Sunday, November 16, 2014

The Night They Invented Champagne....






The night they invented champagne
It's plain as it could be
They thought of you and me

The night they invented champagne
They absolutely knew

That all we'd wanna do
Is fly to the sky on champagne and shout to everyone in sight
That since the world began, a woman and a man
Have never been as happy as we are tonight



It has been a weekend of celebrations here!

First Barry turned 52 years old yesterday:

Who doesn't love chocolate cake with 7 minute frosting?


Like the beard?  It's new!

He luffed the coat he ordered from J Crew and got a new XBox 360 game.  You can never take the boy out of the man!

So happy birthday Barry!


And the even bigger news?  On Friday, I signed with a literary agency, the LKG Agency in New York City!!!!!!  They have recently decided to expand their interests into children's literature and when they offered me a contract, I swear I felt like Jo March!

A New York City Literary Agency has signed me.  A REALLY GOOD literary agency has signed me - check out their list of authors!

If this isn't a pinch-me moment, well what the heck is??????


YIPPEEE!!!!!!



 



Over the last year, I have been writing and rewriting like a fiend, taking courses, reading about writing, writing about reading, dreaming about writing, doing anything I could do to get better and make my first book sell-able.

I always knew it would be hard to break through - the publishing world today requires you, in the main, to have a literary agent.  To gain a literary agent, you query, query, query.  And then you wait.  And then you mostly get rejected.

However, this summer, I started to get more and more requests for full manuscripts by agencies.  And suddenly, this past three weeks, there seemed to be 3 on the verge of signing me.  

And on Friday, I signed the contract.

What does this mean?

Well I make more revisions first.  And then my agent will try to sell my book.  Hopefully I have done a good enough job that this will not be an impossible task for her! 

So I am one step further on my journey.  And am proof that if you work like a dog and continue to try and grow and keep taking courses and rewrite and re-question all that you do, you can actually make a major career change.

So while I don't miss my old job, it is clear that the tenacity and professionalism I learned there has helped this newbie in her dream profession.

And yes, we celebrated with the widow, for who else would you celebrate with?


And thanks to all of you who continue to cheer along!  It means the world to me and I will continue to keep you posted on my progress!  And to my NYC friends - you KNOW you are seeing me in March!!!  

Have a wonderful Sunday and remember: don't be afraid to fly!

File:Wendy Flying.gif








72 comments:

  1. Congratulations! I so admire you for focusing on your writing and following through!

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  2. Whoo hoo! Congratulations and well done!

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  3. SO HAPPY for you Wendy and I know how hard you have worked for this... well done Dollface!
    What a weekend?! Happy Birthday to Darling Barry, please tell him he is looking very handsome with his beard.

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  4. Sooo happy for you and congratulations!!!

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  5. my dear, I am so proud and happy. thank you for sharing this moment of joy.
    xxx

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  6. Barry is looking handsome and happy-- now he's in the same facial camp as MLane. Buy him a good trimmer is my advice.

    So pleased for you, but not a particle shocked or amazed. We knew this would happen for you! So, here you go. Many many congrats to you!

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    1. Lane - he is obsessed with beard conditioners these days! Thanks for the kind words!

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  7. Oh what wonderful news Wendy! If your young heroines have as much pluck and tenacity as their fairy godmother then your books are going to be smash hits !!!!
    My most effusive congratulations!!!....and I'll have a thick slice of Barry's cake thank you...and Happy 52nd too by the way!

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    1. Thanks Sir! Much appreciated! And I will make you your own cake!

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  8. Oh congratulations Wendy! It's so well deserved! I've just sent this post to my son, who wants to write but is having a hard time of it at the moment.

    Congrats to Barry on his birthday - very nice beard!

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    1. Patricia - tell him to hang in there. I am still learning, learning, learning, and this is quite amazing to me that someone liked it enough to work with me!

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  9. Congratulations! You are an inspiration to all. Waiting to see what happens next!

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  10. Oh Wendy, I am so happy for you. I know how hard you have worked for this. We have all known what a gifted writer you are simply by reading your blogs. It is indeed such thrilling news!
    Happy birthday to dear Barry. You are a better woman than I. A half eaten cake is not safe on my kitchen counter!
    Again congratulations. Your success is well deserved. I hope that I can be included in your NYC celebration in March.

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    1. Oh I hope we do see you in NYC!

      Cake is all gone. No surprise!

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  11. Congratulations, Wendy!

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  12. Congratulations on your big step toward becoming a published authoress. That is exciting news indeed!

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  13. Well it's about time some one snapped you up! I look forward to the day your book is published.

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    1. You didn't write letters of harassment to the agencies did you????

