tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post3945763734203474548..comments2024-03-29T07:29:32.276-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Query question: so I queried publishers and agents and now I'm in a pickleJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-10500366920819720012015-04-25T17:31:09.072-04:002015-04-25T17:31:09.072-04:00Here's one way to implement Janet's awesom...Here's one way to implement Janet's awesome advice about doing your research.<br /><br />If you want to know whether a publisher sells to libraries, <br />find a title that the publisher has published (there should be a list on their website). Then call your local librarian and ask if they CAN order the book. Make it clear you are not asking them to order it; you just want to know if the publisher is legit.<br /><br />The reason you want to do this, is because library books are sold through different distributers than a bookstore. But really, you can use this simple test anywhere you want to see your book in print.JEN Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11223454346963493011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-46343840525507089442015-04-25T07:03:19.212-04:002015-04-25T07:03:19.212-04:00Christina, because I live in an area with breathta...Christina, because I live in an area with breathtaking fall foliage folks travel here from all over the world to see the colors. We call them leaf peepers. <br />They drive the highways and side roads at about 20mph, stop to take pictures in the most inopportune spots BUT they spend a lot of money and fill the inns, motels and restaurants before everything goes gray and cold again.<br />So your definition, "...peepers are some kind of pests that swarm upon the New England foliage with Biblical, plague-like ferocity, clogging the byways and causing residents to remain indoors as much as possible until the infestation passes." Pretty much nails the true meaning.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-40569181480278910552015-04-25T01:20:53.725-04:002015-04-25T01:20:53.725-04:00I grew up with Wisconsin seasons
Winter
Still Wi...I grew up with Wisconsin seasons<br /><br />Winter <br />Still Winter<br />Construction<br />Almost Winter<br /><br />but am now enjoying the southwestern seasons of<br /><br /><br />Hot<br />Hotter<br />Human Puddles<br />Monsoons<br /><br />I don't mind either of the seasons so much. My 7-year-old niece, on the other hand, is literally allergic to the cold. Breaks out in welts and hives. Poor kid. When winter rolls around she ends up outfitted like the snowsuit boy from A Christmas Story. She can also have a reaction to the ultra-hot weather thanks to that thing called sweat. It's a no win scenario. But she's a real trooper. And like those kids in Alaska, she tried to sunbathe in 40 degree weather the other day...It wasn't her smartest idea.Megan Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00752842865397799428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-87263484082517740122015-04-24T23:45:50.042-04:002015-04-24T23:45:50.042-04:00Kids have higher metabolisms than we do. Keeps the...Kids have higher metabolisms than we do. Keeps them warm.<br /><br />That's the only reason teenagers here don't freeze their whatevers off, wearing short skirts and shorts in -40 weather.<br /><br />(File this in the 'Get off my lawn' folder)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62063457571402024972015-04-24T23:26:40.702-04:002015-04-24T23:26:40.702-04:00So it is now around 45 degrees on this lovely Spri...So it is now around 45 degrees on this lovely Spring afternoon in Alaska. Because our little lake is not totally unfrozen, the kids (requiring watery recreation) decided to bring out the kiddie pool and fill that with water, which can't be more than 38-40 degrees. They're out there in their little swimsuits, lounging on beach towels. <br /><br />So in other words, "seasons" are relative, and kids are crazy.Christina Seinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411040428007697691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-33099228044760374782015-04-24T22:52:13.135-04:002015-04-24T22:52:13.135-04:00It's an old Saskatchewan joke:
There's on...It's an old Saskatchewan joke:<br /><br />There's only two seasons in Saskatchewan: winter and construction season.<br /><br />Because we have long winters (sometimes starting in early October, sometimes ending in late May), as soon as the ground is dry, construction begins. You get to see a lot of local city sights as you detour around first one road mess then another, until you can find where you're going. <br /><br />Construction is often slower the beginning of construction season. It's when August shows up that all the companies realize "Oh no! Winter's almost here! Let's finish what we can!"<br /><br />We've actually had spring weather - as early as March! However, spring weather also means we may get snow... which I understand we're supposed to get tomorrow.<br /><br />Saskatchewan has had snow in every month of the year, at some point in history (and history is short here). My high school graduation was in May. Lovely May weather, the girls all bought nice dresses and cute shoes... then a blizzard hit the day before.<br /><br />At least it's a dry cold...