I have an agent.

Her name is Michele Rubin. She is one of 15 senior agents with Writers House (Writers House also has three junior agents).

Writers House is located in a classic townhouse off Union Square in New York City. Please go ogle it at www.writershouse.com.

My agent Michele (may I call you Michele?) represents the literary estate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. … a few other authors … and me.

One of my agent Michele’s specialties is persuading major publishers to re-publish books already published successfully by small/independent publishers like Mid-Atlantic Highlands, my publisher.

I haven’t yet met my agent Michele (known henceforth as MAM). With the Martin Luther King holiday on Monday, she has been super-busy this week. But we had our first, brief, phone conversation today. She had to put me on hold twice — “I’m sorry, it’s the King family … again.”

MAM is talking about a three-book deal. To Love Mercy, To Do Justice, To Walk Humbly. The Chicago Trilogy. As Dave Barry says, I am not making this up.

So … MAM says she’s going to shop To Love Mercy around, emphasizing its appeal to young-adult readers. That’s fine with me. I did not write To Love Mercy for teen-agers, but its themes and language clearly are in tune with the times for high-school English classes. It is in fact being taught in Multicultural Literature classes at Wheeling (IL) High School, and my understanding is that several other Illinois high schools are considering it too. Also, it has been nominated for the Abraham Lincoln Young Readers Award shortlist.

My publisher Patrick (known henceforth as MPP) is the party who pulled this off. Patrick has a prior relationship with Writers House. He sent them To Love Mercy and Michele (oops, MAM) loved it.

I had approached agents and publishers myself about re-publication and had the door slammed politely in my face. But Patrick pulled it off. Incredible. Patrick, I am forever in your debt. A round of applause, please, for Patrick.

Most authors get an agent, then get published. Me, I’m doing it the other way around.

Frank Joseph
www.tolovemercy.com

P.S. In a book group? Consider To Love Mercy as your next selection. I’ll make myself available, either in person or by phone. Call me at 301-656-8753, or contact me via email at frank@tolovemercy.com.