Sean Ferrell is!
what's yours?
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The Novel Road reveals deeply troubling info about Jeff Somers
This interview with Jeff Somers reveals some very disturbing new information about him.
What do you think it is:
What do you think it is:
What did I learn about fabulous Amy Minato?
I discover the most amazing things about my own clients when they do interviews.
Here's Amy Minato on The Novel Road.
Here's a poll for you about what I learned in the interview:
Here's a poll for you about what I learned in the interview:
Guess the GHOST COUNTRY writing contest winner/s!!
Thanks to all of you who left your roast beast, put aside your nog, and otherwise yielded your Yule to join in the contest fun!
Herewith the results of the 77 entries, each of which I read more than once:
Nice twist of the trope:
Sarah 11:58pm (time jump allowed because I opened the comments five minutes early)
Three entries had a line that just leaped off the page:
C. Andres Alderete 12:12am
She was beautiful once, but circumstance gnarled her and gravity pulled her and God demanded too much from her.
Jeff 4:32pm
Murder is sometimes a necessary breach of etiquette.
Michael G-G 11:53pm
The Shark, moments before, had knifed out of the conference bar and plunged into the ocean, headed for Nassau.
Of course, some of you resorted to poems, and they were doozies!
Amanda C. Davis 11:18am
Working Stiffs 1:04pm (with special recognition for mentions of La Slitherina Herself)
Jdh 5:32pm (with special accolade for rhyming "entity with gentian tea"!!)
Two of you have been reading too much metafiction and are now writing metaentries!
Debra L. Schubert 11:25am
SemperFi 1:55pm
Several entries had very interesting concepts but weren't quite a story:
Shallamuth 12:02pm
Mr Sitouh 1:42pm
Four were very very nice, but not quite stories:
Amanda 4:10pm
Cannonwrites 10:03pm
BPatterson 3:09pm
Jeff 4:32pm
This is AMAZING but again, not a story:
Durango Writer 4:51pm
That cunning Adjective was on the chase again. Noun looked for a page to hide behind but the outlook was bleak. Verb had already unhappily fallen prey to Adverb. The battle for narrative clarity seemed impossible to win.
“Stop breaching protocol!” Noun shouted. “Publishing doesn’t like when we pair up.”
“I hate when you talk about Publishing as if it’s some Entity to fear,” Adjective said. “It’s those critique groups you should really worry about.”
And an illustrated entry (which I promptly posted as my new Twitter avatar!):
jjdebenedictis 5:34pm
Here are the five finalists:
LeAnne 12:36am
Mr. Copperfield had the peculiar occupation of giving chase to rabbits for a living. Every morning he would stare down at his vegetables from his farm house only to notice a severe breach in the wire fence around his garden.
It was a bleak situation.
Despite the turned pages of Rabbit Hunter Weekly, all of his cabbages were gnawed to the point of no return. Red-faced, Mr. Copperfield cursed the little bunny entity, marched outside, and poised his shovel to strike, only to find his dog, Pookie, slipping back through the fence with a cabbage head between his teeth.
Janet B. Taylor 11:27am
“She wouldn’t let me page you,” Sam says, as I breach the double doors.
The bleak emptiness on his face confirms my worst fear.
“Why would she choose a human doctor?” I ask, as my eyes chase the arterial spray across a gleaming white wall, “I could have saved her. You knew that.”
My hands twitch with the need to touch my sister. Heal her.
“She didn’t trust magic,” Sam squeezes his wife’s limp hand, “believed it came from the Dark Entity.”
A sick feeling overtakes me.
“Sam,” My voice is low, but growing shrill, “where’s the baby?”
Patrice 9:35pm
“There’s been a breach in the perimeter! Page the commander.”
I pick up the mezzophone and bark into the speaker, “Alien entity alert. Perimeter breach. Chase it down!”
Alarms sound overhead. The red light flashes, alternating with an amber blinker. This is the real deal.
I peer out of the viewport and across the bleak expanse of moonscape, seeking the telltale dust puffs that will give away the approach route. I see nothing.
The mezzophone chirps. “Yes?” I ask.
“Rizzo?”
“Yeah?”
“We found the entity.”
“And…?” I feel the sweat pool at the small of my back.
“It’s your mother.”
