Agentry

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An agent is one of those things you’re supposed to really want when you’re a writer.

Sort of like good ideas and chocolate.

An agent is supposed to turn pumpkins into stagecoaches and matchmake all sorts of happily ever afters.

Right?

I was never quite sure.

I worked with an agent briefly for my first book, but I’ve mostly been on my own these last number of years and it’s worked out okay. I’ve somehow wrangled myself into my chair (thanks to some good ideas and chocolate) and I have a pretty substantial little stack of manuscripts to show for it.

(Well, I mean, they’re picture books so I use the word "substantial" rather loosely. It’s not a tower or anything like that. More like a short, squat butte.)

Along the way, I pulled a few bits of the butte loose and, lucky for me, a delightful and insightful editor was there to receive them. I had to do my own dealmaking, which is about as appealing as a bad case of the flu, but I survived.

In the meantime, the rest of the pile on my desk had become rather, um, inert.
And the thing about inert rock, er, paper formations is they tend to stay that way for millions of years.
Which I more time than I’ve got.

Which is why I’m very, very happy and relieved and excited and ready to share the fact that I have signed with the amazingly warm, smart, productive and funny Erin Murphy.

Apparently, Erin does not get flu-like symptoms when she dealmakes!

Apparently, Erin does not get daunted by short, squat buttes of the inert variety!

Apparently, Erin is a fairy godmother!
Well, okay, maybe she doesn’t turn pumpkins into stagecoaches.

But she did say this in an interview I read:

I only sign someone new if it makes my stomach hurt to think of them working with someone else. Their work has to be so wonderful and so unlike anything else I’ve ever read that I just can’t pass it up.

Which does make me feel a little like a princess.
Thanks, Erin!

(And now I have to get back to the part of the work that is still, and always will be, mine…)
 

58 Responses to “Agentry”

  2. carmenoliver

    Agentry

    Way to go, Liz!! Erin Murphy will be a perfect match for your brilliant ideas and books! I’m so happy for you!!

  4. imcoolerthanu2

    Oh, congrats, Liz! How exciting! 🙂 I hope this means that *we’ll* be able to see a bunch of things in that pile before so very long.

  5. alison23

    Congrats! You know, I was just thinking about your art picture book yesterday, and how much I liked it–I hope this is a step towards it selling soon! 🙂 And, um, I have a manuscript out to Erin Murphy myself right now, so I hope she’s still got room for more! 😉

    • liz_scanlon

      That’s one of the ones she’ll be putting out there, Alison. Thanks. And now I’ll be crossing fingers for you…

  6. kristydempsey

    Congrats and here’s to new sales soon! I’m sure Erin is celebrating to have signed you. You ARE a princess. 🙂

  7. susanwrites

    Oh my goodness. She sounds like a fairy godmother to me.

    Yeah, for you!

    Biting my tongue on my own agent issues. 🙂

    • liz_scanlon

      Oh, Susan. I’m the queen of issues. Truly.
      I can make an issue out of nothing if need be 🙂

      Thanks for your cheers!

  9. Anonymous

    TadMack says: 🙂

    Ooh, congratulations!

    Yeah, that’s me, too. The ‘flu symptoms. Which is why I am GRATEFUL for my agent, no matter how completely un-like each other we are, I adore him, because he does The Worst Part.

    I’ll definitely stick with my own.

    I hope this truly frees you and ignites further creativity.
    Mazel tov!

  11. jamarattigan

    *Cartwheels and back flips*

    Congratulations, poetry and picture book princess!! Toasting you and Erin with mountains of chocolate!!

    • liz_scanlon

      Re: congrats!

      MERCY Goodness, my friends. I am overwhelmed at your kind words and good cheer. I had no idea this would conjur that sorta stuff up! Thanks, Linda, Tanita, Vivian, Jama and Annette!

  13. kellyrfineman

    Congratulations! I wish you a happy-ever-after. And hope you can stop picking your butte now. (And yes, I laughed my butte off at that.)

    • liz_scanlon

      OK, Kelly.
      A little wordplay from the peanut gallery. Which is good because what in the hay was I talking about??? A butte? I mean, as opposed to a mesa? Sheesh. Nutty…
      Thank you, for your neverending jolliness…

  17. natalie_writer

    Congratulations, Liz! Erin really is everything you’ve said about her. Plus she loves chocolate. Welcome aboard the pumpkin coach! 🙂