Epic Announcement (AKA, How I Got My Agent!)

I am a million kinds of ridiculously excited to announce that...

I HAVE AN AGENT!!!!!!!!

I am ELATED to say I am now represented by the fabulous Pam van Hylckama Vlieg with Larsen Pomada!!!!!!

I only started querying in April of this year, but I am so excited to be ready for the next step! And, yes, the manuscript loving nicknamed SlackerBoy is the one Pam signed me with.


So for those of you interested in how this all came about, and where I was when I got the call and all that... here's the story:

Pam asked me Thursday evening if I had time for a phone call. My first thought was "My phone is almost dead!" and then, for reasons I can't explain, my follow up thought, in the midst of freaking out, was "I don't even have a bra on!" because, apparently, that was somehow important to me? I don't know. So I put my phone on the charger, and Pam said it'd be about an hour and a half.

Commence more freaking out, frantic texts to a good writing friend (who probably screen captured those for later amusement, or potential blackmail?), a gchat convo with another good writing friend, and more freaking out. I did some cleaning. Took the dog out so he would behave while I was on the phone. Took some deep breaths to calm down....

And I sat down to wait. I was on pins and needles, trying not to stress, knowing what this phone call means but still part of me was thinking "Maybe she's calling to talk about puppies" (and let the record reflect, when I texted that to my writing friend, I could hear the sarcasm in her response of "Yeah. That's it" even through a text...). And as I was waiting... Toby peed on the carpet, right in front of me. Mind you, he went out less than an hour before this.

So then came the frantic scrubbing of pee out of the carpet, hoping Pam waits a bit longer to call... and me trying not to be too angry at Toby, who then just walked up and licked my arm and gave me his big sad eyes... yes. Instant forgiveness.

Cue more mental freaking.

Then the phone rang.

And Pam and I chatted. And I probably sounded like a dork. But I kept basically all ridiculous comments inside, and refrained from any random squeals...

We hung up. I freaked out. Told my two writing friends. Gave Toby a celebratory Beggin Strip and a huge kiss on the head.

Then I took a few days to let other agents know, and tied up those loose ends, before working everything out and officially accepting her offer.

And now I am ridiculously excited, and grinning out of nowhere, and just... so relieved, and happy, and, I admit it, darn proud of myself.

Because.. holy cow I HAVE AN AGENT. An agent who I have an immense amount of respect for (and who has a dog that is adorable enough to rival Toby's cuteness), and who I know is a great fit both for me, and my work.