An Agent's Confession

I have a confession to make. The minute the final published book from a client lands on my desk, the second thing I do (after oohing and aahing over the cover) is check the acknowledgment section. It’s a little embarrassing to admit this, but I’m always curious about what the author has to say. And, let’s face it, I want to know if she credited me in any way. It’s not that I feel I need to be acknowledged, it’s just that I want to know if I am and, if I am, what the author said.

Well, the other day I got Paige Shelton’s debut novel, Farm Fresh Murder. A book that I am very excited about. I spent a little more time than usual oohing and aahing over the cover because I absolutely adore it. Once I was done showing it around, I flipped it open and read the acknowledgments. She did a fabulous job of thanking all the people who helped her, including the many people at her publisher who guided her through the process. Nothing about me though. That’s fine. I was a little disappointed, but really, the important thing is the book is out, and since I just did a brand-new deal for Paige for an entirely new mystery series, I have nothing to complain about. But then I had a thought. I didn’t really believe she would do it, but I checked the dedication page anyway. And there it was. She had dedicated her debut novel to me. I was so touched I teared up. I can only think of one or two other authors who have dedicated their books to me and I wish I could find the right words to express how much this means to me. I feel honored, thrilled, and truly undeserving. I’m proud of every book I sell and I don’t need an acknowledgment or a dedication, but man, when it comes, I really feel humbled.


Jessica