Hi Reader,

A box arrived from New York this week. From my literary agent. Well — former agent.

Let me explain.

In 2021, I sent out one query letter and landed one of the top agents in the publishing world. Which, if you know anything about getting an agent, is entirely bonkers.

Her client list could field a literary All-Star team. Frank McCourt. Sue Grafton. Elizabeth Strout.

She delivered immediately, getting us two international deals. Then spent a year walking Fortunate Son around New York, trying to get an American publisher to bite.

Nobody did.

So she politely pointed me to the door and wished me 'good luck.'

My former agent still manages the deals she made, which brings me back to...

the box.

It had a journey to get to me. And knowing what I do about international postage these days, it was an expensive journey too.

Munich, Germany to my agent in New York, then forwarded to my rural PO Box in New Hampshire.

International book mail from DTV, my German publisher.

I don't know how Stephen King feels when a box of new books lands on his front stoop. Maybe it doesn't hit the same way when you've written as many as he has.

But I kinda doubt it.

No one was around when I opened it. Kathy and our son's family were on the beach playing by the lake. It was just my buddy, Duncan, licking himself on the carpet, and me.

Inside were five copies of the German edition of A Noble Sin, rattling around.

I looked at the cover with my name on it and I remember thinking, I'm glad I'm alone.

This one hit more personal than the others.

I'm in no way, shape, or form a 'known' author.

And, if I'm honest, being one is what motivates me now. Not money. I'd like my writing in the hands of more people—not ashamed to tell you that sometimes I'm a competitive SOB with a better than average sized ego.

And in that pursuit, sometimes I lose track of how far I've come.

I didn't set out to write a series. I didn't set out to become an internationally published author. All I wanted was to write a book for Kath.

Because she encouraged me. Every time I thought I couldn't, she was there, pushing me.

Last fall, Kathy and I roamed the bookstores of Munich looking for copies of Sein Wille geschehe (Fortunate Son). We found them everywhere.

You may remember me writing about that experience here.

That was 8 months ago. Kath and I had a blast: walking the city, enjoying the Hofbräu, bicycling through the parks. It was a magical trip.

Didn't know then, as we laughed our way through Germany and Austria, that Kath had lung cancer.

Life is different now.

But the same.

I'm still writing. You're still reading. And Kath is still being Kath—not letting cancer interrupt her stride.

I probably don't say it enough, but I'm grateful to all of you for the encouragement. It's nice to have friends to share wins and losses.

And my aspirations and anxieties.

Thanks for being here!

Happy Friday!

Andy

Weekly Lift: Robin D

Robin is an author with a book-in-progress. The working title is All That We Bury. It's a domestic thriller and I can't wait to get my hands on it. I've gotten to know Robin through our Book City writing community and I'm happy to call her a friend.

Give her a follow on Instagram so you can stay updated on her latest project!

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The Emma Noble Series is available here:

Fortunate Son

A Noble Sin

Okay Reader, we'll stick a fork in it here. After all, it's called The Briefing for a reason.

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