Hi All.
I got a pleasant surprise on Thursday. A book I had written several years ago which disappeared into the maw of the publishing industry was bought by Penguin. The first I heard of it was an email on Thursday morning telling me it was out now in shops. I went to my local book sellers, and it was prominently displayed. It looked great - a fantastic start to a great day. This is my first published novel, with is a huge milestone in any writer's life.

The book is The Christmas Killer, by Jim Gallows (my pen name). Check it out if you want a page-turner for Christmas. Tony

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Killer-J......s+killer

Congratulations. But I've got a question.

How does a manuscript get purchased by a company several years after submittal without the author knowing about it until it is actually on shelves?

Tony, I hope you have a legally signed contract outlining the percentage of royalties you will be earning.

Congrats on getting published! I hope your work finds its audience.

Just what I was wondering as well.

Bobby Thomson.

Congratulations! Just ordered it off Amazon. Hope you see a few pennies off it.

Good luck! I read the preview and will purchase it.

That would be a good idea for his next novel.

Great question. I have been away for a week (gigging in Lapland) and missed this. The answer is simple. The book was commissioned by what is called a packager. They create an idea and farm it out to an author, then sell the resulting book. This book was written for Mills and Boon, when they opened a crime division. But the crime division folded after a few titles, and the book went into limbo. I got a good advance and a share of royalties, but not the selling rights, so that was the end of the book as far as I was concerned.

Then the packager heard that Penquin were looking for a Christmas thriller, so they renamed this, invented a fictional name for me (Jim Gallows, which I quite like) then sold it on. I have been paid years ago, but will earn if it goes into royalties (ie, earns out its advance). Fingers crossed.

I also have a chance of pitching a second book (featuring a magician as the hero) to Penguin for next Christmas. So this is a big break for me, and completely unexpected. As you can imagine, it made my month. Thanks to those who are taking a chance and getting it. I hope you enjoy it. All the best, Tony

Congrats! I still haven't gotten a round to reading Family Feud, but it's on my shelf, and I'm looking forward to it.

Congratulations, Tony, that's great! Got to love those happy surprises when a past project is unexpectedly resurrected. It's happened to me a couple of times in the music industry. Best of luck with the new pitch, too.

Congratulations Tony.
I'll raise a glass to you...slainte mhaith.
The spellings from memory, but the thoughts there.

Finally got around to reading this. I enjoyed it, even if it was out of season. Definitely a page turner, but when the murderer was revealed 100 pages before the end I thought isn't this a bit too soon? Fortunately, Tony was quite in control of the story and there were quite a few fun surprises still awaiting.

I also enjoyed the dedication, Tony.

Thanks, Landmark. Glad you enjoyed it.

Didn't spot the dedication until now! That was an in-joke by the publisher.

Working on the next opus now - a hitman trapped in Bosnia after a double-cross. Plenty of action, twists and turns.

I just saw all this. Belated congratulations! It's on my list to get for Kindle. The new one sounds very promising too.

I read this this year (better late than never). It was wonderfully written and absolutely terrifying! Great novel!