By Rebecca Lawrence

Welcome to the Booker Albert Biweekly! I'm thrilled to be presenting our first guest article!

All it Takes is One Yes

Author K. C. Harper

As someone who waited until their mid-thirties to start writing, my ride has been a rollercoaster of emotions. For the first six years, I wrote in isolation, terrified to share my work with anyone. Eventually, I decided to try and do something with it, so I pulled up my bootstraps, and put myself out there. After my fourth queried manuscript and two years in the trenches, I signed with Helen Lane in August of 2022 for SHADOWED MOONLIGHT, my adult urban romantasy about an aura reader desperate for a cure to the vampire venom drug that’s killing her brother, but in order to get it, she’ll be forced to work alongside her Alpha werewolf ex to find the killer plaguing their supernatural city.

Helen’s an editorial style agent, so after her feedback, I got to work. We went on submission by October, and boyyyyyyy was that a wakeup call. I’d heard countless authors say how difficult submission was, but, in truth, it was so, so much harder than I’d ever fathomed. For me, I think it’s because you’re so close to realizing the dream. All you need is one yes, and it’s happening. One yes, and everything you’ve worked for goes from abstract to reality. So when the nos come, they can hit hard.

The best thing I did for myself during sub was find something to distract me. Writing, reading, eating my feelings until I was a sated, numb husk…anything to get my mind off it.

In truth, I’ve gotten pretty good at taking the rejections. Especially when editors say their lists are full or the rejection itself is subjective, because, in those circumstances, it’s out of my control. I recognize I can’t be everything to everyone, and sometimes, my style just isn’t their cup of tea. And that’s perfectly okay.

Luckily, by January of 2023, we learned we had editor interest in SHADOWED MOONLIGHT, and that we’d be going to acquisitions—a wholly exciting and wildly torturous period. Acquisitions is a waiting game. One that’s tough since, again, it’s out of your control. You know your story is there, you just have to hope they see it as marketable. Thankfully for us, in early March, we passed acquisitions and officially received a three-book offer from Hodderscape (Hachette).

I cried and ran on adrenaline for seven days straight (I’m being dramatic, it was only six).

Receiving my edit letter from my editor was exciting and intimidating. I was terrified their vision might not align with mine (a foolish notion since they’d adored the book). But these editors were hired for a reason. They’re invested in the success of my book just the same as I am. Besides, they’re the best in the world at what they do, so I’d have been a fool not to, at the very least, listen. Thankfully, my editor and I clicked, and her suggestions only made it that much stronger.

Writing book two, however, that was a trip. I’m not someone who suffers imposter syndrome often since I’m pretty good at cutting out the noise. But, in truth, it was the worst bout I’ve ever had. The fear of book two not living up to book one was debilitating for a while, something I later came to learn is absolutely normal. Once I found my footing again, I got back to work.

By the time October of 2023 came around, I began feverishly writing REAR VIEW, my segue into the contemporary romance world. This story about a rally car racer with a dark past who falls for a girl with a dark secret, gripped my soul. By winter of this year, we took it to submission. I’m not someone who writes to trend, but we were lucky enough to happen into one, as racing sports romances were hot at the time. We had multiple requests, and by July of this past summer, we went to acquisitions and received our offer from Harlequin (Harper Collins).

In October just past, I flew to London for SHADOWED MOONLIGHT’s release. Physically holding my book, hearing an audio narrator read it and bring it to life…I was brought to tears of joy. While there, I met my wonderful Hodderscape team and headed to a local bookshop to sign, both of which were spectacularly surreal moments no one can prepare you for. I had no clue where I should put my autograph, or what I should write. It was scary and exciting in the best kind of way.

With one book out and three more coming in the next year (plus the North American releases of SM), it will be a wild one. But thankfully, I have so many amazing people in my corner, family, friends, my amazing CPs, and a kickass agent. Each whose support has led me to this point.

I’m a practical person who seeks practical solutions. And to my core, I believe in the quote by the Roman Philosopher, Seneca:

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

Publishing is all about timing. They key is just making sure your ready when your time comes.

K.C. Harper’s SHADOWED MOONLIGHT is out in the UK and on audiobook now and set for publication in North America January 21st, 2025. SHATTERED MOONLIGHT, book two in the Moonlight Series, is available for pre-order now.

REAR VIEW is set for publication on August 12th of 2025.

Have you heard about Rick Riordan’s Imprint?

Rick Riordan’s imprint, Rick Riordan Presents, is focused on highlighting diverse voices in middle-grade fiction. Designed to provide opportunities for writers from underrepresented communities, the imprint has published bestsellers like Aru Shah by Roshani Chokshi and Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez. With the backing of Disney-Hyperion, they aim to publish four books a year. Rick Riordan himself states, “I also want to help kids have a wider variety of great books to choose from, especially those that deal with world mythology, and for all kinds of young readers to see themselves reflected in the books that they read.”

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Happy reading,
Rebecca Lawrence