Friday, January 04, 2008

News (yes, finally!)

I am absolutely THRILLED to announce that as of this morning I have signed with Janet Reid, of FinePrint Literary Management!!!!!

I first ran across Janet at Surrey, as part of the panel of the dreaded SIWC Idol workshop. As in previous years, I submitted my 2 pages, this time of JENNA, to be read aloud and critiqued. Kristin Nelson stopped the reading, but Janet stood up for it, and said she loved the beginning and would have kept reading.

I didn't really consider submitting to her, though, because I knew she didn't take YAs. However, I ran into her again at the banquet, and reminded her that she'd liked my book...and she asked for pages right there. Sadly, I didn't have them hiding in my cocktail dress, but I slipped the first chapter to her the next day. She said she'd get in touch with me.

Fast forward to November. I hadn't heard from her, but I'd been submitting to other agents, and I still had her on my list as a long shot (no YAs, remember?). So I sent her a follow-up email with the first chapter again. Didn't hear right away, but that's standard. Kept submitting. In the meantime a few other agents asked for the full.

On December 18th, I got a wonderful email from Janet saying she couldn't believe she hadn't asked for the full right away, and could I please send it?

She read the whole thing IN ONE DAY and called to offer representation that night. She loved it. (okay, I feel like Sally Fields now; I will refrain)

We had to wait until the other agents considering the full had a chance to respond, which is why the long radio silence between then and now. But from the moment I talked to her that night, I wanted to sign with her. She's wonderful, and she LOVED THE BOOK. Just as it is. (yes, I did watch Bridget Jones last night, why do you ask?)

As to not repping YAs? I asked Janet that. She said "Well, we're just going to change that right now, aren't we?" :)

So there you have it. I have an agent.

Thanks to all of you for your support through everything!!

32 comments:

  1. Susan,

    WOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!! Congratulations!!! That's so awesome! :)

    Jen

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  2. Thanks, Jen!!!

    Happy now?

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  3. Anonymous11:31 AM

    Oh goodness! I'm so excited for you. I had to really stop myself from shrieking in happiness, but I'll do that here:

    WAY TO GO!

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  4. Yipee! Yipee! Yahooooo!

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  5. Julie, SWH (g) and Carol:

    THANK YOU!!

    It's the first step, but it's a huge one. :)

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  6. Wahoo! That's excellent news!!!

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  7. WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!!! Yay, Susan!!!! What great news!!!!!!

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  8. Yay, Suze!

    Now finish the next one so Janet has something else to sell. [g]

    Lurve,
    Rose

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  9. Chris:
    Thank you!! I'm stoked.

    Precie:
    I was hoping you'd come by! You've been waiting so patiently. {g}

    Rose:
    I know, dude. My word count is lacking today, somehow. Must get on that. :)

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  10. CONGRATULATIONS!

    I'm so proud of you, and I Heart Janet (but don't tell her that).

    This is going to be a great ride!

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  11. Yay!!!!

    That is so exciting! I can't wait to hear what happens next.

    So, does that free you up mentally at all to proceed on GG? Or are you still too stoked?

    All the best! You've worked hard and long for this, and I'm proud of ya. I think I'll have a hot buttered rum tonight on your behalf. Maybe two, if the rum holds out...(G)

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  12. Vicki:

    Thank YOU, mentor. {g} Am I on the train now?

    [I Heart Janet (but don't tell her that). ]

    Janet will see. Since I signed my soul over to her, Janet knows all. {eg}

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  13. Thank you, Cindy!!

    Actually, I've been pretty focused on GG for a while now. Having rough spots, but that's normal, I hope.

    I haven't written on it today, but I will. {s}

    I'm having a mocha with whipped cream. That's almost as good as a hot buttered rum!

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  14. I love this book so much!
    I've been yapping about it to my colleagues, and THEY are all excited about it too.

    We were hovering around the whiskey fountain in the office just this afternoon talking about you. Were your ears burning? (We were searching for this place called...Montana? on the map)

    Now comes the really fun part: I get to go talk to even MORE people about this wonderful fabulous book and the even more fabulous author.

