I sold my first (and only) picture book manuscript a few years ago. Upon learning the news of the sale, I was, of course, ecstatic.
I was also exhausted, for I braved about a jillion rejections before that long-coveted contract arrived. I soon began to wonder just how dogged I would need to be before I could hope to get a second contract. After all, I’m not as dogged as I used to be; I’m getting to an age where I need to start scheduling naptime.
So late last summer I did a little soul searching and decided that I needed help. I stopped relentlessly sending manuscripts to publishers and started relentlessly sending manuscripts to agents.
I am delighted to report that my efforts were not in vain. I just signed with the wonderful Natalie Lakosil of The Bradford Literary Agency!
I knew right from the start that Natalie would be a great person to have in my corner. Not only has she sold more than her fair share of picture books, but also she has the power to subdue tigers!
Can you believe that? I couldn’t even get my pet rat to stop gnawing the ottoman.
Oh, sure, the spooning tigers thing is cool and all, but can Natalie provide me with some good feedback on the manuscripts I sent her?
I am pleased to report that the answer is a big fat “yes.” I am amazed by how perceptive and insightful her comments are. I am revising and tweaking my stories as we speak.
In other words, my previously scheduled naptime is gonna have to wait.
What are you waiting for? Check out Natalie’s blog! She’s cool.
Hey, Look! A Writer Fellow! 
Way cool, Mike, congrats – you totally deserve it a great agent!
Thanks, Roxie!
Congratulations on finding an agent! Very exciting. Best of luck to you!
Thanks, Carrie! I am giddy to say the least.
Congratulations, Mike! Good for you. I am so glad to see your hard work and creativity paying off for you.
Blessings,
Bruce
Thank you, my friend.
COngratulations, Mike! That’s wondrful news!
I await similar news from you, my friend.
Not if I can’t get my typos under control—yow, that’s embarrassing. 🙂
Shall I clean it up on your behalf?
Nah. If you do, no one will think it was really from me. 😉
Awesome, Mike!! Oh, how I would love to have some tiger hair on my clothes, too! Natalie rocks! How many picture books do you have out and about right now?
I am not a cat person, as you know, but I would never EVER shrink from hugging that big furry fellow — even if he did make me sneeze. If you check out Natalie’s blog, btw, you will find another photo of her holding court with a bathing Asian elephant.
Natalie and I are working on two of my stories now. After those are revised to our mutual satisfaction, I will send her a few more.
Yes, I took a look at her blog. I love her philosophy, and I think you will be very happy with her as an agent. She just sounds like a nice person who knows the business well! Good luck with your stories!
What an amazing pic…a puddy tat! 🙂
…with a Just-Ate-the-Canary smile.
😀
That is spur awesome and wow about the tiger hug. I might have known you’d land a cool agent. Good luck with your next big story.
That was one of my agent selection parameters: “Is she simpatico with the Animal Kingdom?”
:0)
WOOHOOOO! Sorry about nap time but TOTALLY worth losing sleep over! But I don’t know if I’ll ever stop being jealous of Natalie getting to hug that tiger.
When I first saw that pic I immediately thought, “I bet Weebles would loooove to be in Natalie’s shoes.”
Congrats! Is that The Tiger That Came To Tea?
Hm. I’ll ask her.
The animals who visit me are expected to drink either coffee or Chianti.
Congratulations! Hopefully scheduled naps are just around the corner.
If it means more book contracts I’ll stay up!
Hooray…that is good news! I’ve added her to my reader.
Thanks, Mrs. P!
Natalie is a fun blogger; you won’t be disappointed.
Fabtastic news! Couldn’t have happened to a more talented writer or a nicer guy.
Here’s to more – many more – of your books on the shelf and into readers’ hands!
Thank you, my good friend. I look forward to returning the compliment when you get yours.
What Cathy said! Woo-hoo! Mega congrats! 🙂
Thanks, Robin!
OUTstanding! Congratulations.
Many thanks, Tess!
😀
That’s awesome, Mike!
Thanks, Amelie. I’m still giddy!
This is great news Mike. Best of luck in this new chapter! We love your first book and look forward to many more.
