Debut news too big to contain

[Grant McKenzie]

OK, this should go on my personal blog, but I'm so excited I can't wait to spread the news. My wonderful agent, Amy, has just sold World English rights to my debut novel Switch + the new one I'm currently writing, Speak the Dead, to Bantam Transworld UK (a division of Random House) for mass-market paperback on their thriller list (alongside authors such as Lee Child, Tess Gerritsen and Dennis Lehane). The book will be launched in the UK on October, 2008. The editor is Selina Walker (who launched Denise Mina among others).
WooHoo! I have waited a looooong time for this and can't wait to start my new career with such a fantastic and enthusiastic company. You wouldn't believe the positive and life-affirming emails I've already received from the in-house staff — everyone from reception and IT to sales and marketing. This is the start of something wonderful ;-)

[I. J. Parker]

Oh, I'm so thrilled for you. That sounds fabulous. Major congrats!

[John McFetridge]

Congratulations Grant, enoy the ride, it sounds great. The start of something wonderful, for sure.

[Sandra Ruttan]

I'm so excited for you, and this is indeed the beginning of a wild ride. When I signed in July for a May release I didn't realize just how fast that time goes!

You might want to chew over attending Crimefest to raise your profile in the UK - it's only every other year (and this is the first year) so 2009 isn't an option, and Harrogate is invite-only for program although still a hell of a lot of fun.

(And how cool is it that we have another Canadian stepping out on the world stage?!)

[Jude Hardin]

Congrats, Grant! Awesome. Stories like yours make it a little easier for those of us still waiting on the call to keep the faith. Thanks for sharing.

[Naomi Hirahara]

Congrats, Grant! I remember that you had posted an excerpt of a rejection letter earlier. Just goes to show that rejection can be very subjective. Your book just needed to find the right home!

[Karen Dionne]

I don't even know you, and I'm happy for you! Congratulations, Grant! When my first novel sold, Lee Child told me: "Remember this day - it only happens once." As if it were possible to forget. :)

[Dana King]

Outstanding news. No need to keep it in the blog corner. Thanks for sharing, and good luck with the launch and sales.

[Grant McKenzie]

Thanks everyone.
I was at the day job (yucchhh!) so couldn't post until now. Although I was pretty much bouncing off the walls at work as I can't wait to get stuck in to the changes my editor will want. (That sounds good: 'My Editor').
It was also wonderful breaking the news to a friend I've had for 30 years. He's the one who introduced me to Gregory McDonald's Fletch series when we were 14 and I began my fist novel that same year. (Still have it in a box somewhere). Our lives went in very different directions after high school (he's a big-shot financial guy in L.A., while I never did quite fit the cut of a suit) and it's cool to reconnect and say "See, it took me 30 years, but I told you I was going to be an author one day." He's almost as thrilled as I am ;-)

[MysteryDawg]

Excellent news! It always makes my day when I hear this type of news.

[Dennis Venter]

Congrats Grant. May it be the first of many.

[Jack Getze]

Wow! Great news, Grant. Congratulations.

[Nikki]

Grant, I have only just joined this group - but i saw this post and had to just say CONGRATULATIONS - sounds like you really earned it!
I'm from the UK - so I'll be on the lookout for your novel when it hits our shores next October! :o)