Releasing a Debut Novel Later in Life
Two pieces of paper were waiting for me in my mailbox. The first was a note from an editor friend who had just finished reading an advance copy of my debut novel, The Empress of Cooke County. I opened the heavy envelope and read, I loved it and am so sad I couldn’t stay forever in the world you created! My husband asked what was making me laugh out loud so much, and asked to read it as soon as I finished it!
(How I Stopped Sabotaging My Writing Goals.)
I was glowing as I reached for the second item in my mailbox. Join the Growing Number of Seniors Discovering the Benefits of Joining AARP! Chestnuts like, Retirement Made Easy and Night Driving: Help for Staying Safe were enticing me to link age-spotted, arthritic hands with my fellow baby boomers who were negotiating the perils of Medicare and saving money on costly prescriptions.
With those two pieces of paper, I held the dichotomy of my life in my hands. When most people my age were retiring, I was beginning my career as an author. In fact, I had actually been retired for 6 months when I got my agent. For decades I was a diagnostic reading specialist, working with a non-profit to help children and adults with reading-based learning disabilities. In between working and raising my twins, I wrote manuscripts for novels. I had queried for years and had received enough positive feedback to keep trying, but had never gotten “the call.”
My first grandchild was on the way, so I turned in my resignation at the non-profit and picked my grandma name, ready to help my daughter and her husband with the new addition. Soon after my retirement, I met an established writer who asked about a manuscript of mine a mutual friend had mentioned to her. I had recently shelved it after over 200 rejections and was writing something new, but I gave her my elevator pitch. She said she knew the perfect agent for it and for me to reach out to her assistant for details.
Long story short, the agent loved the story and asked for a call. I was expecting an R&R (revise and resubmit), but instead, the agent offered to represent me. I’ve never said yes so fast in my life.
We polished the story until it gleamed, and then my agent sent out a lucky 13 queries. A truly surreal four-way bidding war broke out for the manuscript. I signed with Harper Muse, an imprint of HarperCollins, and hoped no one would wake me from this fever dream of an experience.
I started to feel my age as I tried to establish a social media presence. I was used to collaborating on Google Docs for work, and could email and text with the best of them, but I was being asked to function in a world miles beyond my comfort zone. Luckily for me, I had daughters and younger friends who could talk me through the complexities of TikTok and Instagram and were patient as they explained things like the difference between a story and a reel. Many parts of Canva Pro are still a mystery, and no one is going to accuse me of being an expert, but I am learning! I knew enough to hire a professional to create my website, and being able to send someone a request like, can you put this review and this blurb on there, and also, I have a couple of appearances to mention has been a lifesaver.
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When I attended the American Library Association convention in San Diego in June, I had my first signing line. Meeting the librarians and other book people was the highlight of the trip, and I had a chance to chat briefly with each of them. One woman complimented my dress and asked where I got it. (It’s the Libby dress from Boden). Another woman asked my age, and I cheerfully responded 62, forgetting I had recently celebrated a birthday and was, in fact, 63. (Old people forget things). She gave me a big smile and said, “I guess it’s never too late to go for your dreams,” and she was exactly right.
Although I would have loved for that first query I mailed through the USPS back when dinosaurs roamed to have been answered with a positive response, the yes that finally came was made all the sweeter by the hundreds of no’s that preceded it. Taking the scenic route to success isn’t for everyone, but my long journey has allowed me many advantages. I’ve made great friends along the way and learned more about my craft with every manuscript revision.
I am certainly not complaining, and find myself in good company. For example, Delia Owens was 70 when Where The Crawdads Sing was published. Age doesn’t matter, though, for the best reason of all—each person is on their own path. Some people will get a yes with their first query (please accept my sincere congratulations if that’s you), and others will wait decades for their deal. Some choose to stop querying altogether. All paths are equally valid. In my family, we are fond of quoting a great-aunt: “Comparisons are odious.”
I’ll probably join AARP. They’re a good organization that offers a lot of benefits, but I’ll also keep writing. My deal with Harper Muse was for two books, and I’m currently finishing up the second draft. I have an idea for a third book that is tapping my brain, demanding to be considered. I’ll also keep being the best Honey I can be to my now two granddaughters, with a little boy on the way, and enjoy my grandmotherhood. My life is full, and I am grateful for every moment, even the hard parts. And with the benefit of hindsight after a life of 63 years (not 62, friend in San Diego), I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Check out Elizabeth Bass Parman’s The Empress of Cooke County here:
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