I have an agent!

I’ve wanted to write a blog post with that headline for a loooong time.

Even better, my new agent (*squee!*) is someone who was on my A-list, someone I consider myself very lucky to have as a representative.

Ready for it? My new agent is…Laura Bradford of the Bradford Agency.

*faints*

Laura Bradford

Aside from the pure joy I felt at hearing Laura talk about why she wanted to represent my work, there’s an unexpected bonus here: no more filling in spreadsheets of whom I’ve queried and submitted my manuscripts to, no more using QueryTracker and obsessing about response times and when to follow up.

Hallelujah!

And here’s how it happened…

For the last two-and-a-half years, I’ve been trying to find an agent using different methods. I queried several with my novel All Things Easy and had a pretty good success rate with agents asking to see the full manuscript. They all ended up rejecting it, mostly because it has some controversial elements in it which would make it difficult to sell. Then I started querying with First Aid for a Broken Heart and I got no love whatsoever. Crickets. I sent out different versions of my query and they all got form rejections.

In the meantime, I’ve also been entering contests and pitching to agents and editors in person and online.

And First Aid has been doing really well. Everyone I pitched to in person asked to see at least a partial, and I’ve won a couple of contests, getting requests out of them, as well. What does this tell you? My query-writing skills suck.

Two weeks ago I got the final results from the Orange County RWA’s Orange Rose contest. I was a finalist in the contest and, though I didn’t win, I was thrilled to see that Laura Bradford had been one of my final judges and she asked to read the rest of the manuscript.

About a week later, she emailed to say she really liked it and wanted to talk to me in person. Since she’s in San Diego (bonus – my home town) and I’m in the Netherlands, she said she’d call at midnight her time, 9am my time. I read this at 8am and nearly had a heart attack.

It seemed so unreal that I didn’t say anything to Smarty Pants as he got ready for work. Saying the words out loud would jinx it, right? So he was quite confused when he checked his phone after his morning class and had a text from me: “I have an agent.”

Anyway, Laura and I talked for about an hour and a half about my career goals, my writing and scrubbing toilets in Antarctica (don’t ask). The whole time I feared maybe she was sleep-deprived and really meant to call someone else, but NO – she mentioned things about MY story! She also said she’d been to a professional rugby game, which is great since my novel features a smokin’ hot rugby player.

So now it’s official. I have an agent. I have an awesome agent. And I am happy.

Hopefully I’ll have more good news to share in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, I’m in the mood to celebrate.

Giveaway!

I’m giving away a book from a fellow Bradford Agency author to one person who leaves a comment on this post. I’ll announce the winner on Tuesday November 6th, and the winner will get to choose from one of the books shown on the Our Authors page of the Bradford Agency website. So go check out the other authors.

And thank you all for your support!

By Kat

Kat Latham writes sexy contemporary romance, including the London Legends rugby series. With degrees in English lit and human rights, she loves stories that reflect the depth, humor and emotion of real life. She's a California girl living in the Netherlands with her baby girl and British husband.

66 comments

      1. This is a beautiful blog post. I want to print it out and frame it and cuddle up with it 🙂 Congratulations a thousand times over. I’m doing a Snoopy dance for you. Yes, please keep sending the good news! Did I say congratulations? It couldn’t have happened to a better writer. So happy for you! Xoxo

        Reply

        1. *blushes* The best thing about this industry is the chance it’s given me to meet and become friends with gorgeous people like you, Moriah. I owe you so much!

          Reply

  3. It sounds as if all your hard work is really starting to pay off. I wish you every success in the (near!) future.

    Reply

  8. I’m so happy for you, Kat! I’ve won contests here before, so please don’t feel you have to enter me in the drawing, I just really wanted to say how glad I am that you and Laura connected. I can’t wait to read your book! Wishing you huge, huge good luck with the submissions process.

    Reply

  9. Congrats! I wish you the best. Good luck with your new book.

    I too have won here before, so please don’t put me in for the drawing.

    Reply

  10. Wonderful news, Kat! Ever since I read your work, I knew it was just a matter of time. You’re very talented, and now you’re on your way! Congratulations to your agent! She made a wise decision. Good luck to both of you!

    Reply

    1. Ah, thank you, Kaki. I can’t tell you how much your support means to me. If we ever get to meet in person, I’m gonna fawn all over you. Prepare yourself. 🙂

      Reply

    1. Thanks, Christine. I think I’m still stunned. She’s been on my A-list for so long, I can hardly believe it. *pinches arm* *ow!* *must be real*

      Reply

  16. Congratulations!!! You are in good company – lots of wonderful authors that I’ve read and enjoyed. Can’t wait to hear more about your new stories!!

    Reply

  19. Hi Kat, that is great news and I do believe Laura is a great agent. She read a contest entry of mine (I won) but she never asked for more pages which did disappoint me but that’ the way way it goes. So huge congrats.

    Reply

  22. Wow, congrats! That’s great to hear.

    I don’t normally read romance novels, but First Aid for a Broken Heart sounds interesting. I love the idea of writing books about charity workers.

    Reply

  23. Congratulations!!! 🙂 how did a San Diegan (I’m one too! *waving*) end up in the Netherlands??? LOL

    Laura is a super agent!!! Congratulations and I hope you find a great home for your book!

    *HUGS*

    Lisa 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hello, fellow San Diegan! I got here via London and Prague, but mostly via marrying a man who became a university lecturer and got a job here. I don’t know why I keep moving from cold city to cold city. There’s seriously something wrong. Hope our next stop is Rome!

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply

  24. Hi Kat! Sounds like your hard work and perseverance have finally paid off! Congratulations! Looking forward to reading your books.

    Reply

  25. Congratulations, Kat! what exciting news 😀 Laura Bradford is a top-notch agent – well-worth the wait! You’re a terrific writer and deserve a terrific agent, and I’m glad your persistance paid off. Here’s to a productive and profitable relationship, yay!
    Deb Mc.
    [Savvy Authors – Contempo Commandos]

    Reply

  26. Congrats! I’ve been doing pretty much the same things, Querytracker, contests and querying. Nothing yet but I am ever hopeful. I have a novel I’ve tried and tried to generate interest in but it’s always crickets for that one. I’m trunking it for now. I have had some success publishing on Kindle/Nook/Smashwords and have had two books pubbed with small presses but I really need an agent to get to the next level. I write YA fantasy and paranormal. Here’s hoping I can share your good news soon. Congrats again!

    Reply

  27. Oh, Kat! I’m *so* excited for you!!! This is awesome, amazing, incredible news! *hugs* Squee! *happy dancing*

    I think Laura might have tweeted something about a client call she had to make at midnight. LOL! That was YOU!!! I love it!

    (Yes, all these exclamation points are absolutely, totally necessary. Hee.)

    “What does this tell you? My query-writing skills suck.” Ack! You *know* how much I can relate to this. 🙂 So glad you don’t have to go through that torture anymore. Mega-congratulations to you, my friend! *big hugs*

    Reply

    1. I’m happy dancing with you! Yes, when Laura tweeted that she meant me. How strange to see an agent I admire tweet about ME!

      Thanks for all your cheerleading and encouragement these last couple of years. You are fantastic and I can’t wait to celebrate with you, too!

      Reply

  28. Congratulations! I can’t imagine how happy you must be. All the time and effort as well as heart and soul you have put into it has started to pay off, I know this is just the beginning for you. Celebrate you deserve it and I am on my way to check out the other authors.

    Reply
  34. Pingback: Winner of my Bradford Lit book giveaway!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.