Between blogging and writing novels, I have written millions of words. Yet somehow, writing this post, I find that for once I am at a loss of what to say. How can I adequately share the news that I GOT A BOOK DEAL?!

When I posted a while back about ‘re-branding’ and wanting to focus more on the writer side of things, it wasn’t a lie. What I left out was that I was in the midst contract negotiations for MY NOVEL!

So how did it happen?

Late October, on a whim, I entered a twitter pitch contest (#PitDark). CamCat Books liked my pitch and after sending my materials, they asked for the whole manuscript.

Fast-forward to November. My husband and I were sitting in our hotel room in Singapore. We had just arrived from the States and were exhausted. Bleary-eyed and having drunk way too much coffee, I opened up my e-mail and saw one from Dayna saying that they would love to publish my book. The eternal pessimist in me immediately decided it was fake or sent to the wrong person. Meanwhile, my husband danced around the room.

After lots of internet stalking and phone conversations, it turns out it was real. So here I am, two and a half months later, getting to announce that my novel, DAUGHTER OF THE SALT KING, is going to be published by CamCat Books. And I’m still crying about it.

What’s it about?

DAUGHTER OF THE SALT KING is an adult fantasy novel set in an ancient desert about a courtesan who finds her father’s darkest secret: his wish-granting jinni. If you like female protagonists who rise from the ashes, heart-breaking forbidden love, the comfort and safety of friendship, sexy jinnis with volatile magic, and a touch of cultish darkness, then this novel is for you.

Is this real life?

All at once, this experience is surreal and frightening and exciting. And I am so, so happy that the people (ie YOU!) who welcomed me into the bookish community as a blogger four years ago are still going to be with me as I become an author. There aren’t any other friends I’d want to be surrounded by.

To stay up to date on all of the news about my novel, make sure you get on my e-mail list. Future blog posts related to my writing and books will be posted on my brand new author site (GO CHECK IT OUT, IT’S BEAUTIFUL!!), and if you already get posts e-mailed to you from ‘the bandar blog,’ you’ll get them from my author site, too.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being here. And for all of you who have helped me along the way with this novel (who read the horrendous early draft and gave me so much support and gentle criticism!), a super duper THANK YOU! My novel wouldn’t be getting published if it weren’t for you.