It’s been a long, long, long, long, long journey from writing that first horrible draft of The Dark World to actually signing a 5 book deal with the fantastic Permuted Press, for the entire series.

I’ve always been a self-starter, always desiring to see my work in the hands of others once my mother told me I should try and publish it. I, of course, queried a round of literary agents, naturally being met with a hoard of rejections.

This continued for a few years, ‘till I just put the project on a back-burner, and focused on school, and work, life, friends, other things.

Then the wonderful Ronald Moore, of Nocturn fame, shot me a Facebook message, telling me that Before Sunrise Press was looking for short stories for their anthology, and it sounded right up my ally, so at his suggestion, I sent them the beginning of a project about a Vampire in London detailing her life as such.

They took it. Unfortunately, the anthology didn’t happen but they did decide to publish the short story separately.

With this under my belt, I revisited The Dark World and, although I had self-published it at this point, set about editing it, the entire thing (even though I’d already written the second book). This proved fruitful, because, once I was satisfied with the story that sat in front of me, I sent it off to only one publisher January of this year, some days after my birthday.

Anthony Ziccardi, owner of Permuted, actually called me February 15th to tell me that he loved the story and wanted to work with me on publishing it. I was incoherent and convinced he was mistaken.

I waited some 3 weeks and not an email about the contract reached my inbox. At the behest of my boyfriend, I sent a follow up email to Permuted.

Michael L. Wilson contacted me shortly afterward and told me my files got lost in the shuffle, that he was glad I’d followed up because then he could go ahead and work on all the contract details with me and it’d all go much faster.

We shared a few emails back and forth about the books, all the technical information, and then boom. The contract. I read it over, elated with what was presented to me.

I signed it earlier today.

With Michael’s warm welcome, I feel empowered.

My work has only just seriously begun, but I want to thank all of you that have picked up The Dark World when it was self-published, and those that told me they’d look into it. You’ll get your chance soon.

Naturally, I want to thank Ronald Andres Moore, again for being an awesome friend during all of this publishing going on (your book and mine).

Jayme K. for posting hilarious shit and inciting awesome arguments with…everyone. And for being ambitious in all his writing projects. And for working with Joel on their fucking comic. Seriously.

And, even though we don’t talk, Kayla Ancrum, for posting informative original content, and remaining on top of things in the writing world. Your passion speaks through all you share with us on Tumblr. I look up to you. 🙂

For the rest of you who have just followed me or never paid attention to me before, hi.

I write bloody, sometimes-scary, adventure-fueled, things.

Only now I get paid for it.

If that’s your deal, be sure to pick up The Dark World when it releases early 2015.

Keep your bite.

-S.C. Parris