Every published author has a story to tell about when they first got the call that they were signing with their agent or publishing house. I wish I could tell you this fabulous story about getting the call from Mary Sue Seymour of The Seymour Agency and it being so totally unexpected that it took my breath away. But that’s not how it happened.
Actually, it went a little something like this…
I had sent out 16 (yes, 1-6) query letters to agents. I had decided that if I was going to get anywhere in the writing business, I needed an agent on my side. And I was determined to find an agent. Thankfully I did, and one of the the best. (Waves to Mary Sue).
But as with most transactions in the writing world, there was a lot of “hurry up and wait” that went on. I sent her my query. I got a letter back saying she would like a partial. I sent her a partial. I got a letter back saying she wanted to see the complete. Squeee…I sent it out. And I waited.
Now, I have to tell you that every time I’ve gotten back my manuscript over the years, it has never been good. Nev-ver. So when I got home and saw a big fat envelope-package waiting for me, my heart sank. I didn’t even have to read the return address to know who it was from. I trudged up the stairs to the mail box and pulled it out, telling myself for the millionth time in my days of trying to publish that one more rejection wasn’t going to break me. I wasn’t all that disappointed. (I was crushed, but I wasn’t going to admit it).
I didn’t even open it. I didn’t want to read what she said. If it was anything like my previous letters it would say how my writing was good, but it needed “more”. More what I hadn’t figured out and it was looking like I never would. I sat the package on the dinning room table and walked away.
My son, at the time young enough to covet any unclaimed mail, asked me if I was going to open it. I shrugged. Did I really need to be told again that my characters were lovable and sympathetic but…
“Can I open it?” he asked.
“Sure,” I said, with another half-hearted shrug.
Let me just say that I am so glad I had a young reader! And to think that I had almost shoved it in the filing cabinet without even seeing what Mary Sue had to say.
Not a breath taking moment, but momentous all the same.
Want to read about how other authors received their “call.”? Check out our The Call Blog Hop. Details and a full list of participants are available here: http://www.tonyakuper.blogspot.com/ Be sure to check it out, there are several giveaways along the hop.
My giveaway? A copy of Saving Gideon and a Bag of Swag. To be entered all you have to do is answer this question: Have you ever thrown away an important piece of mail? Or maybe shoved it in a drawer, unopened and forgotten?
Be sure to check my Facebook fan page more ways to increase your chances to win. The winner will be contacted after Friday and so everyone knows, This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amy-Lillard-Author/177732292332322?ref=hl
Good luck!
amywritesromance.com 
I remember receiving my partial envelope back. I almost didn’t open it either. Thank God, my hubby did.
I have “lost” checks before in a pile of mail. How can you look through that pile frantically searching for something time and time again and not be able to find it?
Im forever losing my glasses lol i would love to win Saving Gideon
This was fascinating today. Fortunately I don’t believe I’ve ever thrown away anything important. Blessings, Susan Fryman susanngarrylee@yahoo.com
oh and yes i put a C card away and it had a lovely picture of friends glad i found ithristmas
yes I have . Put some very important papers up where I could find them & guess what ? Could not find them . Looked house up side down . I finely did find them but by then i was a nervous wreck . Would love to be entered in your contest & I have not read Saving Gideon. All your gifts look great .. Thanks.
I also shared your post of FB for another entry . Thanks
Actually it was gift card that I miss placed! I found it a couple years later! Guess what they still honored it.YEAH!!! I would love to win your book. Thanks for the chance to win.
blessings
joeym11@frontier.com
A lot of stores will do that. Good thing it wasn’t one of those pre-paid Visa cards, they lose value! Thanks for entering, Diana!
Gah! Good thing he nudged you to open that letter!
Yes, I have done both, thrown away and shoved away a piece of mail.
My son has been known for dumster diving for me.
bluehair (at) centurylink (dot) net
What a good boy! LOL :) Thanks for entering~
Yes, I have filed away important mail and found it later, after searching to find where I did put it.
Thanks for chance to win these lovely gifts.
Carolyn
My mom is a pro at that. She has a very unique filing system. LOL
I have missed placed mail and even money I put in an envelope and never found it. I also have shared on facebook.
I don’t know about misplacing mail but have misplaced jewelry before 2 or 3 times & found again after my husband had replaced them. I’m not the most organized person but i am a big fan of yours. Have shared on Facebook,
Pam, my one woman fan club! Thanks so much for the story and the shares! Replacing jewelry. Hmmm…you may be on to something here! :)
OMGosh! I can’t believe you almost filed it away!! I’ve been there in the querying trenches though, and know exactly how you were feeling. I’m so glad to be a part of the SA team!
Great story! And hurrah for your very determined son!
I can’t believe you almost filed your letter without opening it! So glad your son was a young reader and curious enough to open it for you. :D
Curious, noisy, it’s all the same! LOL So glad he opened it for me! :)
I spend half my time looking for stuff I put up–from letters to money. Found $20 in the pocket of a pair of pants that’d been hanging in the closet for a year. Love your story, but why did she send your ms back?
Will tweet and share on FB!
I don’t know. Maybe I should ask her! LOL Thanks Pat!
I accidently threw away a tax return check one time.
CherylB1987
Oh, my GOSH! That’s terrible! My husband would kill me! LOL Thanks for entering! :)
I didn’t throw it away, but thinking it was just an explanation of benefits, I filed it, unopened. Not until I got a letter about a check to me that was uncashed, did I go back & find it!
That’s just about what I did! Thanks for stopping by and entering! :)
Yes -it was a rebate check and when I found it again it had expired. Called company and they issued me a new check. *phew*
Glad they took care of that for you! My luck it would have been a big one and they would have said, “Amy? We know no Amy.” LOL Thanks for entering!!
Yep i put a check in the envelope to mail stuck it in my out box and forgot it till i got notice i hadnt made payment, they were very nice when i explained
I am wit you PT. I also spend half of my time looking for something I misplaced. Once I was without my cell phone for 3 days. Had my daughter call the number several times and couldn’t find it. The 3rd evening my son came over and when I told him and first thing he did was call my number, and it rang right away. Still a mystery why it didn’t ring when my daughter called. Some of you people were lucky having people replace your cards. I wasn’t that lucky. I misplaced 3 gift cards and non of the 3 would help me. @ I had never used and just once on the other. You, see if you don’t use your cccard for a certain time period, they start deducting 1 or 2 dollars ea, mo. it is inactive. I think this is unfair and something should be done about it. After all, they already have their money and couldn’t lose any money, you would just less for what you spend because most things will have gotten more costly. That is STEALING someone’s money. I have also lost other important things. I just laugh and tell my friends that is GOD.s way of making me get excerise. LOL I would like to win.