Skip to main content

My meeting with an agent

Those of you who have been following this blog from the beginning will know that I've been trying for years to get an agent. Well I have the best news...I HAVE A LITERARY AGENT!!!!!!!!
Omg I was in so much shock when they responded and it wasn't the rejection letter I was used too. You're probably wondering how did this happen right?

Remember when I went to The London Book Fair? My PR told me to go through the exhibition directory and message all the literary agents for a meeting. Whilst I was doing that, most of them had links to their sites so I figured why not submit for the thousandth time, you never know. The directory is super long so I got bored doing it and Helen (PR) kept emailing 'Have you finished it?' All I can say is thank Jesus that she did that because that's when I submitted to Raimondi and Campbell.

I got a response to read the whole of the novel. Now I've been at this position before and it usually ends there, so I sent the book in. Then another agency asked for the book so I sent to them too. I heard nothing from either of them for weeks and my Dad suggested sending a reminder email. What's funny is I only sent one to Raimondi and Campbell because I just had a better feeling about them.

I got an email from them a few days later. I opened it expecting a rejection instead I got 'we really like your book and Val (boss lady) is reading it.' I literally fell to the floor crying, thanking God. It's been 6 YEARS OF TRYING! A few days later Val asked to meet with me. I didn't know if that was a good sign or not so I googled 'I have a meeting with an agent help!' and I found lots of positive things that suggested if you have a meeting, then the agent wants you.

I was so nervous. I arrived 40 minutes early but when she came and we spoke, everything went well and I was signed.

Just like that.

And the best part is my contract with Trafford is an open contract AND I can keep selling Emily until a traditional deal comes through. This was the perfect time because I've been panicking about funding a second book and now I don't have to worry.

So check out my new writing family here http://www.raimondicampbell.com/en/literary-agency/authors/ and you can see my pic!!

Oh and I'm selling bookmarks and postcards of Emily only 50p so check out shopping on www.a-bello.com or on www.facebook.com/emilyknightiam go to shop and shop!

Comments

  1. Just read this! Been following your posts!! Congrats!! I'm excited for you, make sure to let all us budding writers know all the pros and cons of the publishing world ;p xxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you Sharena! It's been a long challenging road. How are your stories coming along? X

    ReplyDelete
  3. Same old same old! Am hoping to start submitting by next year, that's my aim at least, right now though, I'm learning from people like yourself. ;p I'll be staying tuned x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ooh fun, well if u have anything to read, I'd like to have a sneak peak ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is great news :) The hardwork has paid off. Well done!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In the words of Carrie Bradshaw and just like that I was a YA author

It feels like the right time but this will be my last entry. I know! I've been writing in this blog for TEN YEARS but this year it just felt off. I couldn't pinpoint why that was but the other day I realised I started this blog because I was a dancer who was trying to understand the publishing world. I also was so scared of anyone reading my work hence why I started a blog. Ten years later I have fulfilled my goals! Back in May I had finished my first YA book, a love story based around a Black owned bookshop in Stoke Newington. How I wrote this book when I was heartbroken I have no idea. I vaguely remember sitting on the couch with headphones on playing O Holy Night on repeat at 3am writing. I made my deadline and I wasn't sure if the book was good. My first round of submission for another book had very conflicting feedback and honestly I didn't have it in me to experience that again. I just wanted a deal. Fast forward to September 21st and my book was sent on submissio

I have a new book out!

That's right book 4 is out! This is my first anthology and it's absolutely gorgeous. I was asked to be part of The Very Merry Murder Club maybe a few weeks after my dad and I remember just thinking why is this opportunity coming now?! And it's with Farshore and imprint of HarperCollins. There's no way I can do it. I literally couldn't write. My agent Gemma spoke to me and the editors knew what had happened to me so it was really up to me. I prayed on it and God said to me you're not going to feel this way in October so I said yes. I won't lie I was worried that I really couldn't write this book but thank God for his strength and amazing agent and now it's here!  I've been ill all week but I saw loads of pic on social and my copy hasn't come yet so I dragged myself to Waterstones Islington to take pics of the book on the shelves. The booksellers were looking at me like are you going to buy this book. HA!  The amazing thing is I have even more

My meal was £22 and it was so small I ate it in 3 mouthfuls.

Happy World Afro Day! I had no idea this was even a day so yes for us! How gorgeous is this? I can't remember what country it's in but I saw it some weeks ago on Twitter. Getting into the swing of writing these blogs is harder than I thought. I'm not sure why I'm finding it tricky to stay on top of it and I know I'll regret it especially when I read back over it at the end of the year.  I turned another year older and despite it being a year that is turning out to be unpredictable I'm thankful that I'm here to see another birthday. It's always hard planning what to do, something that I know won't cost an arm and a leg. In the end I spent it eating lol. Helen and I went to this amazing Creole restaurant, literally a hidden gem that had the most amazing food and drinks that were even too strong for Helen!  I have no idea why it rained on my birthday! In the middle of summer!! Honestly sometimes I can't deal with this country. Then I got changed for