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 ;-)

[Grant McKenzie]

Thanks, Nikki, appreciate it.

[Laura Root]

congratulations :)

[Eric Christopherson]

Awesome! (Your news and my jealousy both.)

[Johnny Ostentatious]

congrats, man . . . you're one of the lucky ones!

[Karyn J. Powers]

Congratulations, Grant! I look forward to reading your books!

[Grant McKenzie]

Wow, everyone's being so nice.
Thanks a million, everyone.

[Jack Getze]

So back on November 8, we were soothing you for that ugliest of all rejections--You're too good!--and now it's less than a month later, and Bantam/Random House wants this one and another. I'd say you just went worst to first. Oh, baby. Hang on for the ride, Grant.

Congrats again.

[Grant McKenzie]

LOL - thanks, Jack, I'm looking forward to it.
The edits will be arriving very soon and I can't wait to get stuck in to polishing the script. U.S. publishers are asking to see the script now, so hopefully I'll have a North American deal soon, too. That would be cool.
Cheers,
Grant

[Tina]

Congrats Grant - just saw that you are from Gibsons. I am in Vancouver. That is very exciting. All that talent on the Sunshine Coast. Enjoy the sun today, it's shining for you.
Tina

[Grant McKenzie]

Thanks, Tina.
Yes, I love Gibsons. We've been here just over two years now (before that, I spent too many years on the prairies pinning for the ocean before packing up and rushing westward ;-) Last year, I commuted every day on the ferry to the Vancouver Sun (writing Switch while I travelled), but I'm working from home now and enjoying a beautiful ocean view. Love it, love it.

[Rosemary Harris]

Congrats! I've been absent from the group for a while, so it's nice to come back and read some good news.
Cheers.

[Timothy Hallinan]

This is just wonderful news. All that work, all that waiting, the occasional rejection -- and now this.

Congratulations!