#144. Student Spotlight: How She Landed A Book Deal With Her Dream Publisher (With Savannah Carlisle)

Have you ever heard someone say that the only difference between a published author and an unpublished author is that the published author never gave up?

I wholeheartedly believe this, and my guest today proves it’s true.

Savannah Carlisle writes heartwarming romance novels that transport readers to fun and quirky small towns where friends feel like family. And her debut novel, The Library of Second Chances, is officially available for purchase as of May 2024. 

Tune into this episode to hear us talk about her path to publication—from writing the first draft of this story to breaking up with her agent to working with a developmental editor and #kisspitch mentor to ultimately finding a home at her dream publisher.

In the episode, we talk about things like:

[09:47] How Savannah pulled inspiration from her real-life, You’ve Got Mail, and her dream publisher’s wishlist to write The Library of Second Chances 

[11:37] Why Savannah broke up with her agent (and how, in hindsight, this was one of the best decisions Savannah’s made in terms of her writing) 

[14:10] The biggest takeaway Savannah had from working with a developmental editor (me!)—and how this still informs her writing today 

[16:10] What it was like to work with Jessica Lepe, a #kisspitch mentor and author, who just finished querying a similar story based on You’ve Got Mail 

[22:35] How Savannah found her dream publisher as an un-agented author at Harpeth Road (and why she went this route versus self-publishing) 

[25:50] What it was like to find her current agent—and why she believes having an agent is important (even though she’s a lawyer herself)

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🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Savannah Carlisle’s Website
• Savannah Carlisle on Instagram
• The Library of Second Chances by Savannah Carlisle
• Jessica Lepe’s Website
• The Manuscript Academy
• Ep. 40 - How to Write a Well-Structured Scene

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