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!
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