Big day, y’all. Big day.


I have been DYING to tell you this. I mean, simply dying.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 4:40pm, I signed a book contract with Zondervan.

Oh yeah, THIS ZONDERVAN.

Are. You. Dying!??! I know. I know.

In the very same coffee shop where three years ago I finished the manuscript for From Head To Foot, I signed the deal yesterday. You can watch it happen. Because, my dear bloggites, I wished you all could be there when it happened. I really do. I can’t get sappy now, I don’t have it in me, but know that I KNOW you had so much to do with this day. I humbly thank you.

Also, super big thanks to my lit agent Kyle Olund who made all this happen and happen smoothly. He’s awesome.

[The booing at the end is from my friend Amy, who works at a competing publishing house here in Nashville. So it was funny and we all laughed.]

Some of my very besties were in attendance because it would be lame to sign that thing alone.

And of course, by besties I mean Nichole, Lyndsay, and my soy chai.

All the details about the new book I shall share tomorrow.

For today, we bask in the beauty of my little name on that “author” line.

Today we celebrate a God-sized dream realized.

Today we celebrate four years of writing lots and working hard and trying and praying and now it has all come together.

I’m really really excited.

Watch out, world. Annie Blogs is comin’ for ya.

  1. Melodee says:
    March 07, 2012 at 4:07 am

    I cannot even BEGIN to tell you how thrilled I am for you. You rock. Congratulations!

    Reply

  2. Heather says:
    March 07, 2012 at 4:20 am

    ANNIE!! I am so happy for you! And, don’t tell anybody but I totally teared up watching that video…because I’m SO HAPPY for you!

    Reply

  3. March 07, 2012 at 4:27 am

    Congratulations! How exciting is that?! You are beaming in those pictures. Gorgeous girl.

    Reply

  4. March 07, 2012 at 4:56 am

    Oh Annie! I am so happy, thrilled, excited, and pleased as punch for you! Congratulations and I can’t wait to buy/read your book! Blessings!

    Reply

  5. March 07, 2012 at 5:28 am

    REALLY thrilled for you friend. xo

    Reply

  6. Deanna says:
    March 07, 2012 at 5:39 am

    Congratulations, Annie. Can’t wait to read tomorrows post for more details! Wonderful job at powering through all the rough times of being an author/writer.

    Reply

  7. Bindu says:
    March 07, 2012 at 6:03 am

    YAY!! Congratulations, such amazing news.

    Reply

  8. boomama says:
    March 07, 2012 at 6:13 am

    YEE! HAW!

    So proud of you, Annie Downs.

    Reply

  9. March 07, 2012 at 6:18 am

    Cheering so loud, sister! Can’t. stop. smiling.

    Reply

  10. Beth says:
    March 07, 2012 at 6:47 am

    Congratulations!!! So pleased for you and can’t wait to buy it! Well done! (And can’t believe my comment is next to Ann Voskamps….oooh:) )

    Reply

  11. sarah says:
    March 07, 2012 at 7:04 am

    i may or may not have tears in my eyes right now from reading this! congratulations, annie!!! so happy for you! and can’t wait to hear more about the book!

    Reply

  12. March 07, 2012 at 7:10 am

    ANNIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    So…stinkin’…THRILLED for you!!

    Yes, you HAVE been working hard for *this* very thing.

    And *that* very thing.

    Can’t wait to see this story continue… :)

    Reply

  13. elizabeth says:
    March 07, 2012 at 7:18 am

    Great news, Annie! So proud of you!!

    So… is the book written, or is it something that you will be writing?

    Reply

  14. Gwen says:
    March 07, 2012 at 7:31 am

    Annie! Oh my heart, I am so happy for/proud of/absolutely thrilled for you.

    Seeing dreams come true and prayers realized? A great way to start the day. Excellent news, friend.

    Reply

  15. Gina says:
    March 07, 2012 at 7:32 am

    Congratulations!

    Reply

  16. March 07, 2012 at 7:32 am

    OH MY WORD!!!!!!! Grinning so big right now with tears of joy in my eyes for you and this AMAZING accomplishment!! Squeeeeeee!! Can’t wait to read more from your talented self :)

    Reply

  17. March 07, 2012 at 7:42 am

    Congrats! That has to be one of the most thrilling feelings ever.

    Reply

  18. March 07, 2012 at 7:47 am

    ZONDERVAN!!! ANNIE!!! You have hit the BIG TIME! Thrilled for you….and just as excited, or maybe even more excited, for all of the many lives that will be touched because of your book!!

