by Maureen Lynas Who is celebrating!
I may be odd but I love going to the tip and on Friday
our car was packed with bags of shredding, old computers and cardboard boxes. Tidy
house! Hurrah! Geoff was ready and waiting, I was putting my boots on, and the
phone rang. I nearly didn’t pick it up - the tip was awaiting! But I did. Right
choice!
Amber Caraveo from the Skylark Literary Agency was
ringing with an offer of representation! We talked for an hour, we agreed our
terms, we discussed editorial suggestions and happily said our cheerios. Amber
went on to share the news with partner Joanna Moult and announce it on twitter.
I went to the tip.
Then out for a celebratory lunch. I was a jumble of
emotions as I tried to fill Geoff in on all the details. This has been a long
time coming and it was a bit overwhelming. By the end of the weekend I realised
there had been quite a few emotions at play.
Elation, relief, exhaustion, acceptance, fear and - determination
Elation - the whoopy
doops, the yay’s, the yahoo’s, the twitter and facebook storm of
congratulations and new friends. It’s exciting. A happy dance must be done. Prosecco
must be drunk. Chocolate must be consumed. It was. By both.
Relief - JOB DONE! No
more agent rejections, no more fingers crossed, no more searching and hoping
that one day someone will ‘Get me’. Relief that Amber loves my work so much she’ll invest
her time and effort into my career. Thank you!
Exhaustion - This has
been a long journey! I once climbed a seemingly never ending mountain called Ingleborough, in Yorkshire. It had many false peaks and I was convinced that
each rise was the top. That the torture would be soon be over. My writing
journey has been similar. There’s been a number of false peaks and sometimes it’s
been difficult to get back up from them. Songs have helped. Especially this one
from Chumbawumba.
Acceptance - This may
take some time but I think using these words as often as possible should help -
My agent. As in: When I was talking to my agent. My
agent is lovely. My agent is going to be pitching soon. My agent said… (I intend these sentence
endings to be something wise and intuitive to show she is the best agent a
writer can get.)
Fear - Amber is going
to pitch my book! It’s not ready! It’s not good enough! I have three pages of
editorial suggestions. What if I can’t do it! What if I end up with a big mess
of a muddle?
Determination - There’s
been a lot of determination over the many years of writing and learning and
hoping. Now it’s needed even more than before. Because getting an agent is a
huge, wonderful step but it isn’t the end. The end is one of my books in a
child’s hand and, hopefully, a lot of laughter.
Here's a song that says it all. Thanks Rod!
Now I'm off to come up with a plan of action for Witch School Sucks! Because MY AGENT is waiting.
Maureen
You can see the first half of how I got MY AGENT through the Slushpile Challenge on SCBWI BI's Words and Pictures
You can see the first half of how I got MY AGENT through the Slushpile Challenge on SCBWI BI's Words and Pictures
Well done, fantastic news Maureen. Skylark is a good agency.
ReplyDeleteThanks David. It does feel like a good fit.
DeleteExcellent news, all the very best.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ruth.
DeleteI am so thrilled for you AND for Skylark Maureen - what a team!!!
ReplyDeleteAt last, Kathryn! I'm really enjoying working with Amber already. She knows what she's about!
DeleteFantastic news.
ReplyDeleteI know those hills wellI even posted about them: http://kmlockwood.com/mapping-out-the-territory/
You'll have lovely time with Amber & Jo
Exactly! Getting lost is such an important (and annoying) part too isn't it. Going down the wrong path, ending up in the bog. Great post.
DeleteBrill!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, lovely Louise. You are one of those who keeps me going! And i first met Amber at your scooby do!
DeleteEeeeeeeek! x
ReplyDeleteWell said x
DeleteYou are an absolute inspiration, Maureen! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteAw. xxx
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm so so pleased for you, Maureen you wonderful inspiration you xx
Delete(Love the Rod song and especially loved Chumbawumba sadly now disbanded. I tried to leave a very distracting link to Chumbawumba but fortunately my html is terrible!)
Thanks Jan. I'm sure there's a host of songs. We should make a playlist for the scoobie conference! Or not.
DeleteWonderful news Maureen, so pleased for you. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Natalie. We will need to celebrate!
DeleteThis is fab news. Lovely person A meets lovely agent B. Simples - and yet such a long journey there. Mega congrats again.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a hike! Thanks, Rowena.
DeleteI am delighted Maureen. Really, really pleased for you. From what you've written on your blogs, you've just kept going, developing your craft as you go long.
ReplyDeleteLuckily I love learning and analysing, Elaine. I just keep going back to that when things are disappointing. Thank you so much again for organising the Slushpile Challenge.
DeleteI'm so happy for you!!!!! Reading this brought back when it happened for me, not that long ago, really - such a lovely feeling, isn't it?
ReplyDelete((((hugs))))
It is! Now I really have to get on with it though. All this announcing does not get the book done!
DeleteAllow yourself to enjoy the moment: the book will get there even if you're smiling like a goofy the whole time (actually, knowing the kind of stuff you write that would probably help...).
DeleteCongratulations, Maureen. Wonderful news and I completely sympathise with all of those as I'm querying literary agents with my first novel at the moment. Skylark seem like a wonderful agency.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Fi. And don't worry about rejection. It's harsh but it's normal.
DeleteTee hee hee!
ReplyDeleteJust fab x
Tee hee indeedy.
DeleteHow wonderful for you. In the quantum world where cause and effect are linked in non-classical ways, this is probably the reason you love going to the tip.
ReplyDeleteAna, in an alternative universe where I am a Sheldonite I would respond to this comment with understanding and intelligence. But I'm this version of me. So I can't.
DeleteBrilliant news Maureen, really happy for you. Good luck. x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Paul. See you soon hopefully.
DeleteWhoo Hoo, indeed! Well done!
ReplyDelete