Electric (and electronic) communication

A little over a year ago I joined the Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) listserv. Members include librarians, teachers, writers, editors, and anyone who's interested in kids' books. Each month there are two different topics discussed, and the listserv moderators are pretty good about keeping people on topic.

For whatever reason, the recent discussion of series and formula fiction for kids really grabbed my attention and I read the digest messages eagerly. I even posted a message to the listserv, my first, wondering whether the Narnia books are still popular and the same for the Little House on the Prairie books (I never did see a response).

I happened to post this message the night before Thanksgiving and immediately received 12 or 15 out-of-office emails, primarily from children's book editors. It was kind of fun to see the names of some of the people on the list. Who knows how many people (like me) read the messages but rarely write them?

Thanksgiving night I received an interesting email because I'd sent that message. I had signed my name and below that "aspiring children's writer" and below that a link to this blog. Many of the other writers do the same, and everyone is encouraged to be forthright about their identities.

The interesting email was from an agent. She said she'd seen my message and checked out my blog. AND she'd be interested in reading my work. Cool! She explained who she was (a colleague of an agent who spoke at a conference I attended), plus I recognized her name, so I knew she was legit.

Naturally I took her up on her offer.