Tuesday, December 07, 2010
How to find out if your agent is an idiot
Ask to see their pitch letters.
How many mistakes can you spot here?
-----------------------------------
(recent date)
Dear (Editor first name),
This past Monday, (date redacted) I sent out a round of email queries in regard to a client’s novel. Just a couple hours later Editor X at Imprint of Publisher One responded: “Thanks for your submission. We have this undergoing review.” That novel is entitled TITLE ONE (link to author's website) , by AUTHOR. It is quite an interesting work, and if you’re curious you can read more about it by following the link.
Encouraged by that I’ve decided to strike while the iron is hot and send out a query for another of AUTHOR'S novels to some editors at other PUBLISHER ONE's imprints. This novel is entitled TITLE TWO (link to author's website) and was mentioned in my query to EDITOR ONE insomuch as readers of AUTHOR'S other novels will be led to TITLE ONE (link to author's website) and vice versa. TITLE TWO (link to author's website) is a semi-autobiographical novel set in the (industry redacted) world of (location redacted), and was inspired in part by the author's experiences writing novels while working in (location redacted) and around the country as a (job in industry redacted.) It is a most unique blend of fiction and autobiography, humor and romance, and among other audiences, will appeal to those who enjoyed (comp title one) and (comp title two). To read a synopsis and sample chapters of TITLE TWO (link to author's website) follow the link. To get a quick taste of AUTHOR'S style, I highly recommend taking five minutes to read this amusing chapter (link to author's website) from TITLE TWO on the author’s blog, which, while woven into the fabric of the novel, is also a stand alone piece of fiction.
You can read more about AUTHOR and his novels at his website: (link to author's website)
Just before IMPRINT TWO was absorbed by the PUBLISHER TWO I submitted another of AUTHOR'S novels, TITLE THREE (link to author's website) to a senior editor there. These were the exact words of his response to me: "Though I responded to this novel on a personal level...I'm sorry I must pass, but am genuinely glad I got to read TITLE THREE" (link to author's website) "I wish you and the author much luck with it."
Thanks very much, and if you’re not the right editor for AUTHOR but call to mind someone more appropriate, your steering me and/or this email their way will be greatly appreciated, as is your time.
Regards,
Agent
How many mistakes can you spot here?
-----------------------------------
(recent date)
Dear (Editor first name),
This past Monday, (date redacted) I sent out a round of email queries in regard to a client’s novel. Just a couple hours later Editor X at Imprint of Publisher One responded: “Thanks for your submission. We have this undergoing review.” That novel is entitled TITLE ONE (link to author's website) , by AUTHOR. It is quite an interesting work, and if you’re curious you can read more about it by following the link.
Encouraged by that I’ve decided to strike while the iron is hot and send out a query for another of AUTHOR'S novels to some editors at other PUBLISHER ONE's imprints. This novel is entitled TITLE TWO (link to author's website) and was mentioned in my query to EDITOR ONE insomuch as readers of AUTHOR'S other novels will be led to TITLE ONE (link to author's website) and vice versa. TITLE TWO (link to author's website) is a semi-autobiographical novel set in the (industry redacted) world of (location redacted), and was inspired in part by the author's experiences writing novels while working in (location redacted) and around the country as a (job in industry redacted.) It is a most unique blend of fiction and autobiography, humor and romance, and among other audiences, will appeal to those who enjoyed (comp title one) and (comp title two). To read a synopsis and sample chapters of TITLE TWO (link to author's website) follow the link. To get a quick taste of AUTHOR'S style, I highly recommend taking five minutes to read this amusing chapter (link to author's website) from TITLE TWO on the author’s blog, which, while woven into the fabric of the novel, is also a stand alone piece of fiction.
You can read more about AUTHOR and his novels at his website: (link to author's website)
Just before IMPRINT TWO was absorbed by the PUBLISHER TWO I submitted another of AUTHOR'S novels, TITLE THREE (link to author's website) to a senior editor there. These were the exact words of his response to me: "Though I responded to this novel on a personal level...I'm sorry I must pass, but am genuinely glad I got to read TITLE THREE" (link to author's website) "I wish you and the author much luck with it."
Thanks very much, and if you’re not the right editor for AUTHOR but call to mind someone more appropriate, your steering me and/or this email their way will be greatly appreciated, as is your time.
