Before THE CALL

WELCOME TO

Featuring The Seymour Agency Authors

Every writer's journey to publication is different.
Please visit these Seymour Agency author blogs/websites listed at the bottom of this post to learn about what they write, what led to their call of representation by a literary agent, 
& maybe even be eligible for 
GIVEAWAYS on their individual sites!

Today's Post: BEFORE "THE CALL"

I'll be answering the blog hop questions, along with the other Seymour Agency authors, right here! I have some of my own giveaways toward the bottom of the page just above the list of other SA authors. 

Tonya Kuper's BEFORE THE CALL

What category & genre do you write? 

I write Young Adult literature aimed at audiences 14 years old and older. I've written paranormal-romance, urban fantasy, and contemporary. I started writing my first novel in July 2009. [Just to be clear- I read MG, YA, & adult. I intern for MG & some YA.]

What do you do other than write?

Though I have a B.A. in Elementary Education and a M.S. in Reading Education K-12 I've had the great fortune of being a stay-at- home-mom for 9 years. I'm a mom to two awesome boys, 4 and almost 9. In addition to momming, I'm now the Promotions Manager for The Seymour Agency and Lit Intern for agent Marisa Cleveland, also at The Seymour Agency. I'm a contributor at YA Stands, a blog comprised of various YA writers each on different writing paths, as well as All The Write Notes blog, which will feature music reviews, recommendations, etc. for writers, launching soon.

How did you end up in contact with your agent from the SA? Did you communicate with your agent before you got "the call?"

Are you ready for a CRAZY-ASS story?!

It all started when I attended The Backspace Writer's Conference in May 2011 in NYC where I saw/met many amazing agents.Since I didn't have a completed manuscript I didn't pitch my book to agents there. (Well, I accidentally did & they requested it, but that's another story.)When I arrived home I got to work on my WIP and made a list of my top 20 dream agents. By the end of the summer I completed my manuscript and had a longer, well researched list of fab agents. LET ME CLARIFY: I kept an OLD-SCHOOL written list. A messy list with scribbles and crossed out names and sticky notes. 

In September 2011 I started querying HAUTE MESS. I got some partial requests from some rockin' authors in my top 20! Rejections. So I edited again. By the time December rolled around I'd worked my way down my list and queried on. I had a request for the full. And a freaking bushel of rejections. So, I revised and rewrote. I sent out more queries. More rejections and some requests. When February came around I decided to send out my last queries before I put my manuscript away for a while. That's when, LOW & BEHOLD, I found a name hidden under a sticky note. #6 on my top 10 list. Nicole Resciniti. I'd met her briefly at the Backspace conference. How'd I over look her? She was in my top 10 - in the entire YA world!

I queried her. Three weeks later she asked for the full. A month later she for a revise & resubmit. Through the summer, while I did revisions and she read and thought, we emailed and tweeted. I read everything. I critiqued as much as possible. I started a new manuscript and participated in my first blog hop, where I met some really cool writers like Jessa Russo, Jamie Ayres, and Marisa Cleveland. (Uh huh. I started tweeting with this funny & sweet chick who was in the same blog hop who wrote romance. I eventually figured out that Marisa was Nicole's intern and Promo Manager at The Seymour Agency. Small world.) In August Nicole said she'd have to pass but gave me wonderful feedback.

Well, I'm a firm believer in "Everything happens for a reason." If I'd submitted it to her before I did those several rounds of edits/revisions, she wouldn't have been impressed. By the time I sent her HAUTE MESS in February, it was good enough to catch her attention. So, after allowing myself one day to be wallow in self pity and eat a vat of Nutella and drink a couple cocktails, I pulled up my big girl panties and moved on. After all, "Everything happens for a reason," right?

I dove into my WIP (after being talked off the ledge by my awesome CP) and made headway. I dug deeper. I worked harder. I read more. I critiqued more. I started thinking about the other side of publication. Maybe I'd intern for an editor or agent to learn more. I asked writer friends to keep a look out. All the while, Marisa and I continued talking - and by talking, I mean tweeting. A little friendship bloomed between me and this girl who hated the cold and loved happy ever afters as much me. I learned she was moving to agent status within the agency and I told her if an internship opened up, I'd be interested. Eventually one did.

I won't bore you with the application process but on December 8th, 2012, Marisa called and offered me the Promo Manager and intern position. It was all I could do to not scream. But she added something unexpected; she and Nicole would mentor me and help me get my work submission ready! WHAT?! My dream agent and friend/boss will MENTOR ME in my work?! Had she been drinking? Was I delusionsal? EEEEEEP! DREAM. COME. TRUE.  I have no idea what I said to her. She had to think I was a bumbling moron.

The first couple weeks of "working" for the agency, authors, and Marisa was absolutely fantastic! Everyone was so warm and welcoming (& still are). To top it off, I got to work with my friend and Fairy Godmother, Marisa. I was flying high.

On Christmas day, a little birdy showed up on my phone. I had a tweet. My Twitter message read:

@niclitagent

@tonyakuper: want to sign on as a client? ;-)
Best. Christmas. Gift. EVAAAAH!

Screaming. Tears. The Running Man. Screaming. Jumping. Adrenaline rush. Wine. Screaming. Tears. Wine.

Nicole called the next day!!!!!!!!!! (Just two weeks ago!) I'll tell you about the call on Wednesday.

I'm a quote girl. In regard to my writing journey, or at least my path to "the call," this verse seems appropriate:

Now to the one who can do infinitely more than all we can ask or imagine according to the power that is working among us—        Ephesians 3:20

This one also seems appropriate:
Do or do not. There is no try. (Yeah, I'm a Star Wars geek.)

And this one:

Patience is a virtue. (No friggin' kidding.)

Click HERE to visit The Seymour Agency website if you'd like

a list of authors, submission guidelines, 

& a list of upcoming events.

Click on these links to follow The Seymour Agents on Twitter:

@agentmarysue @niclitagent @marisacleveland

Giveaway for my Tonya's blog ending Sat 1/12/13 3pm EST: 

If you sign up to follow my blog (on the right sidebar click "join this site") you'll be entered to win one of several 
$10 giftcards - Starbucks & Target !!! 

Go tell all your friends/tweeps! 

Check back for other giveaways Wed 1/9/13 & Fri 1/11/13!!!

GIVEAWAY for THE CALL Blog Hop 
ends Sat 1/12/13 3pm EST: 

Follow The Seymour Agency on Twitter 

(click here --> @seymouragency ) & mention us

in a tweet and you'll be eligible for one of MANY

Seymour Agency author swag packs!!!!

(packs include: bookmarks, postcards, signed bookplates, pens, books, & other FUNtastic stuff!)

For those of you looking for the promised unicorns & rainbows, 
I gift you this:
 

HOP over to these awesome

SEYMOUR AGENCY AUTHOR BLOGS!