Big, Agent-y News!

Sep 17, 2012

I'm thrilled to announce that, as of today, I have an agent! I'm now represented by the amazing Hannah Bowman of Liza Dawson Associates. Basically, I've been doing this all day:





I actually met Hannah almost two years ago on Twitter, when she was interning at the agency. I had asked for beta readers for my previous novel, and Hannah volunteered. She gave me some awesome feedback that formed the core for my revisions of that novel. We stayed connected on Twitter, and when she became an agent last year I couldn't wait to submit my new manuscript to her.

Around June this year, I posted my pitch for The Unhappening of Genesis Lee on Twitter, and Hannah asked me to send her the manuscript when it was ready. I started querying in the last week of August, and sent it on to her. Nine days later, I got an email from her that requested a phone call. I was so excited and shocked that I gave a crazed laugh and started shaking.

That was a Friday, and I talked to Hannah last Monday. She was so excited about the book (she'd read it twice!), and from the way she talked, I could tell she really GOT the story. I loved the ideas she mentioned for revisions, and felt like we clicked really well. I told her I was excited about the prospect of working with her, but needed to contact the other agents who had my material (I had another full and a partial out, and contacted the others who I'd queried as well).

Over the next week, I got two more offers and a revise and resubmit request. The other agents were wonderful and great to talk to, but I still kept coming back to Hannah as feeling like the right choice.

So this morning (after having a dream where I called Hannah back to accept and she said she'd changed her mind-- and reminding myself IT WAS JUST A DANG DREAM), I accepted representation. I signed the agreement, sent it off, and went out to a celebratory lunch with my hubby and kids. (And yes, those flowers are from my totally awesome husband.)

So, my friends, I have an agent!! And not just any agent, one I love, who loves my work, and shares my vision for it. I'm beyond excited to work with Hannah for this book and for future ones. Thanks to all of you who've been supportive of me on the internets and real life! Anyone else have good news they want to add to the good news pot?

64 comments:

Cherie Reich said...

Yay!! That's awesome news! Congrats!

Emy Shin said...

Congratulations, Shallee! That's such a great agent story. :)

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh! Congratulations! I'm so happy for you and hope all goes well. Great work! :D

Jennie Bennett said...

I couldn't be more happy for you! I can think of few others more deserving :)

Meredith said...

Yay! Sounds like you found the perfect person to represent your work. Congratulations!!!

Kelsey said...

Congrats! I'm so excited for you :D

Saumya said...

WOW! Congrats!! All of your hard work has really paid off and that's so exciting!

David P. King said...

And there you have it! I said I had no doubts and look at that! Congratulations, Shallee. You extremely deserve this and Hannah is lucky to have you as a client. :)

Stina said...

Congrats, Shallee. It's great you already had a strong relationship with her. That makes a huge difference.

Unknown said...

Huge congratulations!!! May you have a splendid career together :D

Rachel Searles said...

That's fantastic, Shallee!! Big congrats! :)

Lo said...

What awesome news!!! Congrats, Shallee!

Faith E. Hough said...

Woo-hoo! :)

Anonymous said...

Too happy to have anything intelligent to say. So... YAY! YAY! YAY!!!

Unknown said...

Congratulations!!! Woohoo, keep on doing that dance!

And I love all of the Doctor Who images. ;)

Janet Johnson said...

Congratulations! So excited for you!!! : D

Reece said...

THAT'S AWESOME!!!! Congratulations! I'm so happy for you,

Reece said...

Also, WHY would you post a picture of a dancing cyberman?!?!?! Third creepiest and second most hateful Dr. Who villains EVER!!!

Tanya Reimer said...

Can't beat news like that! Congrats! YAY!!!! Happy dancing with you!

Angie said...

Congratulations, Shallee! I'm so happy for you.

KM Nalle said...

OMG OMG OMG. Shallee!!!! I'm so excited for you. Holy cats this is exciting. Congratulations.

Peggy Eddleman said...

I am so excited for you! Congrats!!

Michelle Merrill said...

Oh, you better believe there is some crazy dancing going on here for you! I'll restrain from any capitalized words and an excessive use of exclamation points...only if you promise to understand how happy I am for you!

Three cheers for Shallee. I have to say, Hannah is one lucky agent.

