tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post2408789434113058104..comments2024-03-29T07:29:32.276-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: 9 reasons I did not request more pagesJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30604612646961609542016-10-16T05:31:47.358-04:002016-10-16T05:31:47.358-04:00That sounds fair to me - I mean, HP1 got picked up...That sounds fair to me - I mean, HP1 got picked up at that length before anyone knew it was going to be The Biggest Thing Ever!<br /><br />I heard at a seminar recently that the biggest bestsellers are usually on the long side for their category. I guess the trick is that if the book is good enough, everyone is happy that there's a bit more of it. ;)<br /><br />Good luck!!Sam Hawkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05549251130820223139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-86571379563582988262016-10-15T23:27:44.942-04:002016-10-15T23:27:44.942-04:00Sam - thanks so much for that. It's great to g...Sam - thanks so much for that. It's great to get some inside info. What you say all makes sense - you need a lot of words to build a whole new world. Also though, it's the old adage that it's the story that counts and it sounds like yours hits the mark!! Very exciting.<br />As for Middle Grade, for better or worse I'm using the first Harry Potter book as my benchmark. If I can get the word count down to about 77k then I'll query with that and see what happens. <br />CONGRATULATIONS again. Very awesome news. XxxMA Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11055543285024785889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-87823066809155594672016-10-15T21:51:10.824-04:002016-10-15T21:51:10.824-04:00MA Hudson - word count is currently around 165K. I...MA Hudson - word count is currently around 165K. It's likely to get longer in revisions, not shorter. While it's entirely possible that some agents rejected it on the basis of word count, it's obviously not a huge deal as I had no issue getting requests from my query. My gut feeling was always that the 'rule' that fantasy should be under 120K was wrong, just based on unscientific anecdotal evidence as a reader of fantasy (I couldn't identify any successful adult fantasy debuts I'd read that were anywhere NEAR 120K). <br /><br />I'm not sure whether things are a tougher sell in middle grade when you're over the 'recommended' length or not. Like I said, my gut feeling is that fantasy requires a lot more words than any other genre and that fantasy readers like it that way. Have you looked into what rough word counts successful MG fantasy novels have?<br /><br />Thanks again for the kind words, everyone. You are all making these last few days extra specially fun. xoxoxSam Hawkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05549251130820223139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-29461269720193872212016-10-15T06:38:45.669-04:002016-10-15T06:38:45.669-04:00Stephen P MA had it right - that's where I w...<b>Stephen P </b> MA had it right - that's where I would have pointed you, there or Amazon, but bookdepository.com is better on shipping, I think.<br /><br /><b>Sam</b> I congratulated you on FB, but I wanted to do so here, and I hope you see it. CONGRATULATIONS! <i>Sam, Sam, he's our man, if he can't do it, nobody can!</i> <br /><br />But - you DID do it. And like Elise said earlier, hope is renewed for those writing fantasy who've heard/been told/believe that market is saturated. It came back to the writing. I'd bet dollars to doughnuts, it did. Way to go!Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36447609222197314522016-10-14T17:45:50.266-04:002016-10-14T17:45:50.266-04:00Congratulations, Sam Hawke.
