Such a joy! Not only did the Grand Champions of Query Kombat end up with an agent, but also the Runner up. I'm so happy to share Judy's story, and a long and winding one it is. What a great reminder that the road goes ever on and has its highs and lows. (See the agent round entry for Tag, You're Dead here.)
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| My non-tech process for figuring out the timeline of TAG, YOU’RE DEAD. Sometimes computers just aren’t enough! |
When I entered Query Kombat I came to it with a different
background than most of the other Kombatants. I’ve been in the business a
while. My first book, an adult mystery called TILL THE COWS COME HOME, came out
with Poisoned Pen Press in 2004 after years of writing (at that point I had
only two manuscripts in a drawer, compared to today when there are…a lot). This
sale came through my own submission, after a bad experience with an agent who
sent the book to three editors before dropping me like a bad cell phone
connection.
COWS, a book about Stella Crown, a Harley-Davidson-loving
dairy farmer, was nominated for the 2004 Anthony and Agatha Awards for Best
First Novel, which was awesome and wonderful. PPP published a second book in
the series, THREE CAN KEEP A SECRET, and I was approached by a lovely agent who
wanted to represent me. She did for three books…and then retired.
Having become a part of the Poisoned Pen Posse, I no longer
needed an agent to sell them books, and they published five more of my novels,
including a sixth Stella book this past December, and a four-book Grim Reaper
series before that. PPP is a lovely community to be a part of, and I’m grateful
for everything they’ve done for me.
However, my heart had taken a detour to a different place.
YA novels. MG novels. Writing for that younger audience. I love to read those
books, and I love to write them, but I had no luck getting them published.
Eventually I found myself in a place where I wasn’t even enjoying writing
anymore. Finally, I stopped myself to ask, “Where is the joy?” and I remembered
that the joy should be in the writing, not solely in the final result. I loved
the characters and worlds I was writing about, and needed to let that be
enough. I wrote more books, and searched for agents, and realized anew what a
tough business this is. But I tried not to let it get me down.
And then I thought of the concept for a new book that got me
really excited. After spending Nanowrimo (link http://www.nanowrimo.org)
on the book, I had my first 50,000 words. A writers’ retreat in January got me
the next 25,000, and I had a first draft. The next few months were spent
revising and working with beta readers, and then the next stage of work
began...searching for an agent. Again.
I sent out query letters like anyone, and got involved on
Twitter after encouragement from Dee Romito (link: http:www.writeforapples.com),
who told me what a great way it is to learn about the industry and enter
writing contests. I started following writers, editors, and agents and received
a completely up-to-the-minute feel of what was going on with them. And then I
found Query Kombat! I entered and was picked for Michael’s team (yay!) and made
it all the way through to the championship round. Along the way people gave
great feedback on my query, and I received several agent requests. And then the
waiting began!
But not for long.
Within two hours of receiving my email, Uwe Stender of
TriadaUS contacted me, requesting the full. I sent it, and less than a week
later I answered the call every writer dreams of getting.
“I love your book!”
Cloud Nine, anyone?
So now I am a part of the TriadaUS family, and couldn’t be
happier. But this didn’t happen overnight. It happened over a decade of
learning, fun, misery, disappointment, support, discouragement, friendship,
frustration, and excitement. It’s all wrapped up in there. But writers gotta
write, and if we want to get published, we persevere.
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Judy Clemens lives in rural Ohio with her husband and two children, two cats, and a gerbil named Watson. She is the author of the Stella Crown and Grim Reaper mysteries, and a stand-alone entitled LOST SONS. She loves the people in the writing industry and is excited to be heading out on this new adventure.
Congrats Judy! Such a wonderful story. So glad to be agency sisters with you :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Melissa! Feeling is mutual. I've been meaning to tell you that your blog on teen talk was really helpful. :)
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