Remember how I was going to take a blog hiatus? Well, I’m thinking there’s no better time to interrupt that hiatus than to share some pretty amazing news… I’ve signed with a literary agent!
There’s a lengthy story behind my search for an agent. Here’s the moderately exciting condensed version (because I’m aways curious about how others arrive at agentdom): I wrote a story, queried it, and soon figured out it wasn’t fit for publication. I trunked it. I wrote another story, queried it, and soon figured out it was in need of rewriting. I shelved it. I wrote another story, truly believed in it, queried it widely, raked in some requests and then some “This is lovely, but I just didn’t fall in love” rejections. I revised, then revised again, queried some more, raked in some more requests. And then… THEN…
I scheduled a vacation with my family. I resolved not to stress about writing, not to query, not even THINK about querying. I climbed on a plane with my kiddo and turned off my phone. I flew, then landed. I turned my phone back on. And, of course, there was an email from one of the agents who’d been reading my full: I’d like to schedule a phone call to talk about your story.
Isn’t that always the way it is? When you stop obsessing, big things happen.
I spoke to the agent on April 29th while I was in Georgia, the day my husband graduated from Ranger School. She offered representation. Naturally, I was thrilled. A fun side note: A few months ago, my husband and I set goals for 2011. His was to get through Ranger School. Mine was to sign with a literary agent. Though I didn’t actually sign with an agent on that day, I had serious interest. It was as if my husband and I both hit our goals right at the same time, and it was very cool.
I happen to have a picture from April 29th (because all blog posts are better with pictures!).
After speaking with the offering agent, I emailed the agents who were reading partials or fulls of my manuscript and asked them to get back to me within ten days (serious torture for an impatient girl like me!).
Turns out the wait was worth it. Another offer came in about a week later, from Vickie Motter of Andrea Hurst Literary Management. Vickie had been at the top of my list since I started reading her blog a few months ago. (She has awesome taste in YA literature and does a fantastic Wednesday Reads series. Check it out!) When we spoke on the phone the next day, I just knew she’d be amazing to work with. She’s friendly, smart, collaborative, and has some incredibly thoughtful revision ideas for my story. Still, I made myself think, really consider my choice from all angles, and as much as I liked the first agent who offered, I kept coming back to the same conclusion: I wanted to work with Vickie.
It was seriously difficult to contain my enthusiasm when I emailed her to accept her offer of representation.
Me and my I-Have-An-Agent Bubbly!
So, now I’m agented (so surreal!) and I get to tackle another revision of Where Poppies Bloom, (one recommended by Vickie :)). I can’t wait to get started!
katyupperman.com 
Wow. That’s a freaking AWESOME story. Congrats. Enjoy the journey! Woot!!!!!
Thanks so much, Lynn!
We’re very proud of you 😀 Now get out there and start revisions. I want to see that book on the shelves ASAP 😀
Thanks, Jus! I can’t wait to start revising… there’s going to be some good stuff happening to POPPIES 🙂
Could it be cooler that this all happened on the same day for you and your man? Hooray for you!!!! and your entire family!!! (adorable family pic BTW)
Thanks so much, Kat. We really have had an exciting last few weeks!
Yayyyyyy! Katy, I know I’ve already gushed this via email to you, but I am so, so, so thrilled for you! All that hard work and perseverance has paid off. So exciting, and it only gets more exciting from here. Best of luck with revisions, and again, CONGRATULATIONS!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Oh, and keep drinking that bubbly. You deserve to celebrate!
Thanks, Erin! I so appreciate your support and advice and enthusiasm. I have the greatest writing friends. 🙂
That is so amazing. Congrats times a billion!!
And thanks a billion, Pam!
Yay for your agent story! Congratulations–I think you WILL really enjoy working with Vickie. Good luck with revisions!
Thanks so much, Kris! I’m looking forward to getting to know you and my new agent sisters. 🙂
OMG, SUPER CONGRATS, Katy! I am so happy for you! Yay times a hundred!
Thank you, Caroline!
Yay! Congrats to you and your husband–what an awesome coincidence. 🙂
Thanks, Rebecca! Funny how things work out. 🙂
Again, congrats! And that is so awesome that you guys hit your goal pretty much on the same day.
Thank you, Alicia!
