In 2007, via a miss-guided FedEx package, God nudged me to pick up writing again. (Thanks again, Michael Snyder and Zondervan, for that address mistake!)
In usual Krista fashion, I jumped in with both feet. I wrote late into the night and on my lunch breaks, I joined writer’s groups, I went to writer’s conferences, I entered contests, I queried agents.
As I announced a few months ago, I finally landed my “dream” agent, the uber cool and wonderful Rachelle Gardner of WordServe Literary.
What I purposely left out in that announcement was “how” I got my agent. Every writer dreams of telling their story about getting “the call.” But mine, I had to be vague.
Why, you ask?
Let me back up and tell you the REAL story!
I’d originally queried Rachelle back in Spring of 2009. We’d e-mailed back and forth some, and she’d requested my full manuscript. But then Annabelle was born, and Rachelle was swamped, and neither of us ever followed up.
Fast forward to January 2011. I got an e-mail from an editor of a publishing house (who I knew through a local writer’s group I was involved in) and she asked me to call her.
Long story short, she wanted to look at one of my books. I sent her my 2nd completed novel (different than the one I’d sent the agent the year before.)
And in June, just a few days after Annabelle was able to come home from the hospital after her most recent heart surgery, I got a phone call from her offering to publish my book.
I about fell on the floor. Only I was in the car, so that wasn’t possible. Instead, I called my husband and screamed really loud.
But what’s a writer to do? I’d NEVER imagined getting a publishing contract WITHOUT an agent. I am NO expert in contracts, and I really had my heart set on having an agent to guide me through this crazy career that is publishing.
So I got up the courage to e-mail the only agent I had an outstanding manuscript with, that was now a year and a half old and on a completely separate book. Would she even remember me by now? And what if my e-mail got lost in the bajillions of e-mails she gets everyday?
Before my nerves could convince me otherwise, I sent the e-mail. And waited… and no response. Granted, I didn’t wait long, but I knew in my heart that my e-mail was sitting in la-la-very-busy-inbox land.
Now, what had Rachelle said on her blog to do when you have a contract that you haven’t signed but want represented by an agent?
Use your networking contacts, that’s what! So, I e-mailed my two WONDERFUL writer friends and clients of Rachelle (waiving to Katie and Jody) and asked for advice.
I promptly received squealing e-mails back, offering to e-mail Rachelle for me to help lift my e-mail out of the masses.
Less than an hour later, I was on the phone discussing agent representation with my dream agent!
And now, with the help of my sweet, wonderful, AWESOME agent and my friend and now editor, Ramona Richards, as of Thursday when I signed my book contract and mailed it… I can officially announce…
Holy Cow. It’s weird to type that!
I am so excited I could literally burst. God is SO good. I’ve prayed for a very long time for HIS will to be done with my writing, while I held on to the little hope that maybe, just maybe, his will would be this.
And God’s timing is perfect as well. I look back and smile, because I see God’s handprint on each and every date.
And yes, it is a tradition. When you sign your first contract, you take pictures and post with your big news!
My hubby and I got kinda silly. Knowing that I am probably humiliating myself, I am posting them anyway.
By the way, I write humorous inspirational contemporary romance. I try to look the part…
Reading the fine print to make sure I know what I’m getting into! |
Taking break from the boring fine print |
Overwhelmed by the fine print… |
The fine print has officially made me crazy… |
Bored by the fine print… |
But wait… fine print is why I got an agent! She already read it! |
Yeah! Signing my first publishing contract! |
So so so so so so so so so excited for you Krista!!! It was so much fun to be able to celebrate with you that day! Can't wait to get my hands on your book!
WOOHOO!!!! This is great news! Celebrating with you today! Congratulations!! 🙂 Love those pics!
He he he at your pictures! HUGE Congrats to you Krista!!! That's freakin awesome girl! 🙂
Bahahahaha! You are so funny!
I am sooooo thrilled for you, Krista! You are so deserving and I am so proud of you! The first Alley Cat getting published!!!!!! You rock!
It always amazes me when the things we want might not arrive in the packages we expect.
Congrats on your contract, and welcome to the Abingdon crew.
I can't think of better news to start my Monday morning! Huge congrats, Krista! Woohoo! (And the photos are priceless!)
Congratulations, Krista!!! That is amazing news!!!!!
You soooo deserve this.
What a great thing to read on a Monday morning.
Write on!! 🙂
You are too young to remember that slang from the 70's "Right on!!"
My feeble attempt at being humorous!
Praying without ceasing too!
Linda
Love your post. Love your news. Love your genre. Love the backstory. Can't wait to get the chance to love THE BOOK. Congratulations!
Fantastic news!! So excited for you!! Can't wait to read your book when it comes out!! Congratulations!
Love the medley of pictures and love the GOOD NEWS!
Way to go, Krista!
~ Wendy
Congratulations Krista! I am so excited for you! Thanks so much for sharing more about your journey. 🙂
Hugs and blessings,
Karen
Congratulations! What wonderful news!
