tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625937950094188092024-02-21T01:48:49.598-08:00A VIEW FROM THE TOPInterviews with industry experts offering insights into what it takes for a new writer to catch the attention of an agent, editor, or publisher.E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-27104424075227875652010-06-09T10:53:00.000-07:002010-06-10T17:26:00.857-07:00UPCOMING INTERVIEW: Jessica Regel - Agent - Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency, Inc.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfDkKYQKvy0NF7V0n1HWLnsjoVKXWydq0ruyVRfLp_fpXGAOifDEVhonn-vKHWVLzDcWjC9wkNY35EBCXmtkw63grRYJU33R4q3PLmbT03udMWq-ndakvteNAnwFnNfPFyZ7pxZiFeS4_/s1600/jessica+regel+bk+client+2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 203px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfDkKYQKvy0NF7V0n1HWLnsjoVKXWydq0ruyVRfLp_fpXGAOifDEVhonn-vKHWVLzDcWjC9wkNY35EBCXmtkw63grRYJU33R4q3PLmbT03udMWq-ndakvteNAnwFnNfPFyZ7pxZiFeS4_/s320/jessica+regel+bk+client+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464881247566101090" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiOxXG5OZKPiDCBr855QcMLcFpE0M58l4LSR14g-ff1DU01iTbmRDWboJIa1sd53dJm3-T69uwZ_KL0vv-aaDxkk6mNi0hv47iwtCahNjEIAvByWFGkEJKr562OJTVbr_XOArdyWjzCX2/s1600/jessica+regel+bk+client+3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiOxXG5OZKPiDCBr855QcMLcFpE0M58l4LSR14g-ff1DU01iTbmRDWboJIa1sd53dJm3-T69uwZ_KL0vv-aaDxkk6mNi0hv47iwtCahNjEIAvByWFGkEJKr562OJTVbr_XOArdyWjzCX2/s320/jessica+regel+bk+client+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464881087265014338" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmOGgAWPIGl7t5BGJTsoxMI9yKFGEZNFGVLMb-JHm_sWURznubUKr-8dwwenhQ4MtWGDy0uuj5r1DGDsD-4wjtMJf62y8zRE2e4jkRT4_tu2y7Ffyp_zq-3qUwOhnS-7IEab8YXfVhsw5/s1600/jessica+regel+bk+client+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmOGgAWPIGl7t5BGJTsoxMI9yKFGEZNFGVLMb-JHm_sWURznubUKr-8dwwenhQ4MtWGDy0uuj5r1DGDsD-4wjtMJf62y8zRE2e4jkRT4_tu2y7Ffyp_zq-3qUwOhnS-7IEab8YXfVhsw5/s320/jessica+regel+bk+client+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464881080575919058" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7u55ttlZXutAvKAD4KG6Q0YrM0QC5gQmE3dTPlb8PjmWO-4tjF5lW_RN91i_Kao_0yyJK0Q392vwlPC1AniekyyChpt4gWlk2jm8gBBYCFSU2SgZ8dC-AOd090D9CTqBw4zBd-L6tqvki/s1600/jessica+regel+bk+clients+6.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7u55ttlZXutAvKAD4KG6Q0YrM0QC5gQmE3dTPlb8PjmWO-4tjF5lW_RN91i_Kao_0yyJK0Q392vwlPC1AniekyyChpt4gWlk2jm8gBBYCFSU2SgZ8dC-AOd090D9CTqBw4zBd-L6tqvki/s320/jessica+regel+bk+clients+6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464881077934202738" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBP5GBL1HwDmeqoH9GICslK0fFPLSK7X5R0nGG1NI0vHDiRefb2U5RUIKYIe_OxsiiX3nQC9zmzC50-RiQDeoD_U5GQuTik-OVfP2z6M_vlftBZEkJuFk8LtAXj4C2RYvg3INg_UoqtNTz/s1600/jessica+regel+bk+client+5.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBP5GBL1HwDmeqoH9GICslK0fFPLSK7X5R0nGG1NI0vHDiRefb2U5RUIKYIe_OxsiiX3nQC9zmzC50-RiQDeoD_U5GQuTik-OVfP2z6M_vlftBZEkJuFk8LtAXj4C2RYvg3INg_UoqtNTz/s320/jessica+regel+bk+client+5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464881070544332514" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJRieNkEp05YVJiwHyXg1hjLdrWwIsnljbDWKQGOH3PcyhyOkzOYC1c9p-SVYptFBMHy0ySz4g9LO1dWC3QuoUzrkMfY-Ak0qMz337FinKDYVkxl3TGvc-OU24ir7HmSpVwNBNQx1_h2p/s1600/jessica+regel+bk+client+4.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJRieNkEp05YVJiwHyXg1hjLdrWwIsnljbDWKQGOH3PcyhyOkzOYC1c9p-SVYptFBMHy0ySz4g9LO1dWC3QuoUzrkMfY-Ak0qMz337FinKDYVkxl3TGvc-OU24ir7HmSpVwNBNQx1_h2p/s320/jessica+regel+bk+client+4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464881062544871474" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutUm3sSK5NlCtDMnKh4k2_rzZGyFnRN4Zvc3MgrfyYKkrZuVGgPUs8_TqL8uYtWyaoK7lU3r6hXuq0SGSYmfFtOGqbPTA7zD07DC1AJYLDpB9-5-HVe8-DiZ6PidMRWOSTmJc40MgL7jQ/s1600/jessica+regel+photo+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutUm3sSK5NlCtDMnKh4k2_rzZGyFnRN4Zvc3MgrfyYKkrZuVGgPUs8_TqL8uYtWyaoK7lU3r6hXuq0SGSYmfFtOGqbPTA7zD07DC1AJYLDpB9-5-HVe8-DiZ6PidMRWOSTmJc40MgL7jQ/s400/jessica+regel+photo+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464882001982797218" /></a><br /><br />Jessica Regel is a literary agent with <strong>Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency, Inc.</strong> or JVNLA, Inc. for eight years. She also works in the subsidiary rights department, selling film, audio and UK rights. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from Hunter College.<br /><br />Ms. Regel is looking for strong commercial fiction, literary fiction, edgy/hip fiction/ young adult, middle grade novels, children's non-fiction, and narrative nonfiction writers. <br /><br />She’s also interested in Romance, Science Fiction, Mystery, Horror or Paranormal in Children's books. She would love to find a memoir or a narrative non-fiction book directed at the teen market.<br /><br /><strong>Ms. Regel is NOT looking for the following:</strong><br /><br />Practical Non-fiction: such as Self-Help, How-To, or Textbooks<br />Religion or Spirituality<br />Adult Genre Fiction: such as i.e. Sci-fi, Fantasy, Cozy mysteries, Romance<br />Political Thrillers or Crime<br />Picture Books<br />Misery Memoirs<br />Screenplays: She does not represent screenwriters<br />Animal books (Children's and Adult)<br />Children's books that are message or lesson oriented<br /><br />To learn more about Jessica Regel, please visit their <strong><a href="http://www.jvnla.com/">website</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-82494120468893273852010-06-08T12:58:00.000-07:002010-06-09T15:59:30.569-07:00INTERVIEW: Mollie Glick - Agent - Foundry Literary Media<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUv6xiMAcxvJPxkBI_uh9RHEHAjSz_h6Ye5XrLkJENabDVs7X82TNiQz9AiVRyYmaa1wzOqEYb_oK231dY83E7Ob1vhwLmm7urM1fSA8hW1-uBXJadQHNOinpsp_sub7Fw55REB9iHQ_K/s1600/mollie+glick+client+bk+5.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467152253164779634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUv6xiMAcxvJPxkBI_uh9RHEHAjSz_h6Ye5XrLkJENabDVs7X82TNiQz9AiVRyYmaa1wzOqEYb_oK231dY83E7Ob1vhwLmm7urM1fSA8hW1-uBXJadQHNOinpsp_sub7Fw55REB9iHQ_K/s320/mollie+glick+client+bk+5.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 206px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3m_qnX3Q8d54C7w0WQHDcWtuigR74il6_zuSKj3v7xczbcBpQlVcWQ7vSjRzrtFusFN226EEme-F01B2Ijsgdn_-N8U1qBUiz3VwAkhxXiJAfEtWX_WMkDKCjli_u2s8of2cASJS_-91x/s1600/mollie+glick+client+bk+4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467152246653894226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3m_qnX3Q8d54C7w0WQHDcWtuigR74il6_zuSKj3v7xczbcBpQlVcWQ7vSjRzrtFusFN226EEme-F01B2Ijsgdn_-N8U1qBUiz3VwAkhxXiJAfEtWX_WMkDKCjli_u2s8of2cASJS_-91x/s320/mollie+glick+client+bk+4.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 206px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBoWHI2EznechcbgRctzhNsgjRQMlUzAm_d9K-Y29wFCgMIf6ix9CdEcK0UZLDNMqsV38utWrxmEAo_fIP9-Jh09cvfXsLDD-HQeZfKEGL0wVIPBllIYIWsuGlSGlDEI1eWJKewxvC1bm/s1600/mollie+glick+client+bk+8.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467151658414355122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBoWHI2EznechcbgRctzhNsgjRQMlUzAm_d9K-Y29wFCgMIf6ix9CdEcK0UZLDNMqsV38utWrxmEAo_fIP9-Jh09cvfXsLDD-HQeZfKEGL0wVIPBllIYIWsuGlSGlDEI1eWJKewxvC1bm/s320/mollie+glick+client+bk+8.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 214px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaI9uQ10uZ8DzblScqFPFBBMcgKEYKz0qrgox-Ikesd0YHiuDb05dawSsHPixkrU4wZyFFViklTPdqtA9dq7rNQ4vOqUQf3LM1XMQ6F2DwS1Ag8uvca8V_d3ckdJ8gY5fcnRDpn5sPQi0/s1600/mollie+glick+client+bk+7.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467151649480995378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaI9uQ10uZ8DzblScqFPFBBMcgKEYKz0qrgox-Ikesd0YHiuDb05dawSsHPixkrU4wZyFFViklTPdqtA9dq7rNQ4vOqUQf3LM1XMQ6F2DwS1Ag8uvca8V_d3ckdJ8gY5fcnRDpn5sPQi0/s320/mollie+glick+client+bk+7.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 206px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3UpsaegD6lzgTDN3JZtuc9UKdhbtLfQg5dpdrZcJcv19r0eROFag6eduqCN5dpT8KP3v9DHiaapJPg_HCPxxuJMuIsEYHRAXUYEqPPFxTGwqO6a9cTVLdnC2lGTUGQ-rX9AetkFItijs/s1600/mollie+glick+client+bk+6.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467151646745588946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3UpsaegD6lzgTDN3JZtuc9UKdhbtLfQg5dpdrZcJcv19r0eROFag6eduqCN5dpT8KP3v9DHiaapJPg_HCPxxuJMuIsEYHRAXUYEqPPFxTGwqO6a9cTVLdnC2lGTUGQ-rX9AetkFItijs/s320/mollie+glick+client+bk+6.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 213px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-YdR8UYd2wh_8Rp2qQuDfoAaQ5W5F5rJfPRL2ubXIICAxvQNJS-6RoQ-4YRR_OhKXBBV1eN7P-3CAZMlQhkT-L5F5zr0XSEYUqL9AeQPb3BuZKoyRWrdjrO_pVVkdi2DpRe2DCoI-GgK/s1600/mollie+glick+client+bk+3a.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467151638744777074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-YdR8UYd2wh_8Rp2qQuDfoAaQ5W5F5rJfPRL2ubXIICAxvQNJS-6RoQ-4YRR_OhKXBBV1eN7P-3CAZMlQhkT-L5F5zr0XSEYUqL9AeQPb3BuZKoyRWrdjrO_pVVkdi2DpRe2DCoI-GgK/s320/mollie+glick+client+bk+3a.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 214px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7m1Yzjg9-ELhlVA7DabqIr1kCvHkLoOyGJEI6MhM5iXo0uQHZYW87rszR0O0DIF2Lwfa2IJHAd1C0R7du6H7oc46vWqaMPj-yOBDbmMloiJpARGyzph-6cMX_nE2z0-fcDka6-CjyWDXX/s1600/mollie+glick+client+bk+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467151635472492466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7m1Yzjg9-ELhlVA7DabqIr1kCvHkLoOyGJEI6MhM5iXo0uQHZYW87rszR0O0DIF2Lwfa2IJHAd1C0R7du6H7oc46vWqaMPj-yOBDbmMloiJpARGyzph-6cMX_nE2z0-fcDka6-CjyWDXX/s320/mollie+glick+client+bk+2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 214px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiMDc8HzNDR6zreIYUnsWNLIdn_7yK3WwPHLjujOBoUC1q14J_9gOSpG_-l3kmZqvZ7rLqylVkvh90rLd-KXQ-IxmOMTy2K2Ck0zjLUShqzIVZi_wQkiVykgsQCP3fqdrxKNRZQlHkvn7/s1600/mollie+glick+photo+1a.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467136264822899826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiMDc8HzNDR6zreIYUnsWNLIdn_7yK3WwPHLjujOBoUC1q14J_9gOSpG_-l3kmZqvZ7rLqylVkvh90rLd-KXQ-IxmOMTy2K2Ck0zjLUShqzIVZi_wQkiVykgsQCP3fqdrxKNRZQlHkvn7/s400/mollie+glick+photo+1a.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
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After graduating from Brown University, Mollie began her publishing career as a literary scout, advising foreign publishers regarding the acquisition of rights to American books. She then worked as an editor at the Crown imprint of Random House, before switching over to "the other side" and becoming an agent at JVNLA (The Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency) in 2003. Mollie's list includes literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, and a bit of practical non- fiction. She's particularly interested in fiction that bridges the literary/commercial divide, combining strong writing with a great plot, and non-fiction dealing with popular science, medicine, psychology, cultural history, memoir and current events. <br />
<br />
She's very hands-on, working collaboratively with her authors to refine their projects, then focusing on identifying just the right editors for the submissions. <br />
<br />
In addition to her work as a literary agent, Mollie also teaches classes on non-fiction proposal writing at Media Bistro. <br />
<br />
<strong>LEADING CLIENTS </strong><br />
<br />
Dorothy Hearst, Mike Sager, Jonathan Evison, Gregory Levey, Rose Marie Kinder<br />
Barbara Pope, Brenda Janowitz, Jess McCann, David Levy to name a few...<br />
<br />
<strong>MOST RECENT SALES / FORTHCOMING BOOKS </strong><br />
<br />
Lenore Skenazy/ FREE RANGE KIDS <br />
Rafe Bartholomew/PACIFIC RIMS <br />
Jonathan Park/THE LAST FARMER <br />
Elizabeth Eslami/BONE WORSHIP <br />
Gregory Levey/ HOW TO MAKE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST IN SIX MONTHS OR LESS, WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR APARTMENT <br />
<br />
<b>E.I. </b> How does a new writer, or a veteran author, make a seven figures in one sale? Is it the works of both the agents, editors or is it luck?<br />
<br />
<b>Molly Glick: </b> The old adage is definitely true: it takes both preparation and luck! These days in publishing, decisions are often made by committee. Back in the day, a single editor would fall in love with a project and take it to her publisher to get permission to buy it. These days, with a few exceptions at houses like Ecco and FSG, most editors have to get projects they want to acquire past a whole board full of editors, sales people and marketing and publicity people, so it's much harder to get a 'diamond in the rough' past. That's why I do a lot of editing and revising with my authors, polishing the novel before submitting. But once the submission itself is in the best possible shape, it's time to think strategy-- figuring out how many editors to submit to, and which ones, how to position the work, and whether to go to auction or not-- that's part of what goes into a good sale, too. But as for seven figures? There's a bit of pixie dust sprinkled over a deal that size as well.<br />
<br />
<b>E.I. </b> Your taste in books is obviously eclectic based on the genre categories you are willing to represent, including literary, young adult fiction, narrative nonfiction and memoir. That's a lot to juggle. What particular qualities do you look for in work by a first time young adult writer, for example?<br />
<br />
<b>Molly Glick: </b> This question made me laugh because it's so true: it's hard to represent multiple types of books! My life would be so much easier if I were "the cookbook agent" or "the narrative nonfiction agent" or "the young adult agent", and there are lots of genres I'm just not the right agent for (such as picture books or genre fiction). But one of my favorite parts of this business is that it's my job to fall in love with a book, and I really enjoy learning something new with every project I take on, so for me it's worth the extra work. And really, what I'm looking for in anything I take on is the same. I'm looking for a book with a unique voice. I'm looking for a great plot and great characters that convey a bigger idea. And I'm looking for a book I can't put down.<br />
<br />
<b>E.I. </b> How do you feel about working with first-time authors? How many and what kinds of first-time authors have become published through your efforts with Foundry Literary Media?<br />
<br />
<b>Molly Glick:</b> I love it! One of the biggest thrills in my life is making a first time author's dream come true by selling their book. And I also really enjoy that moment of sitting down with an author and asking "what do you want to achieve in your writing life" then helping them make that dream a reality. Almost all of my novelists, even ones like Johnny Evison or Dorothy Hearst or Zoe Klein who are now working on second or third books, came to me as first time novelists. I plan to be in this business a long time, so I'm always looking for authors who I can break out and grow from project to project!<br />
<br />
To learn more about Mollie Glick, please visist their <strong><a href="http://www.foundrymedia.com/index.html">website </a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-16236780570416980682010-06-03T21:47:00.000-07:002010-06-08T07:51:29.982-07:00INTERVIEW: Molly Jaffa - Agent - Folio Literary Management<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAbL9nDaPGrf5TGDU7L5_yljtUBWwhDdSu04Ky5EXUt1s8npk9lSd7udI3a9DaY7uFV_NVhMQogvUuPRps4uW1DZUj0cBh8_mWaY0khIicIBJo8vpEjNdsKG8eqLMWSHAebd0Tu0deX5G/s1600/a-molly+jaffa+photo_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAbL9nDaPGrf5TGDU7L5_yljtUBWwhDdSu04Ky5EXUt1s8npk9lSd7udI3a9DaY7uFV_NVhMQogvUuPRps4uW1DZUj0cBh8_mWaY0khIicIBJo8vpEjNdsKG8eqLMWSHAebd0Tu0deX5G/s320/a-molly+jaffa+photo_edited.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JdbxT3ViGbgDRU_jIXIOjSkteKQMBIdpZLb67GERas5qk3t20wgoKnh-iBgEYhaz993AZACYWyx6jzX4AwZMHmV9LkWeVtGAc82zlcNF_Ao7uZenQtO5JDlL6C_bXmWcOtMlk9HFqARm/s1600/molly+jaffa+agent+image+1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475439114022346658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JdbxT3ViGbgDRU_jIXIOjSkteKQMBIdpZLb67GERas5qk3t20wgoKnh-iBgEYhaz993AZACYWyx6jzX4AwZMHmV9LkWeVtGAc82zlcNF_Ao7uZenQtO5JDlL6C_bXmWcOtMlk9HFqARm/s320/molly+jaffa+agent+image+1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 98px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 202px;" /></a><br />
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Ms. Molly Jaffa, has been working closely with Folio Literary Management's clients’ projects since 2008, when she began editing manuscripts and writing book proposals. Her editorial background, previous work experience in the e-publishing industry, and intimate knowledge of the Folio list has led to her current position as Subsidiary Rights Associate. She actively pursues sales of all unsold subsidiary rights, helping Folio clients’ books reach wide audiences in as many formats as possible.<br />
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She loves fiction set in another country, time, or place that opens up a rich new world for the reader to discover. She also like to see: Edgy YA that’s not afraid to explore controversial and complex social issues, middle grade and YA with elements of magical realism, multicultural fiction, verse novels, reality-based fantasy, and –most importantly – books with a voice that makes the reader think. <br />
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She is an avid reader, and when she’s not devouring manuscripts, she can usually be found camped out in the aisles of her local bookstore. <br />
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<strong>WHAT SHE'S LOOKING FOR:</strong> YA fiction with a literary voice that challenges the reader intellectually and emotionally.<br />
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<strong>SHE'S NOT LOOING FOR:</strong> Mysteries, thrillers, suspense, romance, boy books (no gross-out humor, aliens, gore, etc.), paranormal fantasy, diet/fitness, or religious/inspirational.<br />
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<strong>E.I.</strong> Do you see the demand for first novels increasing? Any difference between literary and genre work? What is your opinion?<br />