Realityanalyst 9:54am
Insufferable avian. Every year – every single bleak midwinter, without fail – it raps at my window, begging to be let in.
Let it freeze. It’ll never make it through the double-glazing. Besides, if I let it in, it’ll only chase me around my chambers, squawking its one-word vocabulary and pretending to be some dire entity of lore.
As if I didn’t have enough to do.
I ducked my head, turned the page and tried to concentrate on the report. Breach of contract, insurance number, ominous silhouette at the window –
No. Enough! I’d had enough!
Tomorrow, I was buying a .22.
Joel 8:16am
Shaw sat in his car and snipped the dedication page from every copy of Ceaselessly and then returned them, the bookstore non-entities crediting his Discover with a sigh, a “Sorry” or “But it’s Henry Light.”
The pages applauded in Shaw’s hand as he chased Henry under the bleak dawn, across West Egg beach. Henry slipped on the rocky stubble, and Shaw fell on him. He rolled Henry over and kneed him.
“Into the breach. Into. Her. Dear. Friend.”
He filled Henry’s mouth until pages bloomed.
“Oops,” he said, standing, trembling, giggling.
“Oops. Oops. Oops.”
And dragged Henry into the sea.
Now, here's the fun part (and a new and delicious way to torment writers!)
I've picked the winner. Who do you think it is?
This contest has a new wrinkle: instead of announcing the winners, I've re-posted the five finalists' entries. You get to guess which one is the winner. (not pick the winner, guess who's been chosen)
Herewith the results of the 77 entries, each of which I read more than once:
Nice twist of the trope:
Sarah 11:58pm (time jump allowed because I opened the comments five minutes early)
Three entries had a line that just leaped off the page:
C. Andres Alderete 12:12am
She was beautiful once, but circumstance gnarled her and gravity pulled her and God demanded too much from her.
Jeff 4:32pm
Murder is sometimes a necessary breach of etiquette.
Michael G-G 11:53pm
The Shark, moments before, had knifed out of the conference bar and plunged into the ocean, headed for Nassau.
Of course, some of you resorted to poems, and they were doozies!
Amanda C. Davis 11:18am
Working Stiffs 1:04pm (with special recognition for mentions of La Slitherina Herself)
Jdh 5:32pm (with special accolade for rhyming "entity with gentian tea"!!)
Two of you have been reading too much metafiction and are now writing metaentries!
Debra L. Schubert 11:25am
SemperFi 1:55pm
Several entries had very interesting concepts but weren't quite a story:
Shallamuth 12:02pm
Mr Sitouh 1:42pm
Four were very very nice, but not quite stories:
Amanda 4:10pm
Cannonwrites 10:03pm
BPatterson 3:09pm
Jeff 4:32pm
This is AMAZING but again, not a story:
Durango Writer 4:51pm
That cunning Adjective was on the chase again. Noun looked for a page to hide behind but the outlook was bleak. Verb had already unhappily fallen prey to Adverb. The battle for narrative clarity seemed impossible to win.
“Stop breaching protocol!” Noun shouted. “Publishing doesn’t like when we pair up.”
“I hate when you talk about Publishing as if it’s some Entity to fear,” Adjective said. “It’s those critique groups you should really worry about.”
And an illustrated entry (which I promptly posted as my new Twitter avatar!):
jjdebenedictis 5:34pm
Here are the five finalists:
LeAnne 12:36am
Mr. Copperfield had the peculiar occupation of giving chase to rabbits for a living. Every morning he would stare down at his vegetables from his farm house only to notice a severe breach in the wire fence around his garden.
It was a bleak situation.
Despite the turned pages of Rabbit Hunter Weekly, all of his cabbages were gnawed to the point of no return. Red-faced, Mr. Copperfield cursed the little bunny entity, marched outside, and poised his shovel to strike, only to find his dog, Pookie, slipping back through the fence with a cabbage head between his teeth.
Janet B. Taylor 11:27am
“She wouldn’t let me page you,” Sam says, as I breach the double doors.
The bleak emptiness on his face confirms my worst fear.
“Why would she choose a human doctor?” I ask, as my eyes chase the arterial spray across a gleaming white wall, “I could have saved her. You knew that.”
My hands twitch with the need to touch my sister. Heal her.
