I'm very excited and pleased to announce that I've signed with a new agent. Michael Bourret is with Dystel & Goderich Literary Management in New York. I've now been his client for one week, and I already have no doubt that he's going to take my author career to the next level.
I owe a big thanks to the fabulous Sara Zarr, author of STORY OF A GIRL (2007 National Book Award finalist) and SWEETHEARTS. She lives here in Utah and we've become good friends these past months. Somehow I swindled her into recommending me to her agent, and the rest is history.
Okay, it wasn't easy as all that. I actually sent Michael my proposal for THE MAZE RUNNER, which he really seemed to like. But this is what I love: he's spent the last week or so grilling me and pushing me and making the proposal get better and better. This is the power of an agent - he knows the editors and he knows what they're going to look for. He's fully invested, and I've really enjoyed working with him.
We've also spent a great deal of time discussing THE 13TH REALITY and what lies in the future in terms of my contracts, future books, movie rights, etc. It's all going to be very confusing because I had a different agent on Book 1, my publisher has agent representation of their own for movie and foreign rights, etc. But like I told Michael: what a great problem to have, right? I'm confident he'll figure things out and ensure I'm taken care of.
So, there you have it. Michael and I are going to sell lots of books and make insane amounts of money and eventually knock JK off of her perch as Queen of Children's Literature. I foresee a future in which Mrs. Rowling calls me up and asks for a loan (or at least some writing advice). She'll probably beg me to co-write a Harry Potter meets Atticus Higginbottom series. I will, of course, decline and tell her that I would never stoop to such a sham (plus, I'll be too busy writing the Atticus vs. Edward Cullen series).
If you'd like to learn more about Michael and his agency, CLICK HERE.
You should also visit Sara's site: CLICK HERE.
A big thanks to Michael for having faith in me and my writing. I'm very excited and look forward to a very long relationship!
Lyrics of the Day:
Some may say
I'm wishing my days away
No way
And if it's the price I pay
Some say
Tomorrow's another day
You stay
I may as well play
- The Police
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15 comments:
Congratulations, James--this is FANTASTIC news! YAY!!!! :)
Atticus Vs. Harry Potter wouldnt end well....but Atticus Vs. Edward Cullen? the word 'slaughter' comes to mind...
congrats with the new agent, and good luck with dethroning J.K.
and I hope to someday read the Maze Runner.
as a side note, it has always bothered me that when I say 'I like to read' people ALWAYS ask 'have you read harry potter'...i mean they were good...but they did not blow my mind or anything
Hey, all I did was give you his contact info. I could recommend you til the cows come home and it wouldn't matter if he didn't like you and your work, so it's all you, baby! I'm excited for you!
Go You!! I have heard nothing but fabulousness about Michael from the clients I know. Congrats!!!
Aprilynne
That is so awesome.
I hope you not really planning on becoming the next Queen of Children's Lit...
Thanks for getting together with me on Wednesday. It was really great. Your school visit was very cool.
Hey James, are you going to any of the special events lined up at BEA? I just saw that there's a Friday breakfast event with Sherman Alexie, Judy Blume, Neil Gaiman, and Eoin Colfer! Quite the lineup. More at http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/en-us/specialevents.cfm
Again, congrats on your collaboration with Michael.
Great news, James. Congrats. They are a successful agency and you'll make them more so.
James -
How awesome you found a new agent. Hmm . . . since he's not female, he can't be your girlfriend. I'm sure you won't be "boyfriends". So what would be the politically correct boy-boy relationship term here? :) Just had to give you a hard time. (FYI - for those of you who are confused, it's a joke referring back to James' presentation at the Storymaker's conference - where he referred to breaking up with his former agent as "Breaking up with his girlfriend".)
Anyway, good luck. I'm totally excited for you & wish you lots n lots of luck with your future books.
congrats on the agent, buddy. This is to prove that LE Modesitt isn't the only cool person to read your blog!
I think you're more likely to be writing Tick Visits Fablehaven, as that is really more your current vein of style.
Good luck with your new agent.
Ah, the mystery is finally solved. Congrats, James!
I can see it now: Queen James!
Congratulations! That is so awesome! And I'm only a little green with jealousy... Okay, very green. But I still like you and recommend your books to everyone.:)
Thanks, guys! I'm very happy to be a client of Michael's.
Clint, see today's post. But yeah, I think I'm going to that breakfast.
Thanks for all the comments!
Gosh, can you have a more inflated head than you have? Look at this guy...making fun of JK Rawling just because he published a book with a rediculous title....haha....oh well the success wont last too long with an attitude like this.....
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