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<strong>Molly Jaffa:</strong> The demand for first novels is increasing only in the sense that it’s often easier to sell a novel by an author with no publishing track record than it is to sell a book by a previously published author whose work wasn’t a commercial success. In this economy, publishers are sometimes unwilling to take another financial risk on a writer whose books haven’t sold through for them in the past. From a purely artistic standpoint, I’m especially looking for debut novelists-- I love the process of helping new writers build their career and achieve their writing goals. <br />
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It’s true that literary fiction is typically a more difficult sell than genre fiction, but that doesn’t mean that an agent won’t fall in love with and fight for a beautiful literary novel. Many of my colleagues continue to take on gorgeous literary projects. Write what you love, not what’s “on trend.” I’m always looking for YA and MG with a literary voice, and I’ve never taken on a project simply because I thought it looked like what was “hot” at the moment.<br />
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<strong>E.I</strong>. Is it true that the first 3 chapters in a MS is crucial, but if the narrative is awkward or the prose poor, won't that be obvious right away? Why would an editor or agent need to read past the first 3 chapters?<br />
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<strong>Molly Jaffa:</strong> The whole manuscript is crucial. If I request a partial manuscript (50 pages) from a writer and really love it, I’ll still ask to see the full before discussing representation. I need to be able to see how the author develops his or her characters over the course of the story; if the internal and external conflicts continue to build; if the pacing stays strong; and if the narrative arc comes to a satisfying, organic conclusion. The quality of the work should be consistent throughout-- it shouldn’t be obvious that you’ve spent more time developing one portion of your manuscript than another. It’s definitely important that you can start a story off with a great idea and a strong opening, but for me, what really counts is your ability to follow through on that premise in a way that’s consistently intriguing, well-written, and believable. <br />
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<strong>E.I.</strong> What qualities must a manuscript possess in order for you to really push to see it published? Do you base it on the query letter?<br />
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<strong>Molly Jaffa:</strong> I represent <strong>YA and Middle Grade fiction</strong>, so for me, it’s all about the voice. The reader has to absolutely believe that your character understands them; is them. Being able to write from a young person’s perspective is a gift, and when I find a writer who can do that really well, I’m smitten. Of course, the manuscript also needs a unique hook, well-drawn characters, strong world-building, and that elusive “unputdownable” quality. I’m always looking for the next manuscript that will grab hold of me and force me to read it in one thrilling, electrifying sitting. As an agent, those are the moments I live for. Though I love working closely with clients to help them further develop their work, those basic tenets still need to be in place before a manuscript hits my inbox.<br />
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As for the importance of queries – they’re hugely important, though a query alone isn’t enough to make me take on a project. In my submission guidelines, I ask for the first ten pages of the manuscript to be pasted at the end of the query. I feel that this format really gives me the best possible opportunity to connect with an author’s work. I read every query—my clients come from the so-called “slush pile”—and I always reply to each query within two weeks.<br />
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<strong>My clients:</strong> <br />
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I’ve been with Folio since 2008, when I began assisting Jeff Kleinman, one of the agency’s partners. Over the past few years, I’ve been working with Folio’s foreign rights and selling our clients’ subsidiary rights. I’m delighted to be a part of Folio Jr., a new initiative of the agency devoted to developing and nurturing the careers of children’s, Middle Grade, and YA authors. I’ve been aggressively looking to build my list over the past few months, though nothing’s hit shelves yet. I’m really enjoying the process of finding fresh, new voices in children’s and YA literature, and I’m definitely hungry for more.<br />
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To learn more about Molly Jaffa, please visit their <a href="http://www.foliolit.com/index.php">website</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-37253613149497256872010-05-01T13:42:00.000-07:002010-05-03T22:56:48.180-07:00INTERVIEW: Barry Goldblatt - Founder of Barry Goldblatt Literary Agency<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vjdD8NL_AvoutdXXzfoQt4Od7iYuB1ujh1ZGs6B8ahqAiHW9UifORj2yOi_xVFNrambBYypD9esUAH87Xd283qSIXJu5ErUB3ZnWZ6k6cZu6fp5eCy-YYdFgfkrL___UruX0dG0p3CpO/s1600-h/barry+goldblatt+photo+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vjdD8NL_AvoutdXXzfoQt4Od7iYuB1ujh1ZGs6B8ahqAiHW9UifORj2yOi_xVFNrambBYypD9esUAH87Xd283qSIXJu5ErUB3ZnWZ6k6cZu6fp5eCy-YYdFgfkrL___UruX0dG0p3CpO/s400/barry+goldblatt+photo+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447270875073232338" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bPFks1xPEqXMkis-zWiv6wMXehrZUGzMq2zVTWbecpmDPbtL-6kiIB3wbjUFTB-ovYvwnHd7agkdXKp-2Vtqe0Z6D1gn34p-FxZAx1UsyAsyl6iokvYRpsd93E9WyzkDwWjvzIRpAOB1/s1600-h/barry+goldblatt+literary+agency+image+1.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 307px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bPFks1xPEqXMkis-zWiv6wMXehrZUGzMq2zVTWbecpmDPbtL-6kiIB3wbjUFTB-ovYvwnHd7agkdXKp-2Vtqe0Z6D1gn34p-FxZAx1UsyAsyl6iokvYRpsd93E9WyzkDwWjvzIRpAOB1/s400/barry+goldblatt+literary+agency+image+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447270868041341202" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9GKWBLd1RjcCbvzsilHiGZA9bihxqLCjlvpAbT1wXCl-slyFRBGP7-GliIBAN2yFTCtvbdqA36b3rBTSD0DknCxH0oiChTxoO2fNxuSEaZNAl5Pl6cH5GywhunGnvi4XsxFdCaO6fCmO/s1600-h/barry+goldblatt+bk+3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 209px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9GKWBLd1RjcCbvzsilHiGZA9bihxqLCjlvpAbT1wXCl-slyFRBGP7-GliIBAN2yFTCtvbdqA36b3rBTSD0DknCxH0oiChTxoO2fNxuSEaZNAl5Pl6cH5GywhunGnvi4XsxFdCaO6fCmO/s320/barry+goldblatt+bk+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447428263909761794" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoh6egCNGF1jfFH8ElmPeKeFN-2O4mjedB6gsjH7iIjwtXKG2SqrGWOySKoJmHjR53VNzcJJYurcC3OG3gAoHLKErvKwU9Us-tkBy7LXgPPhGWgcB27jfOq0yMS_m3rQXJevGO1RoQ6N3/s1600-h/barry+goldblatt+bk+4.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoh6egCNGF1jfFH8ElmPeKeFN-2O4mjedB6gsjH7iIjwtXKG2SqrGWOySKoJmHjR53VNzcJJYurcC3OG3gAoHLKErvKwU9Us-tkBy7LXgPPhGWgcB27jfOq0yMS_m3rQXJevGO1RoQ6N3/s320/barry+goldblatt+bk+4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447428258973731970" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbAyu7xaL9wvh1URW2IJZMvUls99-1CFbIWigR_VchpbMOcaUQGIIgusGll8wJnOTQXW_xBP3YjIWTgps8bEXkDDFZteL8QAODQ3Oa6KPV1Xe3rLf3cm7FUJrwXe4LAe7f6-EnWv-9TPv/s1600-h/barry+goldblatt+bk+2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbAyu7xaL9wvh1URW2IJZMvUls99-1CFbIWigR_VchpbMOcaUQGIIgusGll8wJnOTQXW_xBP3YjIWTgps8bEXkDDFZteL8QAODQ3Oa6KPV1Xe3rLf3cm7FUJrwXe4LAe7f6-EnWv-9TPv/s320/barry+goldblatt+bk+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447428252681018194" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJk9ltEQbBQprZosVHxm9Hdi8_fEUD4Ke_tMvcPm8c_loRR-Q9xQsyix2l-6H08TFOt29jtuKo6eTUDl-5P82c_kWG6GYco_YqqjGjAmQbpkgq3RP-s-aXuUANV6EU_9_RWkCzOR-jCBzD/s1600-h/barry+goldblatt+bk+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJk9ltEQbBQprZosVHxm9Hdi8_fEUD4Ke_tMvcPm8c_loRR-Q9xQsyix2l-6H08TFOt29jtuKo6eTUDl-5P82c_kWG6GYco_YqqjGjAmQbpkgq3RP-s-aXuUANV6EU_9_RWkCzOR-jCBzD/s320/barry+goldblatt+bk+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447428246228050834" /></a><br /><br />Barry Goldblatt, is the founder of <strong>Barry Goldblatt Literary Agency </strong>and has been an agent for twenty years. <strong>BGLA</strong> is a leading U.S. literary agency headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. He represents talented authors of highly illustrated book for childrens, teens and adults including picture books, middle grade and also young adult. He welcomes older young adults, science fiction and fantasy. He founded the agency in September of 2000. <br /><br />He first arrived in New York with dreams of acquiring an editorial position for a science fiction magazine. He came to New York in 1989 and holds a B.A. in English after graduating from <strong>University of Kansas</strong> and a B.S. in Journalism.<br /><br />After several dead ends in the sci-fi field, he began exploring the possibility of a career in subsidiary rights. Eventually, he ended up at Dutton Children’s Books with a job as rights assistant, where he first discovered his love for the world of children’s publishing<br /><br />Mr. Goldblatt can recognize whether or not a manuscript will work almost right away. He suggests that his preference towards children's books echoes his sense of the importance of the children's literature.<br /><br />He finds the market for children's books, especially those for young adults and teenagers, to be an ever-changing and expanding one, and those children’s books, in themselves, are becoming more and more accepted as a "literary art form." <br /><br />He thinks that Fiction for teens can be as powerful and liberating as any adult book on the market. He knows that it can often even reach an adult audience, which only helps to bring young adult literature more well-deserved attention.<br /><br />Barry Goldblatt knows what he likes when he finds a new authors and manuscripts. He describes his ideal submission simply as a manuscript that blows him away. For him, he need to be marveling at the intricate details of a plot or fascinated by an extraordinary voice.<br /><br />He represents such talents as Holly Black and Theo Black, Libba Bray, Shannon Hale, Lauren Myracle to name a few. Mr. Goldblatt is married to bestselling author Libba Bray. <br /><br /><strong>E.I. </strong> Has any one genre over the past five or ten years gained a greater share of the market? For example, have sci-fi total book sales increased a few points? Any trends to be aware of?<br /><br /><strong>Barry Goldblatt:</strong> Well, this is pretty obvious; all you have to do is walk into a bookstore and see the huge number of paranormal romance, urban fantasy and steampunk novels currently dominating the shelves. Harry Potter started it, Twilight kicked it in a new direction, and The Hunger Games opened the dystopian flood gates. Who knows what will be the next major trend? <br /><br />But I'd stress here that it's extremely important for all aspiring writers to note that trends are totally unimportant. By the time a writer sees a trend showing in a bookstore, it's already in effect over as far as editors and publishers are concerned, because they'll have their lists loaded with titles for the next three years. If you're trying to write to a trend, you're wasting your time. Write the story you have to write, and if it's fantastic, some agent will sign it up.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> A well-crafted sci-fi book can be a fun read, but are there many modern science fiction works that would qualify as “literature”? Any science fiction books that would qualify as literary masterpieces? <br /><br /><strong>Barry Goldblatt: </strong> Of course! Science fiction gets a bad rap from most quarters, as it's still considered to be for geeks and nerds. There hasn't yet in YA been that transformative book that makes SF acceptable on a mass level, which is a real shame, and something some agents and editors are really trying to change. But there have been phenomenal literary SF writers publishing for years, and there are loads of classics: The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin, The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, A Canticle for Liebowitz by Walter M. Miller just to name a few that leap to mind. Recent literary gems I've read include Paolo Bacigalupi's The Windup Girl, as well as his recently released YA Ship Breaker, which is a book I really hope blows out the doors and windows and lets us sell a whole lot more true science fiction down the road. (I also note here with a bit of chagrin that I've mostly mentioned male authors, which is not because there isn't great SF being written by women; it just shows I need to be looking around more to find it.)<br /><br /><strong>E.I. </strong> Would you describe an ideal cover letter you would want to see pop in through the mail slot tomorrow. What elements would it contain?<br /><br /><strong>Barry Goldblatt:</strong> I don't know that there really is such a thing as an ideal query letter for me. A query letter has one purpose and one purpose only: does it make me want to read the manuscript? Anything else is just decoration. It needs to be concise and present the plot of the novel quickly and clearly, without a lot of flowery language and overly detailed plot description. It's a quick introduction, nothing more.<br /><br />Photo of Barry Goldblatt by Ellen Datlow<br />To learn more about Barry Goldblatt, please visit his <a href="http://www.bgliterary.com/"><strong>website</strong></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-64692282819996671622010-03-16T10:00:00.000-07:002010-04-29T23:05:48.980-07:00INTERVIEW: Emmanuelle Alspaugh - Agent - Judith Ehrlich Literary Management<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NPr0I7sy8PW0_FaFWXBcTeDOcwBh5MKYtUt-iyVVFeQ3cc-BFIgiiATuTpN5MtJsADYj0Quo9P6bM6F1KbXkd-NJoL7pjQG9nzgGQ8WuK6Or7gs3qc1WwUZj5-lISF6iKr27Pg6PKqoI/s1600/emmanuelle+alspaugh+photo+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 250px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465803136656516514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NPr0I7sy8PW0_FaFWXBcTeDOcwBh5MKYtUt-iyVVFeQ3cc-BFIgiiATuTpN5MtJsADYj0Quo9P6bM6F1KbXkd-NJoL7pjQG9nzgGQ8WuK6Or7gs3qc1WwUZj5-lISF6iKr27Pg6PKqoI/s400/emmanuelle+alspaugh+photo+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kuddcu-gxc0xhKuOOx1_2H5yV5_S505uozCvb93V0fijtJrIgx6jtRrNzuuaA1MVc1RO4dagFogs4DpdyBNLPk71AcBXCcXb6PdZxjHYgMsjjkYc-Jb4kx-BtbHhueiLh5vs1UnmOcwx/s1600/emmanuelle+alspaugh+bk+6+marcella+burnard.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 225px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465803146656116274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kuddcu-gxc0xhKuOOx1_2H5yV5_S505uozCvb93V0fijtJrIgx6jtRrNzuuaA1MVc1RO4dagFogs4DpdyBNLPk71AcBXCcXb6PdZxjHYgMsjjkYc-Jb4kx-BtbHhueiLh5vs1UnmOcwx/s400/emmanuelle+alspaugh+bk+6+marcella+burnard.png" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5beYqD0ZrC8NmeBLxwdoZDQnabFlcK1iLUk8kGuNUhVNXXaTkzZFKx8eJSSM-nJywRN-MifTg9H7zA49SuIKwvYaVGrcMUkkGZxK9thWTuqiyo317VpehRm5RC9K0X-79SSw5VEKJeGck/s1600/emmanuelle+alspaugh+bk+2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 265px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465803158494667506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5beYqD0ZrC8NmeBLxwdoZDQnabFlcK1iLUk8kGuNUhVNXXaTkzZFKx8eJSSM-nJywRN-MifTg9H7zA49SuIKwvYaVGrcMUkkGZxK9thWTuqiyo317VpehRm5RC9K0X-79SSw5VEKJeGck/s400/emmanuelle+alspaugh+bk+2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwS9NdKLFtFgb8MgZahq6d_D6o7Akh66Cp8EAqZDeLv-lCutasHmPT4l15ILOYjottpL8twkT9QsQL4LIZ1teNeWT1vlwf4It1UyqZubORcSuc851U1cFJ3Ho1T7446A-hn7alNLLnbf33/s1600/emmanuelle+alspaugh+bk+4.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 257px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465803154953544130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwS9NdKLFtFgb8MgZahq6d_D6o7Akh66Cp8EAqZDeLv-lCutasHmPT4l15ILOYjottpL8twkT9QsQL4LIZ1teNeWT1vlwf4It1UyqZubORcSuc851U1cFJ3Ho1T7446A-hn7alNLLnbf33/s400/emmanuelle+alspaugh+bk+4.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PTUrScuqnOnvQjOTVb2l84MOa4DeWK7GRmWLiLVwXXK_FNWbg3fgBmsJShkbMZwwvFTaJ2ipdFSNa0eo65W_x5eC3oAnBKa8Zeg8wckwdOHiqRFBhCIUrZeUV5XsrBWIp-Ci54oEtAkr/s1600/emmanuelle+alspaugh+bk+7+christina+phillips.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 263px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465803150310651346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PTUrScuqnOnvQjOTVb2l84MOa4DeWK7GRmWLiLVwXXK_FNWbg3fgBmsJShkbMZwwvFTaJ2ipdFSNa0eo65W_x5eC3oAnBKa8Zeg8wckwdOHiqRFBhCIUrZeUV5XsrBWIp-Ci54oEtAkr/s400/emmanuelle+alspaugh+bk+7+christina+phillips.jpg" /></a>Emmanuelle Alspaugh was born in France and grew up in Eugene, Oregon, before settling in New York City to work in publishing. She enjoys developing long-term relationships with her clients, helping them to build strong and lasting literary careers.<br /><br /><strong>What Emmanuelle is currently looking for:</strong><br /><br />Urban fantasy<br />Paranormal romance, particularly the dark and edgy kind shape-shifters & werewolves<br />Historical romance, mainly sexy Regencies<br />General historical fiction set in Europe<br />Upmarket, high-concept women’s fiction with strong female protagonists<br />Literary fiction with an international setting<br />Select nonfiction categories including memoir, psychology, and relationships.<br /><br />Literary agent Emmanuelle Alspaugh has relocated from Wendy Sherman Associates and was an Editor at Fodor's, the travel division of <strong>Randon House </strong>to Judith Ehrlich Literary Management in August of 2008. In the last six months of 2009 she sold five debut romance authors, all in two- or three-book deals.<br /><br />Ms. Alspaugh has made deals for the following authors: Marie Claire editor Sarah Wexler, romance authors Jenny Brown, Alissa Johnson, Marcella Burnard, Christina Phillips, and Laurie London; Marie Claire editor Sarah Wexler; memoirists Adrienne Kane and Catherine McCall; and anthology editor Andrea Richesin. She was also briefly an agent with Creative Culture, where she connected Canadian novelist Danielle Younge-Ullman with Plume; that book was Falling Under.<br /><br /><strong>E.I. </strong>If you could pick the perfect literary novel to represent this coming year, what would be its defining characteristics?<br /><br /><strong>E. Alspaugh:</strong> Probably a gorgeously wrought, epic historical novel, along the lines of Sarah Dunant, Michelle Moran, Emma Donoghue, Philippa Gregory, or Pamela Kaufman. It would have a primary and multiple secondary plot lines, romance, details about historical settings and dress, and plenty of intrigue.