Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Ascension


"Ascension: passing beyond oneself, rocketing out into the blue, grasping at flying ladders, mounting, soaring, lifting the world up by the scalp, rousing the angels from their ethereal lairs, drowning in stellar depths, clinging to the tails of comets."

I copied that out of Alexandra's journal one day over veggie burgers and diet soda at the pub. She hadn't written the attribution so for a moment of jealousy and awe, I thought she had written it. But no, she said, it was by Henry Miller. I love this quote, and I'm kind of feeling this way today: my book deal is finalized at last! For a number of months I've been practicing the underwhelming art of NOT getting excited as negotiations dragged on, and I've been biting my tongue and not writing about it (biting my fingers' tongues?), but now all is well, and the contracts are signed, and I feel like I COULD pick the world up by the scalp!

So at last, in brief, my book is called Blackbringer, and is the first in my "Dreamdark" fantasy series for young readers. It's being published by GP Putnam's Sons, a division of Penguin Books, and will be out PROBABLY next spring. I'll know that for sure by and by. Yippee!

(and the photo above was taken at the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens on Mother's Day, where we took my parents for a picnic. Here's one of us:)

30 comments:

Deirdre said...

Laini! I'm so happy for you! What a relief it must be to have the waiting and wondering over. And now you can celebrate your success. And of course, write more. :) Congratulations.

M said...

Congratulations!!! You definitely deserve it and I can't wait to see it when it comes out! Enjoy the celebrations and lap it up.

rania said...

hooray! congrats!

Shari Sherman said...

Congratulations, Laini!! I can't wait to read your book. Isn't it set in Scotland? My mother is Scottish, so I love books set in the "motherland."

Plus, what a great quote, I especially love the "rousing the angels from their ethereal lairs." I would love to just curl up in a lair!

Bask in your abundance and success!! The world is glowing brighter because of your happiness.

Kristy said...

Congratulations, Laini. Your smile is bright. Ascension, when it comes, is a most special thing. Ride high.

Cate said...

Congrats, Laini! I'm thrilled for you!

P.S. "Pick up the world by the scalp"--love that!

Susannah Conway said...

Woo hoo!! what fantastic news! Laini, i'm thrilled for you, and can't wait to hear how it all unfolds... the cover.. the proofs.. the first golden copy... congratulations!
Sx

andrea said...

Just the right age and genre for my sons. I'll be keeping my eye on your blog so I can purchase one when it comes out!

Jennifer S. said...

Cannot wait for your book! How exciting!

kelly rae said...

yay! finally! i am sooo excited for you, laini! now begins the really fun part! you are soooo on your way, my friend. this is huge.

Left-handed Trees... said...

Congratulations on the book deal! Wonderful and well-deserved...now I have to go and re-read your Sunday Scribblings about the books you "would write" to see what will be next for you!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Laini. The odds of getting a book published today are about the same as winning the lottery. Only a book deal is so much better, because it takes true talent and tenacity to pull off. Can't wait to buy and read it.

Deb R said...

Yes!! Yay you! Congrats, Laini.

Alex S said...

Laini,
This is the culmination of years of persistence and sacrifice "of many common but overestimated things" that have gotten you to this point! It wasn't like winning the lottery because you worked so hard for this and I'm so proud & happy for you! Adults and children alike are going to LOVE this extraordinary, magical novel!

Claudia said...

FANTASTIC!!! I can´t wait to read it.

Caroline said...

Yippee for you! I hope your fingers aren't blue and that their tongues grow back without going black.

HoBess said...

CONGRATULATIONS!

Rebekah said...

Wow! Wow! That is so fabulous! And so well deserved. The world is going to reel when they read your words - and wonder at all the new worlds you create! Can't wait!

Laini Taylor said...

Thank you everyone for your wonderful wishes and enthusiasm! I wish the book was already out -- I can't wait for people to read it. But I'm sure this year will fly by far too fast and that time will arrive faster than seems possible. Thanks everyone!

meghan said...

YIPPEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(and I am loving - LOVING it. ;)

paris parfait said...

Oh, Laini, how fantastic! You must be floating on air! Am so glad to hear your hard work has come to fruition - and we'll all be able to read your magical tales. Congrats, congrats, congrats! Bravo!

Maggie May said...

OHMYGOSH you are so so so cool. I am going to buy your books for my little siblings and my nephews!! Congratulations (and cute picture too!).

Anonymous said...

OMG!! I am so so so excited! Laini...this is MAGNIFICENT news! I cannot WAIT to read this!

I am literally dancing in my chair, breathless.

Amber said...

OH HOOORAYYY!! I am so happy for you, Laini!! So happy!

Will you be coming to my area for a reading and a signing? I hope so! I could even get you in at my Borders, where I am working a little these days. That would be awesome.

Again, Happy heart for you! Good job. :)

:)

Kim G. said...

Congrats! Can't wait to see it and buy it for my book-devouring daughter (11 years old and totally loves fantasy fiction!) If you ever need a young reader to preview your next books in the series, let us know!

Great picture of you guys at the Rhodie gardens! We went to Washington Park and the Rose Garden on mother's day. Only a few roses out but still a beautiful day in Oregon! :)

liz elayne lamoreux said...

oh laini!! I am so excited for you my friend. wish i could zip down to see you tomorrow and celebrate with some wine.
i am giving your a virtual hug my dear!

and love this picture of you and jim. you two are the cutest. THE CUTEST!

Anonymous said...

Hello Hello!
Thanks Laini for visiting the new blog - I am so pumped to find you here. This is awesome! I have kept you in my thoughts since meeting you in NY and have been watching all that you have been up to! I would love to meet ya in Portland one day for some good ol espresso now that I am an Oregonian too!

Anonymous said...

Whoo-hoo! Great news! You're so rightly thrilled!P

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, you! And that's a fabulous photo of the two of you. :)

Jamie said...

Fantastic! Congratulations! I hope you popped open some champagne and danced under the stars or some such celebratory equivalent.