The last year, writing-wise, has been a long one for me. I had an agent, and then I didn't. I don't want to get into all the whys of what happened, but part of it was that I wasn't sure where I wanted to go with my work. Did I want to continue big-time publication, which you can pretty much only do with an agent, or focus on good small publishers. My job takes up a lot of time now, and writing wasn't as much of a focus for me last spring. I felt kind of out of control, and I had this book that I've had over three years that I just wanted to be published already. I was stagnating (which I think I talked about last spring). I was stressed out and freaking out and feeling completely overwhelmed.
I thought I had an idea of what was going to happen eventually, but I was letting it ride over the summer. I submitted to a few small publishers, mostly because of requests I got during a pitch contest that I entered on a whim. One publisher I really was interested in rejected, but said I could revise and resubmit...if I pretty much changed the entire ending of the book and ripped out its heart. Uh, thanks, but no thanks.
But at some point, a friend pointed me in the direction of Jordy Albert, of the Booker Albert Literary Agency. I read her bio, and it was like someone was screaming to send me the manuscript. We like all the same things, she wants the kind of thing I have written.
And after some waiting, and getting some offers on the manuscript, which I turned over to Jordy, she offered me representation. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am. She is working with me now on revising the manuscript (with some excellent suggestions), and I really think she has what it takes to get the book in the hands of the publisher who will do the best by it. It's a really good feeling.
I stumbled, I fell, and I got back up. I've stepped back and looked at the big picture. And I'm ready to move forward.
It can still happen.
