How I got a literary agent
The behind-the-scenes story you don't usually get to hear because it's too embarrassing to tell. But it has a happy ending, so I want to share it.
In 2019, my first book - The Freelance Mum - was published and I didn’t have an agent.
I’d met my lovely editor-to-be, Michelle Kane, at the pub and after having a good chat, she’d kindly agreed to let me send her a book idea I’d had.
We had a coffee, discussed the idea, she said she liked it but the acquisitions team said no thanks.
Six months later, Michelle came back with the idea for a book on freelancing around young kids. I got excited, and suggested we call it The Freelance Mum.
We were off.
Soon after publication day, a literary agent phoned me and asked if I’d be up for going to meet her, as she had a book idea and thought I was the person to write it.
I agreed to go along, feeling very honoured and excited, and arrived at her swanky offices feeling like I was walking into a dream.
Now, if I’d agreed to writing the book she had in mind - on feminist parenting - it might have all worked out well.
Alas, I had another idea in mind.