak, my editor, saying how
much she loved the book, that it was coming out in hardcover first,
then a paperback edition. I'd read and heard a lot of marginal stuff
about publishers don't back their books or give you any publicity,
but my experience has been just the opposite. Everyone at Bantam
has been incredibly excited about this book and amazingly supportive
of me. They simply couldn't have done a better job!
