Wednesday, August 18, 2010

I've been Poelled...

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So, I haven’t posted in an age, but in my defense, life has been a whirlwind these past few weeks. So many things to share, but I’ll have to do it in spurts because I am very quickly making some tweaks to my manuscript so that my new, fantastic, lovely, hilariously funny and uber-enthusiastic super agent, Barbara Poelle, can get it out on submission.

Next on the—

What’s that, you say?

Oh, yes! I DID say agent. And I am thrilled, Thrilled, THRILLED about her. It’s a long and wonderful story, one of those, that looking back, seems like it was meant to be, but the very short version goes something like this:

Author (that’s me) has her eye on Super Agent (that’s Barbara) for a long time. Author sees that Super Agent is judging a historical romance contest (that’s the Hearts Through History’s Romance Through the Ages Contest) and decides to enter, in hopes of getting first three chapters of manuscript in front of her.

In the meantime, Super Agent and another Awesome Agent (that’s Holly Root) donate an afternoon tea with them to “Do the Write Thing for Nashville” to support flood relief for that area after the devastating May floods. Calculating Author thinks… “Hmm…I can support Nashville AND put myself in front of Super Agent, who will have read 3 chapters of my work if I final in that contest I entered, and at best, make an impression, and at worst, be able to at least ask her why she hated my writing.” Author bids, bids, bids and wins! Of course, she also queries both Super Agent AND Awesome Agent, because Author is no dummy and Awesome Agent is…well…awesome.

Author finals in the contest, and the manuscript is off to Super Agent. Author also finals in the Golden Heart and the Daphne, which doesn’t hurt, all of which are set to announce at the RWA Convention in Orlando, FL.

RWA arrives. Author WINS historical romance contest (Yay!), Super Agent comes to awards ceremony herself to announce the winners and then FLOORS Author by offering representation publicly in front of a room full of people, declaring her willingness to “get into a monkey knife fight” to represent Author. Author’s jaw drops, but she can’t stay to play, because she has to dash upstairs, where she also wins the historical category of the Daphne (at which point, she sees Super Agent standing in the back of the room, jumping up and down with applause. Author’s heart melts a little).

The next day, still stunned Author (and friend, Gretchen Jones) have lunch with Super Agent and Awesome Agent, who both deign to wear Fez’s blinged out with “I (heart) Nashville and Heather Snow” on them, and Author doesn’t have to ask Super Agent why she hated her writing, because Super Agent LOVES her writing. Yay!

(Gretchen proceeds to take picture evidence of this Fez wearing madness, which is exhibited below)




Author receives several more tempting (and wonderful) offers of representation over the next week, and is grateful and humbled by each and every one. Author runs off to New York to meet other Lovely Agents, to make certain she makes the right decision for her career. Author is torn, because she loves each agent and thinks they are all lovely. Then Author goes home and secludes herself for three days, clearing her head, listing her pros and cons, and checking her gut and her references and comes to a decision.

On Tuesday, Author calls Super Agent. Super Agent doesn’t answer. Author then decides, what the heck…Super Agent is young, hip and addicted to her iPhone (as is Author) and decides to officially accept offer of representation by text. She texts:

“Well, I’ve been Poelled. Here’s hoping you haven’t been Snowed into thinking I’m a better writer than I am, oh agent mine, because now you’re stuck with me. Call me when you can.”

And much celebration ensued.


All hilarity aside, I am very excited to be represented by the talented, tenacious and absolutely wonderful Barbara Poelle of the Irene Goodman Agency. Here’s hoping we have many happy, successful and lucrative years together…

26 comments:

  1. I was in that room when that happened and was floored! :-) Can't wait to read your book.

    Sooooo happy for you, Heather. Congratulations!!

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  2. Hooray!!! Congrats on the 'fairy tale' ending to a long agent search. I am simply dying for the day when I can walk into B&N and buy Sweet Enemy!

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  3. Heather,
    I am ecstatic for you! What a fairy tale story! All I can say is that I hope with all my heart the fairy tale continues and there are soon RITA wins and book sales and as much wonderful stuff as you can handle. Congrats!

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  4. Wahoo, Heather! What a fabulous, fabulous story! Here's to much well-deserved success and a very long and happy career.

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  5. So, so, SO happy for you! Wonderful things are headed your way, my friend, and it couldn't happen to a nicer, harder-working, or more-deserving person!

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  6. I hope the others involved in the Monkey Knife Fight recover fully. I think it's so sad that monkeys had to suffer in order for your career to take off, but such is life. One sacrifice after another. Fortunately no humans were physically harmed. Here's hoping no one from PETA comes after you.

    I know this was a tough decision with so many monkeys in the fight (just keeping the metaphor going, no reflection on any of the lovely and gracious and brilliant publishing industry professionals involved.)

    Regards Heather and you're wearing the frigging tiara from now on!

    <3 Gretchen

    Thanks for the lunch too. Had a ball!

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  7. Wow, Heather. This is amazing. Did you video the monkey fight? Would have been awesome to see. Congratulations! And may you have much success in your writing career.

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  8. Heather,

    What wonderful news. I'm so happy for you. You made the best choice for you.

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  9. I'm so incredibly thrilled for you, Heather! Someday I may actually get a chance to READ some of your work. Although I'm thinking now that I should hold out for the print version hot off the press! :D

    I'm glad to see all your chance-taking and hard work culminate in success. She's a lucky agent!

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  10. What a thrill! Barbara Poelle can't be beat!

    May this bear wonderful fruit, quickly!

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  11. I heard bits of your great story in Orlando (you're now an urban legend -- that's true) but I hadn't heard the monkey knife fight part. What a night Thursday must have been for you!!!!

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  12. Thanks, everyone, for stopping by! I so appreciate your good wishes :)

    Gretchen, oh my goodness...thank goodness I wasn't drinking anything when I read your comment, or I'd have snorted it through my nose

    Maureen...Oh, my, an urban legend? Ah, well, I guess there are worse things to be :) I'm just grateful to have been a part of it

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  13. I'm so very happy for you Heather !

    ~~Angi

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  14. Wow, wow and wow! I can't believe how much has changed in the few short weeks since I saw you at church. I am so excited for you! I can't wait to read the book.

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  15. Absolutely wonderful, Heather! Wishing you lots of floating around, leisurely paddling along as Poelle fights the monkey fight on your behalf.

    Jean

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  16. So very, very, very happy for you, heather! May you have a long, fulfilling and very profitable partnership!

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  17. Congratulations, Heather! I'm so excited for you and love it that you went with Super Agent. I'm a softee, but I got choked up at the line about her jumping up and down in the back of the room when you won the Daphne. Now that's who you want in your corner! I can't wait to hear your fun first sale story! I'm sure it'll be equally entertaining and I hope just as exciting.

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  18. Yay! Congratulations! I am so excited for you!

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  19. Great post and wonderful story!!

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  20. *Super* congrats to you on signing with Barbara, Heather! I just know we'll be hearing more awesome news from you very soon!

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  21. Congrats, congrats, congrats!!! This is SOOOOOO exciting. In celebration of Heather, why, I'm going to eat some chocoloate just for you! Congrats. Have I said congrats yet!?!!??

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  22. Thanks again, everyone. I am so grateful for all of the congrats and good wishes.

    (and you're not kidding me, Linda Kage. That chocolate is for you!) LOL :)

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  23. Wow! So happy for you. Hope the MS sells quickly, 'cause I can't wait to read it!

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  24. Congratulations, Heather. What a great 'How I Got My Agent' story. Thanks for sharing. I'm sure you'll be selling soon. :)

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