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-5363470438055253032015-04-24T22:36:23.180-04:002015-04-24T22:36:23.180-04:00The old saw about the seasons where I live is this...The old saw about the seasons where I live is this:<br /><br />Summer<br /><br />January<br /><br />There are variations on that scale. Sometimes it doesn't get cold until February.<br /><br />If you wish to move here remember that Paradise has a cost. Even in a year that is close to drought we get at least four feet (48 inches) of rain a year, the weeds are incredible because they never freeze back and there is nothing as exciting as flying into Tampa International during a thunderstorm. Remember that Florida is a world ranked place for lightning. It is a great place to witness a six inch an hour rain. They are something.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-7524239262236025762015-04-24T21:05:52.048-04:002015-04-24T21:05:52.048-04:00When I lived in QLD the seasons were
Monsoon
Slig...When I lived in QLD the seasons were<br /><br />Monsoon<br />Slightly less sticky<br /><br />Now I'm in TAS I get an even four season, which is nice; but I do miss the monsoon season. Ah, real rain that batters so hard on the tin roof that you can't hear yourselves shout for hours on end. The scent. The joyful rain dances. The boogie-board skimming in the front yard when the puddles are deep enough to swim in. The glorious ear infections!<br /><br />Ah, QLD, I miss thee! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07885763976837081950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28960266627963369062015-04-24T20:28:23.438-04:002015-04-24T20:28:23.438-04:00Just to be clear, because I know the wide, wide au...Just to be clear, because I know the wide, wide audience this blog has, I do not in any way make any rules or laws pertaining to Carkoon. His most benevolent and nasty Despot of Carkoon makes the rules.<br /><br />As for season trading, no-one wants to trade seasons with Carkoon. The winter period is like Death Valley, and the summer period is like Death Valley put in the oven at 450 for 6 months. Spring and Autumn are part of Carkoonian mythology. As is air conditioning.<br /><br />This is an exile planet, folks. If you want seasons worth trading, go see Atoll Amy with FPLM-Paradise! :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84589474773500837492015-04-24T20:10:55.432-04:002015-04-24T20:10:55.432-04:00Carolynn..nn,
Leaf peepers! That sounds terrifyin...Carolynn..nn,<br /><br />Leaf peepers! That sounds terrifying! I've never heard the term, but my first guess is that leaf peepers are some kind of pests that swarm upon the New England foliage with Biblical, plague-like ferocity, clogging the byways and causing residents to remain indoors as much as possible until the infestation passes.<br />Christina Seinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411040428007697691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88978145766282180552015-04-24T19:39:40.758-04:002015-04-24T19:39:40.758-04:00Hey guys, where I live, (CT shoreline) we have,
Pr...Hey guys, where I live, (CT shoreline) we have,<br />Pre-winter<br />Winter,<br />Spring,<br />Summer people,<br />Leaf peepers<br />Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83298304760653034622015-04-24T19:16:43.068-04:002015-04-24T19:16:43.068-04:00In my writers group one of the authors I admire go...In my writers group one of the authors I admire got a contract for a " library publisher". I had no idea what that was but she kept us abreast of her process. There was so much she was responsible for in the editing process, but being such a good writer she committed to the process. She got her cover and we are all in awe. She got her advance and the book is scheduled foe release September 5th. She's my groups first success but I find her experience complex. I'm learning to wait but not be patient as I learn about this book business I've chosen to be part off. Interesting.b-Nyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04190440924186746537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-19539616736911927922015-04-24T16:59:18.752-04:002015-04-24T16:59:18.752-04:00For what its worth, one of the editors at a retrea...For what its worth, one of the editors at a retreat I helped with last fall asked for a full ms from one of the authors attending the event. The author had her manuscript out with multiple agents at the time. She told the editor this and asked if it would be okay if she waited to submit until she had a new agent.<br /><br />Editor said yes. Editor respected author, and vice versa. This was nerve wracking for the author because the editor is at a major house, but the decision made sense.<br /><br />Plus the novel ended up selling to a different major publisher in a mind-boggling deal so it worked out in the long-run. <br /><br />The OP could do something similar, e.g. ask the house if s/he can submit when the author's agent search is done. The Sleepy Onehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17406738871201908077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-68988787657438616512015-04-24T15:59:03.120-04:002015-04-24T15:59:03.120-04:00Dena,