“She didn’t trust magic,” Sam squeezes his wife’s limp hand, “believed it came from the Dark Entity.”
A sick feeling overtakes me.
“Sam,” My voice is low, but growing shrill, “where’s the baby?”
Patrice 9:35pm
“There’s been a breach in the perimeter! Page the commander.”
I pick up the mezzophone and bark into the speaker, “Alien entity alert. Perimeter breach. Chase it down!”
Alarms sound overhead. The red light flashes, alternating with an amber blinker. This is the real deal.
I peer out of the viewport and across the bleak expanse of moonscape, seeking the telltale dust puffs that will give away the approach route. I see nothing.
The mezzophone chirps. “Yes?” I ask.
“Rizzo?”
“Yeah?”
“We found the entity.”
“And…?” I feel the sweat pool at the small of my back.
“It’s your mother.”
Realityanalyst 9:54am
Insufferable avian. Every year – every single bleak midwinter, without fail – it raps at my window, begging to be let in.
Let it freeze. It’ll never make it through the double-glazing. Besides, if I let it in, it’ll only chase me around my chambers, squawking its one-word vocabulary and pretending to be some dire entity of lore.
As if I didn’t have enough to do.
I ducked my head, turned the page and tried to concentrate on the report. Breach of contract, insurance number, ominous silhouette at the window –
No. Enough! I’d had enough!
Tomorrow, I was buying a .22.
Joel 8:16am
Shaw sat in his car and snipped the dedication page from every copy of Ceaselessly and then returned them, the bookstore non-entities crediting his Discover with a sigh, a “Sorry” or “But it’s Henry Light.”
The pages applauded in Shaw’s hand as he chased Henry under the bleak dawn, across West Egg beach. Henry slipped on the rocky stubble, and Shaw fell on him. He rolled Henry over and kneed him.
“Into the breach. Into. Her. Dear. Friend.”
He filled Henry’s mouth until pages bloomed.
“Oops,” he said, standing, trembling, giggling.
“Oops. Oops. Oops.”
And dragged Henry into the sea.
Now, here's the fun part (and a new and delicious way to torment writers!)
I've picked the winner. Who do you think it is?
Monday, December 27, 2010
GHOST COUNTRY writing contest!--closed now, results soon!
To celebrate the publication of GHOST COUNTRY we're having a writing contest!
Contest starts NOW Tuesday 12/28 (12:01 am Eastern Shark Time-December 28 approx 24 hours from when this post goes up)
Post your entry in the comments column of THIS blog post.
The contest is: write a story using 100 words or fewer. Include the following words in your entry:
page
chase
bleak
entity
breach
One entry per person please. If you need a mulligan, a do-over, that's fine, but only ONE (the later entry) will be counted.
All decisions, awards, mistakes, errors, and boneheaded choices if any are mine. No grousing about who doesn't win or I'll gnaw you.
Prize: a copy of GHOST COUNTRY by Patrick Lee and some amazing swag that the sales and pr department at Harper cooked up (it's VERY cool!)
Get thinking!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
"not for me"
The amazing and awesome agent Suzie Townsend has some wise words on why she no longer offers feedback on requested manuscripts. Read it here.
I was stunned at her query stats for 2010. She requested and read a LOT.
Suzie is, in fact, alot of awesome.
I was stunned at her query stats for 2010. She requested and read a LOT.
Suzie is, in fact, alot of awesome.
image ruthlessly lifted from
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Books I'm looking forward to in 2011
This book was slipped to me under cover of darkness by an editor who shall remain nameless. I read the manuscript before it went to production and fell instantly in love.
You will too.
And you'll get a chance to read it early cause I have two copies of the ARC to give away soon!
If you don't love this book, don't ever bother speaking
to me,
of me,
about me,
or in my zip code
again.
Ever.
I'm serious.
Team Dauntless.
It is a story of a young boy's desperate yearning for a father during a time of extreme poverty and confusion. The book has been compared to Frank McCourt for it's depiction of deprivation, to Geoffrey Wolff for its depiction of a deceptive father and to David Sedaris for it's hilarious depiction of childhood. Jack Olsen passed away in 2002.
You're going to have to look hard to find this; Pleasure Boat is a small elegant press that has never published a bad book.