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> There are many qualities a writer must possess in order to be a successfully published author. What quality do you find most important?<br /><br /><strong>E. Alspaugh: </strong>Professionalism, hands-down. It’s a word that encompasses so many aspects of the job: researching the market, knowing the competitive titles and authors, working at the craft of writing, having the ability to narrow down a book idea to a concise pitch, being available to the agency and publishing team, promoting the published book through all avenues, and generally understanding that publishing is a business.<br /><br />To learn more about Emmanuelle Alspaugh, please visit their <a href="http://www.judithehrlichliterary.com/"><strong>website</strong></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-58457657224713855802010-02-26T23:31:00.001-08:002010-03-02T12:27:11.161-08:00INTERVIEW: Laura Rennert, Sr. Literary Agent - Andrea Brown Literary Agency<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNSj91lJF-561qqQbI2gJRxb3PyWaUNZPOM5TgIzwuZfts36DtfvHPAeTzP9cQSgGHOMNrPI8xN1ExLNUP9rHdevyUlNd1i4k3ko0rQCaAuY0qaW3GyUIEx3yG5jGxwFJjC8JgvPCXoTc/s1600-h/laura+rennert+bk+7.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442833799671626210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNSj91lJF-561qqQbI2gJRxb3PyWaUNZPOM5TgIzwuZfts36DtfvHPAeTzP9cQSgGHOMNrPI8xN1ExLNUP9rHdevyUlNd1i4k3ko0rQCaAuY0qaW3GyUIEx3yG5jGxwFJjC8JgvPCXoTc/s320/laura+rennert+bk+7.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVig4F7VZUfXvjaZnyfpyl9BEu4Bd-y-1XRSe3cCBH69ucKOFHsAM77VGTbXBlw5UgG4fGd-T5JYM3o_4Gv_wmXDcV0ZNga4lKMOQYDIXOxDvnAqxE3m3U1zqKkaNBzTUqJuC4rhC8OqR-/s1600-h/laura+rennert+bk+6.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442833791940645234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVig4F7VZUfXvjaZnyfpyl9BEu4Bd-y-1XRSe3cCBH69ucKOFHsAM77VGTbXBlw5UgG4fGd-T5JYM3o_4Gv_wmXDcV0ZNga4lKMOQYDIXOxDvnAqxE3m3U1zqKkaNBzTUqJuC4rhC8OqR-/s320/laura+rennert+bk+6.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR21uL-036kIZbprIn6Wp15HCgRFLqWh1PGMtlwRgs9KYbOKEtbPAUPCioUrFNHbtyYNyKNTGV3Mqz9sergRTLI8bmdP5cjY2xWKxb1baAXnfzwn95pD25qFMNzsGS2X2BUTf8Mlh4IUJx/s1600-h/laura+rennert+bk+4.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 222px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442833788396975874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR21uL-036kIZbprIn6Wp15HCgRFLqWh1PGMtlwRgs9KYbOKEtbPAUPCioUrFNHbtyYNyKNTGV3Mqz9sergRTLI8bmdP5cjY2xWKxb1baAXnfzwn95pD25qFMNzsGS2X2BUTf8Mlh4IUJx/s320/laura+rennert+bk+4.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtJK3acKZXyhtremIlzry8rLGtJRneGqZICdbFc7MfuwrjXNvrwrY98psHjX3s4heXzxRluRXXYOoAPfDhHzfpV8n-7yjme4D2pGcVfF027g_JPesBZGI5B2OCDhOPrqwibCeurWmtAHr/s1600-h/laura+rennert+bk+10.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtJK3acKZXyhtremIlzry8rLGtJRneGqZICdbFc7MfuwrjXNvrwrY98psHjX3s4heXzxRluRXXYOoAPfDhHzfpV8n-7yjme4D2pGcVfF027g_JPesBZGI5B2OCDhOPrqwibCeurWmtAHr/s320/laura+rennert+bk+10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444135045304474770" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivq_VQeocmW7pAsc5L2Bow1xZDSXRzu59yL7sEwCHw-viZdgforzTe9PexYxAoC0hK_P42FkO2pxZzPtM0x2-Y7PvNnzDvJJXQiChuC6fEIoTFfLVaDsKtjcbsWu_MwHIsPArVy0p05Fq3/s1600-h/laura+rennert+bk+9.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivq_VQeocmW7pAsc5L2Bow1xZDSXRzu59yL7sEwCHw-viZdgforzTe9PexYxAoC0hK_P42FkO2pxZzPtM0x2-Y7PvNnzDvJJXQiChuC6fEIoTFfLVaDsKtjcbsWu_MwHIsPArVy0p05Fq3/s320/laura+rennert+bk+9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444135029540426834" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKTpNrnw0p2ipe_tjPL9khVD8BeYlxKfGztn2NolUj9TFn5bLfyd8fMsifsYFW_ViH_C2y-3tAXmixK4QT6mbSXYVKWtODcI49GJE9wJEiD-OhumaOi-afs-1X1NxV-h2ExOWECRuelPt/s1600-h/LAURA+RENNERT+PHOTO+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442823212981772354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKTpNrnw0p2ipe_tjPL9khVD8BeYlxKfGztn2NolUj9TFn5bLfyd8fMsifsYFW_ViH_C2y-3tAXmixK4QT6mbSXYVKWtODcI49GJE9wJEiD-OhumaOi-afs-1X1NxV-h2ExOWECRuelPt/s320/LAURA+RENNERT+PHOTO+1.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Laura Rennert is a senior literary agent with <strong>Andrea Brown Literary Agency </strong>and <strong>a published author of children’s fiction</strong>. Following <strong>a distinguished career in academia</strong>, she joined the Brown agency in 1988, where she currently <strong>specializes in young adult fiction</strong>. Dr. Rennert’s academic accomplishments, teaching and writing experience imbue her with a unique ability to identify and develop new emerging talent. It also gives her the professional credentials to work with established authors like <strong>Ellen Hopkins</strong>. Her expertise runs from adult fiction: literary fiction, women‘s fiction, mysteries and thrillers (particularly those with a female perspective or angle) to memoir, and narrative and popular nonfiction.<br /><br />Dr. Rennert is at the top of her game. Some successful agents tend to limit their search for new clients to known quantities. Laura Rennert represents award-winning and best selling authors, National Book Award Finalists, as well as first-time authors. Some of her more noteworthy deals exceeding a half a million dollars were brokered with Random House and Simon & Schuster. She also logged six-figure YA deals with Razorbill/Penguin, Knopf, Feiwel & Friends, Margaret McElderry/S&S, Scholastic, and Harper, plus a film deal with Nickelodeon/Paramount.<br /><br />Middle-grade, young adult, and crossover books remain Ms. Rnnert’s specialty. In the MG/YA market, she's seeking contemporary fiction with real emotional power. Examples would be urban fantasy, paranormal with a literary bent, gothic or neo-gothic novels (going back to her 19th Century Brit Lit roots), mysteries, suspense, and thrillers, and multi-cultural fiction.<br /><br />She likes characters with an insider-outsider perspective. Dr. Rennert has spent time abroad and has an affinity for books that explore different cultures or worlds to which the young reader wouldn't otherwise have access. She values books that make us see the ordinary in new ways, especially works that are ambitious in intellectual, emotional, or narrative terms, and books that make her laugh or cry. Across all categories her unique talent lies in identifying books with "literary voice, and commercial conception."<br /><br />Dr. Rennert, published the picture book, <strong>BUYING, TRAINING, AND CARING FOR YOUR DINOSAUR</strong> in the Fall of 2009, as well as a highly illustrated book for young readers inspired by her daughter, <strong>EMMA, THE EXTRA-ORDINARY PRINCESS</strong>, coming in Spring 2011.<br /><br />She speaks at writer's conferences throughout the country and abroad. Dr. Rennert was awarded her <strong>Ph.D. in English literature </strong>by the <strong>University of Virginia</strong>. She has worked as a freelance editor in the <strong>United States</strong> and <strong>Japan</strong>, and has nine years of experience teaching on the faculty in the English Departments of the University of Virginia, <strong>Osaka University of Foreign Studies</strong>, and <strong>Santa Clara University</strong>. She has published articles in various scholarly journals in the United States and internationally.<br /><br />Writer's Digest in 2004 named Andrea Brown Literary Agency one of the top twenty-five literary agencies for developing new writers. The Andrea Brown Literary Agency Inc. has been in business since 1981.<br /><br /><strong>Her notable clients includes:</strong><br />Ellen Hopkins,<br />Catherine Ryan Hyde<br />Jay Asher<br />Kathleen Duey<br />Maggie Stieffvater,<br />Christina Meldrum,<br />Jeff Stone,<br />Ying Chang Compestine,<br />Robin Brande,<br />Andrew Smith,<br />Kimberly Derting<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> What advice do you have for debut literary fiction writers looking to break into this tough category? Is it just about the writing, or are there other factors you often see overlooked?<br /><br /><strong>Laura Rennert:</strong> My advice to debut fiction writers is work on craft; educate yourself regarding the market (especially the category in which you are writing); present yourself professionally and personably; develop visibility even before publication; and stay passionate about writing and your own work. So a word about each of these things.<br /><br />Hone your craft. Seek out opportunities to learn from successful authors and from editors and agents, who are strong in your category and who work with writers you love. Form a critique group or find writing partners who push you to be better, who will tell it to you straight, and who don't let you get away with anything.<br /><br />Focus on the fundamentals of strong story-telling. What I’m looking for in fiction is works with a fresh voice, original perspective, complex characters, a strong narrative structure; and real emotional power. Some examples of my authors who nail these criteria are Ellen Hopkins, Maggie Stiefvater, Jay Asher, Christina Meldrum, and Kathleen Duey. The good news is, it begins and ends with what is on the page. This is the part you can control. Write the best books you can – the kind of books you want to read.<br /><br />It may seem like commonsense but I’ll say it anyway: make sure the work you put out there is your best. In other words, don't send your work to agents and editors prematurely. I have a checklist for fiction on my website, www.laurajoyrennert.com (see the "for writers" page) that offers some guidelines to help you decide if your work is ready.<br /><br />Know the market. As a debut author, if you can situate your work in terms of other successful novels in your category, you give us a useful understanding of where your work fits in the market, and you demonstrate that you've educated yourself and done your homework. Telling us who your audience is, why your work will appeal to that audience, and how you can reach a readership will definitely capture agents' and editors' attention.<br /><br />Build a strong online presence through author websites, blogs, and use of social networking. The good news is that internet presents an incredible opportunity for writers to connect with their audience and to publicize their books at minimal cost, apart from the time and energy commitment. If you combine this kind of author visibility with irresistible, powerful, well-crafted writing, you’ll be unstoppable.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> Are you a huge believer that good books will always sell even in a bad economic climate as it is? Do people stop buying books except for the authors who pioneered the genre and were bestsellers from the beginning?<br /><br /><strong>Laura Rennert: </strong>I believe that even in a bad economic climate, maybe especially in a bad economy, people have an appetite for good books! I don't think our desire for great stories is going away, regardless of the changing face of publishing. However, as technology evolves and the publishing landscape shifts, there may be more and different models for delivering content. Of course, with new ebook readers coming on the market and the ability to read ebooks on mobile phones and other devices, this is already happening.<br /><br />As publishing suffers these growing pains, the most important thing you can do as a newer writer is work on building your brand. It's true that established authors who already are existing bestsellers have an advantage in this regard, but I have to believe that authors who write strong books and find creative and smart ways to connect with their readers will succeed.<br /><br />Since you don’t necessarily know whomever and however your next book will be published, your most important move as an author is to establish the broadest, strongest, direct connection with your readers. Facebook, Twitter, contests, and blogs are your marketing tools. If you use them to build a direct connection to your readers, you’ll be in a good position, no matter what comes, because you can take your email list, your Twitter list, your Facebook list with you.<br /><br />Because traditional publishers are generally doing less than ever before to promote authors, the job of publicizing one’s book typically falls to the author. A web presence is especially important in this down fiction market because it’s frequently author-generated visibility and exposure that are leading to publishing success. It’s crucial for middle-grade and young adult authors, because their readers are online and so computer savvy, and it’s even becoming a requirement for other categories of children's books, as well. As an author myself, I am using my website and social media, as well as book signings, books festivals, and school visits, to promote my own picture book, BUYING, TRAINING, AND CARING FOR YOUR DINOSAUR (Oct. 2009, Knopf), illustrated by Marc Brown.<br /><br />My husband, thriller writer <a href="http://www.barryeisler.com/"><strong>Barry Eisler</strong>, </a>likes to analogize what’s happening in publishing to what happened in the music industry with the advent of MTV. All of a sudden, there was pressure on recording artists and musicians to be beautiful as well as talented. So, in the current publishing climate, there’s pressure on the authors to be savvy marketers and promoters of their own books, as well as to craft amazing stories. This may not be a desirable or fair change. After all, authors got into the business of writing because of their talent for writing, not their PR ability. But, regardless, the ability to market one’s own books is increasingly a requirement for publishing success.<br /><br />In this brave new world, authors have to think of their books as their own business, the publisher as their partners, and have to develop their own marketing strategies for connecting with readers and building a brand as authors.<br /><br />Photo of Laura Rennert by Janelle McCuen.<br />To learn more about Laura Rennert please visit the following websites bellow.<br />Laura Rennert <a href="http://www.andreabrownlit.com/about.php"><strong>agent’s website</strong></a><br />Laura Rennert <a href="http://www.laurajoyrennert.com/"><strong>author’s website </strong></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-75701342745623953702010-02-18T16:28:00.000-08:002010-02-18T14:56:22.275-08:00INTERVIEW: Erin Murphy - President, Erin Murphy Literary Agency<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIebBeJUFXkSucYZ9dFdwM15oxE0VpmqK3VGofcZ5Sje0YQenAcku6b0Fdmi3z3rYCZsNYroM-TMqUtXozOL9lGQWZ_CgFdIoRxjYAnlAqZzNikicJ8rKv9737WF6GFHJ1v6rUol_s9faZ/s1600-h/erin+murphys+books+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIebBeJUFXkSucYZ9dFdwM15oxE0VpmqK3VGofcZ5Sje0YQenAcku6b0Fdmi3z3rYCZsNYroM-TMqUtXozOL9lGQWZ_CgFdIoRxjYAnlAqZzNikicJ8rKv9737WF6GFHJ1v6rUol_s9faZ/s200/erin+murphys+books+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436115424820831314" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtC4kr-Ig6PTUHlPbGR4f0B3PxOWcENUXYZbTLpxt28UNXnOF07MIlLGS4N5Tv_m0_McWKRjmw6vKqKHLyKjLiTQemfflyJk5y1K6dNslLgoyvujbG7rmcnagBnafnCfBzZPJPX8pagyXD/s1600-h/erin+murphys+books+7.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436114339576727586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtC4kr-Ig6PTUHlPbGR4f0B3PxOWcENUXYZbTLpxt28UNXnOF07MIlLGS4N5Tv_m0_McWKRjmw6vKqKHLyKjLiTQemfflyJk5y1K6dNslLgoyvujbG7rmcnagBnafnCfBzZPJPX8pagyXD/s200/erin+murphys+books+7.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrUa3F9Oqrd63PktMiHz6KHB31rxaUxepoU2UDf6ARjLDMSvBvFeMnp9q5NW841znY_4ajWYTnoo4BtCp0ix90IckPY_FHqSfTg5_Y4ZUZnUz0vlbtR14GSvVTb0TamTjGpg4O50pvbmk/s1600-h/erin+murphys+books+3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 131px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436112906189494466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrUa3F9Oqrd63PktMiHz6KHB31rxaUxepoU2UDf6ARjLDMSvBvFeMnp9q5NW841znY_4ajWYTnoo4BtCp0ix90IckPY_FHqSfTg5_Y4ZUZnUz0vlbtR14GSvVTb0TamTjGpg4O50pvbmk/s200/erin+murphys+books+3.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsQc9n_cu5K5I8hzgLzw7-6OfQ1tez6IQWaA1TOB1j0PbRgM1w5bb-NtFWnWlo2G9ujalmZ29JGDsdvIdOykzDdGbu4PXFIyAAWGy7n-3m4Rw0TBEHCVxE6K6Z3mQdj1pyX8t5uduChKM/s1600-h/erin+murphys+books+9.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 132px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436105055318225074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsQc9n_cu5K5I8hzgLzw7-6OfQ1tez6IQWaA1TOB1j0PbRgM1w5bb-NtFWnWlo2G9ujalmZ29JGDsdvIdOykzDdGbu4PXFIyAAWGy7n-3m4Rw0TBEHCVxE6K6Z3mQdj1pyX8t5uduChKM/s200/erin+murphys+books+9.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCa0Zl6vIMt4n-VafBS3IAleAdmA3EiEa5HzauGyskrbLaTxZAHnkD-8VBvnmcavMPciczbxW_HAi1T7Oi19KeGeDhyphenhyphencSQxkhFNhzfiRRONjnWrrnv-Cgrd6P-yoaEKL40EZTLCKqeXKqf/s1600-h/erin+murphys+books+2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 132px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436101923246585698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCa0Zl6vIMt4n-VafBS3IAleAdmA3EiEa5HzauGyskrbLaTxZAHnkD-8VBvnmcavMPciczbxW_HAi1T7Oi19KeGeDhyphenhyphencSQxkhFNhzfiRRONjnWrrnv-Cgrd6P-yoaEKL40EZTLCKqeXKqf/s200/erin+murphys+books+2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UvtBnIxMf9WM1okTxzYJ6Imwx3hPsAc8Jrk779KxROH91xphSDij3m-1PJosJxgrrSQ9rNosXxakuueig1JSsuEvxzKFfXytmg8TLTzCfeuu9aXkW_I98GQZ1m1xV6I8Hsv16CjEcTsV/s1600-h/erin+murphys+books+5.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 190px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436099831666810818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UvtBnIxMf9WM1okTxzYJ6Imwx3hPsAc8Jrk779KxROH91xphSDij3m-1PJosJxgrrSQ9rNosXxakuueig1JSsuEvxzKFfXytmg8TLTzCfeuu9aXkW_I98GQZ1m1xV6I8Hsv16CjEcTsV/s200/erin+murphys+books+5.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3wdITo-rUiBixcsLfUBUr99ohdTLrcIGpa4G9Ivu2AGuxzIZR9Wn7dc9fvAR57rjHDbTGf7pXJxKHeNz-fDnjaw2OvefuO4mOH8u8BxbpWKikbv2IFyKck_kHsmy7h273ITI0LSTHEcq/s1600-h/erin+murphys+books+4.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436099828160588850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3wdITo-rUiBixcsLfUBUr99ohdTLrcIGpa4G9Ivu2AGuxzIZR9Wn7dc9fvAR57rjHDbTGf7pXJxKHeNz-fDnjaw2OvefuO4mOH8u8BxbpWKikbv2IFyKck_kHsmy7h273ITI0LSTHEcq/s200/erin+murphys+books+4.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3HMWlbq8KdQ3Iso3czAd4pPHwFaRPrXg49MZoOfod_LNT1eCOAJCDtiQJKpYzapIzEm5EXOG65WfTKXSiTsAb7ip5EaM47s5nOjqj9q9GJqhQ0XdpEdiMKVeuVfnXGYaI0C6iCubc8Cw/s1600-h/erin+murphys+books+8.