    I'm so glad I sucked it up and went to Surrey. I whined the whole way there. Rachel and Michael made me run BEHIND the cab they go so sick of listening to me.

    You were worth the trip! (and Vicki was the bonus, but don't ever tell her I said that)

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  15. Aw, Janet, you ROCK.

    YAY!

    (cover your ears for the squeeing again. I thought I was done for the day, but noooooo)

    I'm so glad you came to Surrey too! Now we just have to convince you to come next year.

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  16. Anonymous6:03 PM

    Suze:

    Way to go, dude - most excellent news! Both you and Janet made excellent decisions!

    J

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  17. Many, MANY congrats!! Seriously, this rocks! :)

    I'm glad you could finally break radio silence and share the great news. I can't wait to see what happens next... :)

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  18. Janet, we're awfully glad you came to Surrey, too. Susan especially. [g] Hope you'll find your way back this year.

    ~Beth (woman with flowers)

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  19. This is SO fantastic. I'll be looking forward to hearing news of the SALE (inevitable with such a kick@ss agent) and buying the book when it hits the shelves.

    Yay!

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  20. Anonymous5:38 PM

    Congrats again Susan!

    It's wonderful to see you succeed because I know how hard you work. (Yes, I do!) It’s also wicked cool so see your “agent” so stoked. I personally can’t wait to see what happens next, as well as what you do next. >g< It is all very exciting, even from where I sit. >g<

    Rhonddalyn

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  21. Jule: Thanks, dude! I think so too. :)

    Karen: Thanks! I'm excited about the next part too!

    Helene: (sorry about the lack of accents) Thanks! Yay yay!

    Rhonddalyn: What I do next? Finish Ghost Girl, so Janet can sell that too. After that, I have a little idea...It IS exciting! And fun!

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  22. Anonymous11:25 AM

    Congratulations Susan!!!

    I don't know if you remember me, but I was at Surrey (part-time)this year. I am thrilled for you! I can't wait to buy your book at my local Chapters!

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  23. Anonymous8:45 PM

    Susan,

    Yes! Finish Ghost Girl! Why not? You seem to on a roll. Go for it. I'm sure Janet would want to see what you are writing next! After all she is so excited about her new writer! Any hints about the new idea?

    Rhonddalyn

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  24. Trudy! Of COURSE I remember you!!! You were at my first Surrey, too. {s}

    Thanks for popping by, and for the congrats. Hopefully I'll see you at Surrey this year too, eh?

    (see, I'm almost a proper Canadian now, with the eh)

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  25. Rhonddalyn:

    Well, it's not really an OPTION whether to finish GG, you know. It's the next step. (goal: finish first draft by March)

    And no way am I spilling the next idea, dude! Ideas stay firmly in my own head until...well, sometime after the second draft. {s}

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  26. Anonymous10:38 AM

    Hi Susan!
    Yes, I'll be at Surrey this year. I've already started a little piggy bank...so much for latte's!
    And yes, you are sounding Canadian - must be that Montana climate, eh?

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  27. Congratulations!!! I was hoping that was your big news when I first read that you had news.

    Do you remember Ara Burklund from AP? She also signed with an agent in 2007. It's been quite a year for us former APers. Let's hope the book contracts will now follow.

    Cathy

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  28. Trudy:

    Half the Montanans 'round here sound Canadian; the other half sound Minnesotan. The OTHER half (I'm an English major, so mathematically challenged) are all imports like me. {g}

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  29. Thanks, Cathy!!

    Wow, 3 AP'ers with agents in one year? That's pretty spectacular. Yes, let's make 2008 the year of the publishing contract. :)

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  30. I know I'm way behind the times, but I had to comment anyway...

    Congratulations, Susan! I'm thrilled for you! :o) Can't wait to read about all that's to come in your career!

    Hope you're still squee-ing about this, because it's such fabulous news!

    Congrats, again!

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  31. Thanks, Renee!

    The squeeing has mostly settled down to a private smile, now and then. :)

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