Oh my goodness Krista!!!! Congratulations!!!! I am so excited for you! I love the pictures 🙂
Yippee Dippee for you and God and Rachelle and everyone else who make up this team of dream-come-true!!! So happy for you, sweetie!!!
thats sooo awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God is goood!!!!
Wahoo!!! I can finally burst out in singing and not have to hide it under a bushel…er, something. 🙂
I'm so, so excited for you and wow…in a year I'll be holding your book in my hands. How cool is that?!
Love the pictures and love that I get to celebrate with you today. 🙂
Fun post, fun pictures, GREAT news! Congratulations!!!
WOW!!! This is SO COOL, Krista!!! I'm so happy for you! WOWEE WOW WOW!
Congrats. How exciting!!!! 🙂
HUGE congrats to you!!! So very excited!
CONGRATS!! The pics are awesome!!!! Thanks for sharing those!! 🙂
CONGRATS!!! As someone who has critted for you a couple of times in years gone by, I can hardly wait to see and read this book with YOUR NAME on the cover. WOOT!!!!
Awesome news! Congratulations!!!
Congratulations!
Congratulations, Krista!! So happy for you! And I enjoyed every single one of those photos.
WOOHOO! Congratulations! Wonderful news!!!
Krista, I just jumped over from Sarah F's blog! Conratulations! I have been praying for little Annabelle for quite some time. Many blessings to you and your family!
Mega congratulations!!!
I'm doing an energetic happy dance for you, Krista, the kind that sends my cats running for cover.
Loved the pics.
Congratulations! That's so terrific! And what an amazing story of how it happened — I think that's even better than a regular old publishing story. Yours has suspense!
Krista, I'm soooo happy for you! Tears of joy are in my eyes for you. I look forward to reading your book. Congratulations! Loved your pictures. 🙂
Congrats, Krista! I am soooo happy for you!!!! 🙂
YAY Congrats Krista!!!!
Wow, congrats on your story. That is SOOOOO exciting!
Congrats to you! You've had an unbelievable year. And now you're home with your baby and writing.
Here's to a fab release from a fellow 2012 debut!
Thank you for sharing your amazing story!! Love your outlook and your fabulous heart! May all good things come to you!!
AHHH! The Lord is good ALLLLL the time. But, you needed a little showering, and HE provided. I am so happy for you for so many reasons right now!
Oh Krista!!! This is wonderful news!!!!! I saw on Twitter something about you and had to come follow up!! SO HAPPY!!!!!
This is such great news! I can't wait to see it on Amazon (or whatever online shop) so I can order it here too!
And those photos are awesome *laugh*
Congrats Krista!!! So excited for your family to have such fun, wonderful, uplifting news 🙂 Continue to send prayers Annabelle and your families way!
Kelli
From Nebraska
Positively amazing news, Krista! I am so excited for you! Congrats!!!!
Woo Hoo! You go girl! Such AWESOME news!!!! I'm so happy for you. I can't wait to read your book.
Krista…WOW, you soooooo deserve this. Congratulations to you! Thank you for sharing your story with us. I cannot wait to read your book.
You are a beautiful person on the inside and out!!!!
:)Shannon
I'M GRINNING LIKE A FOOL FROM MY HOTEL IN WYOMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Krista, can I saw one more time how THRILLED I am to know you?? Now I can say I knew you way back when. 😉
Oh my goodness!!! SOOO super happy for you, Krista!! I look forward to reading your book!!
Hi Krista!
Love your publishing story…sooooo inspiring!! God is good!!!!!!!!!!!!
God Bless,
T Denise Clary 🙂
http://www.tdeniseclarybooks.blogspot.com
I am so excited for you, Krista!!!! And I can't wait to read it. CONGRATULATIONS!!
Krista- I just followed you over from Rachelle's blog. Congratulations all around!
I was particularly interested to read, though, about Annabelle andher HLHS. I have a friend with a little boy born with HLHS–he's now in second grade!! I know you get to hear a lot of sad stories and I wanted you to know we have a happy one! Yes, he will likely need a transplant one day, but in the meantime he's an amazing, happy, busy little boy with an extended family that cheers him on daily. Bless you as you go through the challenges ahead.
This is wonderful news, Krista! Congratulations…God is so good, indeed!
Congratulations, Krista!! What a year, huh??
Wow, Krista! I missed this yesterday so belated CONGRATULATIONS!
Oh my gosh, WOW! CONGRATULATIONS! I didn't realize you had an agent, either. I miss so much sometimes. I'm so happy for you!
That is SO cool Krista!!! Congratulations! I can't wait to read your book!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU SO DESERVE THIS!~ You are the poster child for trusting God's timing!!
Valerie's Mom here… Congratulations on your book! I can't wait for the Monday blog when you reveal the title! I've been following your blog since I met you and your wonderful family at Valerie's in KY. You bless MY life!
Congratulations!!! So thrilled for you! 🙂
Congratulations, Krista!
Congratulations, Krista!!!! Very happy for you.
That's just adorable. Congratulations, and I'll be praying for Annabelle!