Please keep us inform...Congratulations, Sam Hawke.<br /><br />Please keep us informed on your experiences in the publishing process.<br />Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-77233275229676849462016-10-14T15:16:22.786-04:002016-10-14T15:16:22.786-04:00Sam! I'm late to the news, as per usual, but a...<b>Sam!</b> I'm late to the news, as per usual, but am sending massive congratulations from this side of the world! Go you! Can't wait to read it!Kae Ridwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10356868531870405990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-87793824011919131452016-10-14T11:23:28.281-04:002016-10-14T11:23:28.281-04:00Congratulations, Sam! I'm thrilled for you.Congratulations, Sam! I'm thrilled for you.Beth Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447148196867821907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-4360401260924549742016-10-14T09:10:58.266-04:002016-10-14T09:10:58.266-04:00Query parties, I love this idea! Is alcohol involv...Query parties, I love this idea! Is alcohol involved? By the end of the evening (and depending on what you're drinking) either all the queries sound great or they all sound awful. <br /><br />Seriously, I think it's a great idea, because as you say, one agent may hate the query while another may love it. These parties give the queries better odds.<br />LynnRodzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796099106913990163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-89997668815397997282016-10-14T08:49:20.964-04:002016-10-14T08:49:20.964-04:00Thanks MA. I'll check it out.Thanks <b>MA</b>. I'll check it out.Stephen G Parkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16627973901802634152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-43098887653872727822016-10-14T07:01:53.821-04:002016-10-14T07:01:53.821-04:00Stephen - try bookdepository.com. That's where...Stephen - try bookdepository.com. That's where I ordered mine. They deliver free worldwide.<br /><br />Sam - such exciting news, well done. It must be so satisfying to have all your hard work finally paying off. Can't wait to read it.<br />Talking of word counts, would you mind telling us how long City of Lies is? (I write middle grade fantasy and am struggling to get my WIP to under 80k but everyone says middle grade should be under 60k!)MA Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11055543285024785889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-27088971667851337442016-10-14T04:54:38.184-04:002016-10-14T04:54:38.184-04:00Congratulations Sam! Tor's a great publisher t...Congratulations <b>Sam</b>! Tor's a great publisher to land with.<br /><br /><b>Donna</b>, do you know if 'Dixie' will be for sale outside of the US/Canada? Amazon isn't great at delivering to Malaysia, but a surprising number of new American titles do show up in our bookstores (Most recently and unexpectedly found Charlie Jane Anders' All the Birds in the Sky).<br /><br />As for <b>Springsteen</b>'s poetry, and the perfection of <i>Born to Run</i>, the song Backstreets always gets me right here:<br /><br /><i>Remember all the movies, Terry,<br />We'd go see<br />Trying to learn to walk like the heroes<br />We thought we had to be</i><br />Stephen G Parkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16627973901802634152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-6482940174896230962016-10-14T03:41:55.165-04:002016-10-14T03:41:55.165-04:00Thanks for the kind words, everyone. Though I'...Thanks for the kind words, everyone. Though I've had to sit on the news for almost a month this is the first day it's really felt real, because I've been able to share it with people who know something about the path to getting here! I so appreciate this community.Sam Hawkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05549251130820223139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-67019958908622014302016-10-14T01:43:13.704-04:002016-10-14T01:43:13.704-04:00Sam, huge congratulations. More books I look forwa...Sam, huge congratulations. More books I look forward to buying at Shakespeare and Co.<br /><br />EM, The teacher was a good lesson for rejection. Come to Paris with the kitten.angie Brooksby-Arcangiolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000615140577512304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80955912475756805642016-10-13T21:29:04.152-04:002016-10-13T21:29:04.152-04:003. Querying for a second, third, or fourth novel i...<i>3. Querying for a second, third, or fourth novel in a series</i><br /><br />Again, if sales weren't stellar, but the author won't/can't get the rest of the series published by the publisher, I believe these books are an excellent candidate for indie publishing.Her Grace, Heidi, the Duchess of Knealehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17818060864422019573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53014306299455919992016-10-13T21:12:28.764-04:002016-10-13T21:12:28.764-04:00Always love coming back after a long day to catch ...Always love coming back after a long day to catch up on the comments. <br /><br />Sam - This is excellent advice! But I was leaning toward a non-fictitious novel which, as I think about it, is the same thing as a real fiction novel, which actually puts me right back where I started. Ugh! I can't take it! <br /><br />Also, congrats on your news!Scott Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293362485142152780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-50137617561077988332016-10-13T20:56:17.365-04:002016-10-13T20:56:17.365-04:00Sam Hawke - congratulations!! that's awesome. ...<b>Sam Hawke</b> - congratulations!! that's awesome. <br /><br /><b>2Ns</b> - hooray I've found someone else with peculiar music tastes! :) Lennon Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570629350169504234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-61597058072978914442016-10-13T20:23:36.677-04:002016-10-13T20:23:36.677-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Scott Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293362485142152780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-15526578960961976812016-10-13T19:36:29.219-04:002016-10-13T19:36:29.219-04:00Sam: Heartfelt congratulations
I first saw Spring...Sam: Heartfelt congratulations<br /><br />I first saw Springsteen in the Tampa Jai Alai building on Nov. 11 1975 with less than 4000 others. He opened with Thunder Road. It was the solo piano and harmonica start. Then the band broke in and that wall of sound blew us away.<br /><br />Yes he is a poet.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30924489271515378862016-10-13T19:03:45.133-04:002016-10-13T19:03:45.133-04:00SAM so happy, happy, happy for you.
