Blogger: Rachel Kent
Books & Such agents and staff are on a writers’ retreat with our clients at the Monterey Plaza Hotel this week and lavishing them with attention. (See photo below of me enjoying breakfast at our last retreat with two clients.) We’ll be re-posting blogs that received a goodly number of visitors and garnered considerable comments.
Today I’d like to share about a book that led me to my position as an agent at Books & Such. I’m asked at writers conferences about the journey to my job all the time, so it’s nice to get to share it with all of you, too…
Waterfalls by Robin Jones Gunn is a story about a woman who works as an editor. There’s much more to it, of course, including that she falls in love with a movie star and talks to her goldfish, but the editor part is the most important for my journey.
I decided after reading Waterfalls that I wanted to be an editor. The main character of Robin’s book, Meri, got to work from home in her pj’s and read all day. Sounds pretty nice! She did have to speak at a writers conference, but I was going to pass on that part. 😀 So at 16-years-old I knew that I wanted to get an English degree and become an editor. Just about everything I knew about publishing at the time came from that book. I didn’t know anything about literary agents.
During college, I was looking for an internship anywhere because all of the first-time jobs for assistant editors require at least two years of publishing experience. I didn’t really want to move to New York for a summer to work for free as an intern at a publishing house, but that was looking like my best option. I asked a few women at my church to pray for an internship for me, and within days Michelle from our agency contacted me. Michelle goes to my church and was told about me by one of the women I talked with. As a writer herself, Michelle tries to take off the summers to write; so Janet was looking for someone to fill in for Michelle. Janet was willing to call my work an internship, it was 10 minutes from my house, and she was going to pay me! I still had no idea what a literary agency was, but the job sounded good to me. 🙂
I worked at Books & Such for two summers and then for a year after I graduated as an intern. At that point, Janet offered me a job as an agent. I guess she liked me. 🙂 She had been training me during that time for my agenting job and continues to help out when I have questions. Agenting is different from my original “dream” of being an editor, but I think it’s a great fit for who I am. I love my job!
And there was frosting on the cake: Janet represents Robin Jones Gunn! I’ve been able to work with Robin on some special projects she needed done, and we’ve formed a friendship.
God sure knows what he’s doing, and I’m grateful to know he’s in control of my life. And speaking at the conferences isn’t so bad either! 😉
What about you? Did a book influence you toward wanting to be a writer? I’d love to hear your story.
Rachel, how fun to read what inspired you and led to your current position. 🙂 It’s fun to see God’s hand at work.
I’ve wanted to write a novel since I was thirteen. I read a “forbidden” book that actually cemented in me the desire to write. But, in reading that book, I also realized I needed experiences to base characters on if I wanted to write realistically. As I considered how tough it must be to develop realistic characters and a good plot, I figured I’d never be an author.
Thirty years later, my honey and I were at a couple’s retreat and the bare bones of a story popped into my head. I prayed about it, talked with my husband and a great writing friend, and felt like God was nudging me to write this story. Learning craft and practicing patience have helped me grow as a writer. 🙂
Okay, WHAT was the “forbidden book”?? I know, it was “Yes, The Canadians DID TOO Win the War of 1812”.
A forbidden book! That sounds like a good story!
No, nothing so interesting or noble as THAT, Jennifer. 🙂 When I was in seventh or eighth grade, I read, Forever, by Judy Blume. I know. I couldn’t tell you why that book was the inspiration. (blushing!). 🙂
Jeanne, I read “Are you there God, it’s me Margaret” in secret at my friend’s house> Her dad was the senior pastor of a huge church and we thought we’d go straight to hell for reading it. I never understood why people were shocked by the early Judy Blume books. She totally understood the teenage mind.
Do tell Jeanne!
In high school, I was reading The Kent Family Chronicles. I bet my father’s hair would have curled if he knew it.
Jeanette Windle’s “Crossfire”. Oh my WORD!! Talk about being IN the story!! That woman could even describe hanging out with my sister well enough that I’d actually want to kill an hour of my life and visit with the human version of nails on a chalk board.
But I digress, and ain’t no therapist anywhere that wants to touch that one!
