A bit of a break from the Crits for Water Awesome for a different sort of awesome. Remember that Jessica Lei’s random drawing is still happening (until April 10, 9am EST) and the Super Sekrit Giveaway #1 is, too (until April 15th, 9am EST).
SO. The other day I placed my head on my desk and breathed a big sigh of relief/contentedness. The teacher to my left laughed because Japanese people find my melodrama verra amusing. (It’s super contrary to their traditional stoicism.)
“What’s up?” he asked in Japanese.
“Uh…” I grappled for my iPhone and swiped through to my Japanese dictionary app. “I write books, and…”
“Wow, are you published?”
I shook my head with The Chuckle: a sound us writers release when confronted with that adorable naivety about the industry. I squinted to read the translation of my searched-for word. “But I have just decided which, er, book 代理人 (dairinin) to choose. And I’m so satisfied and glad!”
“Oh, that’s great! Congratulations!”
Dear readers, can you guess what 代理人 means? The wonderful thing about Japanese is that, even without having heard the word, you can guess its meaning based on the kanji. Here, I’ll explain:
代 – substitute, change, generation, fee
理 – logic, reason, justice, truth
人 – person
So, in other words:
“I have just decided which literary agent to choose. And I’m so satisfied and glad!”
That’s right, folks. I have an agent.
I HAVE AN AGENT.
Exclamation points of awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a few more: !!!!!!!!!!!111!!!!!!!one!
This was my face throughout most of this process.
After a week of bouncing, eating lots of chocolate, sending angsty emails to friends, and insomnia, I accepted the offer of representation from Sara Megibow of Nelson Literary Agency. Our skype chat was amazing. She didn’t even blink when I was 10 minutes late (and groggy) from calculating the time difference wrong. But most important, she really gets Singular, is super passionate about it, and will do a fantastic job of representing and supporting me through my career.
Bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce bouncebouncebouncebounce.
Post congratulations, of course, my coworker cocked his head. “So you’ll be published in a few months, then?”
The Chuckle escaped again. “No, definitely not a few months. But fingers crossed for the future.”
Fingers crossed.
EEEEEEEEEE I’m so happy!!!
Man, this is going to be ten million ways to awesome. Your story is a dandy! I have Sara Megibow on my submission list, and you have a good agent. Happy day!
*jumps up and down and rattles furniture some more*
SINGULAR is a dandy? Ahahaha! I can see Tan and Yusuf wincing at that one! But this is pretty awesome, eh?
Congratulations again and Sara is absolutely awesome. You’ve made a great choice going with her.
Enjoy the moment and soak in that I-have-an-agent buzz!
YEAH. I don’t think I’ll come down from this buzz for awhile.
Congratulations, Kat! I’m so excited that you signed with Sara. Looking forward to hearing about your novel! And I think it’s so cool that you live in Japan. I spent my honeymoon there and would love to go back someday. I’ll be returning to your blog often to read about your adventures in publishing and your life in Japan. Cheers
Well, that’s pretty much all I talk about, but also baking.
I’m excited to be agent sisters! 
Congratulations! I’ve only just now stumbled across your blog, but everything about this post made me grin — I love the way your enthusiasm comes bounding through your words. (That is also an incredibly adorable kitty, I must say.)
Definitely excited to read more from you, and am very much looking forward to one day seeing this book!
Thank you! Wahoo! I shall also cross my fingers that I keep you entertained. That would be nice. XD
Ahhh, so I’m assuming that maybe this is what some of those cryptic Twitter messages were about?
Either way, congratulations for such wonderful news!
That is EXACTLY what those cryptic twitter messages were about. See? Good news. Good for bouncing.
Congratulations!
Thanks! Woooooo!
Congratulations! Bonsai!
万歳！万歳！万歳！
(And I’m not even at a work party. Huh.)
Congratulations!!!! I’m so happy for you
Thanks Nadia
BOUNCE!!! WOOOOOOO BOUNCEBOUNCEBOUNCE!!!
You so deserve this, and I am so not surprised. SINGULAR is made of 100% awesome as are YOU.
Hellz to the yeah, KATASTROPHE. I’m so happy happy HAPPY for you.
Yay! Thanks Sooz. <3
One of my friends called me Katastrophe today. Still not quite sure if it's a compliment…
Congrats Kat! I look forward to hearing more about your book and one day even reading it
Aw, thanks Marie! Glad to see you’re still following along
Yay! Congratulations, Kat! That’s really, really amazing.
I know! It’s still a little surreal.
AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH SO EXCITED AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! I couldn’t be happier if it was anyone else! You so deserve this
Thanks Jess! It never would have happened without yooooou.
Congrats! Sara is awesome. And I’m so excited to see a YA featuring the singularity. I can’t wait to read it.
Well that’s good news! Thank yoooooou.
However, knowing publishing, you may be waiting awhile. Unfortunately. MEGA SAD FACE
BUT ALSO HAPPY FACE AGAIN. Life is grand.
Congratulations!!!!!!
Thank you
I am so, SO happy for you Kat! Congratulations! I can’t wait to hear more about your publishing adventures!!
I can’t wait to hear more either! XD Thanks, Jodi!