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436099819620720738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3HMWlbq8KdQ3Iso3czAd4pPHwFaRPrXg49MZoOfod_LNT1eCOAJCDtiQJKpYzapIzEm5EXOG65WfTKXSiTsAb7ip5EaM47s5nOjqj9q9GJqhQ0XdpEdiMKVeuVfnXGYaI0C6iCubc8Cw/s200/erin+murphys+books+8.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35LW6DCyoRF1y8iKIEDdySAlR7_MJHCWlfsyLdR-n2UkHud-vYEidd4QlBG6q0WUrts0nzmDRpGadFnQKtZw8qB1A1_N2loiIxyrUAD68-_hjAzVWhsAUcn18LCdLIHX9hEygY-rfwEr_/s1600-h/erin+murphys+book+6.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 193px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436099814330079426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35LW6DCyoRF1y8iKIEDdySAlR7_MJHCWlfsyLdR-n2UkHud-vYEidd4QlBG6q0WUrts0nzmDRpGadFnQKtZw8qB1A1_N2loiIxyrUAD68-_hjAzVWhsAUcn18LCdLIHX9hEygY-rfwEr_/s200/erin+murphys+book+6.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CcpRnGlmcWeXllcuS7zBu6JZT2-4bqSlPYSIgy0hL6iId5BIfqF8TZYkav-gx3QebDo0VGzkYtqDv-cv2Wi9N2aZcsZuIq6WreA7-sy13MdL_2g_WDSnaN7pZCKBXv2_Y9JXIe4ahEet/s1600-h/erin+murphy+agent+photo+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 239px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436098597807320994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CcpRnGlmcWeXllcuS7zBu6JZT2-4bqSlPYSIgy0hL6iId5BIfqF8TZYkav-gx3QebDo0VGzkYtqDv-cv2Wi9N2aZcsZuIq6WreA7-sy13MdL_2g_WDSnaN7pZCKBXv2_Y9JXIe4ahEet/s320/erin+murphy+agent+photo+1.jpg" /></a><br />Erin Murphy, is the <strong>President</strong> of <strong>Erin Murphy Literary Agency</strong> and has been an agent for 10 years. EMLA is a leading U.S. children's book agency headquartered in Flagstaff, Arizona. She founded the agency in 1999.<br /><br />The agency focus on connections—between writer and editor, story and reader—as well as on helping their clients build their careers and grow as artists.<br /><br />Ms. Murphy has a unique submission policy and only likes queries from writers she has met at one time or another, or writers who come through an impressive referral.<br />She works with publishers of all sizes all over the U.S., and has placed clients' books with every major children's house in New York and Boston, but she cut her teeth in regional publishing.<br /><br />Erin currently negotiates contracts for over 60 clients and is held in high regard by a number of closed publishing houses. Her recent manuscript placements have included Bloomsbury USA, Simon and Schuster, Dutton, Candlewick, and Knopf. Prior to starting the agency, Ms. Murphy was the <strong>Editor-in-Chief</strong> of Northland Publishing.<br /><br />She began her career at Northland Publishing/Rising Moon Books for Young Readers (a beloved decades-old Flagstaff company that was bought out in 2007), eventually becoming editor-in-chief, and was a member of the board of directors of PubWest, a professional development organization for small and mid-sized publishers in the West.<br /><br />She represents writers and writer-illustrators of picture books, novels for middle-graders and young adults, and select nonfiction. She is especially drawn to strong characters and heart-centered stories. In her spare time she loves walking, baking, kayaking, knitting, traveling, and reading.<br /><br />Her notable clients list includes:<br />Ruth Barshaw, Chris Barton, Elizabeth Bluemle, Penny Bluebaugh, Elizabeth Bunce, Mellisa Glenn Haber, Deborah Halverson, Mary Hershey, Roebrt Kinerk, R.L. LaFevers, Natalie Dias Lorenzi, Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich, Janette Rallison, Laura Resau, Cate Tiernan, Susan Vaught and many more!<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> In an industry that gets increasingly difficult to break into, what are a few things first-time writers can do in their query letters that might convince you to take a chance on them? <br /><br /><strong>ERIN MURPHY:</strong> The worst thing they can possibly do is convey an overinflated sense of confidence about their work alongside a clear lack of knowledge of the industry. I don't read as many queries as other agents do, as I'm closed to cold queries (simply for volume control, to keep a handle on my own time), so I don't see as much of this. But nothing is more of a turn-off than a writer who is clearly a dabbler and envisions himself reaching fame and fortune through what he is certain will be the next Harry Potter. It's even worse if this query has clearly been mass emailed in the same form to dozens of other agents. I like to get a sense of a writer as a professional, even if she's not-yet-published--someone who takes a real interest in the industry as a whole, who has bothered to find out something about me before approaching me, and who can pitch her manuscript in a simple, concrete way.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> A well written query letter is a key to snagging an agent's attention. Can you briefly explain what components the ideal query should include? Should the writer attach a page or two of prose just so the agent can get a feel for writer's ability?<br /><br /><strong>ERIN MURPHY:</strong> It varies from agent to agent. There is no one wholesale answer. For me, I like to get a sense of the breadth of a writer's work, even if he focuses on just one pitch for the initial query. Something like, "Additionally, I have one other completed YA novel awaiting revision and a contemporary middle-grade adventure that is currently on submission" or "Although this is my first completed novel, I'm one draft into my work in progress, a middle-grade novel from the point of view of a cabin boy on Columbus's famous voyage." I will often ask to see sample chapters of the other works mentioned, in addition to the main one the writer is querying about. I prefer not to see samples until I ask for them.<br /><br />I really do recommend that writers research the agents they are interested in and try to hone their approaches accordingly; that said, if I get a query email with some sample text pasted in at the bottom, I don't discard it out of hand because the writer didn't follow the rules.<br /><br />Because I like to have a sense that the writer has spent some time getting to know the industry, I'm often more interested in queries from people that hint at personal or professional industry connections, time spent in leadership positions at conferences, graduate programs in writing for children, and the like--and lists of previously published books or a list of magazines the writer contributes to regularly are always helpful, of course!<br /><br />Finally, the main thing for me is that a query letter is also a writing sample. Professional is good; cold and mechanical is not. A little personality in the writing, a sense of the writer's own true voice--that's often what knocks me over the edge in asking to see someone's work. <br /><br />Photo of Erin Murphy by Katy Grant.<br /><br />To learn more about Erin Murphy, please visit their <a href="http://emliterary.com/">website</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-42466285631288592082010-01-25T06:29:00.000-08:002010-01-25T07:31:33.083-08:00UPCOMING INTERVIEW: Joëlle Delbourgo - President of Joëlle Delbourgo Associates, Inc. & Former publishing executive of Random House & Harper Collins<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYrrH1OjEEdxTcudqduyx9U4dhxz8dxLrKLOaVOOEsVTjwVjibgHn4C6lRFUqVP9jH9Bzl3Z8TnAA5PZwoyszr6q9dPR6OvO-Mqcx7xt_eAE4dNuaM8k9WyikqvsVwt9f1yIXLB-UKoDv/s1600-h/joelle-delbourgo+bk+2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYrrH1OjEEdxTcudqduyx9U4dhxz8dxLrKLOaVOOEsVTjwVjibgHn4C6lRFUqVP9jH9Bzl3Z8TnAA5PZwoyszr6q9dPR6OvO-Mqcx7xt_eAE4dNuaM8k9WyikqvsVwt9f1yIXLB-UKoDv/s320/joelle-delbourgo+bk+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430695378278413090" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PGCVD5SC_7Kp8PAQthwe5FW77pfIVbClaEY9vaUykAQgPNxqXQhrmJ4tYgNCWGcxoqrLSy09JjL5-o1faGBIAOi8HjeUnJF_PZaED_LkMLVmQGsAJbhtEe8ehdVjLaCU9H9KITGXh-sx/s1600-h/joelle-delbourgo+bk+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 184px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PGCVD5SC_7Kp8PAQthwe5FW77pfIVbClaEY9vaUykAQgPNxqXQhrmJ4tYgNCWGcxoqrLSy09JjL5-o1faGBIAOi8HjeUnJF_PZaED_LkMLVmQGsAJbhtEe8ehdVjLaCU9H9KITGXh-sx/s320/joelle-delbourgo+bk+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430695374627177954" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZvIP0Kvk12X2D8zk4LnbMgP6oUHpINs0vxtsK6l5BwJLxhYvW93R1t1FLinYYCq0gWwAOQcwV40ApDQJrOZMyVoH8QqEZ33pnS8fIN4XU8mAg3dw2glWd3O0ujJszk2nw7Q-io3-ngZy/s1600-h/geeta+anand+bk+bigger+version.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZvIP0Kvk12X2D8zk4LnbMgP6oUHpINs0vxtsK6l5BwJLxhYvW93R1t1FLinYYCq0gWwAOQcwV40ApDQJrOZMyVoH8QqEZ33pnS8fIN4XU8mAg3dw2glWd3O0ujJszk2nw7Q-io3-ngZy/s320/geeta+anand+bk+bigger+version.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430695369423831554" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalQfPLQdWfzbOqcHk6Pc1khyphenhyphenzSB8B5lApU_P7bSY8MPClwY-Vvu8XyFLjSNq3I6-c5GoRFFgaacho_nqng-XbkMTKmHyZHqnhlrJckZClTGlGpWbfJdJptb8QEmnsiKAW1_OLPpNANm3C/s1600-h/geeta+anand+bk+2+the+cure.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalQfPLQdWfzbOqcHk6Pc1khyphenhyphenzSB8B5lApU_P7bSY8MPClwY-Vvu8XyFLjSNq3I6-c5GoRFFgaacho_nqng-XbkMTKmHyZHqnhlrJckZClTGlGpWbfJdJptb8QEmnsiKAW1_OLPpNANm3C/s320/geeta+anand+bk+2+the+cure.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430695366634272866" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebZnXu7khmhEYGwG3DD8jE3o-7jCtBBmC1FJEcQc1R9eUzfAZSRqLbhyphenhyphenjoDnxyVwtNmSI3iWyc7f6GAuf1hAuTenfmzCYfJl4Nqy-4fg8AdT_nPRplJWH1jEZKFuWytju6frjob4cQBrn/s1600-h/joelle-delbourgo2iterary-agent_edited.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 197px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430692414865555442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebZnXu7khmhEYGwG3DD8jE3o-7jCtBBmC1FJEcQc1R9eUzfAZSRqLbhyphenhyphenjoDnxyVwtNmSI3iWyc7f6GAuf1hAuTenfmzCYfJl4Nqy-4fg8AdT_nPRplJWH1jEZKFuWytju6frjob4cQBrn/s400/joelle-delbourgo2iterary-agent_edited.jpg" /></a>Joëlle Delbourgo is a highly energetic former publishing executive turned entrepreneur. For over 28 years, she has been astute in identifying and developing talent, first in her executive posts at such companies as HarperCollins and Random House, and more recently, through her literary agency, Joëlle Delbourgo Associates, Inc., founded in 1999.<br /><br />Joëlle Delbourgo Associates, a literary management company based in New York City, has subagents around the world and co-agents in film and television.<br />The agency strives to bring an author's work to greater visibility globally and in as many formats as possible.<br /><br />Clients of the agency include: historian Philip Mitchell Freeman; <strong>Pulitzer-Prize winning Wall Street Journal writer, Geeta Anand;</strong> for her book <strong>"The Cure"</strong>. The <strong>book that inspired the movie </strong><strong>"Extra Ordinary Measures", </strong>starring award-winning actor, <strong>Brendan Fraser</strong> and four time Golden Globe nominee and Oscar nominee, <strong>Harrison Ford</strong>.<br /><br />Other clients also includes award-winning Southern novelists Pamela Duncan and Roy Hoffman; feminist psychologist, Phyllis Chesler; renegade philosopher, Lou Marinoff; clinical psychologist, Jonathan Grayson; Business Week editor, Chris Farrell; commentator and opinion-maker, Dr. Marc Siegel; poet and acclaimed novelist, Elizabeth Rosner; and memoirist Elaine N. Orr.<br /><br />Prior to founding the agency, Joëlle Delbourgo was Senior Vice-President, Editor-in-Chief and Associate Publisher of <strong>HarperCollins</strong>, Adult Trade Division. Earlier she spent over fifteen years in various editorial and executive posts at Ballantine Books, division of <strong>Random House</strong>, including Vice-President, Editor-in-Chief.<br /><br />Joëlle Delbourgo holds an M.A. in English and Comparative Literature with Honors from <strong>Columbia University</strong>, and a B.A. from <strong>Williams College</strong>, where she graduated <strong>Magna Cum Laude</strong>, Phi Beta Kappa with a double concentration in History and English Literature. She also attended <strong>Vassar College </strong>from 1970 - 1972.<br /><br />Joelle Delbourgo is a member of the AAR, Author's Guild and Women's Media Group.<br /><br />To learn more about Joelle Delbourgo, please visit their <a href="http://www.delbourgo.com/">website </a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-11219398747417385502010-01-24T15:49:00.001-08:002010-01-24T16:08:34.030-08:00SUPPORTS BEHIND MY RECOVERY<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWt2B-6pmBDzlj7UTMhu75LAx73Xk_L7uA85UBxm1xlYBtnW0x7-XuflAg5dsDvNGsssfZls4eD75FN5F4eiZry5bBenJTDG6MLc2gh945xRLi3NP-elg-kRhA4cAz6hjw844lYYs7jAt/s1600-h/iStock_000004781555XSmall+SICKIEE+POPS.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWt2B-6pmBDzlj7UTMhu75LAx73Xk_L7uA85UBxm1xlYBtnW0x7-XuflAg5dsDvNGsssfZls4eD75FN5F4eiZry5bBenJTDG6MLc2gh945xRLi3NP-elg-kRhA4cAz6hjw844lYYs7jAt/s400/iStock_000004781555XSmall+SICKIEE+POPS.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430455220920180658" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Hello, Blogosphere! It's been a bit of stretch since my last entry, so I wanted to catch up with all of you. I have received numerous emails from my readers, authors & friends who were concerned about my health. The outpouring of supports I received was so overwhelming, <br /><br />There was so much support behind my recovery, and I thank you all for your thoughts, well wishes and kind words concerning about me. <br /><br />Well, I’m back now..... I’d like to announce that new interviews, blog updates and website updated materials will be posted here starting NOW!!!!!!!!!!! <br /><br />Thank you.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />E.I. Johnson</strong><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-79219842852232214612010-01-14T03:05:00.000-08:002010-05-20T09:47:40.031-07:00INTERVIEW: Scott Miller - Agent & Vice President of Trident Media Group<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3J5ToXvST_di6dPIIHVp8X1I4zX-fWfgVarpuOc3uP1QlMHw4iXc4-JmJLkJx1wFtZhjdYGFqGWuw7oXkA2s2IrM61OcS2UM6nJH5lE8pNQNEUiBzi9T5npoheS5mv30yvedTg2ydFGO/s1600-h/W+BRUCE+CAMERON+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 264px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413458498505789026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3J5ToXvST_di6dPIIHVp8X1I4zX-fWfgVarpuOc3uP1QlMHw4iXc4-JmJLkJx1wFtZhjdYGFqGWuw7oXkA2s2IrM61OcS2UM6nJH5lE8pNQNEUiBzi9T5npoheS5mv30yvedTg2ydFGO/s400/W+BRUCE+CAMERON+bk+1.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwVb6SGSUHC5sXxQ2HoU7DrejwhRMGXw0c_Lw51qEYBJzc-8kCac5bjfoXeHVVVgRjyW_y-uX1FXKze1o_pI-M60natfDU0LspJtJPxSaXOXt75osyYet_P9BKW-zs_PeTnzjh-lq99aW/s1600-h/harold+coyle+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413458488775526754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwVb6SGSUHC5sXxQ2HoU7DrejwhRMGXw0c_Lw51qEYBJzc-8kCac5bjfoXeHVVVgRjyW_y-uX1FXKze1o_pI-M60natfDU0LspJtJPxSaXOXt75osyYet_P9BKW-zs_PeTnzjh-lq99aW/s400/harold+coyle+bk+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P2rS_s8S-Ghctz95jrpQxPZ6P6hIIsaGWSbyZO0UiQ9Xy1ePdUFcjV4QTFP3AHa8vpGUKNy1S15b0vYpHcbHhIsS4usrlhJS9897dqHlcUtaVeadZinzwFzE0guW_FmbrRbhhCm9GNlG/s1600-h/daniel+judson+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413458483937616338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P2rS_s8S-Ghctz95jrpQxPZ6P6hIIsaGWSbyZO0UiQ9Xy1ePdUFcjV4QTFP3AHa8vpGUKNy1S15b0vYpHcbHhIsS4usrlhJS9897dqHlcUtaVeadZinzwFzE0guW_FmbrRbhhCm9GNlG/s400/daniel+judson+bk+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3FEGaSIjfqvuJ1Fbs8dWFToMyNV9A-3L0LExaSyWVyYupeG7DFj0riXyENhbTibBGuJjzWGoKS8nbETuuve9JoTvH7KpF07A2wOFR6FJgtQf9JTlgprrQZX71qMe2h92HMHrlYGO36oW/s1600-h/christ+kuzneski+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413458482311047922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3FEGaSIjfqvuJ1Fbs8dWFToMyNV9A-3L0LExaSyWVyYupeG7DFj0riXyENhbTibBGuJjzWGoKS8nbETuuve9JoTvH7KpF07A2wOFR6FJgtQf9JTlgprrQZX71qMe2h92HMHrlYGO36oW/s400/christ+kuzneski+bk+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOEaaVfar9UJFNnimTnwIazDR4AFUg3JVDU9MrkHmPIVIjOZg_kquxdksFS_NUJ2Tv-L2D-2P3yh34aCDasUsP_ZL2rTuTZcs7Cl23tXJXgtfWQqmRMb2KsKubrbXoBD3CMaouPiXNqBZ/s1600-h/cesar+millan+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413393350725181794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOEaaVfar9UJFNnimTnwIazDR4AFUg3JVDU9MrkHmPIVIjOZg_kquxdksFS_NUJ2Tv-L2D-2P3yh34aCDasUsP_ZL2rTuTZcs7Cl23tXJXgtfWQqmRMb2KsKubrbXoBD3CMaouPiXNqBZ/s400/cesar+millan+bk+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlK8wVqoOhXrY2HiNakKke5igQNDRKE2vcMFKDiaSazxrCUkM3vyekhzUudHMLAyaLS5IqxekIahgwoLdNYtvQl_wbU3Gj6DoWiIGRosZpY0XIjRVFw5It1fXBiMlP9JtqiZUhEU9Jq90/s1600-h/SCOTT+MILLER+PHOTO.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 180px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413393349713325426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlK8wVqoOhXrY2HiNakKke5igQNDRKE2vcMFKDiaSazxrCUkM3vyekhzUudHMLAyaLS5IqxekIahgwoLdNYtvQl_wbU3Gj6DoWiIGRosZpY0XIjRVFw5It1fXBiMlP9JtqiZUhEU9Jq90/s400/SCOTT+MILLER+PHOTO.jpg" /></a>Scott Miller began his publishing career with William Morris Agency, as an agent-in-training. During his stay at the William Morris Agency, he worked with a wide range of authors. The list included celebrated writers such as <strong>Bill Cosby</strong>, Dean Koontz, Jane Evanovich and <strong>Tom Clancy</strong>.<br /><br />From the William Morris Agency he moved to the Trident Media Group literary agency. Initially he worked as assistant to the Chairman of the Board, <strong>Robert Gottlieb</strong>. He later transitioned within the company to literary agent, and within a few months developed an impressive portfolio of major clients to include <strong>New York Times</strong> Best Selling Authors, and award-winning authors.<br /><br />His literary interests encompass a variety of genres. They include commercial fiction (thrillers, crime and mysteries, young adult and children’s books), commercial nonfiction (narrative nonfiction, memoir, current events, military), literary fiction, graphic novels, and books dealing with pop culture (music, film, etc.)<br /><br />Scott Miller’s responsibilities are not limited to literary agent. He also serves as <strong>Vice President</strong> of the Trident Media Group. He is a member in good standing of the <strong>New York State Bar</strong>. He graduated from University of Pennsylvania, and Temple University School of Law.