BIG ANNOUNCMENT: I Have Accepted an Offer of Representation!
on December 8th, 2011This is something I’ve been wanting to write for a long, long time. I’m pleased to announce that I’ve been offered and accepted representation for my book RAISED BY A DEAD MAN (working title) from Bonnie Solow of Solow Literary Enterprises!
Querying agents is a rough business. A query is a short letter telling the agent what the book is about and why it’s awesome. Very hard to sum up a 300 page book in one page and do it in such a way that makes an agent want to read more. Agents receive HUNDREDS of queries every week from the anonymous, unwashed masses. They call it “The Slush Pile.” Most of them suck. Not sucking is your best way to stand out from the crowd, but even then… the odds are against you.
I played the odds because I believed in my book. Not that I had any right to. I never though of myself as a writer until about four or five years ago. I got this fool idea in my head that I could write a book and so I did. My (true!) story is about growing up during the time between my father’s two shootings and dealing with his death. Heavy stuff, but funny too. Really. Death is pretty awesome and only in the space a book gives me could I ever explain why I think so.
And now I have an agent who also believes in me. She’s read the book twice now and given me some invaluable feedback and wants to bring it to the world. She’s amazing. In the fourteen years she’s been working as an agent, I’m only the second author she’s ever rescued from the slush pile. That’s how much my book resonated with her. Now, we’re working together to bring the book to publishers and convince them to invest big in a story that we both feel could sell many, many copies. It’s quite the thing when someone who knows their stuff believes in you.
There’s still a lot of work ahead. Nothing is guaranteed, but my faith in this book is as unwavering now as it was when I first called up a blank sheet and started typing. The difference now is that I have a lot more reasons to think success is on the horizon.
Big thanks to everyone who has believed in me and supported me so far. You know who you are. We’re not quite there yet, but we’re much closer.
More to come.
You deserve this.
I’m EXTREMELY uncomfortable with the word “deserve,” but I thank you for the sentiment, Kathryn!
Maybe you can’t say “deserve,” but you can say you worked hard! You believed in your book and yourself, as does everyone that supports you, and all that hard work is that much closer to paying off!
That’s an awsome step forward Brock. I’ll keep you in my prayers that this comes to fruition for you sooner than later. I look forward to hearing more about this process and one day getting my hands on this book and reading these stories that define who you are. I’m as familiar with the tale as any other fan of your work that follows you is, but I do look forward to getting the chance to read more and I hope it can serve as a tool to help others that have gone through similar issues. Congratulations again Brock, I’m so excited for you.
Thanks, Todd. You’ve always been on my side and I truly appreciate that. I will definitely keep people informed. Exciting, new, and scary times ahead.
I second all that!
That’s AWESOME, Brock!! Congrats!!!
Thanks, Will!
YES!! So, so cool! That is so totally awesome that she believes in it too. I am super thrilled for you. Way to go, Brock.
Thanks, Tyler! Of course, you’re in the book. But I think I did right by you.
You’ll be thanking me later when people start buying your book because I’m in it. In fact, just put a picture of me on the back and it’ll sell like crazy.
Whoo! that’s awesome Brock. Can we hope to see some sneak peaks?
You already have! I’ve posted excerpts in this very blog. But I’m sure I’ll do a formal, first chapter sneak peek when the time is right.
Congratulations, my friend!
The reward for a job well done is another, harder job. As you will find out. Now the work really begins.
Well done. I’m happy for you!
Thanks,Gwen! And… you’re right.
Congratulations, sir!
Thanks!
Since everybody else is back slapping you, I’ll have a little fun. Gee whiz, You mean you signed with the first agent to say a few rosy words about your book. I really think you should hold out for a second offer. Really? No, not really.
You’re right. I jumped the gun. Is it too late to go back? It is? Oh, well. Guess I’ll just have to be deliriously happy with who I have.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! This is awesome and so if your book!!!
Thanks, McKenna!
I promise I’ll buy one.
I wanna play you in the movie.
I imagine the trivia screens that show before the movie will have one that says, “Believe it or not, Brock Heasley queried 108 agents and received 45 rejections before his now-famous memoir became a New York Times Bestseller.”
Well done, Writerman. I’m proud of you… Keep it up.
That’s great news
you may not be there yet but this is still a big step in the right direction. Keep this up and this book will see the light of day yet!
Can’t wait to buy it! Really happy for you, Brock!
How wonderful, Brock! What a nice Christmas gift.
Congratulations–can’t wait to read the book!