Congratulations! So exciting to have your goals accomplished…especially such an amazing one.
Thank you, April 🙂
Congrats, Rebecca! I knew it was going to happen for you, your excerpts are always written so beautifully and I love the premise of Where Poppies Bloom. Can’t wait for you to share the rest of your journey to publication; I have no doubt you’ll end up on bookshelves and I’ll be reading your book ready to copy down the awesomest lines.
– Sophia.
Oh my god horrendous typo. Congrats, *Katy*. Should not have read Rebecca’s comment before posting lol.
– Sophia.
Haha! Totally something I would do, Sophia! Thanks for your congrats. 🙂
YAY YAYAYAYAYAY congrats, Katy! It must be a WONDERFUL feeling. Now you’ve been elevated to the “agented-author” status, where you get to drink bubblys with all the others and stress out over copy-edits. 😀 YEAH FOR YOU!
Yep, that’s all I intend to do: drink and stress. 🙂 Thanks so much, Yahong!
Congrats- that’s so exciting! That’s true that good things happen when you stop stressing over it. Enjoy your journey!
Thank you! I hoping that the “good things happen when you stop stressing” lesson truly sinks in after this experience.
Can I get a Hooyah, Army of Awesome? Or the Ranger equivalent? LOL
I’m so incredibly proud of you, Katy. Look at how far you’ve come since Faith’s story! I can read your books over and over and never get bored. I can’t wait until the throngs of your future fans get to read them, too!
You’re too funny, Heather! I’m glad you like reading my stories over and over, because I should have some good stuff for you to read in the next few months. 🙂
I love good news! Congrats!! And good luck on this next leg of your journey.
Thank you, Brandi!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!
Soooo happy for you! :D!!!!
Thanks so much, Alison!
YAY! I am so excited for you! 😀
Thanks so much, Jessica!
Katy, I couldn’t be happier for you. As soon as I saw your tweet about having a big day (with a massage first), I just knew this was happening! I’m such a huge fan of your writing–your excerpt in the Show Me The Voice blogfest was simply amazing. Your ideas are brilliant (still seriously dying to read BUSWIP!!! (that’s what it’s called in my head now)) and I’m so excited that we’re closer to seeing you in print. I made Meg jump online to confirm my suspicions, and did a private little dance for you at work!
You’re so awesome, Amie, and thank you so much! It’s double-exciting to share good news when so many wonderful people celebrate with you. Thank you again for the shout-out on your blog… totally made my day 🙂
How exciting! By coincidence, my first offer from a publisher came when I was on holidays too. We got back home on a Saturday afternoon, and I was beside myself until Monday morning when I could call her back!
Thanks, Beth! Yes, the wait was torture, but so worth it. 🙂
Congratulations, Katy! So happy for you. I’m certain you’ve chosen wisely. Vickie is a fantastic agent. So glad to have you for my newest agent sister! Yay!
Thanks so much, Carol! I’m thrilled to be working with Vickie, and so excited to get to know you and my new agent sisters better!
Hi, I just popped over from Amie’s blog,
Congratulations!
And I love that you and your husband both hit your goals at the same time 🙂
Thanks so much, Alexa, and thanks for stopping by. 🙂
I take one week off from reading blogs and I miss this? CONGRATULATIONS!!! I’m so incredibly happy for you! From the moment I read your excerpt on your blog I knew it wouldn’t be long before this happened. You’re a great writer.
I think you deserve some chocolate-covered strawberries with that Champagne. Or at least gooey mac n cheese. 🙂
Thanks so much, Tracey! Funny, my husband took me to dinner after I’d accepted Vickie’s offer and we had lobster mac-n-cheese. Good stuff!
Katy! I know I already said congrats when you announced on Twitter, but somehow I missed that you’d blogged about it too. So behind on my blog feed it’s not even funny.
Congratulations times a MILLION on this–it sounds like you’ve made a really good match. Best of luck on your revisions–my money’s on more awesome news soon!!
Thank you so much, Meagan! And congrats again on your book deal. Couldn’t be happier for you!
i know im late, but congrats katy! this is so awesome.
i was just cruising around your blog and saw in your about me that you were repped, and i was like, wait, what?! and here i am. also, when i read the query for where poppies bloom a while back, it sounded amazing, so im not even that surprised 🙂