It's about a boy who wants to be the world's greatest super villain, but inadvertently ends up saving the day and becoming the hero (much to his disdain).
NOWHERE NEAR NORMAL by Traci Foust (4/2011)
A raw and funny memoir about growing up with severe OCD, a sort of Augusten Burroughs with bleach.
THE TENDER MERCY OF ROSES by Anna Michaels (5/2011)
A debut novel about an alcoholic ex-cop drawn to investigate the murder of a cowgirl, even as it uncovers dark secrets from her own past. Think Garden Spells meets The Lovely Bones.
AFTERTIME by Sophie Littlefield
Awakening in a bleak landscape as scarred as her body, Cass Dollar vaguely recalls surviving something terrible. Wearing unfamiliar clothes and having no idea how many days—or weeks—have passed, she slowly realizes the horrifying truth: her daughter has vanished.
When wealthy Pamela Jordaan hires PI Jade de Jong as a bodyguard after her husband Terrance disappears, Jade thinks keeping an eye on this anxious wife will be an easy way to earn some cash. But when a determined shooter nearly kills them both and Jade finds Terrance horrifically tortured and barely alive, she realizes that she has been drawn into a wicked game.
2010 Sox Knockers
I bought it because I read a review on Shelf Awareness that I blogged about. It took me a while to find 20 hours to read all 550+ pages, but it was worth it.
I read this twice. Once when the editor slipped me a VERY early copy under penalty of death if I told anyone. The second time was right after the first time cause I couldn't believe what I'd just read. Then I had to restrain myself from breaking in to the editor's apartment and forcing her to discuss the book with me at 2am. I've advised people to steal this book if they have to and offered personal refunds to people if they buy it on my recommendation and don't like it.
Every book Laura Lippman writes should be on your list to read. This is her latest stand alone. I first blogged about it back in September.
I read this at Bouchercon. I gave up time in the bar to read this. I didn't mention that in the blog post I wrote about it cause I couldn't quite believe it myself.
This gets a special mention cause it wasn't published this year but I just read it and loved it. I'm pretty sure it's an almost perfect novel. If you're a writer, read this. If you like a good novel, read this.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
What kind of Christmas will it be?
If you're Bill Cameron, it could be anything from
Electrical Fire Christmas, Turkey with Larvae Stuffing Christmas and Aunt Nell’s Affair Revealed Christmas (followed eleven months later by Aunt Nell’s Other Affair Revealed Thanksgiving.) Finally, there’s my mother’s Epoch of Let Us Never Speak of This Again, or what my sister Vicki and I refer to simply as the Year of Danny Coots.
Yes, you want to read the rest of the story. Put down your beverages first.
Electrical Fire Christmas, Turkey with Larvae Stuffing Christmas and Aunt Nell’s Affair Revealed Christmas (followed eleven months later by Aunt Nell’s Other Affair Revealed Thanksgiving.) Finally, there’s my mother’s Epoch of Let Us Never Speak of This Again, or what my sister Vicki and I refer to simply as the Year of Danny Coots.
Yes, you want to read the rest of the story. Put down your beverages first.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Query update!
We're going to quit reading queries on 12/24!
You're welcome to send queries but you won't hear back from us between 12/24 and 1/3/11.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
No, you can't replace it!
End of the year cleaning up is a tradition in my office. Godsend Meredith Barnes has an eagle eye out for all the things that washed up on the Reef this year that need to be polished, discarded or otherwise dealt with.
There aren't very many things that I've lunged across the desk to seize from her tidy paws, but this is one.
Yes, it's old. It's never going to be really clean again (you try getting dust out of glued on geometric pieces of foam!) It doesn't look professional in the slightest.
And I love it. (alot!)
I love it cause my darling niece made it for me for Christmas when she was five. She saw it a couple years back and rolled her eyes and said "Aunt Sharkly One, I can't believe you still have that!"
Believe it!
What's on your desk that you'll never throw out?
Yes, it's old. It's never going to be really clean again (you try getting dust out of glued on geometric pieces of foam!) It doesn't look professional in the slightest.
And I love it. (alot!)
I love it cause my darling niece made it for me for Christmas when she was five. She saw it a couple years back and rolled her eyes and said "Aunt Sharkly One, I can't believe you still have that!"
Believe it!
What's on your desk that you'll never throw out?
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
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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