tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post1004488123250620297..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: So, the world of publishing is kicking your asterisk. What to do next.Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-5595258683195919732016-05-21T22:52:09.679-04:002016-05-21T22:52:09.679-04:00Melinda, I'm not sure what point you're tr...Melinda, I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here since the post isn't about money (advances) at all. <br />It's about sales stats.<br />Whether the writer got a huge advance or no advance has no bearing on this blog post.<br /><br />I'm very sorry you think I disdain writers since I make my living selling their work. Janet Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-70255024043713757952016-05-20T14:45:22.187-04:002016-05-20T14:45:22.187-04:00I’m stunned by praise and thanks for this informat...I’m stunned by praise and thanks for this informative post, without questioning why writers should have to put up with disdain from this agent and her "ilk" for taking a business risk that did not work out for the best. <br /><br />They are free to decide at what $-point they’ll grant less opportunity to such writers, compared to debut authors. But before jumping through extra hoops to "make" agents of this ilk "love your kick-ass... book" now, consider some math and other viewpoints on sales stats:<br />http://www.stevelaube.com/the-myth-of-the-unearned-advance/Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17135580331034430266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-49884975294685470392016-05-19T19:00:23.780-04:002016-05-19T19:00:23.780-04:00Oh very well, Colin, because you asked nicely. Whi...Oh very well, Colin, because you asked nicely. While I'd love for the whole world to read and adore all my books, I don't want to become That Guy who's always talking about her book online.<br /><br />Her Endearing Young Charms, a Regency Romance with magic, is sure to appeal to fans of Mary Robinette Kowal and Georgette Heyer.<br /><br />Available in <a href="http://amzn.com/1532772114" rel="nofollow">paperback from Amazon</a> and in <a href="https://amzn.com/B01DEXIR3Q" rel="nofollow">ebook</a> <br />wherever <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/her-endearing-young-charms-heidi-wessman-kneale/1123624587?ean=2940153191836" rel="nofollow">all</a><br /><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1099702416" rel="nofollow">good</a><br /><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/her-endearing-young-charms-1" rel="nofollow">ebooks</a> are sold.<br /><br />For Colin and all other hybrid readers, if you buy the paperback from Amazon, I've selected the option to be able to download the ebook for free.Her Grace, Heidi, the Duchess of Knealehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17818060864422019573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-69953515882952685122016-05-19T08:02:49.276-04:002016-05-19T08:02:49.276-04:00Julie, this line of yours really hit me: "Wri...Julie, this line of yours really hit me: "Write like your life depends on it, because it does. No pressure there."<br />LOVE LOVE LOVE it!<br /><br />Likewise, the wisdom of CynthiaMc: "Not [writing] is as much out of the question as not breathing."<br /><br />I know I'm gushing but boy! do I love the inspiration I get here! :D Kae Ridwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10356868531870405990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-60720143661339947132016-05-19T01:37:11.209-04:002016-05-19T01:37:11.209-04:00Colin, I'm jealous.Colin, I'm jealous.angie Brooksby-Arcangiolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000615140577512304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-18437518593251309192016-05-18T22:15:29.557-04:002016-05-18T22:15:29.557-04:00Oh, and one more thing... for those who don't ...Oh, and one more thing... for those who don't follow me on Twitter, or who missed it when I posted the link, here's what PW has to say about THE SINGER FROM MEMPHIS:<br /><br /><a href="https://t.co/AnKOP8CYcU" rel="nofollow">https://t.co/AnKOP8CYcU</a><br /><br />Read it, and find out why it must be QOTKU's favorite in the series... :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-51481485438306179752016-05-18T22:12:23.270-04:002016-05-18T22:12:23.270-04:00Heidi, Heidi, Heidi. Dear Heidi. How long have you...Heidi, Heidi, Heidi. Dear Heidi. How long have you been coming here, and still you neglect Marketing 101. TELL US THE NAME OF YOUR FREAKIN' BOOK SO WE CAN LINK TO IT AND PEOPLE CAN BUY IT!!!!<br /><br />Please. ;)<br /><br />And now back to the marvelous Mr. Corby, who hails from... Sydney, USA? Uhh... no...Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28066314200259240712016-05-18T21:22:01.214-04:002016-05-18T21:22:01.214-04:00Congrats, Heidi!
