My Life in a Literary Agency

[Wind Swept]

So, if I was looking to get a book published...

[Young Val]

You can absolutely submit a query when I'm up and running.

I will not represent my friends just because they're my friends. I won't even represent my friends if they have an amazing book, but I'm not the right person to rep it. If I love what you've done, but I know I'm not the right person to rep you, I'll refer you to another agent in the business, giving them a heads up that I think you're great and I'm sending you their way. If I can't honestly recommend your work, I won't.

The only privilege knowing me personally will get anyone is that I will move those queries to the top of my pile (which is pretty standard for any referred material).

I've gotten into sticky spots in the past trying to help out a pal or two, and in the end it's not worth it. It's not worth it professionally, and it's not worth it personally. My friends and career mean too much to me to f*** around with either.

[starlooker]

Kelly, I have to say, I am getting an enormous amount of mwahaha-type satisfaction by imagining you going into business and the people who could have hired you and didn't having the sudden realization that they turned you into competition and beating their heads on their desks privately before pouring themselves a shot of whiskey or somesuch.

Mwahaha.

[Jayelle]

Kelly, I have to say, I am getting an enormous amount of mwahaha-type satisfaction by imagining you going into business and the people who could have hired you and didn't having the sudden realization that they turned you into competition and beating their heads on their desks privately before pouring themselves a shot of whiskey or somesuch.

Mwahaha.

Yes, this. Much this.

[starlooker]

Kelly, I have to say, I am getting an enormous amount of mwahaha-type satisfaction by imagining you going into business and the people who could have hired you and didn't having the sudden realization that they turned you into competition and beating their heads on their desks privately before pouring themselves a shot of whiskey or somesuch.

Mwahaha.

Yes, this. Much this.

Oh, I forgot to add a very important part of the image. After banging heads on desks, but before making of stiff drinks, there are several minutes of glassy-eyed staring blankly into space with haunted, regretful eyes. Is that in your vision, too, Jan?

[GS]

Kelly,

Any news on this front? I realize that this might have gotten lost in wedding madness, but I would definitely be interested to hear of any progress.

[Young Val]

It didn't get lost in the wedding madness so much as it got lost in the madness that was the Minnesotas State government shutting down for 21 days and therefore both David and I getting laid off at the same time.

Since agents work solely on commission it's only to be expected that it will be awhile before my little business makes any actual money, and so it's kind of important that we be a little financially stable before I full on take the plunge. The hope was that I could continue my current, part-time job while working on agency stuff in the evenings while David studies and attends class. The plan also includes him working full time during the day. But since we both got laid off, we had to dip into our savings to keep afloat.

THEN there has been the wedding madness on top of all THAT.

The budget was passed yesterday, and so David and I are both back at work as of this morning, but I'm 99% positive that I'm getting laid off again in a matter of weeks, thanks to the new budget that was just passed.

So....

It is still in the works. I am still going to do it. I am still making progress. But am I open for business? Nope, not even close.

[Dr. Mobius]

*bump*

So has there been any progress over here or has it been shelved* for now while the wedding eats up all your time?


*Book pun most definately intended.

[Young Val]

So. Time to ge tthis s*** up and running again.

[LilBee91]

So. Time to ge tthis s*** up and running again.

[Rei]

Yes indeed!

[Young Val]

Publishing Director at Llewellyn just personally wrote to tell me he came across my resume and wants to invite me to interview for a position. That I haven't even applied to yet.

[LilBee91]

Publishing Director at Llewellyn just personally wrote to tell me he came across my resume and wants to invite me to interview for a position. That I haven't even applied to yet.

You are awesome. You know that?

[thoughtreader]

You're just that amazing!

[Gravity Defier]

*crosses fingers* You're not the spouse or boyfriend of a Pwebber, so you don't have that streak working in your favor, but you've got more than enough to make this happen. Good luck!

[Rei]

Wow! I really hope this works out!

[Dr. Mobius]

Wait, isn't that Jani's AIM sn?

[Gravity Defier]

The Llewellyn? No. Hers was Lyraluthuen.

[Petra456]

How exciting!

*fingers crossed*

[Eaquae Legit]

Good luck to you, Kelly!

[steph]

Come on, universe!!! Give Kelly a job she loves!!

[Young Val]

Too terrified and superstitious to say "Nailed it!" but, oh man, I think I might have.

"You are the only person we've ever interviewed for any position, ever, who has even heard of subsidiary rights, let alone knows what they are and has extensive previous experience with them."

[Petra456]

Sooo hoping!!!

[Syphon the Sun]

Way to go, rockstar!

[Jayelle]

Woo! Wooooooooooooo!

[steph]

Breaking out the big one:

[Syphon the Sun]

Also: every time I see this thread, I sing the title to the tune of the My Date with the President's Daughter song.

[LilBee91]

Aw yay! You are just that awesome.

[Mich]

Also: every time I see this thread, I sing the title to the tune of the My Date with the President's Daughter song.

You are the only person I've ever known who also remembers that song.

ALSO WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO KELLY!

Edit: oooh, this is my 2500th post! A good round number for good news.

[LilBee91]

Also: every time I see this thread, I sing the title to the tune of the My Date with the President's Daughter song.

You are the only person I've ever known who also remembers that song.

The question is: do you also remember the corny Disney movie that accompanied it?

[Syphon the Sun]

The question is: do you also remember the corny Disney movie that accompanied it?

Duh! It was great. And it had Eric from Boy Meets World!

Man, I miss Disney's made-for-TV movies. Luck of the Irish, anyone?

[LilBee91]

And now I'm watching it on youtube. I really need to be studying for finals...

[Gravity Defier]

Too terrified and superstitious to say "Nailed it!" but, oh man, I think I might have.

"You are the only person we've ever interviewed for any position, ever, who has even heard of subsidiary rights, let alone knows what they are and has extensive previous experience with them."

*crosses fingers* I mean, everyone else is getting jobs so why not you?

[Young Val]

Llewellyn has called my references. Please, oh please, oh please, oh PLEASE let this be a good sign. (My references were glowing, naturally. Not just because I'm good at what I do, but also because I listed people who would be inclined to give good references. So far, they all report that they've done just that).

PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE.

Don't make me start quoting A Chorus Line BECAUSE I WILL.

[Syphon the Sun]

Sluck, sluck, sluck! Good luck, good luck! [title of show] reference, anyone?