<br /><br /><strong>Trident Media Group Agency</strong> has also <strong>represented</strong> some of the biggest and most prestigious book deals for <strong>celebrities</strong>, including Jerry Seinfeld, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Mel Brooks, Aretha Franklin, Drew Barrymore, Paul Reiser, Brian Wilson, Tony Curtis, Carl Reiner, Mariel Hemingway, and Tony Bennett.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> How do you define a well-crafted commercial fiction? Do you consider commercial fiction as the dessert of all fiction because it sticks to our soul? What is your opinion?<br /><br /><strong>SM: </strong> I have always been a fan of genre fiction and categories of fiction that are commercially successful. My feeling is that the skills and talents of the author writing a terrific crime novel, thriller, women’s fiction, or science fiction novel, are as prodigious and worthwhile as the gifts used in the writing of literary fiction. I have found that great commercial novels can be as resonant for me and as affecting as the literary fiction I have read and loved. Not to mention gripping, exciting, and evocative. <strong>“Commercial fiction”</strong> covers a huge amount of territory: some of it is most concerned with intricate plotting, some with emotional connection to the reader, some with fast-paced forward momentum. But it is always accessible and aimed at moving the reader in some way—whether it be pulling at our heartstrings, scaring us to death, or keeping us up turning the pages late into the night.<br /><br /><strong>E.I. </strong> Your taste in books is obviously eclectic based on the genre categories you are willing to represent, including literary, commercial fiction, thrillers, young adult, narrative nonfiction, current events, literary fiction, graphic novels and books dealing with pop culture. That's a lot to juggle. What particular qualities do you look for in work by a first time writer.<br /><br /><strong>SM: </strong> First and foremost I am looking for a gripping narrative that transports me into another world and keeps me engaged. It helps if the author has a unique idea and setting that publishers feel would be of interest to a wide audience. It also doesn’t hurt if the author has a personal backstory that is relevant to their book, or particular expertise in the subject matter they are writing about. Finally, it is nice when an author has a platform from which to help the publisher promote and publicize the book. <br /><br />To learn more about Scott Miller please visit their <a href="http://www.tridentmediagroup.com/">website</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-82331012204454990402010-01-04T22:17:00.000-08:002010-05-03T12:56:23.196-07:00INTERVIEW: Natalie M. Fischer - Literary Agent, Dijkstra Literary Agency<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_7cJYvkazI1VKcOYqvAeh37pB1uJp2JowXKLi0vnYZ5V79oi6Qo6X1umX1QaCoQQ7oQvQ7Nz5vMUHKPzVs_gTt2Syh5ZB9TZ3POUG3BEptlUhbradYOjm927fwwTgXVBLD268-aY7EYh/s1600-h/diane+mott+davidson.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_7cJYvkazI1VKcOYqvAeh37pB1uJp2JowXKLi0vnYZ5V79oi6Qo6X1umX1QaCoQQ7oQvQ7Nz5vMUHKPzVs_gTt2Syh5ZB9TZ3POUG3BEptlUhbradYOjm927fwwTgXVBLD268-aY7EYh/s320/diane+mott+davidson.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421282370981210498" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkfx0_-OUgqYdb1z406xyrMV8WvGBiNTJQQrY2E0hMuYxeCPDhF4BElIuN1lAQXyglrb6JS-SSPdAwpAJstJZYniE0ZegcWW3gvmp3j6ZWbm8wrizESmoDZB4SDYLNFBuvxh_k4KrV0oM/s1600-h/anchee+Min.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkfx0_-OUgqYdb1z406xyrMV8WvGBiNTJQQrY2E0hMuYxeCPDhF4BElIuN1lAQXyglrb6JS-SSPdAwpAJstJZYniE0ZegcWW3gvmp3j6ZWbm8wrizESmoDZB4SDYLNFBuvxh_k4KrV0oM/s320/anchee+Min.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421282365362320626" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi_aOoiPK_faK9_2rYFNRhNAXxxWSpDV1N5gKl6PMsBoyj-zZ60VLcwidF8WZ71RWLDphYqT78W3aBQELIXqePk4wIgmj_yJ2zmg0J2TmB1Xg4lcsw0vUKsno-NPq8mDO01HtwtNNTIaJ/s1600-h/kate+white+bk+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 184px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi_aOoiPK_faK9_2rYFNRhNAXxxWSpDV1N5gKl6PMsBoyj-zZ60VLcwidF8WZ71RWLDphYqT78W3aBQELIXqePk4wIgmj_yJ2zmg0J2TmB1Xg4lcsw0vUKsno-NPq8mDO01HtwtNNTIaJ/s320/kate+white+bk+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421282361400079330" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UXoXVvfTBL1bBW2FbUw76zSICMhlUUuF59qsL0221pHnWeCki7XvsYV6duHMmBiRoFV6K-uSw0vjOvYmUsbCR96vt08DEVmXS7lrFRPFjsjWP7jUobg_k51Fs7P8OVTxo7jF5rjgWbEn/s1600-h/Amy+Tan+bk+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UXoXVvfTBL1bBW2FbUw76zSICMhlUUuF59qsL0221pHnWeCki7XvsYV6duHMmBiRoFV6K-uSw0vjOvYmUsbCR96vt08DEVmXS7lrFRPFjsjWP7jUobg_k51Fs7P8OVTxo7jF5rjgWbEn/s320/Amy+Tan+bk+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421282357688979074" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMyr_A_6qGcp8nMEO81gcwZPpNY-GkkWZ4ewUTDmw829UkmAZogUhWRUfFe_si_KA2PjGzgfst5l9gR2TvJerriowcL1IFG-v4VRtwQ6op0SYPAp8F0MQswiVlioOC0e66X3ihGK-Y7lD/s1600-h/NataliePic.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMyr_A_6qGcp8nMEO81gcwZPpNY-GkkWZ4ewUTDmw829UkmAZogUhWRUfFe_si_KA2PjGzgfst5l9gR2TvJerriowcL1IFG-v4VRtwQ6op0SYPAp8F0MQswiVlioOC0e66X3ihGK-Y7lD/s320/NataliePic.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421282353734286754" /></a>Natalie M. Fischer is not only a Literary Agent, submissions manager, but she’s also a general office support at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency that handles foreign tax and permission requests.<br /><br />She specializes in quality commercial books, and currently represents authors in the young adult, middle grade, memoir, women’s, romance (both historical and contemporary), multi-cultural and supernatural mystery genres, biography, popular science/culture and literary creative fiction, cross cultural and select paranormal.<br /><br />Ms. Fischer, would like to work with someone who is hard-working, talented new authors with a fresh, unique voice and hook. A former writer herself, she works very closely with her authors, offering editorial advice and support every step of the way. <br /><br />She graduated with honors from the <strong>University of California</strong>, in San Diego with a B.A. in Literature/Writing. Ms. Fischer, worked as an intern at the Dijkstra Agency in 2007. She started as a columnist at the <strong>San Diego Union-Tribune </strong>writing book reviews and author profiles. She recently returned at the beginning of 2009 joining the agency full-time in April and currently still contributes freelance for the Books department at the San Diego Union Tribune. <br /><br />The <strong>Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency </strong>is considered by many to be the <strong>most powerful agency on the West coast</strong>. They have helped to launch the careers of many best-sellers, including Lisa See (Snow Flower and the Secret Fan), Amy Tan (The Joy Luck Club), Diane Mott Davidson (Fatally Flakey), Irvin Yalom (The Schopenhaur Cure), and Stephen Prothero (Religious Literacy). One of their recent titles, The Poison King, by Adriane Mayor, was nominated for a National Book Award. They are one of the few agencies still accepting unsolicited work with open arms, The Dijkstra Agency has had multiple successes from the "slush," including Glenn Cooper's Library of the Dead, which has sold in over 26 countries and is a bestseller in three..<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> If you could choose the perfect manuscript you would want to see pop in through the mail slot tomorrow morning, what elements would it contain?<br /><br /><strong>NF </strong> Our agency represents a wide range of fiction (literary, commercial, mysteries, and thrillers) and non-fiction (history, current events, self-help, memoir, and more), and, currently, we’re particularly interested in finding a fabulous new novel! Our backlist of quality fiction (including <strong>Amy Tan</strong>, Lisa See, Anchee Min, Chitra Divakaruni, Diane Mott Davidson, Kate White, and Glenn Cooper, among others) should give a good example of the types of fiction that most interest us, but we are always open to different types of projects, and hope to be captivated by story and character.<br /><br />The ideal manuscript is well-written, spell-checked, grammatically and stylistically correct (a good look at the format quotations, paragraphs, and italics take in published books is the easiest way to double check yourself), and follows our current <a href="http://www.dijkstraagency.com/submission-guidelines.html">submission guidelines</a> which can be found on our website. We’re looking for fresh ideas, original and engaging plot concepts, AND packaged with an ideal author…a patient, hard-working, professional individual who has an open mind to suggested edits, and who has an understanding of the market.<br /><br />I’m acquiring in several areas, so my perfect manuscript would have (in addition to the qualities above) historical, paranormal, romantic, or young adult/middle grade elements (maybe even all four!). <br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> What qualities must a query letter contain in order to capture your interest?<br /><br /><strong>NF </strong> Simply put, my interest will be captured if the work submitted is what I’m looking for. Hopefully, the author has done his or her homework and researched exactly why I am the best agent for him or her! It makes a huge different to me, or any agent, to see that the author has put in that bit of extra time to personalize the project, and to show he or she has thought seriously about the submission. In turn, I take that submission all the more seriously.<br /><br />A template of a good query letter and advice on how to approach an agent can be found on our website which contains the basic elements of how to look professional and stand out at the same time.<br /><br />On the adverse side, queries that are overly bitter in subject, food-stained, smell of cigarettes, misspell my name or our agency’s name, have a word count above 100,000, or are not letter-opener friendly tend to immediately DE-captivate me…<br />Dijkstra Literary Agency has also represented some of the biggest and most prestigious book deals, including Amy Tan, Lisa See, Anchee Min, Chitra Divakaruni, Diane Mott Davidson, Kate White, and Glenn Cooper, among others.<br /><br />To learn more about Natalie M Fischer, please visit their <a href="www.dijkstraagency.com">website</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-70061826316046784222009-12-31T08:49:00.001-08:002009-12-31T09:00:55.364-08:00HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQGPzVl1R2i4HAqfqc2OYONO0C86pQj6ifZGGJ0n5XgrDZ_DkIx0EqNxxRaXuXxu-3E2GJsDk-kYODJyHmfdUUQLA9R-f2XNeQBlsYAqHRby9wrA8a9zOC5cmQjalGAFb-6HirAyATNel/s1600-h/HAPPY+NEW+YEAR+2010.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421443085600308658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQGPzVl1R2i4HAqfqc2OYONO0C86pQj6ifZGGJ0n5XgrDZ_DkIx0EqNxxRaXuXxu-3E2GJsDk-kYODJyHmfdUUQLA9R-f2XNeQBlsYAqHRby9wrA8a9zOC5cmQjalGAFb-6HirAyATNel/s320/HAPPY+NEW+YEAR+2010.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><strong>As 2009 rushes to meet 2010... it's pop-the-champagne time, cheer-like-mad time... And just be party-harty time! <br /><br />Wishing you all a healthy Happy New Year that's a blast all the way!!!!!!</strong><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-68375803501070486892009-12-27T22:02:00.000-08:002010-05-20T09:55:15.489-07:00INTERVIEW: Anna Webman - Literary Agent Curtis Brown<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE88TZevxW-hkNI0NIW-o2cvujwvFLCQCU35nf_l4OZYpuf1X_0hujGI-6VRWCX6aPjdZA4xUQapkxlvqo5WT-FoedrBsZxtMsNRL8LSaAEeqeKyd4sySG-eY69JxPPE1MbkZ4UsrUNHLO/s1600-h/rebecca+barnhouse+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419434434481098690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE88TZevxW-hkNI0NIW-o2cvujwvFLCQCU35nf_l4OZYpuf1X_0hujGI-6VRWCX6aPjdZA4xUQapkxlvqo5WT-FoedrBsZxtMsNRL8LSaAEeqeKyd4sySG-eY69JxPPE1MbkZ4UsrUNHLO/s400/rebecca+barnhouse+bk+1.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RfDiy825JS-zEMxWyskmydhZ1s0pe6RP2_rx7uZgTtRYJFwiJ_VRCcfqzAPK0631yqF_slw3S5HJsBRKOeblQm9vygxVkoQjU3FbpH6IZiW2DBMWuWCkSSZKk_cejwn2W4hJQkJ0uCl0/s1600-h/AnnaWebman.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417938364589888642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RfDiy825JS-zEMxWyskmydhZ1s0pe6RP2_rx7uZgTtRYJFwiJ_VRCcfqzAPK0631yqF_slw3S5HJsBRKOeblQm9vygxVkoQjU3FbpH6IZiW2DBMWuWCkSSZKk_cejwn2W4hJQkJ0uCl0/s320/AnnaWebman.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25S-uBelvJuqBP2-72h3am9DnoOvAFVWVJ5xGDS6l219PoPGZiCBbWXTmlz7ApvUR2FpbZ8lLQRPjYiTsQ4SW2b2Xfk8TBFw8L7kqWsOyyXF-BWyXRb0hlZBwUGsP3v76B1GOxU5WtJl7/s1600-h/CURTIS+BROWN+LOGO+1A.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 235px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 145px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417938214669722498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25S-uBelvJuqBP2-72h3am9DnoOvAFVWVJ5xGDS6l219PoPGZiCBbWXTmlz7ApvUR2FpbZ8lLQRPjYiTsQ4SW2b2Xfk8TBFw8L7kqWsOyyXF-BWyXRb0hlZBwUGsP3v76B1GOxU5WtJl7/s320/CURTIS+BROWN+LOGO+1A.gif" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1d0REKp_rS6kltBhR9NhwU2lrkV2Xiif5hBpOeqpbeHRXo6ZSv7UqFu9_vYlNf-4GUEHP2YSlm2vGmBALP0ZYQRf8oQV1oLm3p-1bilra5XBLi1EBUYMUiqtSw4sXQI_OinWlGJATRjRA/s1600-h/liz+Conrad+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 185px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419434428771219522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1d0REKp_rS6kltBhR9NhwU2lrkV2Xiif5hBpOeqpbeHRXo6ZSv7UqFu9_vYlNf-4GUEHP2YSlm2vGmBALP0ZYQRf8oQV1oLm3p-1bilra5XBLi1EBUYMUiqtSw4sXQI_OinWlGJATRjRA/s400/liz+Conrad+bk+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-fEhJt1YsBTHFEMczm1Dso8LLmMzvqJoYzRQXLmaSnL4HMsSkBRfoRCzZIVX9r2ES4zj3NlEna3EjUFwLzB_BnIBSGTXcD51tAnnLbUZOGSGETM3-lD6KnalKV_ErjqNYlblEAjYcq1y/s1600-h/Liz+Goulet+Dubois.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419434430358909890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-fEhJt1YsBTHFEMczm1Dso8LLmMzvqJoYzRQXLmaSnL4HMsSkBRfoRCzZIVX9r2ES4zj3NlEna3EjUFwLzB_BnIBSGTXcD51tAnnLbUZOGSGETM3-lD6KnalKV_ErjqNYlblEAjYcq1y/s400/Liz+Goulet+Dubois.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeeojs0h15FI_E5gjpAU3R1Ytfxucp7lA_mB8jsigy2hGH8ncOmqWxOpLtZh7xVw3xT0bnLfpeojT60aLULDcbmXM67R3eGT7fwz-Et8_pKr9Ddwl_yrce8qGOCG5L5CWLmcuR-TrL_69/s1600-h/Erin+Eitter+Kono+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419434427488296386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeeojs0h15FI_E5gjpAU3R1Ytfxucp7lA_mB8jsigy2hGH8ncOmqWxOpLtZh7xVw3xT0bnLfpeojT60aLULDcbmXM67R3eGT7fwz-Et8_pKr9Ddwl_yrce8qGOCG5L5CWLmcuR-TrL_69/s400/Erin+Eitter+Kono+bk+1.jpg" /></a><br />Anna Webman began at Curtis Brown working with Elizabeth Harding. She represents a range of young adult, middle-grade, picture-book authors, illustrators, published and new, working to help them build successful publishing careers. <br /><br />She always is on the lookout for first-time authors and illustrators. Anna's ideal picture book would be a character-driven, energetic story that kids (and their parents) won't tire of reading. She particularly is interested in voice-driven realistic fiction, with both historical and contemporary settings, and would love to find a young middle-grade series. Anna graduated from The George Washington University and lives in Manhattan with her rescue dog Vinny. <br /><br />Please feel free to query Anna with a synopsis and the first ten pages of your book or the full manuscript text for a picture book pasted (no attachments, please) in the body of your email.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> If an author is a terrific writer and has a voice or perspective or style that's not been seen before, is there a far greater chance the author will have a place in the literary market even though it’s true that first time authors is hard to get a first book published? Will you be able to present the author as a fresh profile to the media provided that you're presenting a compelling read?<br /><br /><strong>AJW:</strong> Personally, I am always on the lookout for fresh voices, unforgettable storytelling or what might be the next hot topic. In fact, the majority of my clients are first time or relatively new authors whose work attracted my attention because they offered something different or new. It is exciting to discover new authors and illustrators, and I’ve found that editors and publishers are equally excited to find and develop new talent. Otherwise, I think the industry would become stale and predictable. I’m not sure that you could characterize such an author as having a “far greater chance” at having a first book published, but being able to launch a new author does provide additional opportunities for the publisher and in the media. It certainly is a selling point to be able to say “first-time” or “debut” or something similar. And of course, it all depends on the quality of the writing.<br /><br /><strong>E.I. </strong> Is it true that quite a few good prose writers, they are able to create artful shorts--and not have to worry about such issues as uneven pacing or overuse of adverbs--they fumble with the novel hook, setting, conflict, and such as that. Given this circumstance, what MUST they do to get you to read to page fifty and beyond? <br /> <br /><strong>AJW:</strong> If you want me to ask for page fifty-one, you have to impress me with either appealing characters or a plot that leaves me wondering what comes next. But again, either way, the first thing I look for when reading a partial or complete manuscript is solid writing. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter that you can masterfully write vignettes if the arc of the story is nonexistent, or if there’s gorgeous imagery in your writing, but there are no compelling characters and the story doesn’t progress. <br /><br />Obviously, I am used to seeing unfinished manuscripts, so if there are flaws in a manuscript, but I love the writing, then I often will send editorial notes to the author with my suggestions and offer to read a revised version. Often, such correspondence leads to more editorial exchanges and it is a very good way for me to see how an author and potential client approaches their work. <br /><br />Photo of Anna Webman by Wendy Robinson<br /><br />To learn more about Anna Webman, please visit their <a href="http://www.curtisbrown.com/">website</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-22979714084620216802009-12-25T07:00:00.000-08:002009-12-25T23:03:19.364-08:00HAPPY HOLIDAYS<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3qBtGo-gQRnvPsotmUmVdhUG3KlsZv-GCAoVeM0fJkzHAaishrbPOvzA3yzb2LNWeruKsu-AGVCft3K-d5FoWq4ON6a3shJifPknjEwoJi3vXbIBlfiVk9-6y0IYk6tTADBuV_EE5BKc/s1600-h/iStock_000010235911Medium+TROPICAL+X+MAS.