The title of today’s blog refers to the date and time of the e-mail that whisked the manuscript of “Thrown” to one Gail Fortune, founder of New York’s Talbot Fortune Agency (http://www.talbotfortuneagency.com/). That’s right, my first manuscript ever is now in the hands of a real live literary agent!
Naturally I had to go to one of my favorite Colorado restaurants, the Empire Lounge in Louisville (http://www.theempirerestaurant.com/) to celebrate. The picture above, taken by our most competent server, Sam (who is also a wildlife biologist), features, from left, Jean (http://www.redwallcom.com/Index.html), who is a spectacular designer and did this website; Helen, a friend and champion from the barn; me; Belinda, the first person to read “Thrown,” back when it was a bloated 130,000 words long; and Piotr, Helen’s swell husband. Not pictured are Gillian, who is another friend from the barn and a fellow writer, and Tom, my husband, who has been a bastion of support during my writing endeavor. I’m not sure why they’re not in the picture, Tom said he thought it was too crowded. If I had known they weren’t in the picture, I would have herded them in, but I had no clue. Plus, by then I’d had two splits of celebratory bubbly…
How did it feel to finally send my story out into the world of professional publishing? Exhilarating and scary, like pushing a baby bird off a cliff and seeing it fly. I actually squealed. I’ve gotten a flood of support from friends via texts, phone calls and e-mails, and even a dozen red roses from Wendy. I am humbled, blessed and exceedingly grateful for all the good wishes bolstering my little story. I am one lucky writer!
It’ll be weird to leave “Thrown” alone after working on it almost every day since the beginning of August. I’m not sure when I’ll hear from Gail, but since it’s the holidays I assume it won’t be until February. Now I can start in on revising “Love in the Time of Colic,” since it’s always good to have a second manuscript ready to go. You know, when you’re a big fancy romance novel author who has SUBMITTED A MANUSCRIPT TO A LITERARY AGENT. As I have. Today. Yeah.
So. Again, thank you all for your support, and keep your fingers crossed that Gail will love “Thrown” and soon I can write a blog entry as a PUBLISHED AUTHOR!!
