I Signed with a Literary Agent! Here's How It Happened…

It doesn’t feel like that long ago I was writing a blog post about being stuck in the querying trenches, feeling utterly soul-destroyed by the whole process. But even then, I said I wouldn’t be deterred — that I’d keep ploughing on in search of an agent who got my voice, someone who would champion me and work to get my novels out into the world of traditional publishing.

Roughly this time last year, life completely pulled the rug out from under me. My voice acting work had to come to a halt after I ended up in hospital with what turned out to be pleurisy, scarring, and ultimately Long COVID, with a generous helping of other fun ailments thrown in for good measure. I'm still not fully recovered — I don't know if I ever will be — but I’ve done my best to adapt and keep going.

Last summer, I got married, and that gave me plenty to be happy about, even during a rough time health-wise. Another thing I’m deeply thankful for is the time I suddenly had to write. I’ve been a writer for most of my life: starting with songs, then scripts, and even stories that doubled as inspiration for creative dance. I’ve always found ways to tell stories, dabbling in different formats over the years. But novels? That had always been the dream.

I’d started two manuscripts years ago, dipping in and out whenever life allowed, never quite believing I’d actually finish them. Then, during recovery, I found myself at home, creatively restless, with nothing to do but take it easy. That quiet time became a perfect storm of inspiration — and I haven’t looked back since.

Suddenly, the distractions were gone, and I had this laser-sharp focus. My stories seemed to write themselves. One of those stories, which began life as a 200-word piece for a creative dance project, exploded into an 80,000-word epic before I knew it. That energy carried me into another idea I’d always imagined as a romantic comedy film. Six months later, I had two full manuscripts — wildly different from each other, but I was proud of both.

Next came the learning curve of traditional publishing. I had no idea how to get a book published, so I taught myself from scratch: reading blogs, listening to podcasts, watching videos, and absorbing everything I could about querying. I revised both manuscripts again and again, evolving them until they were as strong and marketable as I could make them. Then I began querying book one. I was hopeful... and quickly learned just how soul-crushing the process can be.

When I felt that momentum slipping, I started prepping book two for querying — but I also missed writing. So I returned to the very first story I’d ever attempted to turn into a novel: one that had started life as a pantomime script. It’s a story I’ve always loved, but I’d struggled to find the right angle for the novel. Then — BAM — inspiration struck, and the words flowed.

While all of that was happening, I also started writing The Pundamentals — a side project all about the art of puns and wordplay. A total departure from my fiction, but a much-needed creative outlet. That writing process kept me sane while I worked out how to query book three. I self-published The Pundamentals in the end, partly because I knew it was niche and wasn’t sure how to pitch it to agents, and partly because I wanted to learn about self-publishing too. And learn I did.

Meanwhile, the agent rejections kept coming. Some replied with a no (which I actually appreciated), but many never replied at all. I was focusing on The Pundamentals, preparing myself for the long haul of rejection, when — out of the blue — I got a full manuscript request. For book three.

I sent it over, cautiously optimistic. Then, something magical happened. The agent checked out my website, saw I had other completed manuscripts, and asked to read the first three chapters of both. We started chatting, and it quickly became clear we were on the same page. She loved my voice, understood my projects, and was just as excited as I was about what’s to come.

And just like that, I met Eva — the literary agent who truly gets me.

She offered me representation, and I said yes.

Now, the real work begins. They say getting an agent is only the first hurdle — and believe me, it was a big one — but I know that finding an editor and publisher is another mountain to climb. Still, I’ve made it over that hill so many writers never do, and I’m not stopping now.

Apparently, only about 1% of writers ever land a literary agent. That statistic used to scare me. Now, it reminds me just how far I’ve come. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, but I’m not done yet. Not by a long shot.

I’m an author. And I’m just getting started.