If you click back to the earliest entries in my blog, you'll read about my time working as a literary agent's assistant. While I had some interesting experiences while I was there, it was today, 2 years later, that the greatest experience occurred.
I was sorting through the mail at work when I came across an envelope addressed to me. This was very unusual as I never get mail sent to me at work. I opened it up and inside I found a paperback novel with a note.
Here's what it says:
Dear Rachel,
You may not remember me, but while you were at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, you read and critiqued my novel manuscript. Your notes were a big help when I made revisions and I was (and still am) grateful for your editorial insights.
Enclosed is the book, now titled FAVORITE, and finally published. :)
Thank you for all your help.
Best,
Karen McQuestion
AND, to my utter disbelief, she thanked me in the acknowledgments!
Amazing, right?! I remember her very well. I had liked her manuscript and had presented it to the agent I was working for. The agent liked it as well and had me send her my suggested revisions (this involves going page by page through book and breaking down everything from plot to grammar). In the end, the agent decided to pass, but I couldn't be happier that she found another home for her book.
There were only a few (seriously, about 4 in 6 months) manuscripts that I really thought could be published and be successful. I found it very frustrating that they weren't garnering interest from publishers and that readers were being kept from some really fantastic, original writing. So the feeling I get from knowing that one writer is seeing her book published, and actually giving me credit for having a hand in helping it get there, is the most wonderful feeling.
It is an amazing feeling to have someone, after all this time, be so appreciative of the work I did. I am beyond flattered and so freaking HAPPY for Karen! :)