Fireworks.
Co...SAM so happy, happy, happy for you. <br />Fireworks.<br />Confetti.<br />Champagne.<br />Lots and lots of chocolate.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-25260345242959229392016-10-13T18:46:08.636-04:002016-10-13T18:46:08.636-04:00John I have seen Springsteen in concert 4x and he...<b>John</b> I have seen Springsteen in concert 4x and he always sings "Mary". I must have seen him in wrong places:) But those lyrics, priceless to a lonely kid. E.M. Goldsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18387494005655553037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80653212413466035402016-10-13T18:36:05.691-04:002016-10-13T18:36:05.691-04:00Sam, I am over the moon for you. Congratulations!<b>Sam, I am over the moon for you. Congratulations!</b>JulieWeathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361549099072091350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-7676144342273297412016-10-13T17:28:36.262-04:002016-10-13T17:28:36.262-04:00Sam Hawke: congratulations! That is fantastic news...<b>Sam Hawke</b>: congratulations! That is fantastic news!<br /><br /><b>E.M.</b> and <b>John Davis Frain</b>: I hear you on those final lines in Thunder Road. And just for a bit of trivia, they're uttered by Ryan Reynolds' character in the movie "Just Friends."Claire Bobrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15666082441972111293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-3720477388879373432016-10-13T17:14:47.922-04:002016-10-13T17:14:47.922-04:00I love these lists. I'm convinced that, one da...I love these lists. I'm convinced that, one day, when I actually begin querying, there will be a list comprised entirely of things, new and different things, that *I* have managed to screw up in spite of all these efforts.<br /><br />Sam, that is SUCH great news!!! I'm so happy for you and can't wait to read your work in published form. Please keep us posted.<br /><br />Donna, I'm really looking forward to reading reviews of your book so I can determine whether and how badly it will break my heart. I need to know that before I invest, time or money. And that is a compliment and testament to what I suspect is the power of your writing. I've had your pub date marked on my calendar for a very long time.<br /><br />OK, back to writing fiction. One thing you realize after losing power for several hours and then internet for several days is how much time you spend online and not writing. *focus*<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-45091966452382458382016-10-13T16:49:45.646-04:002016-10-13T16:49:45.646-04:00Nightmusic,
I actually did throw away one book re...Nightmusic,<br /><br />I actually did throw away one book recently with extreme prejudice. It was highly recommended. I would love it because it's about the Civil War. The reviews sounded pretty decent. Holy moly. <br /><br />It reeked of political correctness and "we must do the right thing to make up for the evils of the past by portraying all southerners as monsters!" <br /><br />Give me a break.JulieWeathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361549099072091350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80356432203191191942016-10-13T16:44:57.922-04:002016-10-13T16:44:57.922-04:00Donna,
I don't need safe places or trigger wa...<b>Donna,</b><br /><br />I don't need safe places or trigger warnings, but I tend to avoid some things. A respected author I know recommended a very popular book she thought I'd like about a woman who survives a horrendous childhood and goes on to become a famous author. I'm sure it was beautifully written, but as they say, not all books are for all people. Nevertheless, I shall be your stalwart cheerleader.<br /><br />I always read reviews. I have a thing about throwing books away, which I consider a crime, and yet I won't give one away I hate. It keeps me from cluttering up bookshelves with unwanted books. All that careful planning goes out the window when I step foot inside a bookstore, however. I go in for one book and invariably walk out with a dozen. Of course I need that book on Templar knights and the three on pirates, and the two on medieval architecture, and the one on Admiral Nelson, and the two Poe books. Why do you ask? JulieWeathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361549099072091350noreply@blogger.com