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3qBtGo-gQRnvPsotmUmVdhUG3KlsZv-GCAoVeM0fJkzHAaishrbPOvzA3yzb2LNWeruKsu-AGVCft3K-d5FoWq4ON6a3shJifPknjEwoJi3vXbIBlfiVk9-6y0IYk6tTADBuV_EE5BKc/s400/iStock_000010235911Medium+TROPICAL+X+MAS.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419304853555635682" /></a><br /><br /><strong>I hope that you are all celebrating with your friends and family this holiday season.<br /><br />I'd like to thank each and everyone for your support and generosity. It has been a joy to work with all of you in person and online. <br /><br />All your wonderful messages and efforts in getting involved with my blog meant the world to me. I'm deeply grateful to all of you.<br /><br />Best wishes, peace and joy of the holiday season be with you all throughout the coming year.<br /><br />HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE !!!!!!!!</strong><blockquote></blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-91941734788129029072009-12-21T20:18:00.000-08:002010-01-24T16:14:03.274-08:00INTERVIEW: Linda T. Franklin, Editor<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZe6-Kj4i62lQt15zlOXtYyYnywJhGlUZCQUIIpgi-aBHtI4HzIXXpN6UhrhTpzp34sEsGzdw3CVl458IdYgd3yo_lRp896B7_9SwsnwDKN8rNbNcpdaTB_9yXGjvP1ONNPyT-3GhlQgu/s1600-h/STEFFAN+POSTAER.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417933554738479874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZe6-Kj4i62lQt15zlOXtYyYnywJhGlUZCQUIIpgi-aBHtI4HzIXXpN6UhrhTpzp34sEsGzdw3CVl458IdYgd3yo_lRp896B7_9SwsnwDKN8rNbNcpdaTB_9yXGjvP1ONNPyT-3GhlQgu/s320/STEFFAN+POSTAER.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhh5GpicUkgMlB4jyvPuhmGIRkLItHSnk2gIEq12UChtbIQPlrFTpG4gFDFofh8KSD-Cm0MjYnA-BegqE7tSCk3LJEZWLsFElTcFlEGTW4q7-uELmJSTKBW42wTogLAKckpLCiOxdJNdI5/s1600-h/phillip+metcalf.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 275px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417933549274681314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhh5GpicUkgMlB4jyvPuhmGIRkLItHSnk2gIEq12UChtbIQPlrFTpG4gFDFofh8KSD-Cm0MjYnA-BegqE7tSCk3LJEZWLsFElTcFlEGTW4q7-uELmJSTKBW42wTogLAKckpLCiOxdJNdI5/s320/phillip+metcalf.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8z5gnfgEoww/SzBc_JQb8lI/AAAAAAAACgY/j0P6QbjKdHY/1600-h/ALEXANDRE+%26+SONIA+POUSSIN.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417932591613080146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21qE7a8CrgSG7usDWF-6iQgSg57j3IdwhrwbZ4eN7OfgVMC_PdoFP-T2-1cbaak3Lk_JQD-_6KDrfA5_ISkpHFC7gakLORTjeLh31oLe5sSgOBM6y9SlDuodOjdITMDEKqrWEHdbTs_50/s320/ALEXANDRE+%26+SONIA+POUSSIN.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZuhOOyAU8YDVQ46fH0WHprbWaheAkrrwogLBLTO4ZoJOVthfa82Pe4FrqqFJa3MJno6lqlI7NdbkoU7D8nTOC_O696k0G1luIBK9VI5-J17fJIAPdmHBEQVsOycAXYmAWkY8R1a7q7ZD/s1600-h/ROSCOE+ORMAN.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417932589381076226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZuhOOyAU8YDVQ46fH0WHprbWaheAkrrwogLBLTO4ZoJOVthfa82Pe4FrqqFJa3MJno6lqlI7NdbkoU7D8nTOC_O696k0G1luIBK9VI5-J17fJIAPdmHBEQVsOycAXYmAWkY8R1a7q7ZD/s320/ROSCOE+ORMAN.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2aYBUVEaGRA2ONbOFT_qRWmR5t1bRriEFLc9N1vogOnokiNYuShqyUCfvwTo7pFGCkkhI2i7sK6ikhZDQlakRQDblG2ifympFmFyf5__6RRMPnOj54ulkBZgeliv29EzWOxTWYR3UIPA/s1600-h/9781592993130.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2aYBUVEaGRA2ONbOFT_qRWmR5t1bRriEFLc9N1vogOnokiNYuShqyUCfvwTo7pFGCkkhI2i7sK6ikhZDQlakRQDblG2ifympFmFyf5__6RRMPnOj54ulkBZgeliv29EzWOxTWYR3UIPA/s320/9781592993130.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419039674204172450" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wejQ3z-F4akji-DNCvopVgYXVShsQveM5cTKwDXP9S7U6k8iixmLfJAF2hsawrPuBgQx974b3tFZkOZB8IODTwSQNCmYe-oUcYOz4zZkQ0qpusuozH7qNqikSrAfMLVnWImuccCwV6AC/s1600-h/dave+fox+bk+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wejQ3z-F4akji-DNCvopVgYXVShsQveM5cTKwDXP9S7U6k8iixmLfJAF2hsawrPuBgQx974b3tFZkOZB8IODTwSQNCmYe-oUcYOz4zZkQ0qpusuozH7qNqikSrAfMLVnWImuccCwV6AC/s320/dave+fox+bk+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419039685595196098" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEoFXO0g14TY7c4Dl2RaNRqFVuIvUTuENX0ft3O3ZcdAXV-e0brlPKW5FBIYG-JboQC2dVyaM8J6VM5zMgMUArubFKwoxceT9fLdKOG8x-S_1ZyCh5zuJMsE1xezv_x1tp3dVlXtlXHWP/s1600-h/LINDA+FRANKLIN+PHOTO+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 177px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417932584547067234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEoFXO0g14TY7c4Dl2RaNRqFVuIvUTuENX0ft3O3ZcdAXV-e0brlPKW5FBIYG-JboQC2dVyaM8J6VM5zMgMUArubFKwoxceT9fLdKOG8x-S_1ZyCh5zuJMsE1xezv_x1tp3dVlXtlXHWP/s320/LINDA+FRANKLIN+PHOTO+1.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1955, Linda graduated from <strong>Yale University </strong>with a B.A. in English (cum laude) in 1976. She began working as a proofreader/copyeditor for Peterson’s Guides in Princeton immediately upon graduation, and then worked as a production editor for Boston University Publications from 1978 to 1981. Returning to the Philadelphia area in 1981, she became Medical Dictionary Editor, and then Developmental Editor for Medical Acquisitions, for F.A. Davis Co., medical publishers. <br /><br />She moved to the Portland, Oregon, area along with her then-husband Jon and their four-year-old daughter, Wendy, in 1989. In Oregon, she worked as a freelance editor, mostly on medical/nursing/allied health books and on engineering reports. In addition to working at a local bookstore, she volunteered extensively in several local school districts for 15 years, delivered for Meals on Wheels (along with her daughter) for five years, and participated in two book clubs, the latter of which she was a founder and still serves as unofficial secretary, now in its 13th year. <br /><br />She began working as Editor for First Books and Inkwater Press in 2004, where she edits fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children’s books. She also continues to work as a freelance editor, where she uses her experience in helping authors at all stages of development and editing. Her goal is to polish authors' work--so that it is in the best shape possible for submission to agents, publishers, contests, or for self-publication.<br /><br />A crucial side-benefit of Linda’s work for Inkwater Press was her meeting and falling in love with Howard G. Franklin, an Inkwater author, as they worked together on his book An Irish Experience, published in 2008. They married in June of 2008, and continue to collaborate in life, love, and literature, editing, revising, and polishing Howard’s books of poetry and fiction. <br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> Please tell our readers how long have you been editing adult fiction and nonfiction, children’s books and education materials? What was your process in editing as freelance editor?<br /><br /><strong>LTF:</strong> Having always been one of those (perhaps annoying) people who pick out and complain about misspellings and grammatical errors (it’s not our fault, the errors jump up and point themselves out!), I early on thought that I would enjoy being an editor. And so, upon my graduation from Yale in 1976 (to be honest, it was a week before my graduation, but I was allowed to take a day off to go back to New Haven for the ceremony), I began working as a proofreader/copyeditor. And have never wanted to do anything else.<br /><br />As far as my editing, whether freelance or for a publisher, my process is essentially the same. I try to determine what the author wants/needs--there’s a huge difference between the different types of editing. Usually, I am copyediting a manuscript, although sometimes there is developmental work needed beforehand. Mainly, I am very respectful of my authors, and I will generally edit relatively lightly unless they’re open to a heavier hand. I try to make their manuscripts the best they can possibly be. I value consistency, which is often an issue. Because an author may have spent years writing his or her manuscript, over the course of time details (and his or her memory) can become blurred, and so names change, dates are inconsistent, etc. Because I am able to take a fresh look at the manuscript, over a short period, I can see those name discrepancies, chronological inconsistencies, and other leaps of illogic, and correct them.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> Do you think it’s a mistake for a fiction writer to start his / her opening chapter without introducing the protagonist until the third chapter? Should there be set of rules or strategy?<br /><br /><strong>LTF: </strong> I’m not a great believer in rules for writing (now grammar, of course, is a different story, although even with grammar rules, there are times and places when it’s important to break the rules). These days, especially, so many different and innovative kinds of writing are finding audiences and widespread acceptance. Generally, I would prefer for the protagonist to be introduced in the first chapter or two, and I believe most readers would agree. But if the first two chapters are compelling, and there is good reason to delay the introduction, I don’t think it’s necessarily a mistake.<br /> <br /><strong>E.I.</strong> The voice or personality of a writer is critical because voice can’t be helped or changed. Some take years to get it, others never do – so do you agree that an author either have one you like or you don’t have it can still be a good writer? Do you advise them on what to do to make their book a bestseller?<br /><br /><strong>LTF: </strong> I do believe that voice is critical. Again, however, different readers may respond to different voices, so it’s not necessary for ME to like your voice; there are still readers who might love it. What is more important is for the voice to be clear and strong, but I agree that it’s hard to “teach” that. <br />I absolutely don’t advise authors on what they can do to make their book a bestseller. Publishing is a very tough business, and so much depends on luck (and MARKETING). Plus, having a name like Stephen King or Dan Brown doesn’t hurt either. All I can do is advise on how to make the book as good as it possibly can be, which may include what would make it more commercially acceptable, but how to achieve bestsellerhood…I wish I knew. <br /><br /><strong>E.I. </strong> When you start editing a manuscript, what are you looking for in an author? Press worthy, Promote-ability or the voice and personality of their writing.<br /><br /><strong>LTF: </strong> That’s a very good question. First, I would have to say, I’m looking for writing that I like. Which can mean different things--sometimes it’s just beautiful writing, masterful use of words and phrases. Sometimes it’s a great plot, sometimes it’s incredible character development. Just as readers have different tastes, so do editors. So while I tend to prefer more plot-driven books that are well-written, I enjoy editing all sorts of writing. It’s certainly helpful if the book is easily promotable because of its distinctive voice, outstanding writing, gripping plot, etc. But so much of “promotion” depends on the willingness of the author to go the extra mile, to promote him- or herself through author appearances, networking, blogging, getting out there in the world! <br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> What is your single-best, most-important, can’t-live-without writing tip you would offer to aspiring writers? <br /><br /><strong>LTF:</strong> To borrow a phrase from Nike, Just do it! Don’t talk about how you’d like to do it, when you finally have the time and space and just the right set-up. Just do it. And then do it again. And let it sit, revisit it, revise it, polish it. And be open to criticism. I believe that many aspiring writers can learn a great deal from joining a writers’ group or workshop, where they critique each others’ ongoing work. These days, the groups can even be virtual, over the internet, so there’s no age or geographical impediment to joining and benefiting from a writers’ group.<br /> <br />Photo of Linda T. Franklin by Donna Kleinman<br /><br />To learn more about Linda T. Franklin, please visit her <a href="http://lindatfranklin.com/services.asp">website</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-80853206550364858212009-12-11T13:28:00.000-08:002009-12-15T17:22:13.066-08:00INTERVIEW: Kate Epstein - Founder and President of "The Epstein Literary Agency<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hBqdjmTzDRo1sqbc-tAB0GzaKIreHWtyRP1TvBG7vHpzbBB0loR_zuMS8P-8OQ5yaFZON1zR24-FT6G_BF9p3JftRuI0BdXXvpN_RO9wJ3y13uKq-h_Fem-WQMK-XeuXgvQOFsRjbwzN/s1600-h/kate-epstein-head-shot1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hBqdjmTzDRo1sqbc-tAB0GzaKIreHWtyRP1TvBG7vHpzbBB0loR_zuMS8P-8OQ5yaFZON1zR24-FT6G_BF9p3JftRuI0BdXXvpN_RO9wJ3y13uKq-h_Fem-WQMK-XeuXgvQOFsRjbwzN/s320/kate-epstein-head-shot1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415212738196122338" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AaRn5KIyuKOP8bljNf3ZuVavZsaCZuDbk3zA2R5avHGyykxgxyvg_VPO84XZSIyg_rTg6roj7Q_eQdbMJIONBluTbJLPShZ8z3rf7l8PtQaozbQFzBFh94yrLt1PSJWn_lY18_3miLuS/s1600-h/judy+davids+bk+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 183px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AaRn5KIyuKOP8bljNf3ZuVavZsaCZuDbk3zA2R5avHGyykxgxyvg_VPO84XZSIyg_rTg6roj7Q_eQdbMJIONBluTbJLPShZ8z3rf7l8PtQaozbQFzBFh94yrLt1PSJWn_lY18_3miLuS/s320/judy+davids+bk+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415212746884360786" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2u_RvOKWApXUNByXH9rgVvJoGPds50frIsLKQjA2u0PGXHFJiLMw71IU1334ZAL8BMOuqYxf7YHL7m7Bcl4gFPYsvNf4hHGP39Mj5Z0kCb11qjq-ikuZdT7A2wdvKRLmhgN0G1k8LW7Yc/s1600-h/kathyrn+lynard+soper.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2u_RvOKWApXUNByXH9rgVvJoGPds50frIsLKQjA2u0PGXHFJiLMw71IU1334ZAL8BMOuqYxf7YHL7m7Bcl4gFPYsvNf4hHGP39Mj5Z0kCb11qjq-ikuZdT7A2wdvKRLmhgN0G1k8LW7Yc/s320/kathyrn+lynard+soper.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415212744407417634" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkIdb8VR54kwVwNqF8LgcUKCkeCy8GqkPQaNDxNIXWYG3OvSNtT1fd2Xqpm7j6yBUTaXYtLQ41XC047PB8b5jDxcBECWzifPpW7joscwrE0TfVDR6dgtvkX_yggP0ja4aCmgnV1m3rHzn/s1600-h/dusty+rainbolt+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415209400713445522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkIdb8VR54kwVwNqF8LgcUKCkeCy8GqkPQaNDxNIXWYG3OvSNtT1fd2Xqpm7j6yBUTaXYtLQ41XC047PB8b5jDxcBECWzifPpW7joscwrE0TfVDR6dgtvkX_yggP0ja4aCmgnV1m3rHzn/s320/dusty+rainbolt+bk+1.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBFF7kXLaOK1Quyx1BNu_igOuIaa6llMFBZW7tdkkxF6nVeG28lx6cTIXCR9q2CBRQIucV9ct8iKH0dqfcCoKlXKoeNz9Q7sOflyrcU0cUeHg0uiBhyphenhyphenMOGfQZA2EKvf5S0DDQLnOXPZBT/s1600-h/jeff+alexander+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415209392581485330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBFF7kXLaOK1Quyx1BNu_igOuIaa6llMFBZW7tdkkxF6nVeG28lx6cTIXCR9q2CBRQIucV9ct8iKH0dqfcCoKlXKoeNz9Q7sOflyrcU0cUeHg0uiBhyphenhyphenMOGfQZA2EKvf5S0DDQLnOXPZBT/s320/jeff+alexander+bk+1.jpg" /></a>As the founder and President of a boutique agency, <strong>“The Epstein Literary Agency”, </strong>Kate Epstein represents authors of commercial nonfiction written for adults. As an agent, she works closely with authors that have been uplifting story to sell.<br /><br />After several years at Adams Media which is a publishing company, she opened her own literary agency in October of 2005. She is a member of the <strong>Association of Authors' Representatives</strong>. She also participates in writer's conferences from time to time, and values the opportunity to meet writers and share her opinions about the business of publishing.<br /><br />Her particular areas of interest include pets, memoir, business, health, and lifestyles. Ms. Epstein holds a B.A. with Highest Honors in English from the <strong>University of Michigan</strong>.<br /><br />Her notable clients list includes:<br /><br />Jeff Alexander<br />Peter Allison,<br />Mary Beth Temple,<br />Dusty Rainbolt,<br />Judy Davids,<br />Kathryn Lynard Soper<br /><br /><strong>E.I. </strong> If you were to make a list of things a writer should not do when querying an agent, what would be on that list?<br /><br /><strong>K.E.</strong> Don’t tell me why you wrote your book—tell me why someone would want to read it. <br /><br />Don’t tell me that people you know all loved the book and thought it would sell. I wish that I could put faith in those people as I realize they are the cheapest advice you can get, but I’m afraid that you get what you pay for. Most people are <br />(1) just being nice and telling you what they know you want to hear, or (2) interested in the book only if they know the writer, or (3) not really thinking through whether they would seek out a book in the bookstore or actually pay money for it. The remainder may well be wrong. This kind of polling is utterly useless. <br /><br />Don’t go on too long. A few paragraphs will do. Usually about three. <br /><br />Don’t keep me in suspense. Tell me about your platform and tell me what your book argues. Sometimes people tell me the problem they see but not the solution they propose. If people don’t tell me about their platforms I assume they don’t have them. A platform is how you’re going to generate attention and sales for your book. <br /><br />Don’t let it bother you that your query fails to give me the full scope of the book. If you are pursuing publication, you might as well get used to that, as everything that sells a book is by definition shorter than the book—the title, the back cover copy, the catalog copy (even a movie, which is perhaps a two-hour commercial for a book, is generally a condensation). You’re just going to have to figure out how to photograph your project’s best side so I want to see it from every angle.<br /><br />Don’t specify that you are open to editorial direction. I assume that you are open to it—if you find that you and I share a vision for your book. Being too open signifies not having a vision for your book, and I think your audience will pick up on that. You can change your vision, but have one. <br /><br />Don’t query before you’re ready. It’s very annoying to request a proposal and then be told it’s not ready. If you’re writing fiction, finish your manuscript first. <br />Don’t put moving parts in your query. They never show up right and they’re just irritating and your manuscript will not have moving parts, so your ability to create them is irrelevant. Worst of all, they look like spam. Don’t use fancy fonts. Font selection for your book is not your job. <br /><br />Don’t ignore the directions on an agent’s website.