    Reply

  19. March 07, 2012 at 7:48 am

    Congratulations! Is this the book you’ve already written or will you be writing something new?

    Reply

  20. Jennifer says:
    March 07, 2012 at 7:51 am

    Congrats, Annie!

    Reply

  21. March 07, 2012 at 7:54 am

    awesome news Annie!!!! I’m soo proud of You!

    Reply

  22. March 07, 2012 at 7:55 am

    Congrats! So excited for you!!

    Reply

  23. Amy says:
    March 07, 2012 at 8:18 am

    That’s awesome, congrats!

    Reply

  24. Jen says:
    March 07, 2012 at 8:18 am

    Congratulations, Author Annie!!

    Reply

  25. Annie says:
    March 07, 2012 at 8:20 am

    Wahoo! Congratulations, Annie! I remember stumbling upon your blog when I was looking for domain names, and you were in the beginning of your self-publishing. And now your words here & at (in)courage challenge & inspire me, and soon in print, too! Can’t wait. Yipee!

    Reply

  26. March 07, 2012 at 8:22 am

    Soooo exciting! Zondervan–dang girl! Can’t wait to hear details!

    Reply

  27. Big Mama says:
    March 07, 2012 at 8:22 am

    I am SO PROUD of you! Excited to see what the future holds! Love you!

    Reply

  28. Lindsay Bishop says:
    March 07, 2012 at 8:24 am

    Congratu-freakin-lations!!!! That’s how God roles :)

    Reply

  29. March 07, 2012 at 8:56 am

    congratulations!!! that is so awesome, Annie!!

    Reply

  30. Jamie says:
    March 07, 2012 at 8:56 am

    Crying! So proud! So excited! So many lives will be blessed by the words of the Lord that will flow through you. Thrilled for you, my friend!

    Reply

  31. Heather Miller says:
    March 07, 2012 at 9:00 am

    Annie!! Congratulations! I am so excited for you. Happy HAPPY Wednesday.

    Reply

  32. March 07, 2012 at 9:13 am

    YES!!!! So pumped for you Annie! You are going to kill it!

    Reply

  33. Sarah says:
    March 07, 2012 at 9:15 am

    Yay!!! SOOOO exciting!!!!!!

    Reply

  34. Seth says:
    March 07, 2012 at 9:16 am

    YEAH!! CHANGE THE NAME OF THIS WHOLE OPERATIONG TO ANNIE BOOKS @ANNIEBOOKS

    Reply

  35. ManUtd17 says:
    March 07, 2012 at 9:17 am

    Well done Downs. Proud of you.

    Now email me back about that other thing.

    Reply

  36. March 07, 2012 at 9:21 am

    Congratulations lovely one! Looking forward to the book. All the way over here in africa ;-)

    Reply

  37. March 07, 2012 at 9:42 am

    You are so baller.

    I don’t know what that means, but right now, I’m totally convinced that you are BALLER.

    Reply

  38. merideth says:
    March 07, 2012 at 9:43 am

    WOOHOO!!!!! Congratulations Annie! I’m so excited for you!!! How awesome that you have this opportunity. Can’t wait to hear about the new book! Love ya girl!

    Reply

  39. Simon says:
    March 07, 2012 at 9:45 am

    Annie, I couldn’t be more happy and excited for you. Congratulations!!

    Reply

  40. Sundi says:
    March 07, 2012 at 9:58 am

    Annie! This is so exciting!! I can’t wait to read the new book :)

    By the way, could your handwriting be any cuter??

    Reply

  41. Kimberly says:
    March 07, 2012 at 10:12 am

    So thrilled for you! I mostly lurk, but today I declare it ‘Lurk no more day’ in honor of this awesomely awesome news. Well done, Annie!

    Reply

  42. Lucy Stephensen says:
    March 07, 2012 at 10:17 am

    Congratulations Annie. I’m so happy for you. Looking forward to hearing more good news from you.

    Best wishes.

    -Lucy

    Reply

  43. Maria says:
    March 07, 2012 at 10:38 am

    Congratulations, Annie! Can’t wait to hear what you’ll be writing about.

    Reply

  44. Michele Brooks says:
    March 07, 2012 at 10:55 am

    So excited for you!!!

    Reply

  45. March 07, 2012 at 11:14 am

    Anya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is amazing!!!! I AM dying and just can’t wait to see where the Lord takes you. YAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  46. March 07, 2012 at 11:16 am

    oh my insides hurt from all the happy. SO Much happy!!!

