I Have a Literary Agent!

If you were on my author Facebook page at all this week, you probably saw my posts hinting at a “big announcement.” In fact, you probably even tried to guess what that announcement might be! (*hint* agent *hint*)

Two people guessed correctly (two authors, coincidentally): J. L. Mbewe and John Otte.

I have officially signed Karen Ball from The Steve Laube Agency as my literary agent!

 

Nadine signs with literary agent

Now, I know some of you may not find that as exciting as me expecting a baby or signing movie-deals left and right but…it’s a huge step. Let me break it down for you.

What does a literary agent do?

If you’re anything like me, you don’t have the whole role of an agent mastered. In fact, half the reason I sat down to talk with Karen was to ask her why I would want an agent. (Who knew that conversation would end with a contract offer? Eee!)

1. An agent helps keep an author’s career on track. For me, this means Karen is not only watching the progress of my goals, but she’s also taking into account my desire to be obedient to God’s will as an author. Our top priority as a team is to follow God’s guidance and get the books He wants me to write out to the world.

2. An agent fights my battles! Okay, not all of them — like vacuuming the house, or killing spiders — but an agent is the middle-man (or woman!) between angry author and frustrated publisher. The agent will help smooth out kinks, help keep the peace between an author and publisher/editor (aka. translate the author’s screaming rants into polite requests for change.) I don’t foresee Karen having to take on this role for me…at least not with Enclave Publishing, because I love being an Enclave author.

3. An agent has contacts into the broader publishing world. Authors can take themselves only so far. Then, eventually, we run into those nasty brick walls erected by big publishing houses that say, “No unsolicited manuscripts.” (Aka. authors can’t pitch their own books without an agent.) My agent has a mental-book full of contacts and relationships that I couldn’t possibly hope to build on my own. She helps shop my new book ideas around until we find the right publisher.

Essentially, I’ve just added another member to my team. We work together to follow God’s will for my books and my writing life.

Can you tell I’m excited?

Nadine signs with literary agent

What signing on an agent means for me:

 

  • I’m officially stepping into the career of author. This means leaving speech therapy behind. Probably not forever, but I’ve been standing at the fork in the road for about three years, one leading to an author career (talent, but no degree) and the other leading to speech therapy (degree, but no talent.) I’ve stretched as far as possible with one foot in each, but I’m finally making the transfer. I’m committing to writing and I couldn’t feel better about it.
  • It means you’ll see more books from me. I’m committed now! I was self-committed before, but this is different. It’s as if that commitment has now been made non-negotiable. The Out of Time Series is the first of many books to come!

I’m so excited about this step forward. God has wonderful things planned for my future and I’m honored to be the one living this life. So, since I now have a future of book-writing ahead of me…

What types of books would you like to see come from me? Name any genre. Anything that strikes your fancy! Remember, there are two more books in the Out of Time series still coming.

Do you have any questions regarding agents?

 

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About Nadine Brandes

NADINE BRANDES once spent four days as a sea cook in the name of book research. She is the author of the award-winning ROMANOV, FAWKES, and the Out of Time Series. Her inner fangirl perks up at the mention of soul-talk, Quidditch, bookstagram, and Oreos. When she's not busy writing novels about bold living, she's adventuring through Middle Earth or taste-testing a new chai. She and her Auror husband are building a Tiny House on wheels with their Halfling children. Current mission: paint the world in shalom.
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32 Comments

  1. Woo hoo! Congrats! So glad this means your not leaving the author world anytime soon! 😀

    • Thank you! And never! I had hoped I’d never have to leave the author world, and this is just God’s confirmation that He’s got me here for quite some time! 😀

  2. YAY! So happy for you! As to genres, your style is so fresh that I’ll read anything you write. Truly. Congrats, dear friend.

  3. Way to go, Nadine! That’s super awesome exciting (and a few more superlative words thrown in there too)!

  4. Angela Randazzo

    Well well well. I expected nothing less from the awesome and talented Nadine…I can’t be more happy than a squirrel who finds a basket full of yummy nuts! Whoot! Love you…auntie Angela aka auntie laleeelaaa 😉

  5. Yay! Congratulations!

  6. Awesome Nadine! Congratulations! So exciting! I wish we could bring over some bubbly to celebrate!

  7. I resonate with your excitement Nadine. Some things in life are so good!

  8. Awesome! Congrats!!!!!! 😀

  9. Wow!!! This is awesome, not a prequel or a sequel for A Time to Die… but very good news indeed. Congrats!!!

  10. Yay Nadine! Thrilled for you!

  11. Awesome, Nadine! Congratulations! This is super exciting 🙂 Is this from a meeting you had at Conference?

  12. Loved seeing your grin in the pix! Welcome to the SLA team!

  13. That is awesome! Congratulations. 🙂
    (And I have the same pens. I just had to comment on that. xP)

  14. Wow!!! I totally understand how big of a deal this is, and congrats!!!!

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