My favorite post in which I can say I have an AGENT!

24 May

(Movie trailer dude’s voice) In a world where imagination runs wild (not to mention the kids), a writer finds an agent…

Yes! I have an agent!

First a picture of my boys hugging a cute doggie (kind of tugs the “awww” out of you, doesn’t it?):

I love ’em!

So for the past few months I’ve been editing and querying (and editing more) on my young adult manuscript, receiving a pretty decent request rate.  I used any and all feedback to make my manuscript stronger. The responses became more and more personalized, resulting in a revise/resubmit at one point.

More revisions, more querying, more making my poor husband listen to revised and revised and revised excerpts (thank you, babe!). And more waiting at the virtual mailbox.

“Who the hell stuck me in this mailbox?”

And then one Saturday (yeah, a weekend), I got an email from the associate agent at Larsen-Pomada Literary Agency for a phone call. And this was me….

Whuuuuh???

The call wasn’t with Laurie McLean, whom I had originally queried. It was with Pam van Hylckama Vlieg (whom you may know as @BookaliciousPam in Twitter), newly promoted agent, who had rescued my manuscript from the slush pile and begged it off Laurie. I was SO excited that she was SO excited! In fact, (because I stalk people’s tweets sometimes—don’t pretend you don’t!) she was tweeting about it before she sent the email. She had great ideas for revisions and submissions, and she and I clicked instantly. I mean, she managed a rock band! Forget all her publishing industry experience — that’s just COOL!

Well, I did research on Pam, contacting very satisfied clients and even getting affirmation from another agent. So my “offer of rep” (EEP!) emails went forth and prospered into additional offers from other amazing agents! It was like Christmas!

“Oh yeah? Well, who the hell tried to turn me into some present?”

Finally, after a lot of chocolate consumption, I went with my gut (it never lies) and chose the kick-ass Pam to represent me (does she realize yet what she’s gotten herself into?)! A new agent with an established agency, she’s already sold a trilogy in her first couple months!

I look forward to a fantastic relationship with…I can say it now…my AGENT!

Really, Pam, do you know what you’ve gotten yourself into?!

40 Responses to “My favorite post in which I can say I have an AGENT!”

  1. laurenc129 May 24, 2012 at 7:40 pm #

    🙂 always the best news… until the next post that says “I have a publishing deal!” congratulations! 🙂

    • ticklingthemuse May 24, 2012 at 8:00 pm #

      You are so right about that, lol! Thanks!

  2. Hannah Holt May 24, 2012 at 7:42 pm #

    Yay! Cangrats!

    • ticklingthemuse May 24, 2012 at 8:01 pm #

      Thanks Hannah!

  3. Christine Benson May 24, 2012 at 8:02 pm #

    Congrats to you!!! OMG!!! And what a small literary world! Pam was one of the contributors on the YA Warehouse blog where I now contribute (cause she had to get some things off her plate). I have some serious shoes to fill. And you have a great agent!! Congrats again. Enjoy.

    • ticklingthemuse May 24, 2012 at 8:05 pm #

      Thanks Christine! And good luck to you on your new role! =)

  4. Heather Marie (@xHeatherxMariex) May 24, 2012 at 8:11 pm #

    I love posts like this!!! I am so, so happy for you!! Your book is going to be amazing and I can’t wait to read it! <33

  5. Caroline Lanker May 24, 2012 at 8:12 pm #

    Congratulations!

  6. Valerie May 24, 2012 at 8:13 pm #

    Vivi! I am soooo happy for you! So excited to see what happens next! 😀

  7. ticklingthemuse May 24, 2012 at 8:27 pm #

    Thanks for ALL the support, guys!!!! =)

  8. andimjulie May 24, 2012 at 9:36 pm #

    Can I just say a big fat EEEEEEEEP! So excited for you Vivi!

    • ticklingthemuse May 24, 2012 at 10:05 pm #

      HA HA! Thanks! You and your eep!!! And here’s your credit. EEP! – sponsored by Julie Murphy!

  9. John Lucas Hargis May 24, 2012 at 9:39 pm #

    Rock on! Great news. I want a blog post just like this! [Well, almost… without the cutesie pictures, but otherwise pretty similar!] 😉

    • ticklingthemuse May 24, 2012 at 10:06 pm #

      Thank you! What’s wrong with the pics? You HAVE to have cutesie pics!!! Esp. of kittens!