Thank you, Stacy. Your kind words will always find warm place in my heart. You were the first to sing my book’s praises — and for that I will always be grateful.
Yay! How very exciting for you, Mike! Congratulations!
Thanks so much, Julie!
Happy dance!! Congrats!
I’m popping and locking as we speak.
Congratulations! Tigers are super awesome, so anyone who can wrangle one is amazing!
Thanks, Rebekah!
Natalie has a gift, that for sure!
Ooooh my gosh. That is amazing, congratulations!!!
Thank you, my friend!
Huzzah! *cheers and throws confetti*
I’m glad for you, Mike. I’m sure Natalie will be fully capable of subduing any literary lions that stand in your way. Best wishes for future success.
Many thanks, Eagle Eye. But, ugh, now I gotta sweep up that confetti.
I am a touch OCD, you know.
This is a super inspiring post for a Monday! Congratulations.
Thanks, Wendy!
I’m one of Natalie’s very happy clients…and I’m seeing an all new side of her today with that tiger picture. She really is awesomeness defined.
Hey, Stephanie! So nice to meet you! It’s also nice to hear that Natalie’s clients are happy (though I am certainly not surprised). Best of luck to you and “30 Days of No Gossip” — which I shall plug right now:
Reblogged this on khaula mazhar and commented:
Congrats to heylookawriterfellow!
So exciting! Congrats 🙂 🙂
Thank you, my friend!
Great news Mike! And I’m inspired by your persistence!
Thanks, Sandy! But persistence is nothing more than well-disguised insanity.
Indeed! I’m insane. I’ve submitted a short story to probably 75 literary magazines — it takes a level of compulsion to be able to do so. Yes.
Attagirl! Onward!
I am THRILLED for you!! When I first started reading this post and how ‘dogged’ you had to be before you got the next contract, I thought of giving a snarky reply, something like maybe you had to be more ‘moused’ instead of dogged. But I thought better of writing that, since this is seriously fabulous, well-earned happy news. However, as great as Natalie seems to be (and I will immediately check out her blog), the fact is that SHE is lucky to have YOU as a client.
Thank you, my friend.
I’m not sure how lucky NATALIE is. Let’s see if my prose can earn her (and me) a little bread. Then the matter of who is luckier than whom may be discussed.
🙂
Finding the right agent is right up there with finding the right hairdresser, although I don’t think my hairdresser wrangles tigers, but she does deal with a lot of really shaggy, manes. Well no fair, I trotted over her to make overly sentimental and ridiculous comments to pay you back for your last comment, but then you have to go and have really great news. Okay, I’m excited for you, but I’m still paying you back on a future post. Be forewarned, there is fake sentimentality in your future. 🙂
I’m ready when you are, my friend!
Soon as I dust myself off from the last volley of wit you fired in my direction. Just wait, I’m thinking of, you know, stuff to say about your next post.
Groovy.
Congratulations! Not only can she help you get more of your work published, but she might even teach you how to tame tigers.
Here’s hoping. I always envied Dr. Dolittle.
A thousand congratulations!
And in return, a thousand-and-one thank yous!
Congratulations, Writer Fellow. That’s big news.
Thanks, Hazy!
Congratulations! Looking forward to hearing about a future sale!
You and me both, Tina!
You landed an agent, Mike?
I can’t get an agent to spit on me. You rock.
Seriously, I suck as far as agents are concerned.
That is wonderful news Mike! So happy for you! I have also fed a tiger, pet one and had him lick my hand! That was cool! Wait….wong post! I should have put this comment on the OTHER one! LOL!! Congrats my awesome friend! 🙂
Congratulations! I especially like the fact that this post has a picture of a tiger on it. 🙂
Jiminy! I lost track of this comment.
Glad to see you, Tiger! How’ve ya been?
Hanging about. I try to read some blogs every now and then. It’s a pleasure to stop by yours and see what you’ve been up to. 🙂
Congratulations, Mike! You so deserve it! (And sorry I’m a month late in noticing and commenting – I guess I need to schedule more nap time… or less nap time… or something! :))
Thank you, my friend.
And more nap time is never, ever a bad thing.