Regards,
Agent
Win a copy of PERICLES COMMISSION (in time for Christmas!)
Anthony Pacheco targets his book reviews to novelist. He gives Gary Corby's PERICLES COMMISSION a look today:
If you are a writer, don’t let the fabulous research blind you, or the mesmerizing voicing nor the purity of how the setting comes alive. Never has a historical book been so much fun to read. It was intelligent escapism at its highest form, and that, dear writers, was simply awesome. The Pericles Commission is not so much a novel as it is crack for mystery lovers.
There's a lovely give away as well! It's easy to enter, just a comment on the blog. Don't miss it!
My new sales strategy!
So far ... so good!
To wit, yesterday's Publisher's Marketplace deal announcements:
"Dan Krokos's debut FALSE MEMORY, featuring a girl with no memory who discovers she's a genetically altered weapon of mass destruction and must uncover the truth of her identity in order to save her city, to Catherine Onder at Disney-Hyperion, in a significant deal, at auction, in a three-book deal, by Suzie Townsend at FinePrint Literary Management on behalf of Janet Reid at FinePrint Literary Management (World English)."
Sunday, December 05, 2010
not even a little bit
Holidays are a time of good cheer.
Please don't drink and drive. Not even a little bit.
Please don't drink and drive. Not even a little bit.
Yes, Virginia IS for (book) lovers!
The Richmond Times-Dispatch takes a look at historical mysteries this month and they pick five. How pleased was I to see the list?
Pericles Commission
(hmmm...where have I heard about this book before??)
Gary Corby "tells a crackerjack story in his debut mystery"
In The Demon's Parchment by Jeri Westerson
The Wolves of Andover (a prequel to her debut novel, "The Heretic's Daughter,") by Kathleen Kent
Devoured by D.E. Meredith
Peril at Somner House by Joanna Challis
It's interesting that two of the authors are Aussies (Joanna Challis and Gary Corby) and four of the five are from our friends at Minotaur.
Virginia is indeed for (book) lovers!
Pericles Commission
(hmmm...where have I heard about this book before??)
Gary Corby "tells a crackerjack story in his debut mystery"
It's interesting that two of the authors are Aussies (Joanna Challis and Gary Corby) and four of the five are from our friends at Minotaur.
Virginia is indeed for (book) lovers!
Friday, December 03, 2010
Thursday, December 02, 2010
No. No. No.
I met one of my favorite editor for drinks the other day and we were doing our usual kvetching about being overwhelmed with reading.
The editor then tells me this story:
An author queries me directly - it's not my stuff but it sounds interesting so I pass it on to a new bright eyed and bushy tailed assistant editor who's looking to build a list. He likes it and requests it. It arrives and goes in the pile of not-terribly-urgent.
Time passes, as it does.
Author who sent full signs with an agent.
Agent then sends out a new and different project. Neither the author nor the agent let our bright eyed and bushy tailed assistant editor know about this - nor is he the editor to whom the new work is submitted.
The editor who gets the second submission reads and likes it, then gets it read by the powers that be, gets an offer approved, and makes the offer. Only THEN does the agent tells editor #2 that "oh, gosh, Editor Bushy Tailed" happens to be looking at something else by the same author.
And of course it turns out that Editor Bushy Tailed has read the first submission, likes it, and has it with two other colleagues to get supporting reads before going to editorial board.
Editor Bushy Tailed has now wasted his time and the other editor's time because there can be only one editor for an author; the editor-in-chief is now involved much to her chagrin and dismay; and Editor Bushy Tailed has to turn over the book he's been looking at to editor #2.
Long story short - both author and agent knew two editors were looking at different projects in-house and didn't tell either editor.
Here's what we can learn from this: when you sign with an agent, tell all the editors looking at your work that you have an agent now AND tell agent what editors are looking (and have looked) at your work.
You do this even if you think every single submission has long since been forgotten. You do this even if you think it's useless. You do this so if someone doesn't know it's not because you didn't tell them.
You might be tempted to say "Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed Editor should have let author know he liked the book." Maybe so. But face it, "should" doesn't get us very far here. This is your career. Make sure you keep your ducks in a row.
The editor then tells me this story:
An author queries me directly - it's not my stuff but it sounds interesting so I pass it on to a new bright eyed and bushy tailed assistant editor who's looking to build a list. He likes it and requests it. It arrives and goes in the pile of not-terribly-urgent.
