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Wednesday, March 10, 2010

In Which Something Really Good Happens

There are moments in your life as a writer that you never forget.

Noisy moments, like when you scream with joy when you get your first contract.

Or when you ohh and ahhh over the cover of your book, lifted from it's cardboard shell, for the first time.

Or when the crowd at your booksigning is loud and boisterous, in the best possible way.

And then there are the quiet moments....

Like when you open a letter from a 6 year old boy who writes (very messily, in all caps) that yours was the first book he ever read all by himself. (Good Night, Good Knight)

Or when a librarian 5 states away lets you know that she read your book the week after 9-11 and it gave her, and her school, hope. (Somewhere Today: A Book of Peace)

Or when you open your e-mail and see that you have a message from an agent and even though you click on the other mail first (because it's probably a rejection anyway) you finally get up your nerve to click on it and then have to read it a couple of times (maybe a hundred) to let the words about your manuscript sink in, "..it's just that good and beautiful."

No, I didn't squee.

I just got teary for a moment. Then my heart smiled.

Writing is so solitary.

And when you know that something you wrote touched someone....well....

There are no words.

Only the best feeling. Ever.





What???

You want to know who the agent is? The agent wonderful (and crazy) enough to offer to represent me in all of my royal glory (and my Middle Grade Novel?)

Only the best agent in the world, known throughout the blogosphere as maybe the kindest, most helpful, most give-backing agent ever........(drumroll....)


The Joanna Stampfel-Volpe of Nancy Coffey Literary and Media Representation!

So, Joanna, if you're reading this, please don't be scared off.

It will be fun.

I promise.

hrh

P.S. "The Basket" contest details in the next post! Watch for it!

40 comments:

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

Teary-eyes, squeeeing, dancing in my office! I'm so excited and happy for you--this is so deserved, Shelley. All my best wishes for you and Joanna to get that book and many more into the world. Happy Day in the Neighborhood and the Universe.

Tamika: said...

Congratulations! Wow- there are no words. You captured the joy beautifully.

I am rejoicing with you!

Tess said...

wah-hoo! that is super fabulous news and I am so, so thrilled for you.

I get that reaction. Mine was similar.

Will you tell us more about your MG novel? pretty please?

Unknown said...

That is so wonderful! Congratulations! I am so happy for you!

Yat-Yee said...

So, so happy for you. What a joy, what a thrill.

Many more great things!

Julie Dao said...

Congratulations, Shelley :) I got teary reading this. You're a sweet person and a fantastic writer and you deserve every success you get. So happy for you!

Susan R. Mills said...

Congratulations! So, so, so exciting!!!!!

Corey Schwartz said...

Oh, wow! Shelley, that is so GREAT! Do you know SF over at Plot This? I believe she is repped by Joanna as well!

Super congrats!!!

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Oh, Shelley! I am so unbelievably, fantabulously happy for you! Wow - Joanna Stampfel-Volpe... I'd be speechless. You deserve this (I think you deserved it a long time ago). :-)

Kim said...

If your novel is anything like this post it's no wonder it's "just that good and beautiful."

*shedding a tear, a heart smile, a squee and a happy dance* for you!

SuPeR CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS!!!

lisa and laura said...

Ok, I'm not going to lie, you had me tearing up with the letter from the boy who wrote to tell you that your book was the first book he read all by himself.

And now I'm sort of weeping. This is just the best news ever. Two of our favorite people in publishing working together? Absolute bliss. We are so freaking happy for you Shelley. This totally made my day!

Joshua McCune said...

Big congrats! Couldn't have happened to a nicer gal.

L. T. Host said...

Congrats! Oh my goodness I am just so excited for you :)

Kelly Polark said...

Hurray! Congrats, Shelley, on everything you've written above! I loved hearing it all!

Myrna Foster said...

Oh, I'm so happy for you! What an excellent match!

Casey Something said...

YAY! YAY! YAY! I'm so happy for you, Shelley! Joanna is one of my favorites. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Michelle D. Argyle said...

Yay! CONGRATS!

Patricia A. Hawkenson said...

Congratulations! Well deserved. Enjoy the moment.

Karen Collum said...

Congratulations! That's wonderful news :) May it be a long, happy and fruitful partnership!

Kristin said...

Congratulations. That's wonderful news!

PJ Hoover said...

Whoo hoo! I am so happy for you, Shelley! you so deserve it!

Anonymous said...

Well done you!!!! :O) XXXXXX

storyqueen said...

Tricia-Now I would have liked to have seen the office dancing!

Tamika-Thank you! I can feel your rejoicement (is that a word?)

