I fully realize the title of this blog post is very on-the-nose, but what else could I title it? I Have Found Someone Who Believes In My Work and My Feet Have Stopped Touching The Ground When I Walk Because I'm Elated? Hmmm, yes that would be a contender. But the truth is I'm just too excited to beat-around-the-bush. I HAVE AN AGENT! Her name is Terrie Wolf and she has her own literary agency based in Colorado--AKA Literary Management.
What do I like about Terrie? So many things, but I think the number one quality that drew me to her was how positive she is. And it isn't a rose-colored glasses type of attitude where she chooses not to see the bad and ugly... it's a way of living that says: When Life Knocks You Down, Calmly Get Back Up and Say, "Is That All You Got?" It is tenacity. Perseverance. Just not giving up. Ever. And not allowing oneself to be jaded by the jaded world. Yes, I admire that about Terrie. In just the short amount of time I've known her, I've witnessed this to be true.
The other thing that I really like about Terrie is she believes in my work! Terrie has said that my manuscript is "smart" and "needs to be read." Thank you! My work is a 40,000 word manuscript titled Tutu Tough and is a book for the middle grades that addresses bullying in all of its forms. The story follows three characters, 12-year-old tough guy Brick, 11-year-old loner Travis, and 12-year-old Piper Palatine, a ballerina who says what she thinks and is unpopular because of it. Everything is going fine, and by fine I mean Brick is pushing Travis into blackberry bushes and throwing his backpack on the roof of the school among other things, when Brick's mom puts him in ballet as punishment. She thinks she can humiliate him into being "good." Instead, Brick discovers that he loves ballet! He marvels that he can tell his body what to do instead of the other way around. But when Travis finds out and hatches a plan to use that information to exact revenge, the reader will be left wondering, "Who is the real bully?" I can tell you after years of drafting and revising this manuscript I have fallen in love with these characters. They are real people to me! And finding Terrie, who loves them just as much as I do was well worth the wait.
In short, I look forward to a long career with Terrie Wolf at AKA Literary Management. I can tell she will be my cheerleader but always give it to me straight. She will remain positive in the face of adversity. And what more could an author ask for? We have already laughed together. My hope is we will someday soon celebrate together. And to all of the authors out there who are being brave today: Hurray! Open that website. Research that agent. Attend that conference. Send that query. Be brave. Because your Terrie is just around the corner, too. I guarantee it.
Happy writing,
Rachel
