I can’t believe I finally get to write this post. I’ve read so many, I’ve even helped pick out .gifs for a few, but nothing comes close to writing my own! So here goes:
I HAVE A LITERARY AGENT!
AHHHHH!!! Want to know who it is? You’ll have to keep reading! Here’s the story, in as few words as possible:
I wrote a book, it was meh. I wrote another book. It was better, MUCH better, but still…something was missing. That’s when I started my third book, CAPTIVE. Here’s what it’s about:
Having stolen money from her pimp, seventeen-year-old Ginger needs protection now. Good thing her neighbor’s door is always open. But when southern hospitality takes a turn for the strange and sickening, Ginger must escape the one house she thought would keep her safe.
Dark? Yes. I knew it was going to be a challenge to find an agent who was willing to represent a book I was describing as “SHARP OBJECTS for teens,” but I had faith! So I entered Pitch Wars, an awesome contest run by Brenda Drake that pairs mentors (agented/published authors) with mentees (writers looking for agents). I submitted my pitch and my sample, and crossed my fingers. Low and behold, I was lucky to be paired with not one, but TWO writers. Say hi, Lindsay Currie and S.P. McConnell!
We worked for a month on my first 250 and my pitch, honing it until it was sharp enough to draw blood. When the time came, I received two full requests and a partial request! I couldn’t believe it. Still, there were some agents who weren’t participating in Pitch Wars, and I wanted to have an opportunity to query them, too. So I sent out a few more queries…and then a few more. And I got requests! It was a dream come true.
Long story short, and I ended up receiving an email out of the blue (because these things are always sudden, aren’t they?) from an agent I had been a HUGE fan of for years. He was the dream agent, the “ivy league” of agents, the WHOLE ENCHILADA. We immediately had “The Call,” during which he told me how much he loved the book, how he would be a “fool not to offer me an offer of representation,” how he already had multiple editors in mind for my dark, twisty little book.
It was a no brainer, really. This was everything I’d been waiting for. My own personal literary fairy tale. I immediately called Juliana and we had a virtual SQUEE over the phone.
I emailed him (after asking a few questions, all of which he answered PERFECTLY) and said…
I am now beyond proud to say that I am represented by…
JIM McCARTHY of DYSTEL AND GODERICH!
Amazing, right? I’ve been fangirling for the last few days. 
Before I go, I just want to say thank you thank you thank you to: my dad and my sister, my wonderful and supportive boyfriend Patrick, my lovely grandmother Nonie, my amazing CPs (Juliana L. Brandt, Charlie Holmberg, Karma Brown, Stacey Trombley, Roselle Kaes, among many others who read snippets along the way–Jaye! Ashley! Cat!), my Pitch Wars mentors (Lindsay and Sean) and Brenda Drake for running Pitch Wars! THANK YOU!!
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