tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post583349063495765701..comments2024-03-29T07:29:32.276-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Query Question: A bigshot will blurb me, can I include that?Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-57746773163486913562015-03-26T05:17:54.755-04:002015-03-26T05:17:54.755-04:00Well, probably best to space it out. He's very...Well, probably best to space it out. He's very good but he's definitely not quick.<br /><br />I'm sure your own kindness and generosity is a factor in your friendship as well, Julie! :)<br /><br />Sam Hawkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05549251130820223139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-16917446013435796602015-03-25T18:55:32.582-04:002015-03-25T18:55:32.582-04:00Sam,
I just finished THE NAME OF THE WIND. I won&...Sam,<br /><br />I just finished THE NAME OF THE WIND. I won't be buying any more of his books for a while. Unfortunately, I have no willpower and I need to finish some revisions.<br /><br />Regarding the company I keep, I assure you it is nothing I have done. Pure luck and the generosity of some very talented writers. Sam Sykes wouldn't recognize me again if I sat down next to him, but others I number among friends, largely because they are, as I said, very kind and generous people.<br /><br />Julie one L<br /> JulieWeathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361549099072091350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-68748132196321656892015-03-25T05:21:10.652-04:002015-03-25T05:21:10.652-04:00Ah, Julie, we're all waiting to see what he ha...Ah, Julie, we're all waiting to see what he has in store for Kvothe. Maybe this year, at last?<br /><br />And colour me jealous of the company you keep! :)Sam Hawkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05549251130820223139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81049100583621560092015-03-24T17:36:33.435-04:002015-03-24T17:36:33.435-04:00I'm easing myself through the door, with my ba...I'm easing myself through the door, with my back against the wall, watching all you kooks.<br /><br />I love that Pinterest board -- I want to follow it but I'm new to Pinterest and I haven't quite figured out how to "follow." But I'll sort it out.<br /><br />As far as blurbs go, I approached a really nice HPNYTBSA who has been so kind to me in the last few years. He writes the same kind of "ordinary person thrust into not so ordinary circumstances" books that I do, and I asked him if he'd ever consider blurbing one of my books. He said to check back once it's ready for publication. I consider that to be an encouraging response.<br /><br />Personally, I look at blurbs, and for the same reason bass said, I almost didn't read The Hunger Games because of the blurb. But I powered through and don't regret my decision.Sandra Cormier Turnsekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02946619909474524111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-19426506934817864732015-03-24T09:12:50.511-04:002015-03-24T09:12:50.511-04:00Sam,
Yes, I'm in the acknowledgments of FIE...Sam,<br /><br /><br /><br />Yes, I'm in the acknowledgments of FIERY CROSS and have known her for a very long time. Bless her generosity.<br /><br />We were discussing playing World of Warcraft on B&W when it first came out, which is about eleven years ago now. Diana said I should start a character on CC, which is where her son played. I did and fell in love with the server, though I never ran across Sam's character.<br /><br />He was at my Surrey conference and we were shooting the bull at the bar. I asked him what he was studying to be at college and he said he was actually going to devote his time to writing. I thought, well good luck. Then Diana read an excerpt of his at the Books and Writers' party and it was plain to see he had a bright future. We were all laughing.<br /><br />I just haven't gotten around to buying his books, which I need to do. I love fantasy with a sense of humor. <br /><br />I'm just hooked on Patrick Rothfuss right now, though I'm not happy with him. He's chased Kvothe up a tree and I'm afraid he's about to throw some very big rocks at him. I'm burning to know what happens, but I don't want to see how badly Kvothe gets hurt.JulieWeathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361549099072091350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-21348328262034734062015-03-24T04:52:49.840-04:002015-03-24T04:52:49.840-04:00Dancer I would totally include it. Why the hell no...Dancer I would totally include it. Why the hell not? If it's something that could potentially make your book easy to sell (publishers do like blurbs) then it sure can't hurt you.<br /><br />I don't care about blurbs if I don't recognise the blurber (if that wasn't a word it is now!), but I pay attention when authors I like blurb things. <br /><br />Julie - Sam Sykes is a lot of fun. If you follow him on twitter (which is how I came across his books) you'll know his sense of humour and his books reflect that. He's unselfconsciously a fan of fantasy and adventure and witty banter, and I am enjoying reading him. <br /><br />Plus, you're friendly with his Mum aren't you? He'd have to be on the reading list for that reason if nothing else! ;)<br />Sam Hawkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05549251130820223139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-41263255809659167242015-03-24T02:41:15.860-04:002015-03-24T02:41:15.860-04:00Donna, "Soooo, I know an author who obtained...Donna, "Soooo, I know an author who obtained a blurb from, wait for it.. Lee Child."<br /><br />He's the Shark's client. The cover is red.<br /><br />Is Godzilla in Carkoon?<br /><br /><br />angie Brooksby-Arcangiolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000615140577512304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80403033064136166212015-03-23T22:34:14.477-04:002015-03-23T22:34:14.477-04:00Lisa's link, linkified:
