The Legend - A Gilmore Girls Fan Fiction

Chapter 73

"Are you ready to get going, honey?  You're going to smash this interview, I just know it!" Finn said to me with a proud smile. 

I wasn't quite as sure of myself as he was, but I couldn't help but feel good about this.  I felt like this job was my calling, it had just taken me 37 years to figure that out. 

"Yeah, I'm all set" I said, patting my messenger bag briefcase that he had bought me as a good luck present.

"Okay, let's get you there, and then we'll get some lunch when you're finished" he said, handing me my jacket.  The cool, crisp, autumn air was upon us.

"Sounds perfect!  Thank you for being so supportive" I said. 

He smiled and gave me a peck on the lips, before putting his own jacket on.  "Of course."

I was so hoping this interview would go well.  I was tired of sitting around feeling sorry for myself, so I spent a lot of time writing.  And writing, and writing, and... well... you get the idea.  I've had so much inspiration and have written so much, that I knew what I had to do.

"Let's go, Love.  Can't have my girl being late" he said with a wink, standing at the door with it open.  I took my travel mug in hand and smiled warmly as I followed him out the door.

                **                  **                  **

I was trying to hide my nervousness as I was seated in the office of Debbie Carter, who was an esteemed literary agent and part of Waverly Place Literary Agency; one of the biggest literary agencies in all of New York City.

She was stuck in a meeting, but she instructed her secretary, Nicole, to let me have a seat in her office.  Nicole led me to a sitting area with a couch and two chairs at the opposite side of the room as her desk.  I couldn't help but notice how perfectly organized and clean her work station was - much like how I like to keep my own.  After looking around the room and making some observations of diplomas and awards on the walls, pictures of family, friends and her pets in frames neatly placed on her desk, I decided she was probably a lot like me and captivated by the written word.  After I'd seen all I could around her office while seated in my place, I began taking in the beauty of the skyline through her giant picture window.  It was almost serene.

Suddenly the door opened and a slender, sandy-haired lady made her way into the room and directly over to me.  "Welcome, Ms. Gilmore, it's so nice to meet you," she said, extending her hand to shake mine and then sat down in a chair beside me.  "I read your book a couple of years ago and was really disappointed that you hadn't written anything since.  You've got an extraordinary gift for the written word" she said. 

"Thank you, Ms. Carter, it's very nice to meet you, too.  And thank you about the book, it seems like forever ago that I had written it.  In a way, it's almost like I forget I ever did" I said with a laugh. 

"Is that a totally true story?  The one about you and your mother?  Are you actually that close?" she asked.

I nodded and smiled.  "Yeah, and I pretty much nailed her character.  That is truly every bit my quirky and amazing mother" I assured her with a laugh. 

"Well, she seems just darling.  And this children's book series you're wanting to start, this is a continuation of that story, just on kid's terms?" she asked.

"Yes, see, my mom and I both ended up pregnant, as you may remember from the end of that book.  She had just hit her all time high - she married her longtime love from our little town of Stars Hollow, CT, she was the owner of her own inn and working on adding an annex, and so many other things to make her blissfully happy.  I, on the other hand, had hit rock bottom, I was at the all time lowest point in my life with no job, no car, no permanent physical address...  and my daughter, Emma, was the thing that turned it all around.  I got my life back on track and she got to see me grow as a mother and as a person.  Well, during that time, I was telling her bedtime stories about accomplishing goals, being independent, the importance of a good education, overcoming obstacles, and never letting anyone stand in her way.  She ended up loving them so much, I started recording the stories I would tell her so I could write them down later, which I did, and kept in a journal, which I plan to pass down to her when she becomes a mom" I explained. 

"Wow...  that's - an incredible story!  And I've got to tell you, your story resonates with me so much.  I, too, am from Connecticut, and I just absolutely love your vision here.  You're well-educated and level-headed and I could see real potential for your ideas.  I would love to sign you and get this whole process started, but there's only one problem" she said. 

My heart sank.  "Oh?  What's the problem?" I asked.

"Well, you don't have any illustrations here, and I don't accept text-only submissions, I only accept submissions that include text and illustrations" she said regretfully.

"Oh!  That shouldn't be a problem!" I exclaimed in relief.

She looked at me in confusion.  "But there are no drawings with your submission..." she said, flipping through the papers in front of her.

"No, but I have a great friend of mine who is an amazing artist!  He just recently moved to the states from Australia and has been looking for work in that field.  I'm sure you'd like to meet with him first, but I have a couple of pictures he drew for me once that corresponds with one of my stories" I said, fanning through some papers in my briefcase.  I found them and handed them over to her to showcase them. 

"Oh...  wow!  These are fantastic!  Will he collaborate with you?" She asked.

"I mean, I would need to check with him first, but I have no reason to believe he wouldn't" I said.

"Okay, well, then, I will get working on a proposal and I'll be in touch through email.  Show the proposal to your friend...?"

"Charlie" I injected for her.

"Let me know what Charlie thinks, and we'll go from there" she said, standing up, extending her hand.

I stood up as well, and reciprocated the handshake.  "Absolutely, thank you, Ms. Carter" I said. 

"Please, call me Debbie.  And I look forward to hearing from you, soon" she said with a big smile.

I smiled back, and she led me out of the office.