Time passes, as it does.
Author who sent full signs with an agent.
Agent then sends out a new and different project. Neither the author nor the agent let our bright eyed and bushy tailed assistant editor know about this - nor is he the editor to whom the new work is submitted.
The editor who gets the second submission reads and likes it, then gets it read by the powers that be, gets an offer approved, and makes the offer. Only THEN does the agent tells editor #2 that "oh, gosh, Editor Bushy Tailed" happens to be looking at something else by the same author.
And of course it turns out that Editor Bushy Tailed has read the first submission, likes it, and has it with two other colleagues to get supporting reads before going to editorial board.
Editor Bushy Tailed has now wasted his time and the other editor's time because there can be only one editor for an author; the editor-in-chief is now involved much to her chagrin and dismay; and Editor Bushy Tailed has to turn over the book he's been looking at to editor #2.
Long story short - both author and agent knew two editors were looking at different projects in-house and didn't tell either editor.
Here's what we can learn from this: when you sign with an agent, tell all the editors looking at your work that you have an agent now AND tell agent what editors are looking (and have looked) at your work.
You do this even if you think every single submission has long since been forgotten. You do this even if you think it's useless. You do this so if someone doesn't know it's not because you didn't tell them.
You might be tempted to say "Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed Editor should have let author know he liked the book." Maybe so. But face it, "should" doesn't get us very far here. This is your career. Make sure you keep your ducks in a row.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Dear Chuck Hogan:
Dear Chuck Hogan:
Every single washable item in my apartment is clean, and I have you to thank for it.
It all started a couple weeks ago when Dana Cameron (the wicked fine writer up there in Red Sox Nation near you) mentioned how much she loved PRINCE OF THIEVES. How in fact, when she met you in person, she might have been robbed of the power of speech as she tried to convey how much she admired the book.
No fool I, I promptly ordered a copy. In due course it arrived and I took it home.
Now, what you might expect is true: I have a lot of things to read for work. I don't have a lot of time to devote to reading books just for fun. The one time every week I do read for fun is when I tote my duds down the Ave to the local washateria.
This week was no exception. Except it only took me two hours to wash what I'd brought. And that only got me to page 75 of PRINCE OF THIEVES. (There was no way I was rushing headlong through this book, I savored every page, yes I did.)
There was only one solution, and it wasn't read faster. It was wash more. I washed the comforters. Then the extra sheets. Then the curtains. Sox from under the couch. Cleaning rags. Separate trips to the Washateria of course. Why run three washers in one hour when you can run one washer for three hours.
It wasn't until I seriously considered calling my friend Juliet to see if her laundry was caught up that I came to my senses.
This read-only-at-the SudsYourDuds rule was SELF imposed and I could give myself permission to break it.
I finished PRINCE OF THIEVES sitting on my couch this morning. And it just knocked my sox off. But that's ok...I've got LOTS of clean ones in reserve.
Your devoted fan,
Every single washable item in my apartment is clean, and I have you to thank for it.
It all started a couple weeks ago when Dana Cameron (the wicked fine writer up there in Red Sox Nation near you) mentioned how much she loved PRINCE OF THIEVES. How in fact, when she met you in person, she might have been robbed of the power of speech as she tried to convey how much she admired the book.
No fool I, I promptly ordered a copy. In due course it arrived and I took it home.
Now, what you might expect is true: I have a lot of things to read for work. I don't have a lot of time to devote to reading books just for fun. The one time every week I do read for fun is when I tote my duds down the Ave to the local washateria.
This week was no exception. Except it only took me two hours to wash what I'd brought. And that only got me to page 75 of PRINCE OF THIEVES. (There was no way I was rushing headlong through this book, I savored every page, yes I did.)
There was only one solution, and it wasn't read faster. It was wash more. I washed the comforters. Then the extra sheets. Then the curtains. Sox from under the couch. Cleaning rags. Separate trips to the Washateria of course. Why run three washers in one hour when you can run one washer for three hours.
It wasn't until I seriously considered calling my friend Juliet to see if her laundry was caught up that I came to my senses.
This read-only-at-the SudsYourDuds rule was SELF imposed and I could give myself permission to break it.
I finished PRINCE OF THIEVES sitting on my couch this morning. And it just knocked my sox off. But that's ok...I've got LOTS of clean ones in reserve.
Your devoted fan,
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