Thursday, September 20, 2012

Yep, This is THAT Story

I've got news! And you may have seen it elsewhere because I've posted on Facebook and QT, but I've been in a whirlwind and haven't gotten to my blog.

But here it is: My "I Got an Agent Story".

Yep, it happened. And when it finally happened, it happened fast.

Let's go back. I started querying my first MG book in April of 2011. I received many requests and lots of great feedback, but ultimately, it wasn't the right time for that book.

I began my second MG book in June 2011 and started querying it in January 2012. This book was "the one" - I was sure of it. I had a ton of instant interest including an offer at a small pub and a revisions request from an AMAZING agent. I turned down the small pub and set my sights on the agent. Guess what. The agent rejected me. I was devastated.

But I kept on querying it.

In the meantime, I wrote a contemporary adult romance for fun. It was a breeze. I wrote it in less than three months and enjoyed every minute of it. My goal with this book was to go straight to small publishers. In August, I entered several pitch contests at Savvy Authors and won a bunch of them! So off I sent my book with fingers crossed.

Then it occurred to me: Maybe I should try to query some agents with my romance, just to see. So I picked a handful and sent them out. One of my queries went to Bob Diforio of D4EO Literary Agency. He states that he really only likes queries from referrals, but I've had great responses from Kristin Miller on my two MGs and have DREAMED of working with this agency, so I sent a query anyway.

On the same night of my query, Bob asked for the full. The next morning he offered.

I'm not kidding. It was that fast.

He offered by email. I just happened to read the email before I left to work. Yeah, I was late. I seriously was shocked. I was expecting a phone call and nervousness and the whole feeling each other out, but he OFFERED by email, complete with a contract attached. He said I could call him that afternoon, if I wanted. I did want. I called and got his voicemail so I left a message.

He called me back within fifteen minutes. I had a list of questions and only managed to get through a few of them - I was so nervous. I had one other full out for my romance and a handful for my MG book and I knew the polite thing was to give them notice. But I realized that if any of those agents offered me representation, I would turn them down because D4EO was already the agency I wanted.

Bob sealed it for me when he said he and his team would rep my MG books as well. I said yes and have been on Cloud 9 ever since.

And I'm already on submission! (That means Bob's already submitted my book to several publishing houses - places so amazing I've never even dreamed of having a book with them.)

Shortly after Bob offered, I received an offer from one of the pubs I'd pitched to. I can't explain how great it felt to be able to send the offer on to MY AGENT.

Do you want to hear the funniest/most embarrassing part of my agent story?  When Bob sent me the email saying he was offering, I immediately forwarded it to one of my Critique Partners saying, "Do you know Bob Diforio? Of D4EO Literary Agency? He offered!"

Problem is, I didn't actually hit forward. I hit reply.

Yep. Bob got that email. He responded with, "Yes, I know Bob Diforio. I am him." He told me it was the funniest thing he'd seen in a very long time. I was a dork and he still wanted to sign me. How could he not be the perfect agent?

Anyway, that's the scoop. Hopefully I can get my head back into the blogging world now that I'm not consumed with querying. I've been lackadaisical and I've missed you!

63 comments:

Tristina Wright said...

WOOOOHOOOOO!!! I'm still over the MOON for you, honey. Every time I think about it, I get the biggest, stupidest grin on my face. I'm so so proud of you and what an amazing match. I cannot wait to hold that book in my hands and cuddle it.

Melissa Hurst said...

Oh gosh, I LOVE your agent story! I can't wait for you to announce a book deal! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Shallee McArthur said...

Ha, love that forward/reply issue. :) And YAY for you! I love this so much, and I'm so so happy for you.

Lori M. Lee said...

That is SO majorly cool. And I love your email mishap too haha. CONGRATS!!!

Janet Johnson said...

Huge congratulations Laura! I am so thrilled for you. :D

Stina Lindenblatt said...

That is the BEST offer of representation story I've seen (and funniest). Congrats, Laura!

Jamie Gibbs said...

That's so awesome! Congratulations, Laura!

Jaye Robin Brown said...

Ah! Yay! And what a sweet, and goofy, story! Good luck on sub!

Beth Stilborn said...

This is so exciting! Congratulations! I wish you much much success and joy!

Robyn Lucas said...

It's been awesome following your journey. You deserve it, Laura!!!!!

Kimmy :) said...

Laura, I am so happy for you! You are a great writer and storyteller and I can't think of a more deserving person! Best of luck to you!

Nicole Zoltack said...

I'm so happy for you!

Lexa Cain said...

Yours is the most exciting and stunning of all the how-I-got-my-agent stories I've ever heard. Wow! I guess all the stars were really aligned for you. HUGE CONGRATS! I'm wishing you every success!
(And send a little of that stardust my way, huh? 'Cause I'm querying and getting requests but no offers yet.)

Mina Lobo said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!! LOL, that's so cute, that you hit "reply" instead of "forward" in your excitement - it only speaks to your joy and I'm sure Mr. Difiorio's a pro and was actually pleased to "see you" so happy. I'm so glad to read your good news - again, congrats. :-)
Some Dark Romantic

Fiauna Lund said...

So happy for you! You definitely deserve this!

Carrie Bastyr said...

Yay Laura!!! This is awesome!

Laura Stephenson said...

That is incredibly exciting! I can't wait to see your books in print!

