Represented!

It worked, it worked, it worked! Oh my gosh, I'm a happy gal! Today was my phone meeting with Anne Hawkins. But perhaps we'll go over the very brief back story.

Remember how I said I crashed and burned with the first batch of query letters I sent out? (There were seven of them, and I sensed my dismal failure, so I didn't send out tons).

This time I made a list of the agents I would like most to represent me, and then I focused on my very favorite few- my "Dream Team," if you will. At the head of that list was Anne Hawkins who is one of four agents at John Hawkins & Associates, LLC.  They represent Joyce Carol Oates, Gregory McGuire, they brokered the first million dollar book deal in the history of publishing, and have quite a few books on the New York Times Best Seller List. Anne was the pie in the sky.

So I wrote to her, and she e-mailed back really quickly (within the week) asking for the first 50 pages. I sent those, and two days later she asked for the full manuscript. Exactly one (excruciating) week later, she e-mailed saying she really liked my book and could we talk on the phone?

Today was that conversation at 3:00, after working a full day with kiddos and using almost all my 15,000 words up. Here's how the conversation went:
I called the number she gave me at exactly 3:00, and it connected with the receptionist at JHALIT who transfered me.
Anne: Liz! Hello!
Me: Hi, Anne! How are you?
A: Great! Did you take your punctuality pill today, or what?
M: Are you kidding? It was all I could do not to call you first thing this morning.

Insert lots of casual banter here. Then she got down to business.
A: Liz, this book has legs.
M: I'm happy to hear you say that.
A: Let me tell you what I see in this book: It's set in a small town, and Americans LOVE that. And it's Southern fiction, which editors are begging for. It's got substance and LOTS to talk about in it.

She went on to say the only thing that needs a little bit of tweaking is pacing here and there. But she assured me these are small fixes and that she's splitting hairs so we won't give any editors a reason to turn us away.

So she's going to read it again this weekend with sticky notes and  red pen and make some notes. Then I'm going to revise it again, and we're going to pitch it to a few editors and publishing houses that she's got an idea will buy this book.

She made some excellent points about the publishing industry that I'd never thought of:
For one thing, she said it's not always better to go with the mega publishing houses. They have all kinds of books out in the market. None of them have to do extremely well for them to stay in business. They can all do quasi-well, and the business will still make money. -So they're not super motivated to take care of their authors or publicize the heck out of their work.

On the other hand, mid sized houses NEED their authors to do well, and they'll go to any length to make sure that happens. They treat their authors really well, give them excellent cover art, good publicity, and great placement on shelves across the country.
And when it comes time to know which houses are which, Anne said, "...And I know where the bodies are buried." To which I responded, "Well that's a good thing, because I don't know where ANY of the bodies are!"

She said she would categorize my book as Up Market Women's Fiction, which apparently roughly 90% of books that sell are sold in this genre. She said it's the perfect book club book, since there is substance and SO much to talk about.

Several times Anne said, "Liz, this is a really, really good book." -But not in the blowing smoke up my ass kind of way. Just in the way one might mention a particularly tasty sandwich or lovely sunset. It's just well done and she said so. -Which I appreciated.

So she sent me some stuff to read about the publishing industry, and I'm going to write down questions.  She'll read my book again this weekend, and next week we'll speak again to compare notes.

I forgot to mention the title, and neither did she. I'm not sure if it will stay or if it is salable. And I'm not sure I love it. But we'll get to that point when we get there. That might be a question for the in-house editor.

When I got off the phone a half an hour later, I was calm and pleased. I felt like I had just spoken with my aunt or old family friend, like I have known Anne forever. I'm sure she has my best interest at heart, and I think we will go far together... for many years.

What If...

If you've been following the book progress on Facebook, then you know I've got some interest in my work from a couple of different literary management agencies.

First, let me just say how surreal this is! It's one thing to sit in your tiny guest bedroom/office/library in Washington State crafting a novel; it's something else entirely when you try to launch that book into the public. When you're writing it, at times you think you're Shakespeare, and at other times, you think it's pure drivel. But mostly you can picture people plunking down their cold, hard cash to read your baby.

Then it comes time to launch that book. I admit with my first effort to find a literary agent, I had half an idea what I was doing, and then I misspelled the title of my OWN DAMN BOOK in the very first query I wrote! -Alas. It was embarrassing, but as you can see- I've moved on. That agent that I flubbed the letter to was a great agent, but in hindsight- not the one for me. She didn't bother to respond to my query, and- frankly- who can blame her?

So this time I was systematic. I was methodical. I felt guilty for putting my girls in childcare so I could spend eight hours a day cranking out letters and synopses and first fifty page sets.

But... there is light at the end of this tunnel! This time I've received five "No thank yous," and two "maybes!" And then the two maybes turned into two "please give us more!" And now...

