How I Got My Literary Agent: Kristi Belcamino

“How I Got My Agent” is a recurring feature on the Guide to Literary Agents Blog, with this installment featuring Kristi Belcamino, author of BLESSED ARE THE DEAD. These columns are great ways for you to learn how to find a literary agent. Some tales are of long roads and many setbacks, while others are of good luck and quick signings.

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I PULLED THE TRIGGER TOO EARLY

When my youngest started kindergarten, I sat down and wrote my first book. I naively thought my novel was then ready to go out into the world.

Wrong.

Premature

The first agent who requested a full (within an hour of me sending my query) rejected it soundly a week later, with words that still sting to this day: “… it is not strong enough to measure up against the heavy hitters in the genre.”

Body blow! Even though it hurt, he was right. I pulled the trigger much too early.

(Postscript: a year later I asked him to take another look at my revised novel, this time he really liked the writing, but said that type of crime fiction didn’t float his boat. Fair enough.)

(Why agents stop reading your sample chapters.)

THE CALL (NO, NOT *THAT* ONE)

As I hinted at above, I spent a year polishing that first draft. I studied craft, read all the great crime fiction writers and revised over and over again. I, also, continued to query. One day I got an email that an agent wanted to call me. The call, the call, the call!

But it wasn’t.

She spent 90 minutes on the phone telling me everything she liked about my book. When she first started reading it on her phone on the train home, she thought she would switch to her laptop once she got home. Instead, she sat on her couch, with her coat still on and read it until the end. On her phone.

I was ecstatic! But she ended the call talking about our future together but never made an offer. (I’m still baffled to this day.)

But that’s when I knew I was close. Onwards. I’d been corresponding with another agent for about two months when she said she wanted to call me about some revisions I had done. Of course, this time I knew not to get too excited about a call. But this time, this agent offered to represent me. I told her that I’d let her know in a week. I had about 10 other agents considering my manuscript and I knew it was protocol, not to mention good karma, to give them a heads up. But I had pretty much already made a decision to go with her. I really liked her and she was super smart. By the end of the week three agents said they’d get back to me on Monday. Ego restored. I was going to get more than one offer and have to decide. Win!

Then I got an email from an agent I hadn’t even queried: Stacey Glick of Dystel & Goderich. Her colleague had read Blessed are the Dead and dubbed it a “Stacey Project.” She said she’d get back to me Monday morning. I immediately searched her on Publishers Marketplace. Good grief. She’d sold five books just that week alone.

But I wasn’t to be swayed. I would remain loyal to the first agent who offered. I knew her. I liked her.

Silly me. I had no idea what a powerhouse Stacey Glick is.

(How to collaborate with a freelance editor.)

STACEY THE SUPERSTAR

On Monday, Stacey Glick called me.

By the time I hung up, there was never any question of not signing with her. Never a question. For so many reasons. She is an amazing agent, is super smart, incredibly cool, and knows her stuff. In fact, she already knew what editors would like my book. I could go on and on, but by the end of the conversation, I knew I wanted her in my corner. I didn’t even need or want to talk to the other agents still considering my book.

Then, I realized I had to make the hardest call of my writing career. I had to call the first agent who offered and tell her I was going with someone else.

It sucked.

I felt like the biggest heel on the planet. I was sick to my stomach about it.

But I had to set emotions aside and make a business decision. Even though I had felt loyal to that first agent who offered, I knew in my heart that Stacey was the right agent for me.

And as it turned out, Stacey ended up selling my book to the editor she mentioned during that first phone call. I could not ask for a better editor or agent in my corner!

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