Tess-Thank you...and I knew I wouldn't be alone in describing understanding it. Probably I'll be talking about the book soon...(You'll get sick of hearing about it!)

Nisa-Thank you! I am so happy!!

Yat-Yee-Thank you....and thrill is the right word....an unexpected thrill!

Julie-Ah yes, the sisterhood of the teary eyes! (I got a bit misty reading these comments. There is no hope for me.)

Susan-Thank you...thinking of buying some celebratory shoes...and suggestions?

Corey-Yes, I guess SF and I are not agent buddies...or sisters...or cousins...or pals...or something like that.

Shannon-Thank you. I was just lucky...and I did research her pretty thoroughly. I knew if she offered, I'd jump! She's just the type of agent I was looking for.

Kim-Thank you! The novel is (I hope) better than the post!

L and L- Thank you. I didn't mean to make you cry! (But that little boy's letter made me bawl like a baby!)
(I remember that one of the first places I heard the name Joanna Stampfel-Volpe was on YOUR blog. So thank you for pointing me in the right direction!)

Bane-Thank you. And I like the term gal. It kind of works for me.

LT-Thank you! I am more excited than I can say.

Kelly-Yay! Thank you!

More responses to comments when I drop off kids!

MG Higgins said...

YAY!!!! Congratulations, Shelley! What happy, happy news. Now I hope we hear some exciting publishing news soon!

Hayley Lovell said...

Congrats! I'll squee for you! Squee!! This is so exciting, I'm so happy for you! Congrats!

Sherrie Petersen said...

Congratulations, Shelley! That is wonderful news!! I'm SO happy for you!

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Awww, Shelley! That is wonderful news! I'm so excited for you! What a lovely surprise when I popped over here. (I have an award for you. Do with it what you will or won't...You have something great to celebrate and keep you busy. I just wanted you to know I enjoy you and your blog.)

Jackee said...

I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! Even before I read the name of the agent, I knew who it would be.

Oh, Shelley, I'm so happy for you. I love Joanna. She's one of my close-but-not-right agents that I've told you about and I still adore her. Good luck to the both of you!


And in celebration of your quiet and glorious successes, my kids and I read Take Care, Good Knight together before their bed time.

You, my dear, are an inspiration.

storyqueen said...

Myrna-I, too, think it will be a great match.

Casey-And used YOUR blog to find out about her, after reading about her on L and L's blog. So, thank you for all your hard work!

Lady G-Thank you! Good things are in the air.

Patricia-Thank you! And thanks for stopping by.

Karen-yes! Let it be so!

Kristin-I am sooo happy.

PJ-Was it the lucky horseshoe? Hmmmm.

Niki-Oh! Yay! I've always wanted someone to say, "Well done, you!"
to me.

MG-Wouldn't that be something?

Hayley-Yes! A vicarious squee! I'll take it.

Sherrie-Oh, thank you. Next is your turn!

Sharon-Can't wait to see the award. I am just made of luck this week! (And thanks for all of the support!)

Jackee-Wow, you really know your agents! And I am so touched you read my book to your boy. (I hoped he laughed at all the right parts!)

Jackee said...

Nah, I just thought you guys might be a good fit. And thanks for putting The Basket to such good use.

Catherine Denton said...

Oh my gosh, that is AWESOME!! So happy for you.

Susan Fields said...

Congratulations - that's exciting news! This post is just beautiful.

Katie Anderson said...

I am sooo sooo happy for you!!!!!!!! Joanna flat ROCKS!!! There's no other way to put it.

You are in fabulous hands :-)

Now, go sell that book!

Hayley Lovell said...

I have an award for you over at my blog! Here's the link

http://hayleys-hollow.blogspot.com/2010/03/award.html

Jessie Oliveros said...

SHELLEY! I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU I CAN'T STOP WRITING IN CAPS! REMEMBER WHEN YOU SAID YOU HAD A SPECIAL MAGICAL GOOD-LUCK INFLUENCE OVER EVERYONE?! WELL, IT'S YOUR TURN!

Hardygirl said...

This is AWESOME!!!!! I am so happy for you, and so thrilled that we are "related".

sf

Tahereh said...

what a phenomenal post. loved this story. SO incredibly thrilled for you. SO SO thrilled!!

best of luck in all you do!!

Elana Johnson said...

I missed this!! I'm so sorry! I saw your basket of luck, and didn't really get it.

So I add my very late, and very embarrassing CONGRATS!!!

Kelly H-Y said...

Wow, Wow, Wow!!!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!! I'm so excited for you!!!

Stephanie Perkins said...

I am so so so late in commenting (again), but I starred this post in my Google Reader because it is so wonderful. HUGE congratulations to you and Joanna! I'm thrilled to hear such happy news!!