How Walmart (and my agent) made my day

Yesterday was an exciting day.

In New York City where all the cool publishing people hang, Book Expo America (BEA) is taking place this week. For years I've heard it touted as the biggest publishing event in North America, and I've watched from the sidewalk with my nose pressed against the window making unpleasant smeary streaks on the glass.

This year, I got to be there.

Well, not in person. But Tuesday morning, author pal Dan Krokos was kind enough to email me this photo of an advance reading copy of Making Waves on display at the Sourcebooks booth:
Not to be outdone, my amazing agent, Michelle Wolfson, stopped by the booth and assembled the Sourcebooks team for a group photo I'm considering enlarging to gargantuan proportions and framing on my bathroom wall:

From left to right, my incredible editor Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks Sales God Chris Baurle, Amazing Senior Associate Editor Susie Benton, my brilliant and talented agent Michelle Wolfson, and uber-fabulous Sourcebooks Editorial Director Todd Stocke.

I was still swooning with excitement over that when Michelle called with even more delightful news.

Sourcebooks has arranged for nationwide distribution of Making Waves at Walmarts across the United States.

I never thought I'd find myself thrilled to the point of tears at the idea of being in Walmart, but trust me – this is huge.

Don't get me wrong, I'm delighted the book is already available for pre-order at Amazon and Barnes and Noble and Powells Books and Borders and IndieBound. I click those links at least once a day and then pinch myself so I know it's real.

But shelf space at the world's largest public corporation? The biggest grocery retailer in the United States? That's priceless, particularly for a no-name, debut romantic comedy author like me.

And with the gorgeous cover Sourcebooks has given me – a cover that practically screams, "grab me! I'm a fabulous beach read!" – I can't even begin to guess what impact that might have.
It does make me contemplate the impact of screaming "grab me!" in public places though.

But I digress.

I'm swooning. I'm elated. I'm so damn grateful to my amazing agent and the ridiculously fabulous team at Sourcebooks, without whom none of this would be possible.

So if you're in the mood, I invite you to swoon with me. On the count of three...

One, two, three...