Half Down, Other Half To Go
Well, it happened. The first huge step in realizing my dream has come true. I am now represented by Beth Campbell of BookEnds, LLC. *screams, dances in imaginary confetti to the tune of "We Are the Champions"*
And before I get to how it happened, here's an interesting side-note: BookEnds was the first agency that ever caught my eye years ago, when I first decided I wanted to make a career out of writing. Back when I decided to look into the business of getting an agent, back when I had no idea how it all worked, I came across the BookEnds blog. No joke, between this and the Nelson Literary Agency blog, I learned every single thing there is to know about the publishing and agenting world. Everything. I owe my passion for it to this blog. Unfortunately, they stopped doing posts because of time constraints, but they keep the blog public for anyone to reference. Because of this immediate love for them, and in researching their agents and agency, they were my dream agency.
I queried them.
Multiple times.
On a few different projects, back when I was an even greener rookie than I am now. Of course they were all rejected, and rightfully so. It wasn't until a couple of years later, when doing my last round of queries for Hemlock Veils, that I came across Beth, who was a new agent with the agency. Funny, after dozens and dozens of rejections, and many other agencies I came to adore, I would eventually land a place with the agency who was my original number one choice. Kind of awesome.
So, how did I get my agent? This last batch of queries I sent off, about six months ago, was probably my roughest yet, because even though the batch before showed a lot of interest, this batch, for some reason, showed none whatsoever. I don't know if it was the market's sudden decline for an interest in paranormal, or timing, or what. Either way, I was having ZERO luck, unlike six months before that (a year ago) when I had numerous requests (all of which were rejected because the project wasn't ready, and I totally appreciate that now because that rejection and feedback made Hemlock Veils what it is now). So, I had put all that wishful thinking aside and moved on from the world of agents for a bit. I had decided that I would hop back into it a few months down the road, and do a whole other batch.
So in the meantime, I bettered my manuscript and even entered a few contests. The last contest I entered was a simple twitter pitch party--one I was feeling pretty negative about, I hate to admit. I was thinking, These things never work! It'll get me nowhere, and I'm doing this just because I feel like I have to. I had spent so many months/years trying to be positive through the rejection, that I had just sort of reached a point of giving up. I had started thinking, for the first time ever in this process, that it just may never happen for me. But I pitched anyway.
And though I didn't get the attention of an agent, I did get the attention of a certain editor from a certain publisher. It shocked me. She wanted to read my manuscript. Still not trying to get hopes up, I thought, Okay, sure, I'll send it. Whatever. So I did.
And she loved it. My jaw dropped when I read that. And, what?! She wanted to sign me?! I was floored. And SO flattered.
But...I didn't have an agent! I was kind of freaking out. I didn't know how to treat the contract. I didn't know what to do. So I did some research on the publisher, waiting it out. And what happens in the meantime?
Beth from BookEnds just so happens to email me, back from the query I had sent her months before--the one I had mentally moved on from. Turns out she got married (how dare she?) and was pretty darn busy. Turns out she was interested and wanted a partial.
So I sent it to her, but told her I got an offer from a publisher and they gave me a deadline.
So she asked for the entire manuscript. And Heaven help her, she read the entire thing in a week, even with all the other things she had going on.
My deadline was quickly approaching by this time. During, I decided to take a somewhat spontaneous trip to Oregon by myself. Yeah. For me, an introvert writer mom, this was a dream come true! I had never been there, but always wanted to, which is why I placed Hemlock Veils in that setting. I researched the place to death--felt like I had actually been there. So as a deal/reward to myself, I always said if I ever got a publishing offer, I would go. So I did. Like, totally spontaneously. And not without a lot of guilt. But I am SO glad I did, because let me tell you: Portland and the surrounding areas are so unbelievably BREATHTAKING! I was in awe to find that it didn't just meet my expectations, but surpassed them. And the time I had alone with nature was so invigorating and inspiring.
Okay, anyway. So, as soon as I get off the plane at the Portland airport (after a horrendous SLC airport experience, I might add), I turn on my phone and find an email and voicemail from Beth.
I listened.
And I flipped inside when she said she wanted to offer me representation. Guys, this call was the thing I had been dreaming about for the past three years--the thing I had been working SO desperately hard to achieve, and the thing I was beginning to think may not come to pass. So, right there in terminal D, I had "the call." I was so thrilled, and it just set the tone for the rest of my amazing trip!
I think Beth and I will be a great fit, and I love the way she works and the way she moved so quickly to make things happen for me. I love the way she believes in my writing and my story, and the way she speaks as though we will be in this thing for life (because, duh--we will).
