Author Guest Post : Kim Purcell, Trafficked + GIVEAWAY

Let's welcome Author Kim Purcell to Flippin' Fabulous. She stopped by to help promote her debut book Trafficked and tell us how she found her editor. I haven't actually read any editor-finding stories yet so I was really excited to get a look at hers.
Also, don't forget to check out her website for ways on how you can help trafficked teenagers. On her website she even states she is going to donate 20% of her earnings from Trafficked to help vulnerable teens and children. So although I am providing you a chance to win a copy of Trafficked I encourage you all to go out and get your own copy.


Look for the PINK for details for your chance to win!

I found my editor in the most unusual way. I was coming home from the National Book Awards reading with some friends and we were talking on the subway about the readings and trying to make guesses about who would win in each category. Our talk turned to my novel, TRAFFICKED. One woman was a friend of a friend, so I explained that my novel was about a girl who comes from Moldova to America to be a nanny and ends up a modern-day domestic slave.

Around that time, I noticed a young, petite, bookish woman glancing our way. She was clearly listening to us. I smiled at her and kept blabbing on. I figured she was probably another writer – Brooklyn is full of them. I remembered what it was like, not so long ago, to be a writer with no agent. You hear that someone has an agent and it’s like, oh wow, you must be really good. I felt a moment of gratitude that I had a great agent, Kate Lee at ICM, even though I didn’t yet have a publisher. I had a friend now in the publishing world, a world which can feel very lonely.

I decided to get off one stop early so I could walk further with my friends. But then, when we got off, the woman from the train followed us. She said, “Excuse me.” I stopped, thinking maybe I’d dropped something. “I’m sorry for eavesdropping,” she said. “But I’m an editor and your book sounds like exactly the sort of story I’ve been wanting to work on.”

The doors to the train closed. I glanced at them. She was missing her train for me, I thought. Later, I learned she happened to live just a couple blocks away. The train shot down into the tunnel. The tracks rattled. I was in shock. Was this really happening?

“Do you have an editor?” she asked.

I decided she had to be from a very small press. I had my hopes pinned on a big publisher with a wide distribution potential, but I’m always friendly, no matter what, and you never know, right?

“No, I don’t.” Then, I added quickly, “I have an agent though.”

My friends stood by, watching with anticipation. They knew how rare and momentous this occasion was.

“Well, my name is Kendra Levin.” She shook my hand. “Would you like to get her to send your book to me?”

I put a big smile on my face. “I’d love that.”

She reached into her bag and handed me her card. I told her it was nice to meet her and we went our separate ways. I didn’t look at it right away because I didn’t want her to notice the disappointment in my face when I saw it was just a small, unknown press. I walked away and glanced down at the card.

I was both shocked and thrilled when I saw the little Penguin logo. I hoped I’d been enthusiastic enough. I wanted to run back and say, “By the way, I’m really interested!” But maybe being just a little less exuberant than I am normally was a good thing. Kate sent the novel to her and a few days later, Viking, the Penguin imprint, bought it. It was a serendipitous moment, preceded by years and years of hard work.

Trafficked by Kim Purcell
Released: February 16, 2012
Young Adult
| Website |

A 17-year-old Moldovan girl whose parents have been killed is brought to the United States to work as a slave for a family in Los Angeles.

Thank You Kim Purcell for stopping by!
Read on for your chance to win your own copy of Trafficked!

Giveaway:
-One Reader will win Trafficked
-Must have a U.S Mailing Address
-Must Enter by March 07, 2012
-LEAVE A COMMENT WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN