Phone call this AM. Long chat. Resulting in: I’ve got an agent!
I’m now officially a client of William Reiss, Vice-President of John Hawkins & Associates, Inc.
My agent (I love how that sounds) also represents John Katzenbach, Gregory Maguire, Janet Fitch, and Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, among others, and his agency has (had) clients including P.G. Wodehouse, Malcolm X, and Joyce Carol Oates! He’s been with the agency since 1971 and JH&A is the first literary agency in the U.S., established in 1893. And yes, they’re a member of AAR (actually, they founded AAR!).
Woohooo!! Must go breathe now.
WOOO! Yay! What a way to go into the con, flying high! Congrats!!
Thank you! Perfect time indeed for celebration and partying!
Whooo hooo!
You go, girl.
Woooot!!!
Woohoo! Yeah Eugie! Now, write another book!;)
Hee! That’s what Matthew said!
wheeeeee!!!! congrats!!! *cheers*
Thank you! Hurray!
That rocketh verily, Eugie! I think your icon expresses quite well how you must be feeling.
Thank you! I think my icon would need to be vibrating and hyperventalating to be 100% accurate . . . by god, at this rate if I manage to sell the book, it’ll probably kill me.
I predict a sale within one year. You heard it here first. . . .
This is assuming you have a finished manuscript for your agent to shop around. You do, yes?
Yep yep yepper yep! A middle-grade book, completed and all!
Middle-grade book? Wuzzat?
A book aimed at children older than the Dr. Seuss crowd, but younger than YA. Target audience is approximately in the 9-14 age range. It’s slightly over 100 manuscript pages, has chapters, etc.
Ah, okay. Never heard the term before. You’d think I might have, me being a textbook editor for kindergarten to grade 12 students, but apparently I don’t pay much attention! 😉
” . . . she died so young, but with a smile on her face . . . ”
WOW! Congratulations! Do we have to bow and scrape before you now at Fantasm?
Thanks! Hey, wait a minute! You mean you didn’t have to bow and scrape before? Damn.
Congrats. Now get back to work! 😉
Yessir!!
I sent a psychic message to the Hobkin to do something nice for you as a congratulatory dealie-bobber. Hopefully, he will receive said message. If he behaves in a particularly cute manner today or fetches your slippers, his job was done well. 😉
Congratulations to you, Eugie! That’s awesome news!
Thank you!! Y’know, if Hobkin ever fetched my slippers for me, I think my jaw would fall through the floor . . . but he is indeed being adorably cute.
Congratulations and good luck.
Thank you!
w000t!!! Go forth and live the dream for the rest of us poor slobs. You are an utter inspiration.
I can barely believe it myself, I’m so stunned!
Rock on! 😀
Although I originally read “AAR!” as “ARR!” and had strange mental images of an all-pirate literary agency…
It’d be like the Monty Python skit with the corporate pirates . . . avast ye! Buy this manuscript or walk the plank!
Wow! Congratulations! I am amazed at how little time passed between your initial agent queries and this morning’s phone call.
You and me both! I feel like I haven’t managed to catch my breath yet; this happened so quickly!
Wow! You totally rock. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Thank you!!
BIG FREAKIN’ SQUEE!!! I’m so happy for you! Go you!
SQUEE! Thank you!
YIP! Great news, Eugie!!!
Thank you!
Well, since I already said “Congrats!” my thoughts turn to asking, “What are you going to buy when your agent sudden;y gets you that big advance?” AND–more importantly, “Are you going to buy us (your loyal and faithful) something extravagant?”
“What are you going to buy when your agent sudden;y gets you that big advance?“
Hmm. I’m thinking mortage payment. Or health insurance payment. Or hey, groceries!! Yah, I know, it’s pretty flamboyent, but I figure I’ll be living it up by then . . .
And the Speediest Agent Acquisition Award goes to…
*drumroll*
Eugie Foster!!!!
(And the crowd goes wild)
Congrats, you. I’m sooo happy for you! You must solemnly swear to share the steps of your journey to publication so we can enjoy the vicarious experience. (And learn!)
*bows* Thank you, thank you.
I’m more than happy to talk to people ’bout my experience in the biz, although I did a lot of stumbling and blundering about. And I’ve still yet to sell the book . . .
Oh, you will sell it. And when that happens, do not underestimate the marketing power of a determined flist.
*giggles*
Rah, flist!! Y’all are the best!
You lucky daughter of a bitch. That is fantastic. My God. What did it take, a week? lol.
I truly hope he works out for you. Good luck!
Thank you! Actually, err, two weeks from query to offer of representation. My head’s still spinning at how fast that all happened.
I told you it was a good omen that the offer came fast after the send-off, did’n I? I did, I did. CONGRATS ANYWAY!!–but we all knew. 😀
Oh wow! Congratulations!!!
Thanks!
*flails*
*does happy dance*
That’s AWESOME!
Not that we doubted you for a minute, but I’m just so glad it happened so quickly! It gives me hope for my own unagented self.
Of course, your long publication history with short stories probably helped. I can hardly write anything under 10,000 words.
“I can hardly write anything under 10,000 words.“
I’m wishing I had that problem! Right now, I’m worried I’m stuck in “short story” mode.
Heh.
I’ll trade you muses for a year!
That’s excellent news! I had no doubt a great writer like you would find an agent.
Thank you! I’m totally jazzed about this!
way to go!!!!!
Woohoo! Thanks!
That’s awesome!! They know talent when they see it!
I’m not in the money round yet, but man, I’m getting closer!!
YAY!!!!!!!
This is certainly a “squee” event! Yay for you!!
SQUEEE!!
Congrats!!! Your dedication has paid – and will pay – off.
Thank you! I really, really hope so!
Awesome! A big ol’ congrats to you!
Thank you!
I await hearing news of the bidding war for your next book.
Aw gawd, ME TOO!
De-lurking to say congratulations. You don’t know me – I’ve been lurking more and more and posting to my own journal less and less, but watching your progress has been a vicarious thrill. You do success well, and your dedication is inspiring. I had no doubt a great agent would pounce on you. Can’t wait to see what comes next!
Thank you!
“Can’t wait to see what comes next!“
That makes two of us!
Outstanding news!!!!!
*throws confetti and firecrackers*
Thank you! *picks confetti out of hair*
ooh.. congrats 🙂
Thanks!
congratulations!
squee squared!
Re: congratulations!
Cubed even!
Hoohah!
Excellent news, Eugie. Remember to breathe and enjoy this!
Re: Hoohah!
Enjoying it. Definitely check! Breathe? *thunk* Err, oops.
Woohoo!
Many congratulations–that’s really fabulous news!
Re: Woohoo!
Thank you!
brilliant! Congratulations! Yes, definitely breathe a bit. And eventually, sleep.
Maybe by tomorrow night, you’ll be able to sleep…
yeah, sleep…I think that’s a better question than what you’re going to do with the wads of money you will eventually get–what will you do tonight instead of sleep? some form of celebratory eating and joyful exuberant glowing, I imagine…
Celebratory alcohol is definitely on the agenda for tonight. and are slated to arrive later. With good company to share in the glow, I’m pretty set. As far as wads of money in the future goes, hmm, mortgage payment and groceries are wat high on my list of frivolous purchases, YEP!
Thank you! Too wired to sleep! (Almost too wired to breathe!) I can sleep next week . . . *twitch*
*squee*
BRAVO!!!
*doing happy dance*
*happy dances with you*
Wow — congrats! Looking forward to seeing your book in print, soon!
Oh man, me too! And more crossed fingers to commence . . .
So proud of you, girl!
Thanks! I’m still dazed by it all.
Congratulations. May the sale come quick. May the advance be large. May you sell many and often. May the words drip from your pen (or keyboard) like honey’d wine. May your stories enchant. May the happiness of today permeate all your tomorrows.
*clinks champagne glass* Amen to that. Thank you!
Congratulations, Eugie!! I just can’t wait till your book is sold and I’m selling it at the book store!
~Maggie 😀
Oh gawd, me too! Thanks for the conga-rats, Maggie!
CONGRATS!!!
This must be something REALLY good after 92..and I’ll be 93 comments? *big smile* I’m soooo glad you finally got an agent that has a good reputation. I’m sure you’d start more $ coming in your career…THIS is a great thing!!
Re: CONGRATS!!!
This is most definitely a fabulous thing! I’m bouncing off the walls with how happy I am about this development!
WOO HOO! This proves that my decision to start writing short stories (before 2002 I only did novels) is the way to go. I can only hope that I end up having as much luck as you, or work up to the same level of skill as you, one way or another — either in finally producing some pro-level short stories, or in convincing a good agent to take me on with my semipro pubs. Gives me hope.
But enough about me. YOU ROCK! And you very much deserve it. I’m not at all surprised that you found an agent so quickly. Multiple pro publications, connections in the industry, an obvious feel for what’s hot and what’s not in the field, originality and talent, and a solid writer’s work ethic?? If I were an agent I’d snap you up too. =)
I’m still having problems believing it! Woo!
Fantastic news, Eugie. You deserve it!
Thank you! I’m still vibrating with happiness!
Hooray! Congratulations!!!!
Woohoo! Thank you!
Congrats! I hope it is a wonderful relationship.
Zhaneel
Thank you! Me too!
Ok, so spill the beans! What’s his plan for you? Who’s he going to sell your novels to?
Well currently, the plan is that he’s going to try to sell my middle-grade book to the best market he can. We touched upon my 5-year goals briefly. He represents both children and adult works, which is ideal for me, and was really enthusiastic when I said I wanted to do adult novels as well. So the plan is for me to write another book, and for him to sell sell sell!
YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY! *confetti*
Go you!
Thank you! *shakes confetti off shirt*
Way to go, Eugie!!! I couldn’t be happier for you!
Sonny
Thanks, Sonny!!