Now, for the second part of my dream: publication, and much success. Beth is working hard on this for me, to which I am grateful, and I can't wait to give the update when things progress! Stay tuned!
And before I get to how it happened, here's an interesting side-note: BookEnds was the first agency that ever caught my eye years ago, when I first decided I wanted to make a career out of writing. Back when I decided to look into the business of getting an agent, back when I had no idea how it all worked, I came across the BookEnds blog. No joke, between this and the Nelson Literary Agency blog, I learned every single thing there is to know about the publishing and agenting world. Everything. I owe my passion for it to this blog. Unfortunately, they stopped doing posts because of time constraints, but they keep the blog public for anyone to reference. Because of this immediate love for them, and in researching their agents and agency, they were my dream agency.
I queried them.
Multiple times.
On a few different projects, back when I was an even greener rookie than I am now. Of course they were all rejected, and rightfully so. It wasn't until a couple of years later, when doing my last round of queries for Hemlock Veils, that I came across Beth, who was a new agent with the agency. Funny, after dozens and dozens of rejections, and many other agencies I came to adore, I would eventually land a place with the agency who was my original number one choice. Kind of awesome.
So, how did I get my agent? This last batch of queries I sent off, about six months ago, was probably my roughest yet, because even though the batch before showed a lot of interest, this batch, for some reason, showed none whatsoever. I don't know if it was the market's sudden decline for an interest in paranormal, or timing, or what. Either way, I was having ZERO luck, unlike six months before that (a year ago) when I had numerous requests (all of which were rejected because the project wasn't ready, and I totally appreciate that now because that rejection and feedback made Hemlock Veils what it is now). So, I had put all that wishful thinking aside and moved on from the world of agents for a bit. I had decided that I would hop back into it a few months down the road, and do a whole other batch.
So in the meantime, I bettered my manuscript and even entered a few contests. The last contest I entered was a simple twitter pitch party--one I was feeling pretty negative about, I hate to admit. I was thinking, These things never work! It'll get me nowhere, and I'm doing this just because I feel like I have to. I had spent so many months/years trying to be positive through the rejection, that I had just sort of reached a point of giving up. I had started thinking, for the first time ever in this process, that it just may never happen for me. But I pitched anyway.
And though I didn't get the attention of an agent, I did get the attention of a certain editor from a certain publisher. It shocked me. She wanted to read my manuscript. Still not trying to get hopes up, I thought, Okay, sure, I'll send it. Whatever. So I did.
And she loved it. My jaw dropped when I read that. And, what?! She wanted to sign me?! I was floored. And SO flattered.
But...I didn't have an agent! I was kind of freaking out. I didn't know how to treat the contract. I didn't know what to do. So I did some research on the publisher, waiting it out. And what happens in the meantime?
Beth from BookEnds just so happens to email me, back from the query I had sent her months before--the one I had mentally moved on from. Turns out she got married (how dare she?) and was pretty darn busy. Turns out she was interested and wanted a partial.
So I sent it to her, but told her I got an offer from a publisher and they gave me a deadline.
So she asked for the entire manuscript. And Heaven help her, she read the entire thing in a week, even with all the other things she had going on.
My deadline was quickly approaching by this time. During, I decided to take a somewhat spontaneous trip to Oregon by myself. Yeah. For me, an introvert writer mom, this was a dream come true! I had never been there, but always wanted to, which is why I placed Hemlock Veils in that setting. I researched the place to death--felt like I had actually been there. So as a deal/reward to myself, I always said if I ever got a publishing offer, I would go. So I did. Like, totally spontaneously. And not without a lot of guilt. But I am SO glad I did, because let me tell you: Portland and the surrounding areas are so unbelievably BREATHTAKING! I was in awe to find that it didn't just meet my expectations, but surpassed them. And the time I had alone with nature was so invigorating and inspiring.
Okay, anyway. So, as soon as I get off the plane at the Portland airport (after a horrendous SLC airport experience, I might add), I turn on my phone and find an email and voicemail from Beth.
I listened.
And I flipped inside when she said she wanted to offer me representation. Guys, this call was the thing I had been dreaming about for the past three years--the thing I had been working SO desperately hard to achieve, and the thing I was beginning to think may not come to pass. So, right there in terminal D, I had "the call." I was so thrilled, and it just set the tone for the rest of my amazing trip!
I think Beth and I will be a great fit, and I love the way she works and the way she moved so quickly to make things happen for me. I love the way she believes in my writing and my story, and the way she speaks as though we will be in this thing for life (because, duh--we will).
Now, for the second part of my dream: publication, and much success. Beth is working hard on this for me, to which I am grateful, and I can't wait to give the update when things progress! Stay tuned!
Comments
Best of everything to you.