Agent Appreciation Day
by Dan Krokos on Dec.11, 2009, under Uncategorized
I don’t love Janet Reid because she buys me expensive dinners.
Actually, that’s one of the reasons.
I love and appreciate her because she gave me a second chance.
In the fall of 08, I was an urban fantasy writer who was about to write his third book of the year. I hated urban fantasy, and wanted to do something fresh and fun.
Then I found a book with a kickass cover, THE ELECTRIC CHURCH. I read it. The attitude and first person perspective hooked me. While not strictly crime fiction, it was my first encounter with an antihero I actually liked. I wanted to write stuff like this.
More importantly, I wanted Jeff Somers’ agent.
That spring I wrote a superhero novel with an Avery-esque character. It was brilliant. No really. I’d been following Janet’s blog and queryshark, hoping to find some insight I could use to sway her.
I queried for THE FIRST RULE OF HEROISM. Janet rejected me the next day. I disagreed with that, because I wanted her to be my agent.
So I wrote another book, true crime fiction this time. A book I thought she would like. I submitted the query to queryshark and got a request the next day. Send this ms to me! she said.
Which I would’ve done had I been more than 60 pages through the final draft.
I busted out the rest of the book. The girl I was seeing said “So long” since I didn’t do anything but write. I got a full request from Janet Reid, dammit!
So I submitted the manuscript. I felt feverish. I got a reply saying it might take awhile to hear back. Cool, I started doing coke to keep my mind off it. That part’s a joke.
I got a reply that Saturday. She really wanted to love it.
Heart pounding, I read on.
Attached was the first two chapters, edited. Could I apply those edits to the entire ms?
Shit yes I could. It was simple mistakes I needed someone to point out to me. Things like “Uncle Martin is sitting against the wall . . .” became “Uncle Martin sits against the wall.” I spent the next 24 hours doing several passes, cutting more than 2000 bullshit words that acted as a leg cramp for the pace.
I submitted at 10 pm. She read at midnight. Got my call the next day. Went on submission the day after.
She could’ve said Not for me, but she didn’t. She gave me a chance. Those two edited chapters really opened my eyes to mistakes that could’ve become lifelong had I not caught them this early.
Also, I typed this on a phone. That’s how much I appreciate her.
Special thanks to Kody for creating Agent Appreciation Day!
December 11th, 2009 on 10:50 am
I love reading these types of stories! It’s so inspiring! Especially for me, an un-agented nobody that is currently writing my second novel. (OK so I never even bothered trying to query my first novel… so I have no gage as to just how much of a failure I really am)
Anyways, it’s so awesome to see how you landed your dream agent!
December 11th, 2009 on 10:54 am
Glad to inspire! I got lucky.
And I didn’t query until wrapping up novel number FOUR. You’ll know when you have something worth selling. The good part is you learn so so so much with each book.
December 11th, 2009 on 10:09 pm
This is an awesome post! I love your joke about waiting to hear back
December 11th, 2009 on 11:16 pm
Hi Suzie! Thanks. It really is a joke. I did heroin because the coke made me think about it even MORE.
December 12th, 2009 on 12:08 am
I had read up on your story before this, however it’s interesting to see the process in which Janet Reid became your agent. I always wondered how you managed to get her attention right off the bat.
You do know she’ll probably bite your head off for making her seem more compassionate, than the Shark persona lets on right?
Just goes to prove she recognized your talent for what it was.
Thanks for this. It gives the rest of us hope. (Hugs)Indigo
December 13th, 2009 on 2:19 pm
What an incredible story! Congrats. I’m so glad there was Agent Appreciation Day, not just so we could appreciate our agents, but so we could hear stories like this. Can’t wait to hear what happens with your novel!
December 13th, 2009 on 2:48 pm
Indigo, she is every bit as fierce as the legends would have you believe. If anyone learns something from this I hope they learn to never get up, and to keep trying new things.
Nova, thank you. I like the story too : ) Thanks for posting.