    Reply

  47. March 07, 2012 at 11:25 am

    That is so very cool! Can’t wait to hear the rest of the story.

    Reply

  48. March 07, 2012 at 11:34 am

    Yay! Congratulations. Can’t wait to hear about it more tomorrow!

    Reply

  49. March 07, 2012 at 11:34 am

    Congratulations, Annie! This is SO awesome and exciting! I hope you plan on all manner of celebrating now that’s official.

    Reply

  50. Katy says:
    March 07, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    Congrats!!!!!!! SO excited for you!

    Reply

  51. kathleen says:
    March 07, 2012 at 12:40 pm

    SO PROUD!!!

    Reply

  52. Erin says:
    March 07, 2012 at 12:43 pm

    Annie!! This is amazing! I love your smile in the first pic. The smile of a dream realized.

    Reply

  53. Amy says:
    March 07, 2012 at 1:55 pm

    Wonderful!! Can’t wait to hear all about the book, and more importantly, to buy it & read it!

    Reply

  54. March 07, 2012 at 1:57 pm

    You look gorgeous. So happy, so alive. I’m so proud of you. xo

    Reply

  55. March 07, 2012 at 3:11 pm

    practice your signature?

    Reply

  56. Shana says:
    March 07, 2012 at 3:40 pm

    Wonderful news Annie! I’m SO proud of you!!

    Reply

  57. Joy Cook says:
    March 07, 2012 at 5:46 pm

    Congratulations!

    Reply

  58. March 07, 2012 at 5:51 pm

    Congratulations! That’s exciting!

    Reply

  59. Debra Weiss says:
    March 07, 2012 at 7:53 pm

    Woot! Congrats to ya, Annie! This is so exciting. :)

    Reply

  60. Rachelle says:
    March 07, 2012 at 8:35 pm

    *Squeal!*
    That is so very exciting! So happy for you! Congratulations!

    Reply

  61. Bianca says:
    March 07, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    Wow! I’m so happy for you. Congrats!

    Reply

  62. Emily says:
    March 07, 2012 at 9:28 pm

    WOW!! Congrats!!

    Reply

  63. Brooke says:
    March 07, 2012 at 9:30 pm

    Congratulations, Annie! I’m the girl that got to interview you last March at The Frothy Monkey for a paper I was writing and you were so kind to do that for me. So very, very happy for you and can’t wait to read your next book!

    Reply

  64. Emily Brown says:
    March 07, 2012 at 10:03 pm

    So happy for you!

    Reply

  65. Barbie says:
    March 07, 2012 at 10:59 pm

    This is so exciting! Congratulations!

    Reply

  66. Jenny says:
    March 07, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    What fabulous news! Congrats again and again!

    Reply

  67. Linda says:
    March 08, 2012 at 4:14 am

    Wow! I’m a day late reading this, so my joyful congratulations for you are bit tardy. What a great blessing, and what a fabulous lesson in standing on the promises og God in our lives. Booyah, Annie!

    Reply

  68. Lindsey says:
    March 08, 2012 at 5:15 am

    ANNIE!!! :) This is incredible. So happy for you. Wow! God is so. so. good.

    Reply

  69. Julianne says:
    March 08, 2012 at 4:20 pm

    So proud of you Annie! And you deserve it- your book is incredible, as are you. Just started rereading it and am loving it all over again! Love you!

    Reply

  70. Aneta says:
    March 08, 2012 at 7:02 pm

    Congrats! So exciting!!

    Reply

  71. jennifer says:
    March 09, 2012 at 12:40 pm

    So absolutely wonderful!! Well deserved

    Reply

  72. Sandy says:
    March 10, 2012 at 5:21 pm

    I’m so excited for you. Congratulations!! You have been waiting a long time for this..and God’s blessing arrived…Yeah!
    God bless you

    Reply

  73. March 12, 2012 at 9:15 am

    [...] Annie and Valerie, you remind me of what it means to hope and dream and work, and to wind up somewhere beyond what you thought was possible.  I’m so incredibly proud of both of you.  (Also, let’s just take a moment to recognize how GORGEOUS they both look – good grief.) [...]

    Reply

  74. April 05, 2012 at 12:00 pm

    ANNIE! I am (per usual) SO WAY LATE to this amazing and terrific news! I just saw it through the WestBow web site–they’ve been promoting your story lately. Anyway, forgive me for being so out-of-the-loop late and oblivious to your spectacular news! All the best and HUGE (and much deserved!!!) blessings to you and your CONTRACTED BOOK!!!! We all knew you rocked WAY before a publisher did. :)

    Reply

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