Ms Windle has a first hand knowledge of life in the deep jungle. She was a MK and then a missionary herself in South America. Having been in the Amazon myself, I can attest to her spot on, fire ants in your shoes, living right in it description of the heat, the humidity, the sights, the sounds and the skin crawling feel of the jungle.
I learned alot of skills by reading each of her books at least 5 or 6 times. And they’re two inches thick!
I realized that I had enough in me to do what she did and take my reader into the fire, fight the flames and come out alive. I had one beta reader complain that she couldn’t get the characters to leave her head once she’d finished reading.
I was awfully happy to hear that.
LOVE Jeanette Windle’s books. And now, eager to read Jennifer Major’s! 🙂
I agree with you, Jenny! 🙂
Thanks Jenny!
And Jeanne, I think. I’ll poach that compliment as my own.
How cool to hear that story, Rachel!
I’d always wanted to be a writer. I “wrote” many “books” when I was younger. But in high school, I realized that there was so much competition out there and I really didn’t have anything worth writing about. I was on the yearbook staff as an editor at the time, and liked that, so went to journalism school to become an editor (which is what I currently do…I’d love to be a book editor, but all the publishing houses are too far away!).
Anyway, about 6 years ago, I won the book “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers in a book exchange. I devoured it. I’d never read Christian fiction before, but once I discovered that book, I started to devour any Christian fiction I could get my hands on. I realized that I could write this. That I had a niche. That I wanted to do something like this with my life. And God had been guiding and directing me toward it this whole time, since journalism is one of the best degrees you can get–teaches you to write tight and all that.
I’ve heard so many raves about Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love–I haven’t read it, but I’m going to! Thanks, Lindsay, for giving me the push I needed!
You won’t be sorry, Jill!
Oh my Jill, it’s a must read!
Me too, Jenny. 🙂
Oops, Jill. 🙂 My last comment went to the wrong place. 🙂 I loved Redeeming Love, Jill. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it after you read it. 🙂
FYI I also read redeeming love about six years ago for the first time…and I have a journalism degree too. 🙂 I think we might be twins. Lol
I have a somewhat strange story about how a particular book/author influence me to become a writer.
Christine Wicker was a former religon journalist for the Dallas Morning News and authored the book “God Knows My Heart: Finding a Faith that Fits”. I have not read that book but I read another one by her called “Lily Dale: The True Story of the Town that Talks to the Dead”. Because of that book, I head a reading by one of the mediums that was mentioned in that book. (Note: I only live about 2 1/2 hours from Lily Dale.) First of all I am not one to believe in that kind of stuff and take most of what is said for entertainment value but I went ahead and had a reading anyway. The medium numerous things that I thought were off the wall (which later was actually true) however when she told me that I will be writing a lot of science (and getting paid for it), I thought what a crock and laughed in her face. A few months later I was laid off from my job as a Quality Assurance Specialist and began looking for another. Completely forgeting what I was told be the medium I found a new job as a technical writer for a NASA project, yes I do write a lot of science now. Also, I am developing a novel that will have a big science component.
Cuddled up on a summer night with the Little House on the Prairie Series sold me!
I had a chest full of stories that I had written when I was growing up. They are so funny. If I get published someday, I can’t wait to share how one of these stories, planted the seed for my WIP, way back when.
I have a funny LHOP story to share with you one day, Lisa–well, at least I think it’s funny. 🙂
Oh wow, I love this story. Isn’t it awesome how God loves to do things “full circle” (like you working with the author who inspired you to pursue that career in the first place :)?
Robin sure did inspire me in my teens too, but I think my first favorite book was Freaky Friday, that I read when I was about 11. I didn’t know a book could be so funny, and it made me want to write humor ever since.
Amazing how God works! I have an affirmation in my day planner, “I believe God will always make a way where there is no way.” Can you believe He made a way for you to stay in CA and pursue a dream? I’m so glad you decided to stay on as an agent!
The book that did it for me–such an unlikely candidate!! It was a little 80’s Harlequin romance called Man of Power. This book had everything I loved–snappy dialogue, a twist on the Cinderella story, and a lot of plot stuff going on! I still read it every other year or so.