https://www.youtube.c...Lisa's link, linkified:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp-FqktmnK4&feature=youtu.be" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp-FqktmnK4&feature=youtu.be</a>Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-55905939793903332062015-03-23T22:20:56.203-04:002015-03-23T22:20:56.203-04:00ooops, wrong youtube. This is the one I wanted, bu...ooops, wrong youtube. This is the one I wanted, buried under the snow. <br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp-FqktmnK4&feature=youtu.beLisa Bodenheimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17809067722921953857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22475319785486118142015-03-23T22:17:39.984-04:002015-03-23T22:17:39.984-04:00Hope you're someplace warm, Janet, and have be...Hope you're someplace warm, Janet, and have been reunited with your phone. <br /><br />Speaking of no heat and no digital connections, here's a look at bald eagles parenting in Decorah, IA after 7 inches of snow:<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLRVQZ27IYw&feature=youtu.be<br />Lisa Bodenheimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17809067722921953857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-74850262472260652402015-03-23T22:05:01.420-04:002015-03-23T22:05:01.420-04:00Janet
I'm curious as to why you heat and com...Janet <br /><br />I'm curious as to why you heat and computer are out, but I assume it's because you're in NYC. That seems to be where Godzilla and similar monsters always strike first. I hope you had your monster spray with you and are back to normal.<br /><br />JWJulieWeathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361549099072091350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-588491884721738992015-03-23T20:51:31.396-04:002015-03-23T20:51:31.396-04:00Christina, holy mackinoly, we are in the presence ...Christina, holy mackinoly, we are in the presence of greatness. You are all of that and a bag of chips. Even the lima beans look great...oh my God my stomach just flipped when I wrote that. I will ever be your servant, oh wait I already am because the Carkoon latrines, aka shark-spas, are mine to maintain.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-74574854622610024992015-03-23T19:24:43.407-04:002015-03-23T19:24:43.407-04:00Christina, I was away today for a while too, and u...<br />Christina, I was away today for a while too, and unable to check on things, but GOOD REEF. I mean GRIEF. That's a great Carkoon Pinterest board. I guess that means I have to visit - in my mind, of course.<br /><br />Dancer - thanks for your response, and of course we understood the real question, but we have to go off topic 'round here..., we're really good at it, haven't you noticed? :) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58954702486835654662015-03-23T19:07:49.342-04:002015-03-23T19:07:49.342-04:00My goodness, it definitely is a Monday! I took my ...My goodness, it definitely is a Monday! I took my daughter to her orthodontist appointment, and my iPhone decided not to cooperate for the rest of the day, so I couldn't check back!<br /><br />Janet, so glad I made you smile today. That's an honor. I hope your heat comes back on and your computer starts behaving. If not, maybe we should all migrate to FPLM-Paradise!Christina Seinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411040428007697691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-23528240322181261152015-03-23T18:29:05.082-04:002015-03-23T18:29:05.082-04:00Christina,
I love that! Good work. I love the lim...Christina,<br /><br />I love that! Good work. I love the lima beans, shark cupcakes and the Heeler puppy.<br /><br />JulieJulieWeathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361549099072091350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-34516988231491251172015-03-23T17:59:13.079-04:002015-03-23T17:59:13.079-04:00Dancer,
As Janet said, it doesn't hurt. I jus...Dancer,<br /><br />As Janet said, it doesn't hurt. I just wonder how much it helps. I suppose if it makes an agent pause at all, that's a good thing..unless it's to clean up the glitter you included with the query letter of course.<br /><br />JulieJulieWeathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361549099072091350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-89218370326688851142015-03-23T16:27:08.223-04:002015-03-23T16:27:08.223-04:00Christina, love the link. The Shark cupcakes are ...Christina, love the link. The Shark cupcakes are fantastic, I may use those for the upcoming kiddy B-day party. I may have to change the shark fin for mermaid tails.