I'll trade you Snow Season for Blazing...Dena, <br /><br />I'll trade you Snow Season for Blazing Hot/Blast Furnace season and Mosquito Season for Balmy/rain if we're lucky season!<br /><br />But nobody takes my (not ice)fishing season from me. <br /><br />Are there any laws against trading seasons on QOTKU's blog? I vote it should be allowed. I think season trading is Carkoon's main export -- aside from books that begin with waking up from a dream or the first day of school. <br /><br />I'll need a ruling from Colin on that one. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-12460982047489387822015-04-24T15:36:23.130-04:002015-04-24T15:36:23.130-04:00Dena, my MIL lives down there, and we've been ...Dena, my MIL lives down there, and we've been keeping an eye on those nasty fires. Yuck. I grew up down there, and I remember those haze the smoke makes from those fires. It's awful. Hope you and yours stay safe!Christina Seinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411040428007697691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-19234931816885749572015-04-24T15:16:39.781-04:002015-04-24T15:16:39.781-04:00Here in SoCal our seasons are -
Balmy/rain if we&...Here in SoCal our seasons are -<br /><br />Balmy/rain if we're lucky season<br />Allergy season<br />Blazing hot/blast furnace season<br />Fire season<br /><br />This week we've already had 2 wildfires within 10 miles of my house and it's only April, and we're conserving water because of the drought. This year isn't looking so good. <br /><br />Dena Pawlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14444683810125395220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81272699040703352852015-04-24T14:54:07.289-04:002015-04-24T14:54:07.289-04:00I've been in this situation (sort of). I got ...I've been in this situation (sort of). I got a publications offer from a small press for a book months and months after I'd submitted it. By then I had started querying a different project and was deep in the trenches. I'd done an R & R for one agent, and was in serious talks with another. So when the offer came in, I squealed with excitement, then ran off to let these two agents know about the offer.<br /><br />Neither agreed to rep me.<br /><br />I decided to go ahead and publish with the publisher on my own because I wanted the experience. It was a good experience, but a year later the publisher went out of business. It wasn't messy or anything. I got the rights back right away, but of course the book is no longer available.<br /><br />In the meantime I did get an agent with another book, again after an offer from a small press (this time from a contest win, not a submission). <br /><br />My advice would be to just keep querying. If you're getting requests, you obviously have something there…. If the publisher is a reputable one and you would like to be published by them, submit, but wait until you get an offer before telling any agents. The horse goes before the cart.Kate Larkindalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06202347563426692610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62277843609638019102015-04-24T14:49:36.893-04:002015-04-24T14:49:36.893-04:00Christina! Your seasons are so similar to mine! :)...Christina! Your seasons are so similar to mine! :)<br /><br />Snow Season<br />Road Sand/Allergy Season<br />(Not Ice) Fishing Season<br />Mosquito Season<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-78926804874948914492015-04-24T14:39:18.267-04:002015-04-24T14:39:18.267-04:00Angie, that does make sense!
In Alaska, we have f...Angie, that does make sense!<br /><br />In Alaska, we have four distinct seasons: <br /><br />Winter<br />Mud/Allergy/Construction season<br />Hunting season, and<br />Winter.Christina Seinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411040428007697691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-57083225454176185092015-04-24T14:12:16.081-04:002015-04-24T14:12:16.081-04:00I've heard many stories about authors who have...I've heard many stories about authors who have queried both agents and publishers. When the publisher responds with a book deal first, the author will send an e-mail to the agents to tell them, and see if any agents would be willing to come on board for the rest of the process.<br /><br />I understand it's not the ideal situation. Agents would prefer to do the pitching to publishers. Publishers may not enjoy hearing 'wait a minute - I've got to get an agent now'... But it does happen. <br /><br />As for hobby outlets... Yes. You need to be careful. A small publisher can be absolutely wonderful - close relationship with the publisher/editor, more care given to your book than at a major publisher - but sometimes they can be little better than self-publishing. Except you don't get to keep all the royalties. I've heard both great stories and not-so-great stories about publishing with a small publisher. Do your research. Contact other authors published by that publisher and ask specific questions: What sort of marketing did Small Publisher give you? Were you happy with the quality of the published book? Etc. It's up to you to decide if the answers to these question fit what you want from a publisher.<br /><br />That said, I can tell you two big name publishers (genre, because I tend to read more about genre markets) who accept unagented manuscripts: Tor and Harlequin. Both are popular and highly respected in their genres, and people who write those genres dream of being published by them. I do know that unagented submissions at Tor - unless they're requested at a conference or something - might have to wait up to two years before getting a response... but it's possible that response could be yes.