Why do I write?
Why do I breat...Congrats, Heidi!<br /><br />Why do I write? <br /><br />Why do I breathe? <br /><br />For me, writing, acting, singing, are all part of life.<br /><br />Not doing them is as much out of the question as not breathing. <br /><br />CynthiaMchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12175917641033760408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-90794986476949370602016-05-18T21:12:16.180-04:002016-05-18T21:12:16.180-04:00Oh. They threw a link in there. Let's linkify ...Oh. They threw a link in there. Let's linkify it: <a href="http://www.backspacewritersconference.com/student-faq/#sthash.GPvK184s.dpuf" rel="nofollow">Backspace conference FAQs</a>BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53126554661138096812016-05-18T21:11:30.575-04:002016-05-18T21:11:30.575-04:00Reading closer about the Backspace conference - no...Reading closer about the Backspace conference - no actual pitching sessions, but you do get your work in front of agents...<br /><br />"The beauty of the Backspace query letter and opening pages workshop format as opposed to pitch sessions is that authors can get agent feedback on their work in a relaxed, no pressure environment without burning bridges. Naturally if agents are interested in a project, they will ask to see more. But if a student’s materials are not as well-received as they had hoped, they can take the feedback that resonates, rework their project, and submit to these same agents later. - See more at: http://www.backspacewritersconference.com/student-faq/#sthash.GPvK184s.dpuf" <-- from their FAQsBJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22552944541440256682016-05-18T21:02:32.869-04:002016-05-18T21:02:32.869-04:00Your Grace, the Backspace conference - previously ...Your Grace, the Backspace conference - previously NYC only - has gone online. As far as I can see, they've got agent pitch sessions and other goodies. I've only been to the live action one, though, which they don't do anymore, so I can't say if this is as good or better. I do know it's less expensive than the in-person conference was.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.backspacewritersconference.com" rel="nofollow">Backspace Online Neverending conference</a><br /><br />Also, Janet says that published novellas and their sales shouldn't affect novel publication.BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66488423859358783982016-05-18T20:55:05.408-04:002016-05-18T20:55:05.408-04:00Joseph's link to the Guy Clark song by Slim Pi...Joseph's link to the Guy Clark song by Slim Pickins (love that man):<br /><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykocbXVrwCc" rel="nofollow">Desperados waiting for a train</a>BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-89507001717313648412016-05-18T20:47:00.777-04:002016-05-18T20:47:00.777-04:00Is it too late to nominate Angie Brooksby-Arcangio...Is it too late to nominate Angie Brooksby-Arcangioli for the subheader? "But setbacks mature us. Don't leave sleep over it and move forward."<br /><br />And DonnaEve, I can't get your unicorns out of my head!Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-57916084992957082112016-05-18T20:44:41.007-04:002016-05-18T20:44:41.007-04:00Hey! Wait a minute, Her Grace! Your book sounds li...Hey! Wait a minute, Her Grace! Your book sounds like it's right up my alley so why isn't there a title here? I Want To Read It!! And I have a multi-pubbed friend from Victoria who publishes with Berkley and sells primarily in the US so yes, we want you! It's just a matter of finding the right agent/publisher. Do NOT give up!<br /><br />Okay, waiting for deets...nightsmusichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05984119792540771870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-61312995189927068412016-05-18T20:42:54.583-04:002016-05-18T20:42:54.583-04:00Heidi
Tomorrow is your Publication Day - BIG DAY....Heidi<br /><br />Tomorrow is your Publication Day - BIG DAY. Shout it out.<br /><br />What is the title of your book?<br /><br />Will it be available in USA and Europe? Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84749164843681282552016-05-18T20:30:37.050-04:002016-05-18T20:30:37.050-04:00Wow. Knives. Now I have an image of woodland creat...Wow. Knives. Now I have an image of woodland creatures with bundles of knives like chefs, only next to the paring knife, the chefs knife, and the cleaver is an obsidian blade, an army tactical knife, and depending on genre, a silver blade.<br /><br />I'm at the broadsword stage of editing myself, hacking and whacking and breaking scenes cracking. <br /><br />OP - it might also be interesting to network with authors who were in your situation, and hear some personal success stories. You might glean some themes, or just some hope. Even stories from authors who took ten years off between novels might be interesting - how do you reenter the fray after a decade of change? RachelErinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09510327163701754950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-90479185162437397112016-05-18T20:27:42.117-04:002016-05-18T20:27:42.117-04:00Shoving my three comments into one post.