Good luck with this adventure. And guess what? I actually posted something for you :) I know, it's a shock that I'm even on blogger let alone posting something. How could I not though?

Can I give another three cheers? How about twenty? :)

Lara Schiffbauer said...

Yay for you! That is some great, big agent-y news - I'm so happy for you! Super high-five!! :D

Donna said...

Yay, yay, yay! I am so excited for you!

Kayeleen Hamblin said...

Congrats! That's awesome news!

Chantele Sedgwick said...

YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!! :D So happy for you!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I saw your announcement on FB, but had to come here and say again CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SO, so wonderful!!!!

Denise Covey said...

That's an awesome story of catching an agent! Congrats!

Angela Cothran said...

This is awesome awesome awesome!!! You just made my day :)

Rachna Chhabria said...

Congrats, Shallee. This is absolutely wonderful news. I am super happy for you.

Iain said...

That's amazing news. Congratulations! :o)

J.L. Campbell said...

Well done, Shallee! Sounds like you're a good match. Loved the pictures, especially the last one. Here's to smooth revisions and a quick sale.

Amparo Ortiz said...

MAJOR CONGRATS!!! So, so happy for you! *fist pump* Now go dance like those GIFs in every street you can find! :)

Anonymous said...

Whoo hoo! What happy news! You are so talented and I'm so glad things are working out!

Ghenet Myrthil said...

YAY! SO excited for you. Congratulations!!!

Cheyanne said...

SO EXCITED FOR YOU! I'm sending you virtual hugs and high fives! Great job!

Emily R. King said...

Congrats, Shallee!!!

Suzanne Furness said...

What exciting news! I popped over from David's blog it's nice to *meet* you.

Jessie Oliveros said...

Wow, that was FAST. It took you what...a couple weeks to get three offers? Must be an amazing book. Congrats!

Teralyn Rose Pilgrim said...

I'm so happy for you, I'm actually tearing up! Congratulations! I can't wait to see where your career takes you.

Peaches Ledwidge said...

So happy for you, Shallee. I can feel your excitement. Wishing a smooth journey to publication.

Congrats!

Heather Day Gilbert said...

Congrats, Shallee! And are these Dr. Who dancing clips above? VERY EXCITING to find that agent who believes in your book as much as you do! All the best to you!

A.L. Sonnichsen said...

YAY, Shallee! I'm so happy for you! What a great story, too! It sounds like you two will make a great team! So excited for you!! <3

Anonymous said...

Congrats. The following nearly brought me to tears:

"...went out to a celebratory lunch with my hubby and kids. (And yes, those flowers are from my totally awesome husband..."

Beautiful. :)

Carrie-Anne said...

Congratulations! Sounds like Hannah was really meant to be your agent.

Traci Kenworth said...

Congrats, Shalee!!

Anonymous said...

Many many congratulations!

Julie Musil said...

YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!!!!!! I'm sooooo happy for you. Congratulations :)

Christine Murray said...

That's amazing, big congrats! :)

nutschell said...

congratulations!!!! That is awesome news. It's time to break out the bubblies and celebrate this great milestone :)

Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com

Golden Eagle said...

CONGRATULATIONS! :) That's so exciting!

mshatch said...

Excellent news! I am so happy for you, especially the love part! I hope My agent is exactly like that :)

Jessie Humphries said...

Yay Shallee! Woot.Woot! I love your Dr. Who clips. My step daughter just recently got me into Dr. Who. I never got your Dr. Who references before...but now I do! Yay :)

Laura Barnes said...

Happy, happy, joy, joy!!!!!

Nicole Zoltack said...

That's wonderful! Congrats!

Jeff Hargett said...

Major congrats!!! I heard it via DPK!

Carrie said...

Congrats!!!! So happy for you!!!

Melissa Hurst said...

I'm so happy for you, Shallee! CONGRATULATIONS!!! I hope to hear about a book deal soon! :)

Precy Larkins said...

Late to the news, but SQUEEEEE!!!
CONGRATS!! So happy for you!

Btw, you look amazing for someone who's just had a baby! :)

Jenna St. Hilaire said...

Late getting to this, but oh, wow, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Best of luck as you prepare to go on submission!

kjmckendry said...

That's sooo awesome! Congratulations!

Lorena said...

Wonderful story! Congratulations!

Christy said...

I know I'm late to the party but congratulations!

 
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