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  14. Wendy,
    I am so incredibly happy for you. Although, I had no doubt this day would come. Your cheer, persistence, and talent were certain to be a recipe for success. I am ready for the knitting lesson when you come to NY!
    Congratulations. I know how you feel, and how hard you worked to get to this place.

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    1. I am looking forward that lesson!!! thanks for the kind words!

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  15. Fabulous!! What a great week, and great reasons to break out the bubbly. I hope to stumble across your book in a catalogue soon!

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  16. Congratulations, Wendy!! Hopefully I will be buying your book soon!

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  17. How VERY exciting!! Congratulations! You have worked so hard for this and it has paid off!

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    1. Thanks Barb! Can't wait to see you at the end of the month!

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  18. So so so amazing, and this was the perfect title and pic for this post!

    Happy Birthday to Bazza!

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  19. Oh my gosh, congratulations Wendy!!!! :) That is fantastic news!

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  20. Congratulations Wendy! This is such wonderful and exciting news...definitely deserving of celebration!

    Happy belated birthday to Barry! I absolutely love the beard and think he looks incredibly handsome sporting it. So glad he likes his new coat, too. :)

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    1. Thanks Melissa! Oh he is going to get a swelled head now!

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  21. So wonderful. Exciting times ahead.

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  22. Fantastic news Wendy! Hopefully the champers didn't leave you with a big headache! I can't wait to see your work in a bookstore someday! Happy birthday Barry & the beard looks fab!

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    1. No headache - champers seems to agree with me!!! I hope to see it in a bookstore, too!

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  23. YAYYYY! I cannot wait to read it. My oldest child just started middle school and the other two are on their way. Many virtual clinks to you!

    Also to Barry! I discovered that 7-minute frosting just last year, and there is truly no better frosting. And I love the beard -- he looks very comfortable in it, like he's had it forever. Hope it's a keeper!

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    1. Audrey, when my mother was in labour with me, all she asked for was chocolate cake with 7 minute frosting - it was pre-ordained! Well the book will probably be liked best the elementary school set, though I am working on a middle grade one now and need to start editing my young adult one soon!

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    3. Yes yes, please do! I try to read as many of my kids' books as I can and have been very pleasantly surprised by the appeal to adults of the middle school and young adult lit. Do keep us posted on release dates!! And my youngest is in 3rd grade, still well within whatever elementary range you have in mind -- she is supposed to read chapter books, but still wants her picture books read to her at night. But even if she weren't, I'd buy your book for her. :)

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  24. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Signed copies are in order. And a trip to New York to meet and greet with the famous authoress may be too! I am so incredibly happy and proud of you, you have no idea!

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    1. AB, perhaps we should set up a mini JCA conference in NYC in March!!

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    2. oH WE WOULD LOVE THAT! I will send you the dates as soon as we book, but right now, we are thinking March 1 to 5th, staying in Times Square. We'll have to let Ema know! As for signed copies, AB - well they gotta actually find a publisher for the book first, but I like your way of thinking!

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  25. Such great news, Wendy, I am super happy and excited for you!!!! Hope to see you in NYC in March!! :-) Also, a belated Happy Birthday to Barry!!

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  26. I am so happy for you! And Barry's beard looks great!

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  27. Cheers to you Wendy!!! I've been rooting for my soon-to-be-famous-I-know-her writer!

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  28. Woot!! massive congrats, Wendy! what amazing news and how bloody exciting!
    You really do deserve this :-)

    A very Happy Belated Birthday to Barrie too - J turns 49 today - I do love Scorpios!
    B's beard is very chic!

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    1. Thanks Ruth! Scorpions are quietly dramatic, don't you think?

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  29. Just catching up on blogs now and seeing this -- WHAT FANTASTIC NEWS!!! I am absolutely thrilled for you and cannot wait to buy your book!

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    1. Thanks so much! Oh pls send me password again - deleted email!

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  30. Congratulations Wendy!!! I'm over the moon excited for you!! You are such an inspiration. Continued well wishes!

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  31. Huge congratulations!! It couldn't happen to a nicer person!

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  32. Congratulations, Wendy! May I say I knew you when?

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    1. Margaret, hold that thought, but you definitely knew me when! ;-)

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  33. That is so so awesome Wendy - you are my hero!!! Well done, I'll bet the book is awesome
    Like you I've been doing loads and loads of courses and I hope to have the same happy ending as you.
    Am working hard to do that.

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    1. It is hard isn't it? I will be learning till I'm one hundred!

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  34. Wendy I am just catching up - Congratulations my friend! What wonderful news! Of course we knew that you could do it! I can't wait to read your book(s)! Well done!

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