Question:

In your article, AFTER THE BIG SALE, which was published by Writer's Digest on their June 2004 issue, you wrote: There is a word for writers who never say die: The word is "published." Can you share with us some of the toughest experiences you had to go through to finally get published?

Answer:

I wrote my first book in 1992, and immediately found a hotshot NY agent to represent me.

In the 18 months he had the book, he sent it to a grand total of two publishers. I fired him, but found it impossible to get anyone else to take on the book.

I wrote another book, and had the same problem.

I wrote a third, and couldn't find an agent or a publisher.

My fourth book had the same problem.

As did my fifth.

My sixth novel got some nice responses from agents, but no offers of representation.

With my seventh novel, I finally found another agent. But she couldn't sell it.

She couldn't sell my eighth either.

My agent didn't like my ninth novel, and didn't want to represent it.

Finally, with my tenth novel, WHISKEY SOUR, my agent landed a three book, six figure deal. (This was after I rewrote the novel eight times, naturally).

So, after 12 years, 450 rejections, a million written words and not a single sale, I'm finally an overnight success.

Anyone can climb Mt. Everest... it just may take some people longer than others.

 J.A. Konrath recently signed a three book deal with Hyperion Books. His first novel, WHISKEY SOUR, introduces series heroine Lt. Jacqueline Daniels of the Chicago Police Department.

Joe graduated from Columbia College in Chicago in 1992. He's written for corporate and cable television, assisted the brewmeister at a local micro brewery, performed improv comedy on stage, and is currently teaching fiction writing and marketing at the College of Dupage in Glen Ellyn, IL.

Recent short-story sales include "On the Rocks: A Lt. Jack Daniels Novella" and "Street Music" to Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, "Forgiveness" to Cemetery Dance Magazine, "The Screaming" to The Many Faces of Van Helsing anthology edited by Jeanne Cavelos, "Redux" to the Spooks anthology edited by Tina Jens, The Bag to the Cold Flesh anthology edited by Paul Fry, and the article After the Big Sale to Writer's Digest.

Joe has one wife, three kids (that he knows of), a dog, and a house in the suburbs, where he's just finished BLOODY MARY, the second book in the Lt. Jacqueline Daniels series. Visit him at www.jakonrath.com.