<br /><br />My question is do publishers pay for blurbs? Especially HPNYTBSA? <br /><br />I read blurbs after I've started a book because I don't want to be under the influence, like driving with a DWI. I want the experience first hand. <br /><br />Would an agent find reading a query under the influence plain BS? angie Brooksby-Arcangiolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000615140577512304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-42010336452660194542015-03-23T16:12:58.894-04:002015-03-23T16:12:58.894-04:00Holy Sharkamoli!! Christina Seine Wins The Interne...Holy Sharkamoli!! Christina Seine Wins The Internet, not just today but for the Entire Week!<br /><br />To give you an idea of how welcome this lovely link is:<br /><br />1. There is no heat in my office<br />2. My computer broke<br />3. I left my cell phone at home<br /><br />Christina Saves Monday!Janet Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-54896341157370793752015-03-23T15:02:55.002-04:002015-03-23T15:02:55.002-04:00I generally don't lend much weight to blurbs, ...I generally don't lend much weight to blurbs, either. But as I mull it over (and I did have time to mull, with more than forty comments ahead of me this morning), it occurs to me that, if I noticed a blurb from an author I really liked, I would be more likely to read that book. In a way, blurbs serve an equivalent purpose to comps in a query letter. But Janet is right, as usual; if I see a blurb from Robert Crais, I will immediately have certain expectations about the style, content and genre of the book. And the book better match those expectations, or it is dead to me.<br /><br />We at FPLM-Paradise have no prisons. Infractions are dealt with via summary justice issued from the Iron Throne I had imported from a parallel universe. I'll admit all those swords are a little pokey, but my youngest lets me borrow her Frozen pillow while she is at school, so it isn't too bad. In any case, no one has breathed a word of complaint about my benevolent dictatorship, so I must conclude that everyone is perfectly happy here. Perfectly. Happy.Amy Schaeferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17263719891092841767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-31750840667710309092015-03-23T14:36:48.966-04:002015-03-23T14:36:48.966-04:00Christina
Did you do all that today? You've b...Christina<br /><br />Did you do all that today? You've been busy!<br /><br />Great job. I love it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-13376844320919017292015-03-23T13:50:37.555-04:002015-03-23T13:50:37.555-04:00I wonder if the genre divide applies when it's...I wonder if the genre divide applies when it's adult vs. YA fiction. I know a sci-fi author, but she doesn't write YA, so I'm unsure if I could ask for a blurb or not...<br /><br />Granted, this cart is way before the horse...but it's good information to tuck away when the jailbreak on Carkoon happens (I imagine it would involve old newspaper clippings).Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-90341324819027306852015-03-23T13:45:05.600-04:002015-03-23T13:45:05.600-04:00Pinterest does NOT like me viewing it with my iPho...Pinterest does NOT like me viewing it with my iPhone even tho I downloaded the app. But from what I can see, I love it! That front entrance is lolDena Pawlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14444683810125395220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-10311791917499115202015-03-23T13:34:30.074-04:002015-03-23T13:34:30.074-04:00Christina: LOL!!! That's awesome! So cool! Eve...Christina: LOL!!! That's awesome! So cool! Everybody go look at the <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/swanmountain/carkoon-branch-office/" rel="nofollow">FPLM-Carkoon Branch Pintrest board!!</a><br /><br />I'm more likely to choose a novel based on a cover "synopsis" than an HPNYTBSA blurb. Just for the record.Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-15982761342955641722015-03-23T13:26:15.378-04:002015-03-23T13:26:15.378-04:00donnaeverhart... Yes, the motivation for a publish...donnaeverhart... Yes, the motivation for a publisher to seek blurbs is to sell books. My point, however, is that several people in this thread made the comment that they never read blurbs, blurbs don't influence them, they don't buy books based on blurbs and so on... My question was not "do blurbs sell books?" (which is where this thread was going, and mostly what everyone was weighing in on. Thus, my reference to the relevancy. Whether or not blurbs sell books was not my question). My question was, it is cool to mention I have a commitment to blurb from a HPNYTBSA. Which Janet answered. :-) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-25259119227506322852015-03-23T13:11:59.729-04:002015-03-23T13:11:59.729-04:00Donna,
"I'm now wondering what they'...Donna,<br /><br />"I'm now wondering what they're for, if not to help sales?"<br /><br />Same. I have a friend who published with a small indie publisher and had a blurb by an internationally acclaimed NYT best selling author and it hasn't seemed to make much difference. It might make more difference with a traditional publisher, I don't know.<br /><br />Some agents were discussing this on twitter a while back and said, sure include them if you have them, but they aren't going to send their clients scrambling for them.<br /><br />Personally, I mostly get irritated at them as they seldom tell me anything about the book and I figure it's a good old boys scratching each other's backs deal.<br /><br /><br /> JulieWeathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361549099072091350noreply@blogger.com