This past May, I co-hosted a writer's conference and our speakers were the founders of SCBWI, Lin Oliver and Steve Mooser! At dinner, the night before the conference, Lin gave me the name of a literary agency she thought would be a good fit for me and I typed it into my phone. Two weeks later, I looked at my notes, but I couldn't make sense of them (tip - never type notes into your phone without wearing your reading glasses). That same night, I read a blog interview with a writer-friend of mine, Brenda Sturgis, and her agent, Karen Grencik. I was very impressed with Karen, so I went on the agency's website to read more about her. The agency name, Red Fox Literary, seemed familiar, then it hit me - it was the same agency Lin had suggested! I had just recently parted with my previous agent and I was not ready to contact them, so I put it on the back burner.
One month later, I attended a writer's retreat, Words in the Woods, where I met Marissa Moss, founder and editor-in-cheif of Creston Books. (I wrote a post about the retreat, and an incident with Marissa, on June, 25th.) A few weeks later, I submitted one of my manuscripts to Creston Books and Marissa offered to publish it!
Fast forward to the beginning of August, when I attended the SCBWI annual conference in LA. While there, I decided it was time to look for an agent again. On the last day of the conference, I got on the hotel elevator and there was Karen Grencik! I introduced myself and Karen told me to contact her after the conference.
Two days later, I emailed Karen and told her about the manuscript I had sold to Marissa and sent her my other manuscripts to read. After a long phone conversation, Karen offered to represent me and I happily accepted! Shortly after that, Karen told me how she and her business partner, Abigail Samoun, began their conversation, about forming their own agency, at a party. And, who was the host of that party?
Wait for it . . . Wait for it . . .
Marissa Moss!!
And, if all that weren't enough to convince you we were fated to work together, take a look at my business card. I ordered them long before I met Karen - I chose this design partly because of the fox in my book, 1 Zany Zoo.
Coincidence? You tell me!!
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