The agent of my dreams has been trading friendly e-mails with me a couple of times a day, and I feel like I will know something by Friday. Maybe she'll finish my manuscript and will pass, but...
I feel like she will offer me representation.

Could Joyce Carol Oates and Gregory McGuire (the guy who wrote Wicked) and I all be represented by the same firm? Dare I even hope?

And this is the point of this musing. Yes, I do think I dare. I spoke for a while with my dear, dear friend Annette today. And she asked me a very good question. It went something like this:
Annette: "Are you ecstatic?!"
Me: "Yes, I think so. Mostly I'm hopeful."
Annette: "You get to dream right now, and you get to hope. Don't miss this time."

I went about my business this afternoon and pondered my friend's words. There are times in your life where you prepare and plan and HOPE. When you're dating the person who will be your partner, you dream, and hope, and plan. And you swoon with joy and the newness of it all.

When you're pregnant with your baby, you dream, and hope, and plan. And you swoon with the joy and newness of it all.

And maybe, just maybe, this is one of those times. I'm beginning to dream, and hope, and plan. And tonight I'm swooning with the joy and newness of it all.

I don't know what the next phases will look like. But for tonight, Bob and I were talking and planning and dreaming.
It looks like something will happen with my book. Something little or something big, it's really looking like I'll make it into print and on to bookshelves. -And strangers who don't know me and won't feel obligated because they're my cousins will purchase my books, my words.

And I will travel to book stores and speak to these readers. Maybe they will be Mom & Pop booksellers in the Kansas and Missouri region. (Maybe I can come speak at Orca in Oly). -Of course I'm thinking I will need a cute little J. Crew trousseau. Maybe four or five outfits I wear when on the road.

And maybe... it will grow larger!

The maybes could be stressful if you let them be. But they are also kind of fun. It's like looking through the Toys 'R Us catalogue before Christmas time when you're little and have no concept of money or budget or Reaganomics and its toll on your small family business.
The possibilities are endless. And shiny. And what if it all comes true?

You know I love to talk and wear J. Crew clothes. Sign me  up for book tour! Oh, and maybe my dream agent will call me by the end of the week. A girl can dream, and hope, and plan. And maybe... swoon a little bit.

Fake It 'Til You Make It...

I'm a runner. I think about running, dream about running, write about running, and run when I'm not supposed to. But lately I haven't felt like a runner, and I haven't even felt the desire to run! 

This is a strange development. Rest assured I've got all the excuses in the world to support my lack of running presently: I'm tired! (True... two kids and a busy schedule will do that to you). I'm busy! (Yes, same, same). My body hurts! (Yep. Duh- it's out of shape right now). It's HOT! (Okay, there's no two ways around this one. It is crazy hot here in Kansas. Like soul melting hot. But I do have a treadmill. And if I can make myself run in this heat now, I'm sure running in the fall will be downright delightful).

I've never understood people who aren't motivated to run. Why WOULDN'T you get out there and run?! Sure you are dragging when you start, but it's SO worth it when you're finished. You've got less stress, fewer toxins, more energy, more muscle tone, lower resting heartbeat, lower percentage of body fat,  you look better in your clothes, you're part of a running community... I could go on and on! 

In the effort to kick my own ass into gear, I'm blogging about the end of my running hiatus. And for a little extra motivation, I went back and looked through some of my racing pictures. These aren't all of them... I don't want to bore you. But what I noticed in nearly all of my races, is that I have a tiny sidekick, support system, cheering section: Margot. Take a look:

My first race after the c-section to deliver Margot. It was a Thanksgiving Day 5K, and I was still dragging about 30 extra pounds. But I made it! -And look super hot to boot! (Uh, literally hot. Steaming...)

The first 5K I pushed the running stroller- on St. Patrick's Day. And I passed plenty of dads pushing strollers. 

The Seattle Rock and Roll Half Marathon.

My first full marathon after Margot was born:
The Portland Marathon
10/10/10

Margot on the train back to Olympia, enthralled
with the hardware.

                  

The Mercer Island Half Marathon-
The second time I ran it.

Fueled By Fine Wine Half Marathon.
I finished that grueling run with Margot in my arms

Happy and tired with my family.

 I know Margot loves to run partly from running with me and seeing my joy in the sport. I want to give that gift to Sabine as well. And darn it, I need some race photos with my TWO girls! So it looks like it's time to sign up for my first race since Sabine was born.

August 25 is "The Great Escape 10K" here on Ft. Leavenworth, and I reckon it will be my first foray into racing since Beanay's come along. It's a tad farther than I'm currently running, but if I want to see some results and reap the benefits of all the aforementioned running bonuses, then I better get my legs in gear.

Though I don't really WANT to run right now, I'm lacing up my running shoes right now. Fake it 'til you make it, baby!