Is it the best book ever written? No! But it inspired me to write my own romance novels, and I’ll always be grateful to Mary Wibberly for writing that book!
The Anne of Green Gables series stand out in my mind. I read many of L. M. Montgomery’s words aloud because they tasted good rolling off my tongue (if you know what I mean).
I voraciously read books from the Sunfire Romance series in my early teens. They included sweet love stories, and a snapshot of history from different areas of the US. These are subjects I like to write about now.
Recently I read through short stories I wrote in my journals. Reading back through my life from age 12 to 25 (including my husband and I’s entire courtship) encouraged me to laugh, reminisce, and roll my eyes at the things that seemed so important in the teen years.
Oh, wow what a great story! That is so awesome you dreamed about being an editor at age 16. None of these possibilities ever crossed my mind. I wish they did. But then again God knows what He’s doing. 🙂
That is so cool Janet represents Robin too! I love hearing stories that are so obvious God had sent certain people in our lives. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Picking one book out from the many people who’ve encouraged me on this journey feels like I’m leaving many unsung heros in the dust. But, if I have to pick one, I’d say Redeeming Love also. Perhaps this epic novel came at a critical time in my life after a car accident made me realize I’d been spared. Not that the accident was that horrible–but that it rocked me to a deeper knowing of being spared, having a life God meant for me to use for HIm to the fullest.
I had a dream and woke up thinking “that could be a story”. I jotted the threads down on a notepad and it got shuffled under some papers. Two weeks later I came across it and thought, oh dear what if my husband read these random comments, he might think I’m talking about someone real. So I confessed to him and he became my biggest cheerleader.
While it took me a long time to put it into motion, I’ve always wanted to be one of two things: a teacher or a writer. I began writing as a teen, but didn’t pursue it as a career until I became a stay-at-home mom. Though no one book influenced my decision, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Lucy Maud Montgomery are authors I consider influences.
You need to come visit PEI with me!!! I’ll probably have to rent a bus for all the writers I’ve met who want to see LM’s turf.
And yes, LM knew what she was talking about, PEI is GORGEOUS!!!
I would love to visit one day. My sister has been. She has a photo of a house that looks similar to Green Gables. She snapped a shot of the mailbox because it said Cheryl and Paul, which is my name and my hubby’s.
Love for the written word stemmed from my mother, a voracious reader who taught HS English. She made sure all five of us understood the basics of grammar, and she encouraged me to read the classics. After focusing on writing articles for the school paper, I eventually discovered how much more fun it would be to write from my imagination.
I can’t remember one book so much as all the ones I read as a child…The Narnia Chronicles, Sweet Valley Twins, Little House books, Babysitters Club, Roald Dahl, A Little Princess, etc.
I’ve always been intrigued to read and create stories. I do know that my fifth grade teacher inspired me to write and she introduced me to one of my favorite books, “Mr. Popper’s Penguins.”
I thank her and my family for their encouragement in all my writing endeavors past and present. 🙂
It probably won’t surprise you that I read all of the same books!! Long live the Babysitters Club! Hehe.
Haha. Doesn’t surprise me at all, Lindsay! You are right. 🙂 go generation y!! That’s what we are, right? I remember that discussion on here awhile back. 🙂
Yes, teachers can be a big inspiration. My sixth grade teacher required us to write in a journal all year, but I enjoyed it so much I kept going after the school year was over.
That’s great, Jenni! I did the same thing! 🙂
I could list many treasured books that have influenced both my life and my writing journey, but I think the majority of the “blame” for my writing passion belongs to my mother, Donita K. Paul. When you grow up with a mom like mine, you believe that Narnia, Middle Earth and Oz are real. You’re convinced that three sock monkeys in your playroom come alive at night and get into trouble. And you use big, precocious words, even if you can’t pronounce them. You get in trouble in the library because your whole family is laughing loudly in the children’s section. And at some point you realize that stories are a part of your DNA. And Math is not.
I can relate to speaking precocious words and not pronouncing them correctly (although most the time I could spell them). I also concur about math not being a part of the DNA.
Isn’t it grand what adventures books can lead us on?