Agented

As soon as the paperwork arrives, I’ll be signing with literary agent Erin Murphy.

This may bode ill for her judgment, but at the moment, words fail me. I’m very, very excited. I’m ecstatic. I’m some combination of “excited” and “ecstatic” that doesn’t even have a name because it would be completely redundant with “excited” and “ecstatic.”

And I’m grateful. The past three weeks — since I first heard back from Erin about the manuscripts I sent in September — have just been fantastic. A big reason for that is the generosity of a dozen of Erin’s clients who took the time to fill me in on their experiences with her. I kept waiting for at least one of them to inspire some sliver of doubt about whether I ought to be working with Erin.

It never happened.

So, I’d like to thank them for the complete confidence I feel in the decision I’ve made. And I’m also thankful for the handful of agented Austin friends who helped me make sure I was asking all the right questions.

A special thanks goes to my wife, who has listened to me talk about another woman for the better part of a month and yet shares utterly in my enthusiasm.

I’ve said a lot about why I want an agent. It’s obviously a topic I’ve enjoyed. But I’m thrilled to be moving on now. Time to get back to writing.

45 Responses to “Agented”

  1. Chris,
    Congratulations! This has been a great year for you, and it looks like next year may be even better!

  2. Chris,
    Congratulations! This has been a great year for you, and it looks like next year may be even better!

  3. Chris,
    Congratulations! This has been a great year for you, and it looks like next year may be even better!

  4. Congratulations, Chris! And congratulations to Erin, too. She’s signed a wonderful writer.

  5. Congratulations, Chris! And congratulations to Erin, too. She’s signed a wonderful writer.

  6. Congratulations, Chris! And congratulations to Erin, too. She’s signed a wonderful writer.

  7. Don says:

    Congrat! Now, buy the wife some flowers and tell her how wonderful she is.

  8. Don says:

    Congrat! Now, buy the wife some flowers and tell her how wonderful she is.

  9. Don says:

    Congrat! Now, buy the wife some flowers and tell her how wonderful she is.

  10. roz says:

    CHRIS! That’s such fabulous news, I’m so happy for you! Yes, go get some flowers for your lovely wife, sounds like she is a wonderful support. CONGRATULATIONS!

  11. roz says:

    CHRIS! That’s such fabulous news, I’m so happy for you! Yes, go get some flowers for your lovely wife, sounds like she is a wonderful support. CONGRATULATIONS!

  12. roz says:

    CHRIS! That’s such fabulous news, I’m so happy for you! Yes, go get some flowers for your lovely wife, sounds like she is a wonderful support. CONGRATULATIONS!

  13. Kim Winters says:

    Congrats, Chris! So glad to hear your news. And, yes, buy your wife flowers. Flowers are always a good thing.

  14. Kim Winters says:

    Congrats, Chris! So glad to hear your news. And, yes, buy your wife flowers. Flowers are always a good thing.

  15. Kim Winters says:

    Congrats, Chris! So glad to hear your news. And, yes, buy your wife flowers. Flowers are always a good thing.

  16. Susan says:

    Chris, that is terrific news! Congratulations. A celebration is definitely in order.

  17. Susan says:

    Chris, that is terrific news! Congratulations. A celebration is definitely in order.

  18. Susan says:

    Chris, that is terrific news! Congratulations. A celebration is definitely in order.

  19. Anne Bustard says:

    Fantastic news, Chris. Many congratulations.

  20. Anne Bustard says:

    Fantastic news, Chris. Many congratulations.

  21. Anne Bustard says:

    Fantastic news, Chris. Many congratulations.

  22. Kim says:

    Congratulations! What an exciting time for you!

  23. Kim says:

    Congratulations! What an exciting time for you!

  24. Kim says:

    Congratulations! What an exciting time for you!

  25. AAUSEON says:

    Congratulations, Chris! That’s great news! I have heard so many wonderful things about Erin that I might just barf. And that’s a good thing! Enjoy.

  26. AAUSEON says:

    Congratulations, Chris! That’s great news! I have heard so many wonderful things about Erin that I might just barf. And that’s a good thing! Enjoy.

  27. AAUSEON says:

    Congratulations, Chris! That’s great news! I have heard so many wonderful things about Erin that I might just barf. And that’s a good thing! Enjoy.

  28. Rob L. says:

    Way to go! Hope this doesn’t mean you’re preparing to quit your day job already.

    Sincerely,
    That guy sitting 15 feet away at your day job ;^)

  29. Rob L. says:

    Way to go! Hope this doesn’t mean you’re preparing to quit your day job already.

    Sincerely,
    That guy sitting 15 feet away at your day job ;^)

  30. Rob L. says:

    Way to go! Hope this doesn’t mean you’re preparing to quit your day job already.

    Sincerely,
    That guy sitting 15 feet away at your day job ;^)

  31. Laura Logan says:

    Congrats Chris! Wonderful news!

  32. Laura Logan says:

    Congrats Chris! Wonderful news!

  33. Laura Logan says:

    Congrats Chris! Wonderful news!

  34. Kelly says:

    Hooray, Chris! What great news. I second the flowers. Even better with a nice dinner out :)

  35. Kelly says:

    Hooray, Chris! What great news. I second the flowers. Even better with a nice dinner out :)

  36. Kelly says:

    Hooray, Chris! What great news. I second the flowers. Even better with a nice dinner out :)

  37. Chris Barton says:

    Thank you, everybody. For the record:

    1) The agreement did arrive yesterday, so I’ve officially signed.

    2) I went with chocolate truffles, not flowers.

  38. Chris Barton says:

    Thank you, everybody. For the record:

    1) The agreement did arrive yesterday, so I’ve officially signed.

    2) I went with chocolate truffles, not flowers.

  39. Chris Barton says:

    Thank you, everybody. For the record:

    1) The agreement did arrive yesterday, so I’ve officially signed.

    2) I went with chocolate truffles, not flowers.

  40. Hi Chris. I don’t know you, but you commented on “My Ode to Green” in my blog the other day. I will try to read more of your blog soon. I’ve read a few entries and already have that tangential universe feeling. Our worlds seem to collide a bit. I’m from Texas. Kathi Appelt is an old friend and my first SCBWI RA. One of my long time critique group partners just signed on with Erin, too. Well all that said — congrats on all your successes!

  41. Hi Chris. I don’t know you, but you commented on “My Ode to Green” in my blog the other day. I will try to read more of your blog soon. I’ve read a few entries and already have that tangential universe feeling. Our worlds seem to collide a bit. I’m from Texas. Kathi Appelt is an old friend and my first SCBWI RA. One of my long time critique group partners just signed on with Erin, too. Well all that said — congrats on all your successes!

  42. Hi Chris. I don’t know you, but you commented on “My Ode to Green” in my blog the other day. I will try to read more of your blog soon. I’ve read a few entries and already have that tangential universe feeling. Our worlds seem to collide a bit. I’m from Texas. Kathi Appelt is an old friend and my first SCBWI RA. One of my long time critique group partners just signed on with Erin, too. Well all that said — congrats on all your successes!

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