Esther makes landfall

Esther makes landfall

Or, how I got an agent…

In the tempest of postnatal hormones, sleep deprivation and anxiety which accompanied the birth of my third child in only four years, something else arrived too, quite out of the blue: the voice of a spirited, determined fictional character, who had a story she wanted me to write. Her name was Esther, and she had three plucky and resilient daughters I was to take care of for her.

I sat down with a hardcover journal, nursing my newborn, and started to write out, by hand, the story of Esther and her daughters. It took me several years to finish my manuscript, what with the birth of our fourth baby in a busy home full of children, but never once did I lose faith that Esther’s story should be finished, and widely shared.

I have written exactly the kind of book I always search bookstores for, and delight most to read. I know many of you are going to cherish Esther’s story too, when she finally hits your bookstore.

In the first week of January 2020, I was tremendously lucky to have specialist editor Alexandra Nahlous take on my manuscript. Alexandra was the winner of the Beatrice Davis Editorial Fellowship in 2009-10, and has had two decades of experience in editing and publishing, working with such bestselling authors as Liane Moriarty, Judy Nunn, and Christos Tsiolkas. With Alexandra’s passion for commercial fiction, women’s fiction, and romance — I knew my manuscript was in the very best of hands.

Waiting for my manuscript’s return was not unlike the expectant joy of Christmas Eve, and I had every reason to be so excited. Alexandra returned my novel with such wise, insightful, and discerning suggestions made, I fell in love with my story all over again.

Wonderfully, Alexandra introduced me to a literary agent. Not just any literary agent, but Selwa Anthony! Selwa runs one of the leading literary agencies in Australia, and is deeply passionate about Australian authors and Australian stories.

So, in early February I wrapped up my manuscript in brown kraft paper, tied it with string, and mailed it away to Selwa Anthony’s Author Management Agency.

This week, I received a call from from Selwa, and shortly afterward signed an agreement —making me one of Selwa’s authors!

In a quirky instance of serendipity, the very same day my novel found its champion in the publishing world, Cyclone Esther crossed the Australian coast. Our local newspaper headline read: Esther Makes Landfall.

She sure has…

xx Averil