      • John Lucas Hargis May 25, 2012 at 2:33 am #

        LOL – Will let that be your personal ‘thang’. I like spiky and messy thangs. 😉

  10. Donna H May 24, 2012 at 10:31 pm #

    A million congratulations!

    • ticklingthemuse May 24, 2012 at 10:41 pm #

      Thank you, Donna! =)

  11. lauralanni May 24, 2012 at 10:50 pm #

    Saweeet! Good for you!

    • ticklingthemuse May 24, 2012 at 10:51 pm #

      Very saweet! LOL thanks!!

  12. Cecily May 24, 2012 at 11:43 pm #

    Woohoo! Yipppeeee!!! Hurray for you and Agent P!! (So hey, are we like, related now? If so, can I borrow all your clothes and date your boyfriend? Wait, what size shoes do you wear?)

    • ticklingthemuse May 24, 2012 at 11:48 pm #

      Ha ha! I’m so glad to have joined up w/you, Cecily! I kind of feel like we’re in a gang, now. Let’s go raid some villages or something. Shoe size is 6.5, but I prefer to wear size 9 heels so I can feel taller.

  13. Naomi Canale May 25, 2012 at 12:36 am #

    Vivi! Congratulations! This post was like epic and everything with the movie trailer voice dude–EPIC! I’m like all giggly…

    • ticklingthemuse May 25, 2012 at 10:07 am #

      Thanks fellow agency sis! =) And congrats to you, too!

  14. Marlana May 25, 2012 at 7:50 am #

    Pam sounds AMAZING and she’s so very lucky to have you as a client!! Congratulations to the both of you!!!! 🙂

    • ticklingthemuse May 25, 2012 at 10:07 am #

      Aw, thanks Marlana! You know I contribute so much success to the OWLs!!

      • pursuingthemuse May 25, 2012 at 4:59 pm #

        Bleah. LOL!

  15. Emily Anne Shaffer May 25, 2012 at 8:44 am #

    Congratulations!!!!

    • ticklingthemuse May 25, 2012 at 10:07 am #

      Thank you!

  16. followingthemuse May 25, 2012 at 10:05 am #

    I’ve popped all the buttons on my now-sexy shirt! Sooo proud of you!

    • ticklingthemuse May 25, 2012 at 10:06 am #

      UGH, mom, TMI!!! LOL!

  17. Kristin May 25, 2012 at 11:02 am #

    You rock, Vivi! But you know that. 😉 That cat in the mailbox image is haunting me. Who the hell DID stick it in a mailbox?! HA! Love ya! So proud of you!!!!

    • ticklingthemuse May 25, 2012 at 11:04 am #

      LOL I thought it was hilarious! And thanks Kristin! 😉

  18. Pam May 25, 2012 at 3:04 pm #

    That was my cat. Every client gets a free kitten. Yay VIVI!!! So happy to have you.

    • ticklingthemuse May 25, 2012 at 5:18 pm #

      Thanks Pam! Um, where’s my kitten?

  19. gwenpetersonchoate May 26, 2012 at 5:20 pm #

    This is great! Larsen-Pomada is among the top agencies in the country, and I have no doubt that they’ll sell your novel.

    • ticklingthemuse May 26, 2012 at 8:39 pm #

      Thanks Gwen! I appreciate that!

  20. Julie May 29, 2012 at 3:30 pm #

    Such great news! Congratulations!!

    • ticklingthemuse May 29, 2012 at 5:12 pm #

      Thank you, Julie! =)

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Viv’s Got an Agent…and a Theme Song! « - June 12, 2012

    […] Vivi’s announcement was music to everyone’s ears, I figured what better way for us all to congratulate tickling […]

  2. The Publish Driven Life « Tracey Jane Smith - July 18, 2012

    […] creative blocks and working hard to complete two YA novels in less than a year, my fellow creative Chick Vivi Barnes–a.k.a. ticklingthemuse–landed an awesome literary agent! I was so inspired by Vivi’s efforts and success I even wrote her a victory theme […]

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