Melissa King said...

HAHA! That reply part is so funny, I hadn't heard that! Love this story and I'm so thrilled for you. It happened it happened!!!

Dianne Salerni said...

Congratulations, Laura!!! It happened that fast with me, too. When it's right, it's right! And what a funny story about the reply/forward! It's wonderful he has a sense of humor, and with him behind you, I'm sure you're going to have more good news to report soon!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Laura, congratulations!! That is so awesome.

Callie Leuck said...

That's so awesome! I'd be screaming and jumping up and down. I'm so happy for you, Laura! Keep us in the loop with your publishing journey :)

Julie DeGuia said...

Congratulations! Very exciting, and what a fun story you get to tell now, over and over. I'm sure it will never get old!

Beth Christopher said...

Congratulations, Laura! Wow, I bet you're still recovering from the whiplash of that speedy request/offer/signing/submission! Amazing. Enjoy the ride and may you get published just as quickly! ;-)

coleen patrick said...

Laura this is just awesome! Congrats :)

Susanne Drazic said...

CONGRATS, Laura! Thanks for sharing your story on how you got an agent.

Susanna Leonard Hill said...

OMG! SO exciting! So happy for you! And it is much deserved! Can't wait to read all your books :)

Martine Helene said...

That is amazing! Congratulations! Much deserved ,and I'm happy you have found an agent that seems to get you and want to represent you. Good work!

Laura Barnes said...

I can't wait until I can woohoo for you! I'll go all over the internet and be stupid for you. I'm so proud of you and your baby right now! You've accomplished things I could never imagine!

Laura Barnes said...

Thanks, Melissa! You WrAHMers will be the first to hear any news. :)

Laura Barnes said...

Ditto for you! What an adventure we're on!!

Laura Barnes said...

Thanks! Can you believe I did that? It makes for a great anectote! :)

Laura Barnes said...

Thank you, Janet!

Laura Barnes said...

Thank you, Stina!!

Laura Barnes said...

Thanks so much, Jamie!

Laura Barnes said...

Thank you, Jaye!!

Laura Barnes said...

Thanks, Beth!

Laura Barnes said...

Thank you, Robyn! I'm SO lucky to have you in my corner. :)

Laura Barnes said...

YOU'RE a more deserving person! But thank you for the support. I'm so grateful to know you!

Laura Barnes said...

Thank you, Nicole!

Laura Barnes said...

LOL, it was crazy, that's for sure! I don't know what happened for things to go my way, but I'm so excited it finally has. I'm sure things are bound to go your way soon!

Laura Barnes said...

He said it was the funniest thing that's happened to him in a while! Every time I think about it, though, I blush. :) Thanks for the congrats and the positive way of looking at it!

Laura Barnes said...

Thank you, Fiauna! I can't wait to read your agent story. :)

Laura Barnes said...

Thanks, Carrie!!!

Laura Barnes said...

I, uh, tried to block that part of the story out. LOL! But I guess it makes for a good tale. :)

Laura Barnes said...

I can't wait either. Seriously, I'm checking my email more now than I did when I was querying! Thanks!

Laura Barnes said...

That's how things work in this biz, isn't it? Real slow and then real real fast. Then REAL SLOW again. LOL. Thanks for the congrats!

Laura Barnes said...

Thanks, Alex!!

Laura Barnes said...

There was screaming for sure. Not so much jumping up and down, though. I have bad knees. :) Thanks, Callie!

Laura Barnes said...

I'm totally having to adjust. I keep seeing agent contests and I think about entering them. Then I remember, Oh, yeah. I don't need to! Thanks for the congrats!

Laura Barnes said...

Thank you, Coleen!

Laura Barnes said...

Thank you, Susanne!

Laura Barnes said...

Thank you so much, Susanna! It's certainly been a crazy time. I'll share news as I get it!

Laura Barnes said...

Thank you, Martine!

Stacy s. Jensen said...

Congratulations. Very excited for you Laura. (Sorry I'm late to the party, but I was at the Denver Scbwi meeting). I read the post on Friday before the conference began and it was encouraging news. Good luck.

Laura Barnes said...

How was the conference? I was too poor to go. :( Thanks for the congrats and keep your chin up!

Clare Dugmore said...

Congratulations, that's both amazing and inspiring. Good luck with subs. :)

Michael Offutt said...

Oh congratulations. He sounds like a great agent. I shall be happy to say I know another writer who has achieved her dreams :))

Southpaw said...

WOW! and double wow. Congrats. Float away on that cloud just a little longer before you get back to work! :)

The Golden Eagle said...

Congratulations! :)

Rachna Chhabria said...

Congrats Laura. Its super awesome.

Becky Povich said...

Laura, how exciting! Congratulations!

Brooke R. Busse said...

How did I miss this post? 0-0 Congratulations, Laura! I was so excited to see this post when I came back to catch up on your blog! (I've been missing in action for about a month and a half.) Now I'm even more excited to read through everything else to see if there's been any other BIG news.

Laura Barnes said...

Brooke! I'm glad to see you! Thanks for the congrats! No other news yet. Submission is so slow, and it's been slowed even further with the storms. :(
Why have you been MIA? Nothing bad, I hope. I guess I should head over to your blog and find out. Obviously, I've been a bit MIA myself. Way behind on blog reading. Shame on me!

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