Writing Life: Changes

2012/August by Marji Laine 52 Comments

You’ve read the articles before. Writers who report, “I got the call!”

Well, I got an email.

Funny how God knows just what I need when I need it, because had I been on the phone when I squealed I might have burst the eardrum of my new agent. Not such a great way to start, you know!

This truly showed God’s moving. I asked several close friends to be prayer partners for me and sent out queries. I wrote to my prayer team and shared that the wait could be substantial, but this was patience training time. Less than 18 hours later I had a request for a full manuscript. Funny thing was, I’d just printed it out and sent it off with a proofreader. I asked if I could send it in early the next week, after the scrubbing.

Then, after submitting the newly washed manuscript, I again wrote my prayer team. This truly would be patience training as I had heard that manuscript-reading could take up to six months. I settled in for a long wait and thought about my next project … for a few hours.

Opening my email as my daughter fixed a snack on the counter next to me, she heard me gasp.

“Mom, is everything all right?”

“I have an email.” I stared up at her and she understood immediately.

“Do you want me to read it for you?”

I didn’t even let her get the words out before I digitally tore into the note. I read the words “recommendation” and “represent.” That was it. I started hollering and giggling and dancing a jig. Both twins joined me and my Labrador just knew it was all on account of him. He jumped and danced and barked along with us.

Then I had to stop and fully read the email … uh … but my computer had been busted in our reverie. No doubt by the huge hound.

Couldn’t get to my redhead’s computer fast enough. Not only to actually read (and reread and reread) the email, but to respond, hopefully in a professional manner that didn’t reflect the unsophisticated, uninhibited joy and revelry we’d experienced.

I’m feeling more like an author every day. I’m even listed under the “Our Authors” link at the Hartline Literary Agency where I’m now represented by Terry Burns.

I’m still giddy!