The Long Road to a Happy Ending in Hell (or how my book found its publisher)

[burgold]

The Long Road to a Happy Ending in Hell – Andrew Hiller

andrewhiller.net

About a year ago, I thought I had a book deal. The publisher provided me with their edit requests, we talked about marketing, I even had the green light to reach out to authors for blurbs. Then with no foreshadowing or reason offered, it fell apart. Now, I’ve been writing long enough to develop pretty good callouses, but this one devastated me.

Maybe it was because of how over the moon the publisher had been just a month earlier. Maybe it was the embarrassment of reapproaching authors I admire who said “yes.” Maybe it was just that this was the wolf gust that smashed up my brick house after so many other concussive blows.

Some things held. My would-be blurbing authors offered encouragement and most said they would be happy to help me when my book found its next home. My writing circle encouraged me to write and inspired me with their works and successes. New story ideas edged their noses out like groundhogs. Neither of us were ready to venture out, but the hint of floral air encouraged me that spring might return.

Out of stubbornness or habit, I worked on a few new things. Sent out a scattering of submissions. I even reworked the book a little.

 

[burgold]

You know, "The Long Road to a Happy Ending in Hell" could also be a good title for what we fans went through from Snyder 'til today.

 

[RedWolf]

Congratulations sir

 

[iheartskins]

Congrats man!! - without naming & shaming, any rationale given by the would-be publisher? Was it one of the smaller houses or a major like Penguin Random House / FSG?

 

[burgold]

I'll answer via DM. I don't feel comfortable saying it publicly

 

[Knightingale]

Congrats, man!

I went the indie publishing route back in 2021 and haven't looked back. I don't make a ton of money, but I'm a happy camper. My 6th book will be out soon.
My editor and I established our own imprint label and have just taken on another author. We're deep in story edits which is taking up all of my spare time lately!

Will you be letting us all know when the book is coming out ? OR is it out already?

 

[burgold]

Congrats, man!

I went the indie publishing route back in 2021 and haven't looked back. I don't make a ton of money, but I'm a happy camper. My 6th book will be out soon.
My editor and I established our own imprint label and have just taken on another author. We're deep in story edits which is taking up all of my spare time lately!

Will you be letting us all know when the book is coming out ? OR is it out already?

I will be SHAMELESS! In fact, I already asked Boone if I could be and he gave me his blessing.

Right now, I think the plan is to release the book early in 2026. I

 

[Knightingale]

Oooo will there be a 'shameless plug' thread? LOL

 

[burgold]

Oooo will there be a 'shameless plug' thread? LOL

Those who remember me from my early ES days know the answer.

Mwhahahahahahahaha!

I love being able to celebrate these things with all of you. Life's too hard not to scream "Hail Yeah!" and root for each other every chance we get.

 

[RedWolf]

What is the book about?

 

[Knightingale]

Those who remember me from my early ES days know the answer.

Mwhahahahahahahaha!

I love being able to celebrate these things with all of you. Life's too hard not to scream "Hail Yeah!" and root for each other every chance we get.

LOL Maybe I should start doing some screaming for my own books!!

The marketing aspect of being an author is the WORST part of the process.

 

[burgold]

(Probably giving you too much)

In terms of tone, one of the authors I reached out to called it Who Framed Roger Rabbit meets Michael Chabon's Yiddish Policeman's Union.

Set up: After the Devil went on a vacation to Washington D.C., he realized that humans had gotten better at torturing humans than his own minions so he decided to upraise a portion of Hell into the suburbs of DC right between Chevy Chase and the Capitol so he could upskill his workforce. In a gesture of goodwill, the DC police force was allowed limited jurisdiction into this new real estate which quickly became a tourist trap called Hornytown.

The story:

When a succubus comes knocking on Sol Weiss’s door with a far-fetched story about being framed for the murder of the mayor of Hornytown, he’s not looking to be a hero. He’s just a private dick trying to eke out rent. But the succubus is paying and worse than that her spiel is convincing.

“Demons can’t kill,” she tells him, “They can torture, seduce, manipulate and lie, but killing ends the torment so it’s forbidden.”

Okay, maybe it wasn’t her story, but an ambush by the cops followed by thugs shooting at him that convinces him. Whatever, he takes the case.

Now he’s back on his old beat in that upraised part of Hell that the Devil shot up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., armed with a supersoaker full of Manichewitz red wine confronting his past and the case.Together with his cardplaying pals, he discovers that no one in Hell is rushing to fill the power vacuum and that not only is his client not guilty, but the Mayor is very much alive.

The whole shmegegge is a ruse for the mayor to sink his claws into Mortalville.

 

[burgold]

LOL Maybe I should start doing some screaming for my own books!!

The marketing aspect of being an author is the WORST part of the process.

You should. We should all support one another.

 

[Knightingale]

Maybe we need a whole 'Self Promo' area on the forum where everyone can post to promote their things and somewhere everyone can go and look for things that might interest them and then support those people.

 

[Boone]

Maybe we need a whole 'Self Promo' area on the forum where everyone can post to promote their things and somewhere everyone can go and look for things that might interest them and then support those people.

Knightingale and burgold - we have a Classifieds section now, including a 'Member Services' and 'Swap Meet' section where you can post book descriptions, provide an external link to purchase each book, etc... why not use it?