Plot Twist

If you've been following along with my recent posts you know that I had pretty much decided to go the self-publishing route with one of my novels. Since departing with my previous agent three years ago none of my query letters - for any of my four manuscripts - resulted in anything substantive.  There was some back and forth discussions with a couple of agents, but ultimately they went no where. Even submissions to small publishing houses were fruitless. Frustrated and feeling like I was out of options, I made the decision to pick one of my novels and self-publish it - basically just so I could say I was published. I ran a poll on Facebook to help me decide which book would have the best chance at success and my adult crime mystery - Fallen Knight - came out on top. I started making arrangement's to have it professionally edited and at the same time doing research into what it would take to accomplish my goal. In my mind I was coming to terms with my choice, and adjusting my mindset as far as the whole publishing pursuit goes. I guess you could say I was making peace with it.

Then I received a phone call four days after Christmas.

There was a single copy of my YA novel PRICK in the hands of an agent I had sent out months earlier. I had met (and pitched) this agent at the DFW Conference in June and she finally asked for the full in October. If I'm being honest, I wasn't holding out much hope because at that stage I'd been bombarded by rejection for so long that clinging to hope seemed pointless - and it had been three months.

So I was a bit shocked when I saw the agents name appear on my incoming call screen - but I didn't allow myself to get excited because I have received phone calls from agents/publishers before that lead no where. But this wasn't one of those!

The agent read my novel - the night before - in one sitting - and LOVED IT! Not only that, she could see huge potential for a series. Okay - cue the excitement!

Then she asked -  if she wasn't too late - if she could represent me and my book.

In the blink of an eye everything had changed. My wife had been listening in on the call and tears were rolling down her cheeks.

She answered all of the follow-up questions I had prepared (for years) to my satisfaction and this morning I emailed my signed contract.

I am ecstatic to announce I am now represented by Tina P. Schwartz of the Purcell Agency.

Needless to say - but I will anyway - my plans have changed. I have a couple of small edits to make to PRICK for Tina, then I'm going to start working in full earnest on its follow up. 

Just twenty four hours ago I was looking ahead to 2020 with trepidation and disappointment - and now I am beyond pumped and reinvigorated.

How's that for a plot twist?