Page 31 of Knowing You
Casey pulls out his straw and tosses it on the table before taking a mouthful. ‘So you’re not here in an official capacity? Who cares anyway? I’m sure my agent won’t mind me meeting editors on my own. And if he does…’ He shrugs. ‘I don’t see how he really can object. I wrote the thing, after all.’
My eyebrows rise of their own accord.
‘What?’ he says.
‘How long have you been signed to your agent?’
‘A couple of months.’
The alcohol is already loosening my tongue. It probably doesn’t help that I was too nervous to eat before coming out. ‘You’ve not earned your agent a penny yet. The work he’s putting in before publication is based on his belief in you and your work. So…’
Casey leans forward. Thinks for a moment. ‘You’re right. I need to show him some respect. I’ll call him straight away.’
‘No, I didn’t mean—’
‘Gotcha there, didn’t I?’ His generous mouth upturns. ‘You’ve got a point, though,’ he says more softly. ‘I didn’t mean to sound like a twat. It’s just… all of this is new. I don’t want to upset anybody.’
What a difference from Gary Smith. Casey stares. ‘Sorry if I sounded conceited. Is it always like this – books causing so much interest before they’ve even gone on submission?’
‘Only exceptional ones. Frankly, I think it’s a work of genius, so don’t consider me the person to keep rein on your ego. And I don’t think it’s conceit – you should be rightly proud of yourself. And it takes any author a while to understand how the publishing process and its players work.’
Casey smiles so I decide to go for it and give him my best pitch, tell him why I think Thoth Publishing would be a perfect match. How Felicity lives and breathes science fiction, starting with a childhood defined byBattlestar Galactica,Star Trek,E.T.andStar Wars. How it inspired her to set up her own publishing house – how she worked night and day for twenty years to make it the solid business it is. How makingAlien Heartsa success would mean everything to Thoth and not just because of the clinical aspects like sales and Amazon rankings.
Casey hears me out. Puts down his drink.
I keep my voice light. ‘Has anyone else approached you yet?’
‘Just one editor. She has an excellent reputation.’
‘Beatrix Bingham,’ I say, guessing he’ll equally appreciate my openness.
Casey tilts his head. ‘How did you know that?’
‘I’ve done my research. She wants to sign you to her new imprintOut There Stories, an imprint with no solid record. It’s an unknown entity.’
‘Butsheisn’t. I’ve done my homework too. Thoth isn’t doing as well as it could…’ His inky eyes dance. ‘But you’re bold.’
Am I?
‘And I admire that. But I have my career to think about. Beatrix is already talking foreign rights and screen adaptations.’
‘That’s all pie in the sky before you’ve even signed and investigated all your options.’
Casey calls the waiter over. ‘Same again for me. Vi?’
I like that. He’s not assuming. If Lenny was drinking beer, he’d get us one each before I could object.
‘Yes please.’ I give the waiter my credit card. I need to take charge. ‘Could you open a tab with that?’
‘You’re not at all what I expected,’ he says as the waiter heads to the bar.
‘You’re a penniless debut author, Mr Wilde. I couldn’t possibly expect you to buy more than one cocktail.’
‘Penniless? Hardly. I own a hairdresser’s.’
The waiter arrives with our drinks and hands me my credit card.
‘That doesn’t surprise me,’ I say when we’re alone. ‘It makes sense, now, why you understand women so well. I’m presuming they’re the bulk of your customers – that we’re not talking a barber shop? What made you go into hairdressing? How do you fit your writing in alongside work?’
