It's been raining a lot where I live. Every day - just a solid and consistent downfall. It hasn't been a grotesque rain, where lack of umbrella means a full on soaking in seconds, but it's been never ending. I just got a new puppy and unfortunately for us both: puppies still need to walk and play and experience life outside even if it's raining.
We had just gotten back inside after a long and very muddy walk, the little guy soaked and his paws streaked brown, when I checked my phone and saw I had three email notifications. While trying to keep little guy off my bed, I discovered all three were from my publishing contacts - two from Random House Canada, and one from my agent (Maddy Belton). They were all telling me the same thing, and offering their sincere congratulations: I had just gotten a starred review from Publishers Weekly.
I clicked through the link to see it and absolutely fell to bits:
I don't remember what I said or did exactly, but I do know I made a noise and ended up with an armfull of very excited muddy dog as my immediate reward. It was worth it.
I confess, I needed to look up exactly what it meant to get a starred review. I found plenty of forums and blog posts talking about how PW was The Big One and how getting a starred review meant that of their 10k reviews they do each year, my book was one of the lucky ~500 to be considered of outstanding quality. And the more that sank in - the more it sank in.
I started writing The Sun Blessed Prince in 2020, and when I did, I had no real thoughts about its future at all. I just enjoyed the process of writing it, and loved the feedback I got from those I shared it with. I liked the story, and I liked the characters. When I decided to pitch it to agents in 2023, I genuinely didn't have high hopes. I had tried the querying trenches before and relatively low expectations about what my chances were.
Everything since the moment I first got Maddy's email in May 2023 with her offer to speak and discuss representation has been one shocking surprise after another, and I am so incredibly grateful for all of it.
There are a lot of people who helped whip this story into shape, and get it to where it is today. Because of them, this book was considered outstanding enough to get this starred review, and I'm humbled and honored by their assistance.
To the agents that rejected me, but told me that the final third needed more action - those changes are still in place today and the book became all the stronger from that guidance.
To Maddy - whose editorial comments and tigthened the plot, strengthened my characters, and focused my narrative, and without whom I wouldn't even have the publishing deals I have in the first place
To Amanda Ferreira (Penguin Random House Canada) - For all her editing work, but specifically for that planning phone call that worked out the details of my "clever late plot twist" so it could shock appropriately
To Bella Pagan (Tor UK) - for taking lead on the edits, managing the hefty back and forth with everything, and coordinating everything from on high while simultaneously being incredibly approachable and a joy to speak with
To Rebecca Needes (Tor UK) - for coordinating the copy edits and proofreading stages!
To Michael Beale and Grace Barber for being on cc and answering all my questions whenever I needed additional support and assistance, and coordinating all the extra on the side things that helped bring this book to fruition
And to all the other support staff members of both Tor UK and Penguin Random House Canada for always being so polite, kind, and enthusiastic every time I needed help:
I am so profoundly grateful to you all.
As we approach launch day, I'm very much looking forward to more and more readers getting their hands on this book, and I hope everyone has the reading experience that PW's review suggests they'll get.
I worked so incredibly hard on this book, and it's my deepest wish that it finds its way into the hands of readers ready for the dark, bittersweet, but overall heartfelt journey that so many people have been responsible for bringing to life.
I'm looking forward to seeing how this story grows, and no matter what happens from here: I am so honored to have received a Starred Review.
Even when there's rain, the sun finds a way to shine through.
All the best,
~Lindsey
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