Friday 4 April 2008

I Have an Agent

And not just an average agent - a fantastic agent at a wonderful agency.

So what happened?

Well, at the end of last year I sent a query off to The Cameron Creswell Agency. Not long after, I received a request to send my full manuscript. The thing is, they were a bit inundated just before Christmas and requested I post it in in January. And I did. During the wait I worked on trying to improve my query (as you can read below). Then in February, I recieved this email:

Dear JJ,

We are reading your manuscript and enjoying it. We'll need a
bit more time to get through it and will get back to you as soon as possible.

Best wishes,

Great agent.
Now, the email had me jumping all around the place in expectation. Still, what a teasing email. I spent countless hours re-freshing my email account and checking my inbox. I spent the next week checking and checking and checking my email. That was a tough week. And then it came -an offer of representation.

I had spent considerable amount of time researching agents and agencies looking for that perfect fit and The Cameron Creswell Agency was my number one Aussie pick. I hit the jackpot. The hard work had payed off. For the last few weeks I have had plenty of exchanges of emails and regular updates with great advice from my wonderful agent, Sophie Hamley.

Sophie has finished her proposal to publishers and will start submitting next week. Nervous times ahead. Mind you, from my interactions with her, I have every faith in her ability to gain a great publisher. And the pressure is now on her because I've blogged about it. LOL.

I'm amazed that I have made it this far and feel blessed to be in this situation. Thank you everybody for your support and I promise to be back to blogging more often.

JJ

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations from one writer to another. I am also trying to find the right agent to represent my nonfiction book. I only started a few months ago so I'm not discouraged yet, but it sure takes perseverance.

Steve

Cate Gardner said...

CONGRATULATIONS.

Sara Spock said...

Yay JJ! Congrats.

JJ Cooper said...

Thanks Steve, Catherine and Sara.

Remember to keep at it, Steve. Determination is the key.

JJ

Thinkhappy said...

I am so happy for you! I've been off of AW while creating my new website and writing my second novel. No agent yet - still editing the first - But I couldn't be happier for you! You go, Boy!

Melissa
aka Thinkhappy
http://www.thewomensnest.com
Remember? The Knowing....

Anonymous said...

Way to be, JJ! I hope to be in similar shoes in less than a year. I'm in "persistence" mode, so we'll see. Great to see you making it. I'll keep an eye out for your book, and will buy it. What a feeling it must be!

JJ Cooper said...

Thank you Mel and Michael,

I appeciate the great support and kind comments.

I have no doubt you both have the skills and determination to get your work published.

Thank you.

JJ

Anonymous said...

Hi, JJ. That's great news, my friend. I'm delighted for you. Bufty

Wendy said...

Congratulations in finding an agent in June.
So what happened. Did they get you a publisher? I'm keen to know whether to try to approach this agency.

JJ Cooper said...

Hi Wendy,

Thanks for dropping by and for the well-wishes.

I am very fortunate to have Sophie represent me. She managed to secure a two-book deal with Random House in less than a month after we submitted. My first book, Interrogated, will be published in August 2009.

So, I can't say enough good things about my agent and the Cameron Creswell Agency. I have a link in my blog to their site and they have a good set of submission guidelines for all to see.

Again, thank you and I wish all the very best on your road to representation and publication.

Stay determined.

JJ