From Loon to "Loon" PART 4

This is the fourth in a five part series

With the Loon manuscript now in the capable hands of my agent in New York, there was little for me to do but wait. Although she felt that there could be 8 or 10 publishers with an interest, she was careful to keep my lofty expectations in check. It was now about cash, marketing, and brand creation. Was there an audience out there for a topic that had a well earned reputation as a marketing graveyard - Vietnam?

Early in February 2008, I received word that we had two declinations. Although the comments were encouraging, the decisions were not. At the end of the month, days before leaving on a three week trip to visit my daughter and her family in Hong Kong, I called to see if there was any news.

"Well, sort of. We got a nibble from Random House."

I'd been in sales long enough to know that all big catches begin with a nibble. Success comes from keeping a fish on the line and reeling it in.

"A nibble," I responded. "Nibbles are good. Yes? I mean, nibbles are better than no nibbles, right?" I needed some hope here, something positive to dream about on a sixteen hour airplane ride.

"Yes, Jack. Nibbles are better than no nibbles."

So off I went to Hong Kong filled with hope. I told friends and family that I'd had a nibble from Random House. The response was enthusiastic. I was ecstatic.

Random House!

I mean, literary insiders knew I had a great agent, but everybody in the world knew how great Random House was! Did I go through all of this just to get a nibble from Random House? No, but I had to admit that the feeling was incredible.

Three days into my trip, my cell phone rang. It was my agent informing me that Random House was going to make an offer for Loon.