82.
That’s the number of agents who passed on Breathers in one way or another before Michelle Brower of Wendy Sherman Associates said “Yes.” Which was a good thing, because had I hit the century mark in rejections, I was going to need some serious therapy.
This was back in November of 2007, 15 months after I’d sent out the first queries for Breathers. 12 years after I’d submitted my first novel. 18 years after I’d written my first short story when I was living down in Los Angeles and working 60 hours a week doing post-production work for Disney.
It’s a bit of a paradox, really. When I wrote my first short story titled “The Club” back in 1990, I never thought it would take so long to reach this point. And yet everything seems to have happened so quickly.
Two months after offering me representation, Michelle had an offer on the table from Broadway Books. A little over a year later, my book is being published and the film rights are being sold. Surreal. Bizarre. Wonderful. Pick an adjective. Any adjective. Then insert HERE____________________.
Although I can’t say I had a clear cut idea of what I hoped for in an agent, Michelle is everything I could have wanted. The simple fact that she believed in me when so many others didn’t was enough. But I can’t imagine finding anyone better to guide me into the publishing world than Michelle.
Okay, put away the hankies and the tissues. I’m just saying that my agent is a rockstar.
Next entry: B is for Breathers. (Big surprise.)
Okay, I realize I said I was going to start writing Breathers from A to Z two months ago, but number one, I realized the timing was off. And number two, I’m a lazy blogger.
Part of that has to do with the fact that I’m just not comfortable sharing personal information. Politics. Religious beliefs. How many bowel movements I have each day. Not really something I want to talk about.
I prefer to stick with the whole writing thing. The occasional flash fiction. Perspectives from Andy. Maybe some insight into what happens when I sit down at the keyboard.
So since I’ve had several interviews and a number of future fans already wondering how I came up with the idea of Breathers and what it was like writing as a zombie and how long it took me to find an agent, I thought I’d start a running blog, twenty-six entries, going over the process of Breathers from A to Z.
Now, similar to Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk, this isn’t going to be the type of blog that goes “And then. And then. And then…” It’s going to jump around a bit depending on the letter and how much caffeine I’ve consumed on any particular day. And on those days when I want to sleep in, I’ll have Andy fill in for me to add the zombie’s point of view on the whole process.
So starting on Tuesday, I’ll post the first entry, A is for AGENT. Because really, I wouldn’t be writing this without her.
In case you can’t see it, that is a smile on my face. And yes, for the past several days it’s been rather permanent. It’s kind of difficult to stop laughing when the moment you’ve dreamt of for nearly 20 years exceeds your wildest expectations.
Fox Searchlight Pictures Acquires “Breathers”
First of all, the fact that Mason Novick and Diablo Cody are co-producing the film is something I couldn’t have even imagined. I’m both honored and humbled that they would have the faith to back Breathers on the big screen.
I’m also excited to work with Geoff LaTulippe, who is adapting Breathers and whose breakout screenplay, Going the Distance, is in development with New Line.
Finally, at the Church of Hollywood, my denomination has been Fox ever since I saw Star Wars in 1977. The theme music for the Fox Searchlight intro still gives me the chills every time I see one of their films.
I wonder if I can get that as a ringtone…