<br /><br />Don’t assume that agents know everything. We do our best, for our own sakes if no other. If you can’t get an agent right now, the problem could be with us instead of you. Keep writing if you love it.<br /><br />Finally, don’t forget to be professional. Personally I’m fine with being addressed by my first name, and I don’t need the kinds of headers you use on a business letter. However proofreading and taking a professional tone are vital—being funny is great but being rude or whiny is not. Let your query show me that you’ll be pleasant to work with. About proofreading, I’m pretty friendly to people writing a follow-up email saying “gosh I’m embarrassed I misspelled foreword, please overlook it” though I can’t say whether I speak for all agents. To my mind, if writers were perfect proofreaders we wouldn’t need copyeditors or proofreaders. <br /><br /><strong>E.I. </strong> What is your single-best, most-important, can’t-live-without writing tip you would offer to aspiring writers?<br /><br /><strong>K.E.</strong> My number one tip is read. Read as much as you can. Read the books in the genre you want to write especially, and especially new releases, and pay attention to what works. Writing for publication is all about the audience, and the way to understand your audience is to join the club. Reading is part of your job as a writer—but only do it if it’s fun, and for God’s sake put down a book if it isn’t fun. If reading the genre you want to write isn’t fun you’re probably writing the wrong genre. Find another.<br /><br />Photo of Kate Epstein by Ethan Handelman<br /><br />To learn more about Kate Epstein, please visit her <a href="http://www.epsteinliterary.com/about.html">WEBSITE</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-69092421241280819502009-12-07T14:23:00.000-08:002009-12-15T17:23:09.150-08:00INTERVIEW: Jon Sternfeld - Agent - Irene Goodman Agency<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_WyZeKhTMW2dLA4WyuCD-LEdXomn35p-P5eqYq12ij4eqCAwLmzu9meW1raL4Y44y3xuUtuvpXh8qEJWDREWVo01LQnQy79XAU-ApXe3NOodI1ARcYr6i7dLEKOM4MkXo3Qa9G32nMWy/s1600-h/Biopicture_edited.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 258px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415636716199536834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_WyZeKhTMW2dLA4WyuCD-LEdXomn35p-P5eqYq12ij4eqCAwLmzu9meW1raL4Y44y3xuUtuvpXh8qEJWDREWVo01LQnQy79XAU-ApXe3NOodI1ARcYr6i7dLEKOM4MkXo3Qa9G32nMWy/s320/Biopicture_edited.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyvJAhEMuohCaO0t08ngDOW0uiCocUigDWTyDm-N6V1xrGwa0Zo05sVsXXwmhsoOduTfvfgYS7cEp_uYzmV6CiwxAyDUDxab7R-IvFejzXgZ4PrCJ_T9jvaEe_f7RHLidMA5k5w3hb_rD/s1600-h/IRENE+GOODMAN+AGENCY+LOGO.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 59px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415221757179622290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyvJAhEMuohCaO0t08ngDOW0uiCocUigDWTyDm-N6V1xrGwa0Zo05sVsXXwmhsoOduTfvfgYS7cEp_uYzmV6CiwxAyDUDxab7R-IvFejzXgZ4PrCJ_T9jvaEe_f7RHLidMA5k5w3hb_rD/s320/IRENE+GOODMAN+AGENCY+LOGO.jpg" /></a>Jon Sternfeld is a native of New Jersey and joined the Irene Goodman Agency after working both in the creative and development sides of the film industry.<br /><br />He was the fastest to get promoted from assistant to agent in such a short time in the history of the company.<br /><br />He’s actively seeking new clients and he’s interests includes narrative non-fiction that focuses on cultural, historical and social issues, occasional memoir, as well as pop culture and current affairs book.<br /><br />Here are three of his clients books which is coming out spring of 2010:<br />David Chura's <strong>I DON'T WISH NOBODY TO HAVE A LIFE LIKE MINE</strong> (Beacon Press), a narrative non-fiction account of a teacher working with juveniles in an adult prison. (Cover photo attached)<br /><br />Paul Grossman's <strong>THE SLEEPWALKERS</strong> (St. Martin's Press), a Nazi-era thriller that takes place in the final days of the Weimar Republic. (Cover is not ready yet).<br /><br />Bill Smoot's <strong>CONVERSATIONS WITH GREAT TEACHERS</strong>, an interview collection in the tradition of Studs Terkel that looks at teachers from all walks of life.<br /><br />He is also interested in intelligent literary fiction that has a large, ambitious canvas exploring a time, place or culture, high-end modern fiction.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> Will you explain to our readers how you make contact with an editor at a major house once you have a manuscript you are excited about? Can you tell us so that we can understand the role of an agent? Do you send an editor a formal proposal of some type? Or do you just pick up the phone? Does it vary from house to house, press to press?<br /><br /><strong>J. S.</strong> Over time, you develop enough of a relationship with like-minded editors (usually through lunches or through pitching them projects) that you just know who is right for which project. When I first started, I had to 'cold call' a lot of editors (usually on referral from other agents or editors), but now they know me and I can email them a short pitch letter and ask if they want to see the full manuscript. 98% of the time they do; sometimes, for reasons out of my control, they don't. Having 'go-to' editors for certain projects helps the pitch process go more smoothly. I keep a meticulous notebook of which editors have bought which projects (or what they are looking for) and I consult it regularly.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> How do you view the market for first novels in the literary mainstream genre and literary fiction? Does the culture at your agency differ from other agencies with respect to giving a serious look at first-time authors?<br /><br /><strong>J.S.</strong> It's always going to be tougher to sell literary fiction clients, especially debut authors. I am a big champion of young, literary writers and a lot of editors are as well, it's just so difficult to launch new authors that their book has to be jaw-droppingly good - both in story and in voice.<br /><br />At our agency, Irene lets all the agents go with their gut and seek out the most talented writers we can find. I have no problem looking at first-time novelists, but if someone is past a certain age and they've never written anything (or tried to get stories/articles published) that usually tells me something about their commitment.<br /><br />Photo of Jon Sternfeld by Lydia Sternfeld<br /><br />To learn more about Jon Sternfeld, please visit their <a href="http://www.irenegoodman.com/">WEBSITE</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-64438412629941993022009-12-04T15:16:00.000-08:002009-12-29T13:54:23.455-08:00INTERVIEW: Alex Glass - Agent - Trident Media Group<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwRJd8j3JVaeII2InH6BXNgJi5-hetLRPViRgy80aqSfWheHXDZxGrSTczUSEASdp_OvVdyCjDqJChEzRUksBE1zhU0ihXeauttcPjRn6E8sCRuO34V1N5QrAxxwMb4xH9v66pXmmbkBh/s1600-h/Erick+Setiawan+bk+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwRJd8j3JVaeII2InH6BXNgJi5-hetLRPViRgy80aqSfWheHXDZxGrSTczUSEASdp_OvVdyCjDqJChEzRUksBE1zhU0ihXeauttcPjRn6E8sCRuO34V1N5QrAxxwMb4xH9v66pXmmbkBh/s320/Erick+Setiawan+bk+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416444141757487826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcblnz2fONWB3oWm30oNchYaBRZXTknnmcrGtltFpaqO2oixiD7plwGCZTXPIw9LYpGtNZH5GbUNoWH0X97pwoTZvCeAQVbXA9McRHvo1ik7NBzEbHXbmEpo1lIG4Og9ie1DCRKNSiPPKO/s1600-h/Chad+Kultgen+bk+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcblnz2fONWB3oWm30oNchYaBRZXTknnmcrGtltFpaqO2oixiD7plwGCZTXPIw9LYpGtNZH5GbUNoWH0X97pwoTZvCeAQVbXA9McRHvo1ik7NBzEbHXbmEpo1lIG4Og9ie1DCRKNSiPPKO/s320/Chad+Kultgen+bk+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416444130973590850" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjd444bmPLE2BS9aKEn83Cf8z4S2Pvy40kOOQJRabrzopGi7fuyTUgor52B9V-X_Npl8YMA2E-uWuGSoyZLM9U_wijYCB3L-s-lt4o_uVS52yOVvKI7fj9rZsNpPTp1JI5VHOWu6MrfRy/s1600-h/katherine+marsh+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415247271327631554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjd444bmPLE2BS9aKEn83Cf8z4S2Pvy40kOOQJRabrzopGi7fuyTUgor52B9V-X_Npl8YMA2E-uWuGSoyZLM9U_wijYCB3L-s-lt4o_uVS52yOVvKI7fj9rZsNpPTp1JI5VHOWu6MrfRy/s320/katherine+marsh+bk+1.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwVwuo6n4e7ERDnRsNmy37VJa0z-hCvJbU4jpHLlnt0Eu6tMhYKCfv6n4AE2vLr3cMUvvpzyEg-p4iJf8GHUoEg5B6tB88PbPv80AS0FyL2lwgDM7lB62zg1OOnUSgzs_ctnKcAIFD90o/s1600-h/da+chen+bk+2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwVwuo6n4e7ERDnRsNmy37VJa0z-hCvJbU4jpHLlnt0Eu6tMhYKCfv6n4AE2vLr3cMUvvpzyEg-p4iJf8GHUoEg5B6tB88PbPv80AS0FyL2lwgDM7lB62zg1OOnUSgzs_ctnKcAIFD90o/s320/da+chen+bk+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416444136332036210" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKvURO1HpiyXpxZrgTpvomDPY1_KWYM-83NwkVMqbXEeV9NRaoU7ktxpCshDw8Y8ZVMy5vdW8R20xJHimPsrPkLsA9yK_bNkzcfCSg3y7I36XGnoCjULPiRmvcymBjMW-At3tq62ZJ9IV/s1600-h/brian+m+wiprud.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 170px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415245866855518914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKvURO1HpiyXpxZrgTpvomDPY1_KWYM-83NwkVMqbXEeV9NRaoU7ktxpCshDw8Y8ZVMy5vdW8R20xJHimPsrPkLsA9yK_bNkzcfCSg3y7I36XGnoCjULPiRmvcymBjMW-At3tq62ZJ9IV/s320/brian+m+wiprud.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwnDstajCiMsL_0RLbScCBhyphenhyphenYiMLsrI22mqrNDIdr0gO9Z5L8pwLyZgGfFo0HTRV5gEW8WJcIymGmBQHNi66y6BKS49eseqMfM7YS0rYHl1C0zdp-vYWxwG4Lse-wmdYk5m2ot2dxOPcT/s1600-h/alex+glass+photo.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 180px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 203px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415245860773663154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwnDstajCiMsL_0RLbScCBhyphenhyphenYiMLsrI22mqrNDIdr0gO9Z5L8pwLyZgGfFo0HTRV5gEW8WJcIymGmBQHNi66y6BKS49eseqMfM7YS0rYHl1C0zdp-vYWxwG4Lse-wmdYk5m2ot2dxOPcT/s320/alex+glass+photo.jpg" /></a>Alex Glass began his publishing career at the Putnam Berkley Publishing Group. He served three years in the <strong>National Endowment for the Arts, Marketing</strong> & literature department where he helped award over seventy federal grants to American writers.<br /><br />He came to <strong>Trident Media</strong> as an assistant of <strong>Chairman Robert Gottlieb's</strong> in 2001. He was promoted to literary agent shortly thereafter.<br /><br />Mr. Glass has a BA in political science from <strong>Johns Hopkins</strong> and an <strong>MFA</strong> in creative writing from <strong>American University</strong>.<br /><br /><strong>He is looking for:</strong> debut literary fiction, crime fiction and literary thrillers, middle grade and young adult fiction, and pop culture, humor, and narrative nonfiction.<br /><br /><strong>NOT</strong> looking for: Romance, science fiction, unsolicited picture books for children<br /><br />His clients list includes national best selling authors and award-winning authors. His client’s books have been sold to the movies, television, and to foreign publishers around the world.<br /><br />SOME OF HIS NOTABLE CLIENTS:<br /><br />Matt Bondurant - International best selling author<br /><br />Katherine Marsh - Edgar Award-winning author<br /><br />Da Chen - New York Times best selling novelist and memoirist<br /><br />Mark Bavaro - NFL legend (ROUGH AND TUMBLE),<br /><br />Ellen Raskin - Newbery Award-winner<br /><br />Brian M. Wiprud - Award-winning mystery writer<br /><br /><strong>Trident Media Group Agency</strong> has also <strong>represented</strong> some of the biggest and most prestigious book deals for <strong>celebrities</strong>, including Jerry Seinfeld, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Mel Brooks, Aretha Franklin, Drew Barrymore, Paul Reiser, Brian Wilson, Tony Curtis, Carl Reiner, Mariel Hemingway, and Tony Bennett.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> In your opinion, is it a mistake to believe that the opening chapter can be successful in a third-person omniscient narrative, without introducing the protagonist and without a single line of dialogue until the very end of the chapter? <br /><br /><strong>A.G.</strong> No, it is not a mistake to believe that. I would never set up rules for fiction like that; authors have played with conventions in many unusual ways to good result. This particular strategy sounds difficult to pull off, and it’s not something I’d advise everyone to try, but I wouldn’t want to say that it couldn’t be successful. <br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> If an agent is interested in a manuscript, he'll sometimes ask for an exclusive read. What does an exclusive read mean for both the agent and the writer? Under what circumstances might an agent request an exclusive read?<br /><br /><strong>A.G.</strong> I ask for exclusive reads sometimes, when a manuscript sounds like an especially good fit for my list and I want to read it quickly. Usually when I do so, I will ask for a two-week exclusive read. An author should only grant an exclusive read to an agent if the author is confident that that agent is right for them. The author benefits from the exclusivity because they know that the right agent for them is going to pay closer attention and read the material more quickly, and within a specified period of time. But I am also aware of an author’s need to make an informed decision, so I am not inflexible if an author wants to submit simultaneously. Although in that scenario the author would not be likely to get a guarantee on the timing of the response. Different agents have different rules and strategies around this.<br /><br />Photo of Alex Glass by Olga Gottlieb<br /><br />To learn more about Alex Glass, please visit their <a href="http://www.tridentmediagroup.com/">website</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-32247967154313896532009-12-02T07:50:00.000-08:002009-12-17T21:18:27.861-08:00INTERVIEW: JENNY BENT - Literary Agent - The Bent Agency<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbwiRm0nedPWMoCLJx3k3DzlIcLoFFX2RCS8dEj9TXQ5B2JGT54jgZ5FRMmdhO6Box12oW-Q1gyO6TCSnnIDoYWhVEkCKc9nts1lktDRY3ncD9lV0PIxUgHPr12bh2SbdLzvlRYzyC5zA/s1600-h/John+Mcnally.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 171px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 257px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411554854552851618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbwiRm0nedPWMoCLJx3k3DzlIcLoFFX2RCS8dEj9TXQ5B2JGT54jgZ5FRMmdhO6Box12oW-Q1gyO6TCSnnIDoYWhVEkCKc9nts1lktDRY3ncD9lV0PIxUgHPr12bh2SbdLzvlRYzyC5zA/s400/John+Mcnally.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tqydwvkZpHnU0NUAK5CRkpR7Re2mZNnb4DxLuB0z4cHHNx8crfL1UUZYr6qurpMDXrDX73EoQdhsuuF-izb8BqxOJDi3kNSDgWOUZxRn0KuXFTbaZ8wV2iU54EpgyTdlZgcP3IwgXfV7/s1600-h/john+kasich+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 183px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412749809718343218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tqydwvkZpHnU0NUAK5CRkpR7Re2mZNnb4DxLuB0z4cHHNx8crfL1UUZYr6qurpMDXrDX73EoQdhsuuF-izb8BqxOJDi3kNSDgWOUZxRn0KuXFTbaZ8wV2iU54EpgyTdlZgcP3IwgXfV7/s400/john+kasich+bk+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9Y3ZXpRd6eb-H2kLuEmL3pyVpQmKkCVw2q8cvPi61Pj42Azj9d7zeaaN9TBQN6xaJdszLdBiJZBtHfljxwiZkArXbVFOrECCDb37Z0Y3aND017zKJPLbn6OWIhbJiEWW1a7Vl0wHDHBx/s1600-h/laurie+notaro+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 182px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412747397605566450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9Y3ZXpRd6eb-H2kLuEmL3pyVpQmKkCVw2q8cvPi61Pj42Azj9d7zeaaN9TBQN6xaJdszLdBiJZBtHfljxwiZkArXbVFOrECCDb37Z0Y3aND017zKJPLbn6OWIhbJiEWW1a7Vl0wHDHBx/s400/laurie+notaro+bk+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36DEpDzLmz2DRazTyLxXN-yxONpZ9yF0wtYakstnRTzZHm6R6XuIqMY6vTEIecDjw0oY8oemb2jOU2TQ3WK-8PZOzrEdPOd5_54xm-R0OmZEwzy77fSBa0q26-3UwdLbefJO7CtLVhTTW/s1600-h/jill+conner+browne+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 170px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412747399659585922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36DEpDzLmz2DRazTyLxXN-yxONpZ9yF0wtYakstnRTzZHm6R6XuIqMY6vTEIecDjw0oY8oemb2jOU2TQ3WK-8PZOzrEdPOd5_54xm-R0OmZEwzy77fSBa0q26-3UwdLbefJO7CtLVhTTW/s400/jill+conner+browne+bk+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt-3xoIRR7gI3AHzH6Zm9jX_ctFFVDQd9Lgt2JPK_DjXtKhTLQtg9PBQGClOohJR1zLwQ915Vm2FbPwYW7ypmTuqStQLYE-rrg2kc3RJYsKRXvggR2dS7oiINw5wjjZ_am9Zlsl-gQIts/s1600-h/NYC2009011++JENNY+BENT.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 267px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411554849359130338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt-3xoIRR7gI3AHzH6Zm9jX_ctFFVDQd9Lgt2JPK_DjXtKhTLQtg9PBQGClOohJR1zLwQ915Vm2FbPwYW7ypmTuqStQLYE-rrg2kc3RJYsKRXvggR2dS7oiINw5wjjZ_am9Zlsl-gQIts/s400/NYC2009011++JENNY+BENT.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DpTmuuVt4hyphenhyphenoeBh0e9fUBmZO6G9O_Mn_E0rGYT5hdpQZoEyC00QvCKRAk5k_WN65fu-fkJP3wma7TqBHKedGgj8hseu9JLWiuLhDzFIjDGQUDUjAVeuUtx2kHCEfM4qPsF71uWxDb0fU/s1600-h/julia+london+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 174px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411555213566990978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DpTmuuVt4hyphenhyphenoeBh0e9fUBmZO6G9O_Mn_E0rGYT5hdpQZoEyC00QvCKRAk5k_WN65fu-fkJP3wma7TqBHKedGgj8hseu9JLWiuLhDzFIjDGQUDUjAVeuUtx2kHCEfM4qPsF71uWxDb0fU/s400/julia+london+bk+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxi2MqEsrGidjw4DO6lrM5H_Wu7V38Isiri_9BNaX9FHg9sPGj3XNJOjyTVhq9N2kSmEAuaMVT-lMvxypkVIf7NrEBB0BkBY1YDlWM25UkR1dupDbY5PSWMYTCqp2vHzFbIEYfhv113Lxn/s1600-h/lindsay+sands.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 100px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 171px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411554858570418146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxi2MqEsrGidjw4DO6lrM5H_Wu7V38Isiri_9BNaX9FHg9sPGj3XNJOjyTVhq9N2kSmEAuaMVT-lMvxypkVIf7NrEBB0BkBY1YDlWM25UkR1dupDbY5PSWMYTCqp2vHzFbIEYfhv113Lxn/s400/lindsay+sands.jpg" /></a>Jenny Bent grew up literally surrounded by books. Her family home contained an extensive library. When she graduated from college, she went to work for the <strong>Sagalyn Agency</strong>, a literary agency in Washington, DC, where she eventually became foreign rights manager. She later worked as an editor for a book packager, then as a bookseller, and later represented her own titles as a literary agent with the <strong>Harvey Klinger Agency </strong>in New York City. From there she moved to the <strong>Trident Media Group</strong> in New York City.