Sunday, January 8, 2012

A Big Thing What Happened

Okay, so I don't think I've mentioned this actually on my blog, yet, which is a big oversight on my behalf, I know. Especially as it's probably one of the most exciting things to have happened to me to date in my writing career.

I got an agent.

No, no - really, I did. Don't go away laughing. I honestly got an agent - little tiny old me!

And it happened in this really overwhelming way, too. I queried an agent cos I managed somehow to get this big contract, and I thought to myself: well. I'll probably hear back after Christmas. Undoubtedly this agent is very busy and likely on holiday, now, so there's no way I'm going to hear immediatly.

And then two hours later, the phone rang. Yeah, you heard that right. THE PHONE RANG. Husband actually picked up and because there was a delay, he thought there was no one there. So I picked it up the second time and then heard this lovely American voice coming down the phone at me like a terrifying but wonderful dream of all the things my life could possibly be.

The agent in question didn't offer representation immediatly. She asked me questions, and I probably answered them like a maniac. I tried to outline my career goals without sounding like some jackass who has a headset phone and a marketing dossier and says yar, instead of yes.

And then she asked me to send her some material, and I did.

And yet again I thought: well, I'll probably have to sit tight, now. She's a very busy lady. She needs time to mull my work.

Only she got back to me about three days later, with an email that had the most beautiful words in the English language: "I'd be happy to offer you representation". Just like that! There weren't even any trumpets sounding from the heavens! I don't know what I did at this point. I think I fell back on my default position: I must have it wrong. She probably doesn't mean that. Find out more.

So I did. I asked questions, with the help of the fabulous Katie Reus. And then a day later I signed the contract. It's done. I am now represented by Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyons agency.

And the big contract I needed help with? She looked it over within 24 hours, got it all sorted, negotiated things for me, and I sent it back within two days. So that's all done, too!

MAN I had a good Christmas. Of course, now I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop...

7 comments:

  1. Oh, that is so awesome, and so well deserved!

    I bet those trumpets were blaring, but you were so taken in the moment, and rightly so, that you didn't hear them.

    Here's to your continued success!

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  2. Congratulations, Charlotte! How fabulous, and I'm so delighted for you!

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  3. Wonderful! Just the words 'career goals' make me break into fear sweat. Well done you!

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  5. As I slowly savor my way through Telling Tales (slowly, not only because my reading time has been very limited lately, but also because the book is so rich with awe-inspiring sentences that I keep stopping to linger over them), I hope for increasingly greater exposure for your work to the world. This sounds like a MAJOR step in that direction. Woo, as they say, hoo!!

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  6. Ha! Careful readers may have noticed the first version of my comment above, in which the word "erection" made an extraneous appearance. Truth be told, I initially drafted the comment with a "step in that erection, oops I mean 'direction'" joke--but I decided this was the wrong context for this bit of wordplay and edited it out. But one sneaky word stayed behind during the edit (probably by hiding behind the word next to it). Talk about getting caught with my pants down!

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  7. Craig - awww, thank you! I'm touched!

    Emerald - thanks, bb. You guys are making me teary, now!

    Jo - they do the same to me. I think I passed out while standing up, on the phone to her. And thanks!

    Jeremy - LOL, what did you do?? Good job I like it when your pants are down! And thanks, for the lovely words.

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