Y'know, it's weird.... I always thought when I got an agent or made some other big motion forward in selling my fiction I'd be shouting it from the rooftops.
Instead I have this niggling inclination to reticence whose source I don't understand.... perhaps a fear that by talking about the deal I will be committing a publishing faux pas, thereby causing said agent to change her mind? Or the echoes of my dad's voice, telling me I shouldn't flaunt my success? The old self-defeatist impulse that now I might actually have to work? The fear that even if I try my best it still won't be good enough (and then I'll kick myself because I know it wasn't really my best)?
Enough, already. Enough.
Last week I signed a contract for representation with Amy Boggs, the "baby agent," as she calls herself, at Donald Maass Literary Agency in New York. I spoke to her on the phone; she was warm, amiable, and very excited about Trace. She had some very helpful suggestions about how to tighten the last third of the book. She complimented my historical research. We agreed there was nothing else like it out there (at least not in the mainstream), and she said when she pitched it to her boss, his eyes lit up with interest. That's a good compliment.
So I'm doing a fairly light edit and tightening up of The Curse of Jacob Tracy, so that Amy can start shopping it around to editors. She asked a bit about my future plans for the series, so I will probably slap together an outline of what will happen in the next book. Someone will want to know about that, eventually.
I also have been cleaning up my website and blog to be more professional and more writerly-oriented. I've been out of the publishing loop for so long--I'm gathering new links, reading the blogs again. I even joined Twitter, for pete's sake, since that's where all the writer kids seem to hang out. And Amy Twitted about me already, including a link to my website, so I've noticed all this unusual traffic to my poor old boring website.
So, hey, Amy? It was great talking to you. This is gonna be awesome.
6 comments:
What excellent news - well done!
Holly,
You go, girl!!!
Truly, truly awesome.
I can't believe I'm the first comment since last Saturday!! I've been deep in finishing an art project and hadn't noticed till now--but WOOT, girl!
Congratulations! You rock! Way to go! Ya-a-a-a-ay!! Jumping up and down and shaking pompoms, even!
This is great news!
Oh it shall be awesome indeed. *grin*
Honestly, I feel the same way when I sign a new client or get a deal. Very, "This is real life, right? It won't disappear when I start talking about it, right?" Now though I've decided to be in the camp where I announce things right away so at least the people involved will feel sheepish or guilty if they say, "Never mind." ;)
Thank you, thank you. *bows*
Amy, that's an excellent point you raise--commit the victim to public record right away. Very useful!
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