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-8425336952234941272015-04-24T13:45:55.032-04:002015-04-24T13:45:55.032-04:00After reading yesterday's post and all the vom...After reading yesterday's post and all the vomments. I wonder why QOTKU posted this en suite - like the following day to yesterday's post. <br /><br />Yesterday Matt asked about awesome agent's advice and his willingness to fork out 4K after 28 NOs. Today OP admits to impatience and possibly forgoeing the agent to go directly to the publisher.<br /> <br /><br />Maybe OP plans to write one book and move on to greater things, like hybernating in Carkoon. Maybe OP knows the publishing industry enough to understand all the contract and legal writing. Maybe the publisher is good. Maybe not. Without a good agent how can you tell? Janet's advice today seems to touch the tip of the iceberg. <br /><br />I'm not savvy enough to negotiate contracts and follow up on royalties and everything else without an agent.<br /><br /><br />Everyday I get emails and today even a phone call for vanity agents and galleries. I kindly tell them I don't pay to show my work but I'd rather tell them to FO. Especially the ones who organize fake auctions and ruin an artist's price quotes.<br /><br />The more I research the more I read about vanity presses which in the end harm a writer by delivering bad writing credentials.<br /><br /><br />Christina, I heard that up north they have winter then mud season. Maybe that's why you have road signs.angie Brooksby-Arcangiolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000615140577512304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-68434769262670416842015-04-24T13:09:50.927-04:002015-04-24T13:09:50.927-04:00Road signs? I have to compare road signs? Um, reca...Road signs? I have to compare road signs? Um, recaptcha is broken. You guys get bread and wine, and I get road signs? <br /><br />Why am I not being asked to compare Captain America vs. Wolverine, or Mr. Darcy vs. Sherlock Holmes (Cumberbatch only, thank you) or even something useful like chocolate? Clearly these recaptcha people have no taste for finer things.Christina Seinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411040428007697691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-44669856883058119062015-04-24T13:06:32.623-04:002015-04-24T13:06:32.623-04:00Julie, that story about Cowboy sticking his nose i...Julie, that story about Cowboy sticking his nose in your book is the best thing I've ever heard. I am sitting here grinning like an idiot. <br /><br />Colin - pffft, you are too.<br /><br />Amy - woohoo! Special prize for first comment! I will never be the first to comment, unless I stay up all night, because here I am at 8:30 in the morning and 25 of you have already been here.<br /><br />Okay, to the actual topic at hand: if I had a dollar for every time somebody said to me, "Oh you're writing a book? I know this guy, my cousin's piano teacher's ex-husband, who got their book published through Obby Houtlet Press. Saved them SO much money! You should do that!", I could spend a day at the kind of spa where they use lavender oil from Paris and create steam from smooth rocks found deep in the Himalayan Mountains and a guy who looks suspiciously like Hugh Jackman asks you what kind of chocolate you'd like. <br /><br />Hold on, I'm just going to stay in that thought for one more minute ...<br /><br />So anyway, yeah. Sure, there are lots of very legitimate small presses and they can and will do an amazing job publishing a book, if that is the path a writer chooses (and of course, the editor chooses them). But like Julia Roberts said in Pretty Woman, I want the whole banana. Or fairytale. Or something. Maybe banana is not a great metaphor for that particular movie. This chocolate-craving, as yet un-caffeinated woodland creature is not smart/brave enough to navigate the publishing world without a fierce and trusty agent at her side. <br /><br /><br />Christina Seinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411040428007697691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32010960064534250102015-04-24T12:52:48.904-04:002015-04-24T12:52:48.904-04:00I've been thinking about this and I think at t...I've been thinking about this and I think at this stage in my writing career, for a title page I'd take a hobby outlet. He'll I'll use a shade tree mechanic for my car, a kitchen magician for my hair and a drug store clerk for a doctor.<br />Am I that desperate...almost.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-15332946572198890212015-04-24T11:31:40.365-04:002015-04-24T11:31:40.365-04:00RE the publishing angle, Janet is right, of course...RE the publishing angle, Janet is right, of course. I've had some reputable editors request, and also had 10-12 small publishers request through contests.<br /><br />Out of curiosity, I looked them up. Some are legitimate and do nice work, they're just small presses. Others are vanity or little more than vanity presses. One "editor" has requested FR three or four times even though I've told him I'm going to wait and get an agent. He's an insufferable arse and we've since locked horns a few times.<br /><br />REsearch is always a good thing regardless of who you're dealing with, doctors, lawyers, agents, or publishers. Except Dena. We can just hire her immediately to evict our deadbeat renters. Then we'll insist on a very nice story about it.<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com