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Today is an 11 year journey, folks! My debut adventure fantasy with heart is on shelves, today!!! Here& #39;s a little behind the scenes thread on how we got here. Join me, won& #39;t you?
If you just want a copy of THE SIN IN THE STEEL, that& #39;s cool too. Link here: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/the-sin-in-the-steel-by-ryan-van-loan/">https://read.macmillan.com/lp/the-si... https://twitter.com/dongwon/status/1285590063020220416">https://twitter.com/dongwon/s...
If you just want a copy of THE SIN IN THE STEEL, that& #39;s cool too. Link here: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/the-sin-in-the-steel-by-ryan-van-loan/">https://read.macmillan.com/lp/the-si... https://twitter.com/dongwon/status/1285590063020220416">https://twitter.com/dongwon/s...
2009 I am home from Afghanistan, finishing up college, and having a rough go of it. I start writing my second book and discover that it helps. A lot. Developing empathy for characters, putting myself in a mental calm, and I just love creating something. I& #39;m hooked.
Cue novels 3-7 which garner partial and full MS requests from top agents. A lot of positive feedback, no offers of representation. Novel 8 comes to me almost whole cloth in a dream (a 1st) in 2015. A young woman& #39;s voice. She& #39;s sharp in mind and tongue and blade. I have my protag.
The story begins to come together. An autodidact street rat and her swordsman partner. Trading companies. Empires. Gods. Pirates. Mages. Undead. So many challenges and at it& #39;s heart the found family of two adventurers standing back to back. The End and back to the query trenches.
I discover a new agent to query, discover they& #39;re a former editor of some of my favorite authors and their website sounds welcoming so I send a cold query. To my delight, they ask for more. It& #39;s May 2016. Then...silence.
July 2016 and we come home from the theatre and I check my email and see a name. DongWon Song. I literally sink to the floor when I see he wants to talk. We have a great call, I let the other agents off the hook and sign on the virtual dotted line.
May 2018. A long two years that require an hour and a drink to discuss 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đ" title="Zwinkerndes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Zwinkerndes Gesicht"> I get a call from Tor, it& #39;s Melissa Ann Singer and she wants to talk about my book. Oh my God, it& #39;s happening. Maybe? July 2018 we announce the 3 book deal.
The last two years have been incredible. I& #39;ve learned and grown so much on both the craft and professional level. So many folks farther ahead on their careers have helped w/ advice, blurbs, and encouragement. I discovered the entire TEAM of Tor and the wonderful work they do.
If you pick up the book, you& #39;ll see a shout-out to a lot of the folks responsible for what you& #39;re holding in your hands. Writing is a solo effort, publishing is collaborative. I& #39;m consistently overwhelmed at the passion everyone involved has to put new stories into the world.
It started 11 years ago. I said before that publishing is like climbing Everest only to discover another Everest awaits. Write a book. Land an agent. Get a deal. Publish your debut. Build a career. Today, I& #39;m trying to take a moment on this peak and surveil everything. Breathe.
Tomorrow the next summit awaits and this time, Dear Reader, you get to come along. I hope you will. I got you. Promise.