"Ju...Shoving my three comments into one post.<br /><br />"Just go to a conference," they said. "Great way to meet agents," they said.<br /><br />Good idea if one lives in the US where conferences and conventions are rife and agents can toddle over there for a day or two for listening to pitches.<br /><br />But I live in Western Australia. I can't possibly get any farther away from the rest of the world without leaving the planet. (Considering my ongoing MSci, that's a viable alternative.)<br /><br />I would love to be able to have a convention close enough that had agents doing pitch sessions. But that rarely happens. Most agents have no desire to travel to the Antipodes in search of clients. Is it because they think we're small fry in a very small pond? (Talent has no geographical constraint.) Also, most of the publishing industry in Australia is authors approaching publishers directly. Great if one is simply looking for a local, limited audience and distribution.<br /><br />But I want an international audience. That means publishing overseas.<br /><br />I pitched my Regency Romance to over a hundred agents over the course of 18 months. It received a few nibbles, but nothing solid. So I made the decision to indie publish what I and my betas and my ARC readers believe is a really, really good book. It's not out until tomorrow so I don't know how well this will go. I'm hoping readers, who don't have to worry about the commercial viability of a book before buying it, will love it as it deserves.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I'm pitching another book to agents. Again, I'm getting absolutely no love. I'm talking form rejections and NORMAN crickets. Until now, I thought it was my query letter being weaker than it should have been, but now I'm wondering if my quiet background of previously-published works is dragging it down. I have a handful of novellas published with a respectable Small Press. No, the sales haven't been skyrocketingly spectacular, but those who do read them are reviewing them well.<br /><br />At least there is one little warm glimmer of hope. We've been so worried lately about the debut novel that we forgot about that second chance, the breakout novel. My debut novel chance is already gone (yay, Friday 20 May!), but I am wonderfully ripe for a breakout.<br /><br />Yes, I want to be commercially published because I love producing books with a team. I love having an editor and a cover artist and someone to help with marketing--specialists in their field who really know their stuff. My Small Press might have been small, but the wonderful experiences I have with them only reinforces my desire to continue being commercially published. I'd love to delve into the power of a Random Penguin and see where it takes my works.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I am trying the indie publishing thing. Nothing wrong with going hybrid. Will it work for me? It's still early days.<br /><br />But still, I'd love a agent, if only to be able to tap into her wealth of knowledge regarding my career.<br /><br />I use a laser scalpel. Cuts and cauterises in a single swoop.<br /><br />Her Grace, Heidi, the Duchess of Knealehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17818060864422019573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-10498564485064879562016-05-18T20:19:03.475-04:002016-05-18T20:19:03.475-04:00More on GUY CLARK. I know this is way off topic, b...<br />More on GUY CLARK. I know this is way off topic, but Guy Clark through his music has impacted my life so much I intended to (and may still) dedicate my novel "Obrigada Pumpkin" to him (and Neil Gaiman for a different reason).<br /> <br />Guy Clark in an interview said his favorite version of Desperados Waiting for a Train was a spoken word version recorded by cowboy actor Slim Pickens. I searched for it and her it is:<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykocbXVrwCc<br /><br />Those of you who are Guy Clark fans will cry. Those who never heard of him can use this clip to see how great writing in a song can bring to life the relationship between two men.<br /><br />So many great lines. I wish I could remember to write a line like "He ran his hand through 70 years of living."<br /><br /> <br />Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22828764041391925742016-05-18T19:03:21.299-04:002016-05-18T19:03:21.299-04:00Damascus hunting knife for me. Those little bastag...<a href="http://www.perkinknives.com/ekmps/shops/perkinsteel/images/custom-handmade-damascus-hunting-knife-mini-sword-%5B2%5D-259-p.jpg" rel="nofollow">Damascus hunting knife for me.</a> Those little bastages will fight back when they know you're going to cut them.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-70650828792451864362016-05-18T17:57:22.219-04:002016-05-18T17:57:22.219-04:00Ha! I use an obsidian knife:
CNN.com: How Stone-A...Ha! I use an obsidian knife:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/02/health/surgery-scalpels-obsidian" rel="nofollow">CNN.com: How Stone-Age blades are still cutting it in modern surgery</a><br /><br />Sharper and more accurate than any metal knife. And I knapped it myself.BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88393646541681830502016-05-18T17:53:37.267-04:002016-05-18T17:53:37.267-04:00Oh, and Angie...because I'm still at heart, a ...Oh, and Angie...because I'm still at heart, a woodland critter. ;)Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-52688601655722583002016-05-18T17:50:57.137-04:002016-05-18T17:50:57.137-04:00I don't use a knife at all. I use fire. (Ins...I don't use a knife at all. I use fire. (Inspired by colors of the backdrop of this website.)Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-40312242505130817422016-05-18T17:33:25.765-04:002016-05-18T17:33:25.765-04:00Oh, Dear, sweet DLM...I use an army tactical knife...Oh, Dear, sweet DLM...I use an army tactical knife for my edits and revisions. Just sayin'...nightsmusichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05984119792540771870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-31623705858478754282016-05-18T17:28:40.769-04:002016-05-18T17:28:40.769-04:00I'm glad I did not blow my three comments alre...I'm glad I did not blow my three comments already today.<br /><br />Brian, you are a positive blast of sun and crisp breezes in a spring which has been drab for the most part. I always adore seeing you. And yes - you are capable. (Good enough, smart enough, and gosh darn it, people LIKE you!)<br /><br />Susan P., that really is the thing, and what is gelling for me these days. I have known two self-pub authors. Each has had some success, but the road was different. One is a brilliant woman who saw this as the path all the way along, and the other also a brilliant woman who was afraid to try to go the trad-pub route. A fascinating contrast of approaches and outcomes, though neither failed even remotely. Truth be told, I think I *could* be successful on the traditional route, but there are two things about that that fall short of what I call true satisfaction - one, that it is less and less every day a case of either/or, when it comes to self- or trad-pub. I think it's ever more important to understand - and at the very least to be ABLE - to use both, even if you never do run both tracks. And two, I think the rewards of traditional, considering my prospects there, may not be truly satisfying. I may never be able to build the slate screened in back porch of my dreams, or a brick-column, shingle-roofed carport with electricity on the yield of self-publishing profits. But I've begun to believe the manner of control there, as opposed to those things I might control via trad-pub, are more suitable. And I just might get the floors sanded, anyway.<br /><br />Angie: you made my day even more than they did, and that's a job. I want a t-shirt that says <b>Clovis is my king</b> on it. THOU ROCKEST MIGHTILY WITH THY BAD SELF (and, for everyone else, no indeed, I do not indulge that sort of gadzookery of language in my histfic!). I shall have to go home and perhaps do a booty-wiggling dance when Penelope the Publishing Pup and I sally forth on our walk this evening. Like nobody's lookin'.<br /><br />Thank you. I love this place.<br /><br />LynRodz and nightsmusic, I use my butterknife to go at the dragon that is EDITING AND REVISION ... eep ...DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-46957500406493276062016-05-18T17:26:53.511-04:002016-05-18T17:26:53.511-04:00There are a lot of long faces around here today. I...There are a lot of long faces around here today. I feel for Opie - s/he finally "made it" - got an agent, got published twice, and now, <i>poof.</i> Square one. Or square -4. That sucks.<br /><br />However.<br /><br />Publishing is an uphill hike that never ends. That's why Janet insisted we celebrate our personal milestones. You can't wait until you've reached the summit, because this mountain has no summit. Just more rock, and mosquitoes, and snakes and sunstroke and little pebbles that will make you stumble. But if you pause and turn around, there is also a spectacular view. And some days you claw your way through the underbrush; other days you take a rest and enjoy. But the mountain goes on, and so do you.<br /><br />We can't be overwhelmed by our setbacks. That's the time for all good woodland creatures to clap each other on the back, have a drink or seven, adjust our packs and keep trudging. We can do it.Amy Schaeferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17263719891092841767noreply@blogger.com