THE FOLLOWING IS A REAL EMAIL I SENT TO A REAL AUTHOR
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FROM: Erica Davis
TO: Jacques Couvillon
SUBJECT: From one writer to another
Dear Jacques,
I'm taking the liberty of using your first name since I will expect the same from you when YOU decide to contact me after spend six and a half hours sitting in your local Barnes and Nobles reading MY debut novel. It was about 2:30 yesterday [last-last Saturday] when I made my customary beeline to the [young adult] section at the Barnes and Nobles in Milford, CT. It's the genre I write. It's the genre I love.
As I've been doing nearly every weekend for the past two months, I was holding a copy of Meg Cabot's latest (Jinx). But I still couldn't justify $16.95 for her. Again. And I'm a big Cabot fan. She's right up there with L'Engle in my book. But, I put "Jinx" back on the shelf and as I turned away, quite literally knocked into a table of New Teen Fiction.
With uncharacteristic cat-like reflexes I caught a shiny blue book that was about fall off a precariously stacked pile. But as I was putting it back, something caught my eye. A chicken head. AND a disco ball. Being a country girl AND dancing queen, my interest was piqued and I turned, not to the blurb, but to the author-info flap.
I saw "debut novel."
I saw chickens.
I saw a tux.
I was sold. For $16.95.
Next, I grabbed a soy latte and a cushy chair.
Six and a half hours later, I had 55 pages left.
You know when your butt's too numb that you can't think straight? Yeah, me too. So I [had to stop there]. But I'd be lying if I didn't mention how, really, I just wanted to go home to get working on my own rewrite.
Jacques, let me make one thing very clear. The last time I paid full price for a book, I had been standing in line for four hours dressed as a Gryffindor prefect surrounded by fifth graders.
I'm thrilled I've found The Chicken Dance. And Mom said being a klutz wasn't a gift.
Please, keep writing.
Best,
Erica Davis
Dear Jacques,
I'm taking the liberty of using your first name since I will expect the same from you when YOU decide to contact me after spend six and a half hours sitting in your local Barnes and Nobles reading MY debut novel. It was about 2:30 yesterday [last-last Saturday] when I made my customary beeline to the [young adult] section at the Barnes and Nobles in Milford, CT. It's the genre I write. It's the genre I love.
As I've been doing nearly every weekend for the past two months, I was holding a copy of Meg Cabot's latest (Jinx). But I still couldn't justify $16.95 for her. Again. And I'm a big Cabot fan. She's right up there with L'Engle in my book. But, I put "Jinx" back on the shelf and as I turned away, quite literally knocked into a table of New Teen Fiction.
With uncharacteristic cat-like reflexes I caught a shiny blue book that was about fall off a precariously stacked pile. But as I was putting it back, something caught my eye. A chicken head. AND a disco ball. Being a country girl AND dancing queen, my interest was piqued and I turned, not to the blurb, but to the author-info flap.
I saw "debut novel."
I saw chickens.
I saw a tux.
I was sold. For $16.95.
Next, I grabbed a soy latte and a cushy chair.
Six and a half hours later, I had 55 pages left.
You know when your butt's too numb that you can't think straight? Yeah, me too. So I [had to stop there]. But I'd be lying if I didn't mention how, really, I just wanted to go home to get working on my own rewrite.
Jacques, let me make one thing very clear. The last time I paid full price for a book, I had been standing in line for four hours dressed as a Gryffindor prefect surrounded by fifth graders.
I'm thrilled I've found The Chicken Dance. And Mom said being a klutz wasn't a gift.
Please, keep writing.
Best,
Erica Davis
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THE FOLLOWING IS JACQUES COUVILLON'S REAL RESPONSE TO ME
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FROM: Jacques Couvillon
TO: Erica Davis
TO: Erica Davis
SUBJECT: Re: From one future best-seller to another
Hi Erica,
That's a great story. Thank you so much for the support. I will actually be in [your area] on November 10th. My former boss is having a little party for me at this coffee shop/ book store at 5. I need to get the invitation for the name of the place but I think it's [the name of the coffeshope/bookstore] or something like that. If you think you can make it, it would be great to have you there.
Take Care,
jacques
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Yes, Mom, Dad, and other readers, that's tomorrow Saturday, November 10th, 2007.
At 5pm I will be meeting the author of The Chicken Dance, Jacques Couvillon.
If you want to know more about him, then read on.
Or see my comments on his blog.
Or, get your copy here.
At 5pm I will be meeting the author of The Chicken Dance, Jacques Couvillon.
If you want to know more about him, then read on.
Or see my comments on his blog.
Or, get your copy here.
Oh, gosh. Gotta go. What do you wear when you're going to meet your co-future bestselling competition?
The Chicken Dance by Jacques Couvillon
...at a precariously piled teen fiction shelf near you...
...at a precariously piled teen fiction shelf near you...
