Since Abi is enjoying a well-deserved rest this week, I’m going to take her place as our resident blogger and say thanks to everyone who made our launch so over-the-top exciting! I’ve had some pretty terrific experiences in my life, but waking up on June 15th, 2011, to the avalanche of support and good wishes from so many of you in the children’s book world was right at the top of my bucket list!
And let me just say that had someone told me on January 3, 2011, when I re-launched the Karen Grencik Literary Agency, that such a collaboration would be in my future, I would have told them they were crazy. That just goes to show that we have no idea what’s in store for us.
It was so exciting to be back in the saddle at the 2010 summer conference, and running into Abi was definitely a highlight of the experience. Then attending the Tricycle Press Open House at Random House’s new offices in Berkeley was thrilling as well. But then came news of the closure of the imprint and an invite to a going-away party for Abi and the other Tricycle Press staff at Marissa Moss’s lovely home, and a new chapter was begun. When I asked Abi what was next for her, she rattled off several options, one of which was that she’d been offered a position at a very large agency in NYC. I somewhat jokingly said she should come work with me, and look what happened!
It took a month of contemplation and analysis before Abi decided to jump off the cliff with me, and then another 2-1/2 months for her to painstakingly design our new website and build her own client list, before Red Fox Literary was open for business. Abi’s creative juices have been flowing like Niagara Falls since the idea took seed, and my need to communicate and support and champion authors and their books has been completely sated. We are both right where we’re supposed to be in our lives, and it feels GREAT!
So, all you children’s book lovers, keep your eyes and ears open to see and hear what’s in store for you, and seize every opportunity that presents to take you right where you’re meant to be. You never know what’s around the corner. Carpe Diem!
Karen Grencik
