“I told you already on the phone and in email,” Toni grumbled. “I’ll let you and Embothknow when it’s written, andthenyou can buy it if it’s any good.”
Greta swallowed a sigh. “I’m sure it’ll be fabulous. I could buy it now, and then—”
“I didn’t like the pressure of a deadline.” Toni had a look that made Greta completely aware she wasn’t liable to budge.
Still, Greta had to try. “But Iagreedto the extension when you needed it. What if we set a due date longer than we think you’ll need and—”
“No.” Toni folded her arms and leaned back. “I know Em gave you permission to try to con me into this, but I’m not ready to sign a new contract. The second book comes out next month. Let’s focus on that.”
“And the early reviews for it are great,” Greta assured her. “You’ve written two fabulous books. Readers will want more.Iwant more.”
“I’m working on the third book,” Toni said lightly. “I hope to be finished by the new year. Maybe December, but my goal is January. Right before the wedding.”
Greta did a little mental math. The first book had released, the show had launched, the new book was about to release, so ideally, she should be editing this onesoon.She could shift a few things around to keep her desk clear so that when it came in, she could dive in immediately.
“Are you considering selling to other editors? Is that the delay?” Greta hated that she had to ask, but they had a very loose option clause. The clause meant that Greta would get to see the book first, but Tonicouldgo elsewhere if they didn’t come to terms within thirty days. Any editor in New York would be thrilled to have Toni, despite how difficult she could be personally. Her writingsold. The book earned well, and the sequel was already well past earned out on preorders. Greta would fight to keep her, and she had permission to do just that. The figure she was authorized to pay would make news.
When Toni didn’t reply, Greta added, “If there is something you felt like we mishandled—”
“No.” Toni sighed and sat upright. “You’remy editor, Greta, and I’m glad you are. I am writing this book without a deadline because that makes it feel less like work. If I get stuck, I can take however long I need to figure it out. Doing it this way has meant that I’m not getting stuck at all. I got stuck with book two because of the pressure.”
Greta nodded. Plenty of writers developed their tics and habits. She couldn’t fault Toni for her process. That was what mattered.
“I want you to know that I will be ready whenever the book is, and I’m thrilled to continue this journey with you.” Greta took a breath before adding, “I thought that perhaps your refusal and Ms. Carpenter’s reticence were linked, since you’re friends.”
“Friendship and business are two different matters for me,” Toni clarified. “Kaelee’s very private. It’s one of the reasons I was glad she signed with you. You’re not an asshole.”
Greta laughed. “Maybe I’ll add that to my signature line in my email—‘not an asshole,’ says Toni Darbyshire, number oneNew York Timesbestselling author.”
“I’ll deny saying it if you do that.” Toni smiled, though. Her shoulders relaxed, and the tense moment was over. “I am not selling my book to anyone else, Greta. When it’s done—in a few months at this rate—I’ll tell Em, and at that point you’ll hear from her or me or both. I’mgladyou want it, but I’m not ready to sign my name to a paper with a deadline.Anydeadline. That’s it. There’s no mystery or machinations on my part or Em’s. I just want to write it at my own pace. I’m still glad to be your author, and I really hope you like the book when I finish drafting it.”
Greta tossed back her subpar coffee. “Well, I’m glad you’re my author, too. When you’re ready to sign… I’m ready to buy. I thought I was going to lose the auction when Emily was selling the Carpenter book, no mercy in her. Maybe that added to my anxiety about yours.” Greta respected the hell out of Emily Haide. She was a great advocate for her authors. That didn’t mean she was a pushover, though. “Emily has a take-no-prisoners attitude.”
“Em’s a baddie. She’s always been that way. Honestly, you remind me of her a little. Probably why she knows how to get you to get out the big checkbook.”
“Ha. Well, your sales would be a factor this time, Toni.” Greta gave her a look, torn between company loyalty and wanting to be fair. “You could demand a lot. I know Em will tell you that, but I want to be clear that we are prepared to offer a generous advance.”
Toni held up a hand. “Noted, but… no deal talk until the book is ready. You’ll know when I’m ready, but until then… no deal. No talking about it.”
Greta felt a wave of relief at the realization that she had another hit book inbound. “Understood. Thank you for entertaining my anxiety.” She smiled. “I suppose I ought to let you head off to wherever bestselling professors go at night.”
“Scintillating evening of lesson prep tonight, but I ought to head out before the traffic istoo muchof a disaster.” Toni stood and held out a hand to shake, a gesture Greta appreciated a little bit extra. So often people treated her like she was a delicate doll.
Greta smoothed down her sleeves and stood to shake Toni’s hand.
Toni added, “Sorry you wasted the trip. A quick chat with me and a ‘no’ from Kae can’t be worth the ride.”
“I didn’t waste it!” Greta laughed lightly. “We caught up. And I can breathe easier now. I know now that you aren’t considering other publishing houses. You don’t know how worried I was that you’d… found me lacking or someone came along with big incentives. We don’t want to lose you.Idon’t want to lose you, so if you are unhappy now or later… please, do tell me.”
Toni gave her a strange look. “I am not interested in any other editor, Greta. I know publishing is not actually the same as dating, no matter how often people compare it, but I take commitments seriously once I make them. You’re the editor for this series. We built this together, you, me, and Em. So as long as I’m writing books about this character, I will be selling them to youifyou want them.”
“I’ll want them.” Greta smiled at Toni’s assurance. Plenty of authors were willing to hop around, even mid-series, and Greta couldn’t blame them sometimes. She wanted this series, though, so she’d do whatever she could to make that happen. Fight for publicity? Argue for a higher royalty? Give the author more cover control? She was willing to negotiate.
Toni glanced at the oversized clock on the wall across from them. “What time’s your train?”
“I think I’m going to take a day to enjoy the museums since I’m here. DC is nice in the fall. Visiting the museums without quite so many tourists sounds like heaven.” Greta had a weakness for museums. It didn’t matter whether it was a tiny one-room museum in a small town or the National Museum of something or other, Greta was interested and willing to give it a try.
“I teach tomorrow,” Toni started.