<br /><br />Prior to becoming an agent, Ms. Bent worked in magazines with <strong>Rolling Stone</strong>, and <strong>Ladies Home Journal</strong>. She was also an editor at Cader Books, where she was responsible for pop culture books and media, such as <strong>PeopleMagazine</strong>, and <strong>Entertainment Almanac</strong>.<br /><br />She has more than 15 years of experience working in the publishing industry. Her years in the industry have honed her talent to find bestsellers. She possesses the ability spot new talent, as well as the vision to cultivate and redirect the careers of published authors.<br /><br />In March of this year, she founded <strong>The Bent Agency</strong> in Brooklyn, New York. Her notable client list includes writers in primarily four categories: commercial fiction and nonfiction, literary fiction and memoir.<br /><br />Her commercial fiction authors are mostly distinguished <strong>New York Times</strong> bestselling novelists. Ms. Bent’s strategy is to focus her professional resources and attention on her strengths. To that end, she has elected to exclude a number of book categories from consideration. That list includes science fiction, poetry, picture books, textbooks/academic books, serious history or biography political science/policy, business, reference, and sports.<br /> <br />Jenny Bent earned her B.A. and M.A. in English literature from <strong>Cambridge University in England.</strong><br /><br />Some of <strong>Jenny Bent’s Notable Clients</strong> includes:<br /><br />John Kasich a New York Times bestselling author. He has an upcoming book in 2010<strong>Every Other Monday</strong>, about his twenty years in a bible study group.<br /><br />Father Pat Connor, eighty-years-old Catholic priest. He was featured in The New York Time’s column of Maureen O’Dowd regarding his book <strong>Whom Not to Marry</strong>.<br /><br />Laurie Notaro - New York Times bestseller. She’s the author of <strong>Idiot Girls Action Adventure Club</strong><br /><br />Jill Conner Browne - New York Times bestseller. Author of <strong>Sweet Potato Queen.</strong><br /><br />Lori Roy - Her novel, <strong>Bent Road,</strong> slated publication in 2010 was bought at auction by Denise Roy at Dutton.<br /><br />Michael Farquhar - New York Times bestseller - <strong>A Treasury of Great American Scandals</strong><br /><br />She also represents a list of commercial fiction authors and most of them are <strong>New York Times</strong> bestselling novelist. Some of them are: Lynsay Sands, Beth Patillos, Sandra Hill, Julia London and <strong>USA Today</strong> bestseller, Janelle Denison, USA Today bestseller Kathy Caskie, John McNally, Amanda Ashby, Celia Riverbanks, Elle Jasper and many more....<br /><br />Jenny Bent earned her B.A. and M.A. in English literature from <strong>Cambridge University </strong><strong>in England</strong>.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> Ms.Bent, is it true that the first 3 chapters in a MS is crucial, but if the narrative is awkward or the prose poor, won't that be obvious right away? Why would an agent need to read past the first 3 chapters?<br /><br /><strong>JB </strong> Yes, if narrative is awkward or prose is poor, or even if the material is just not to your taste (a very important consideration which I recently blogged about: <a href="http://jennybent.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html">http://jennybent.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html</a>), then an agent does not need to read past the first 3 chapters. Sometimes however you will start reading a novel where the prose is beautiful and the concept is strong, but there are problems in the first three chapters, perhaps with pace (my most frequent problem with first novels) or characterization. In that scenario you would certainly want to keep reading to see if you think you would be able to work editorially with the author to make the book ready for submission.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> For an unpublished author who has no sales track, provided that his book is exceptionally strong, are you free to work with the publisher to project how many copies the book might potentially sell for the author? Will you be able to present him or her as a fresh profile to the media provided that you’re presenting a compelling read?<br /><br /><strong>JB </strong> First novels, as a general rule, are easier to publish than second novels. With second novels you may be dealing with poor sales for the first one, which makes it difficult to sell the novel in to the accounts. With a first novel, the sky’s the limit, really. But it’s very hard to predict which novels will work and which won’t. Generally, there are several factors which will result in a strong print run:<br /><br />1. Tremendous excitement surrounding the acquisition of the book—perhaps it was bought at auction, or pre-empted because of in-house enthusiasm.<br /><br />2. Once the book has been acquired, a positive response from sales and marketing.<br /><br />3. Blurbs from famous writers can help generate some excitement in-house.<br /><br />4. Strong orders from accounts, usually because of 1-3.<br /><br />In terms of media for first novels, it’s almost impossible. If you think about which authors you see being interviewed on <strong>The Today Show</strong>, or featured in <strong>USA Today</strong>, it’s mostly authors who have already achieved a high level of success. Once in a great while there will be so much excitement surrounding a debut that it will get a lot of press, but that happens infrequently.<br /><br />The good news however is that the internet has democratized the process. Bloggers and on-line reviewers will find books and fall in love with them even if the book isn’t receiving a lot of traditional media attention. Viral on-line buzz, in my opinion, is far more useful than a review in <strong>People Magazine</strong>.<br /><br />Photo of Jenny Bent by Christopher Lea<br /><br />To find out more of Jenny Bent please visit her <a href="http://www.thebentagency.com/">WEBSITE</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-1657206658044434382009-11-30T17:39:00.000-08:002009-12-19T21:23:29.657-08:00INTERVIEW: Joanna Stampfel-Volpe - Agent - Nancy Coffey Literary & Media Representation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66gO3oJoSs3UWVt5a4sIfQ3SEDqPNthdhnjqIQy3-4_HExP5Po-Yc8UaWqfM-UMcXKBbLw0RKUf4K6b3d3Uqyz-zQpEDPAjKX1HEevszcUQgSDgAgJB3ZHa8a2eMkrsp-lcv9ZyD16Dw9/s1600-h/andrew+britton.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 173px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411191687243794658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66gO3oJoSs3UWVt5a4sIfQ3SEDqPNthdhnjqIQy3-4_HExP5Po-Yc8UaWqfM-UMcXKBbLw0RKUf4K6b3d3Uqyz-zQpEDPAjKX1HEevszcUQgSDgAgJB3ZHa8a2eMkrsp-lcv9ZyD16Dw9/s400/andrew+britton.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZVTMfXhZlsnVHSceEtz5vITa_51GnQfBtI-54-ib1mDzU0_ht5GJPov-ALCYRk6NXLq2XURjpz1MyJtR9CaRI5Qaho7ZWTFtowp3tdYqS3HJ5l0_9N-LbxCRhKFY341y8GBNwyli5Dbp/s1600-h/ben+hewitt.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411190821864130258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZVTMfXhZlsnVHSceEtz5vITa_51GnQfBtI-54-ib1mDzU0_ht5GJPov-ALCYRk6NXLq2XURjpz1MyJtR9CaRI5Qaho7ZWTFtowp3tdYqS3HJ5l0_9N-LbxCRhKFY341y8GBNwyli5Dbp/s400/ben+hewitt.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJIiNp9unwBlpwexSavdNz4B6rdjxBcgDMzBzP1cefDRsXtBoxKJOQtXhsa1pXbkm0Xg8YvtfeJmSwaBuN_UCk0Zo23CXeWlEmoam0lxi5NCCjnJ7U9AyJM7PD-zLFvS5slxxDCFg6tZJ/s1600-h/gail+fraser+bk.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 276px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411190814952803410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJIiNp9unwBlpwexSavdNz4B6rdjxBcgDMzBzP1cefDRsXtBoxKJOQtXhsa1pXbkm0Xg8YvtfeJmSwaBuN_UCk0Zo23CXeWlEmoam0lxi5NCCjnJ7U9AyJM7PD-zLFvS5slxxDCFg6tZJ/s400/gail+fraser+bk.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfyQ_m1DoTRSy8g0Hd7p67Uj_xjtfKPwEvEL6boMqwoTOfZximfhXyYeTeLzWru2i9qH-nQRvZm74vmgcZxOKHDerpwzmUFLgEzA_2XoiudpTTh88PJwjXlvH_LM0avwJTfue6J1uGUtf/s1600-h/alison+hart+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 170px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411190811236857218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfyQ_m1DoTRSy8g0Hd7p67Uj_xjtfKPwEvEL6boMqwoTOfZximfhXyYeTeLzWru2i9qH-nQRvZm74vmgcZxOKHDerpwzmUFLgEzA_2XoiudpTTh88PJwjXlvH_LM0avwJTfue6J1uGUtf/s400/alison+hart+bk+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Y4Kx4euMBHB-Qa8DVCxi0lILl66n0eUlfR3-sxbt2to7q_wq_E_hkjRF40xhWG6nziNSyVRAjQ_qhjpY03MSzSL2yc8EESogTIaMGI7EyANciXteJ3RSyxO85w7Sfr5fOkmjWppSZgQA/s1600-h/joanna+stampfel+volpe.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411190804756094834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Y4Kx4euMBHB-Qa8DVCxi0lILl66n0eUlfR3-sxbt2to7q_wq_E_hkjRF40xhWG6nziNSyVRAjQ_qhjpY03MSzSL2yc8EESogTIaMGI7EyANciXteJ3RSyxO85w7Sfr5fOkmjWppSZgQA/s400/joanna+stampfel+volpe.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarU89whhvEkFQGVYjOTdidRdYBBaaTVxBfNTzKrKhpbtnX4HVqniko1_CynWuBIWFJRn61u1DYAtbCX6L3UDCF4fDHRJXd2rJyBcKFCx5oNtmtpFgqZVAm0oPdlkCtSvSKqG5_SgbWhyphenhyphenK/s1600-h/linda+benson.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 313px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411190823294842722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarU89whhvEkFQGVYjOTdidRdYBBaaTVxBfNTzKrKhpbtnX4HVqniko1_CynWuBIWFJRn61u1DYAtbCX6L3UDCF4fDHRJXd2rJyBcKFCx5oNtmtpFgqZVAm0oPdlkCtSvSKqG5_SgbWhyphenhyphenK/s400/linda+benson.jpg" /></a>Joanna Stampfel-Volpe publishing experience began with Barnes & Noble. She was also an editorial assistant at a small children's publisher, on Long Island, Blue Marlin Publications. She later became part of the FinePrint Literary Management after taking publishing courses with Peter Rubie. At FinePrint, she started as an intern and later as a literary Junior assistant.<br /><br />Within just a few months, she was taking clients of her own includes Ben Hewitt “The Town That Food Saved.” It’s about how the organic food industry saved a small town in Vermont.<br /><br />In January 2008, she moved over to work as a full-time agent with Nancy Coffey, at Nancy Coffey Literary & Media Representation. They are a full service agency and active member of SCBWI, RWA and AAR.<br /><br />She’s is looking for genre fiction, YA non-fiction, contemporary, humor, historical and fantasy/sci-fi that stand out, unique, historical, paranormal, contemporary, fantasy women's, urban, steampunk, unique, up-market fiction dark, literary, horror, dark comedies, speculative fiction, narrative non-fiction pop culture.<br /><br />NOTABLE CLIENTS:<br /><br />Linda Benson, Janie DeVos, the late Andrew Britton, Eric Etkin, Gail Fraser, Children's Fiction winners of the 76th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition, Alison Hart, award-winning author of young adult books and novels, mysteries and historical fiction. Her novel “Shadow Horse,” the prequel to “Whirlwind,” was nominated for an Edgar Award, Kody Keplinger an 18 yr old writer whos book DUFF was option for film, Emma Vaile, Lynn Marshall, Lee Nichols, Kimberly Sullivan, Karen Schwabach, Michael Sussman and to name a few.<br /><br />Ms. Stampfel- Volpe strategy is to focus her professional resources and attention on her strengths. To that end, she has elected to exclude a number of book categories from consideration. That list includes mysteries, screenplays, poetry, short stories, corporate legal thrillers, academic non-fiction, cookbooks, epic fantasy for adults and memoirs.<br /><br />Ms. Stampfel-Volpe and Nancy Coffey, only works with high quality writers.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> Why is fiction harder to sell than nonfiction? Is it because of the bad economy?<br /><br /><strong>J.S.V</strong> Good or bad economy, nothing is easier or more difficult to sell if the writing isn't solid, and for non-fiction, if there's no platform. I can't sell non-fic without platform no matter how well written, and I can't sell fiction that doesn't have a captivating voice and plot. Period. But if the non-fiction has a great platform, then yes, it is easier to sell (at least for me) than a really well-written manuscript. And it has nothing to do with the economy. That's always been the case. If you want to know why, go to your local Barnes & Noble--70+ percent of the story is non-fiction books! The fiction sections are actually quite small in comparison. So if we're looking at this just statistic-wise, then there are more non-fiction books and non-fiction readers than fiction books and fiction readers out at any one given time. You do the math.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> How long does the process generally take from the time a client first contact you until their book is published? Can you tell the readers various steps of this process?<br /><br /><strong>J.S.V</strong> Well, when I take on a client there is no guarantee that their book will EVER get published. It's the name of the game. But I won't work with someone if I don't love it and feel a strong chance that it will sell. So that being said, it can take anywhere from a couple weeks to forever before a book is published. When I actually sell a book, from the date sold to the date it's published is typically 18-24 months. So the books I sell tomorrow are coming out in 2011, some even early 2012.<br /><br />There are so many steps that are taken before, during and after submission. Depending on the client and the project, revisions before I go on submission with something can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to 6 to 8 months. This all depends on how much work is needed, how fast the client can revise and respond, and how much I have on my plate at that given moment. Once we both feel it's in good shape for submission, I create my list of editors and start pitching. I pick my editors very, very carefully. I'm not going to pitch to someone if I don't think it's the right project for them. That would be a waste of my time and theirs. I'm meeting and talking with editors almost every day, constantly updating my "database" (aka--mostly mental notes) on who is looking for what, who likes what, who hates what, etc. So I know what I'm doing.<br /><br />One of my biggest pet peeves is when a writer sends me a note saying "I read in ______ newsletter that so-and-so is looking for middle grades now. You might want to try them." Mostly likely, I know so-and-so, and if I thought they were right for your project, I would have already pitched them. And just because they're looking for middle grades (which is very, very vague) it doesn't mean that YOUR middle grade is right for them. I don't mind if a client mentions that they met an editor at a conference who requested their work--that's different. They've made a personal connection with that editor. Or if they saw an editor on a panel say that they're looking for something specific--again, it's a personal connection because they heard it from the horses mouth. But just reading something in a newsletter--and most writers don't realize this--well, it's already old news to me. Even PW Children's Bookshelf announces news a couple weeks later than agents typically get it. <br /><br />Back to submissions, once the editors are reading, I'll send an email to the client letting them know which houses have their projects, then we wait for a few weeks before I start following up (or hopefully they call me first!). If need be I'll go on a second round of submissions with a project as well.<br /> <br /><strong>E.I.</strong> What qualities must a first-time writers exhibit in their query letters that might convince you to take a chance on them? <br /><br /><strong>J.S.V</strong> For me, it's all about the voice. If the voice of the character jumps out at me, I'll definitely read some of it. <br /><br />To learn more about their agency please visit their <a href="http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/Joanna/">WEBSITE</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-31463317641470548472009-11-27T20:41:00.000-08:002009-11-27T21:32:19.609-08:00INTERVIEW: Kate Schafer Testerman Founder of KT Literary<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeWK7vRfqu9iEFtw3U_Opc2sSA_9jqE3L06DdrsimMTo2AKrarE33IYKIeGfNQ-aHrlUfmqwVruyBy1Q9o7UretyglCSZKWvWC8v9XzQ5Ob-5ptyiYKL0jlGH6OTEex9dwhiRZ5W242fq/s1600/35812200+2nd.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 184px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407176676720020466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeWK7vRfqu9iEFtw3U_Opc2sSA_9jqE3L06DdrsimMTo2AKrarE33IYKIeGfNQ-aHrlUfmqwVruyBy1Q9o7UretyglCSZKWvWC8v9XzQ5Ob-5ptyiYKL0jlGH6OTEex9dwhiRZ5W242fq/s400/35812200+2nd.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZf_iOfWN1bGWmEwmv8BFoUz-6K0XsVgTeckv_S14xvePR9I2VVHTN-Mp3Wiru6PWVx_9968j8wLQ4TvOu2Y2ANXsEXgsVrO1zcgySlSFnhI37fSxniyzPWrgvRf5V8Yjsa0eri0jVXnzs/s1600/ellen+booraem+bk.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407168695783085042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZf_iOfWN1bGWmEwmv8BFoUz-6K0XsVgTeckv_S14xvePR9I2VVHTN-Mp3Wiru6PWVx_9968j8wLQ4TvOu2Y2ANXsEXgsVrO1zcgySlSFnhI37fSxniyzPWrgvRf5V8Yjsa0eri0jVXnzs/s400/ellen+booraem+bk.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeofQ5Oc0ez8ubBzUfBbDbexOyg_ciPnVTDOVoRPChS8Zj8kXZesLXQbyEoQftAzqaUuL31fE8fNwk8Vc7w3EywpQz1NsHyKBP6JyrGObG4UE-E7hUHrd_WyzsJQkj-IVA6CwlnLj6Jl7a/s1600/36251144.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407170509205131394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeofQ5Oc0ez8ubBzUfBbDbexOyg_ciPnVTDOVoRPChS8Zj8kXZesLXQbyEoQftAzqaUuL31fE8fNwk8Vc7w3EywpQz1NsHyKBP6JyrGObG4UE-E7hUHrd_WyzsJQkj-IVA6CwlnLj6Jl7a/s400/36251144.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-m9g94lVWSZxdjldMzjYkkKQgU42OVZ1jIqwarxwIQGfhr2NoeXoVoP70JY62f7RMKOe_iw_fM95D33gbBKwIVarrpX1WLmYv9YAYS-Eui85sWOMo4p2ol9ZtLHOWwfXstE4mtnDbM2M/s1600/JOSIE+BLOSS+BK2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 181px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407163014610723250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-m9g94lVWSZxdjldMzjYkkKQgU42OVZ1jIqwarxwIQGfhr2NoeXoVoP70JY62f7RMKOe_iw_fM95D33gbBKwIVarrpX1WLmYv9YAYS-Eui85sWOMo4p2ol9ZtLHOWwfXstE4mtnDbM2M/s400/JOSIE+BLOSS+BK2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVf9uE27Rj6gRbfpGog0Ldprj0ahyKAaHQBfKMHW43B3txaBGUvxYGGDmaQAQyQmQ_NfaUuyuycGcYuAZM0J9h3cQwWJ3Du3REt2ak7enAS_nEuCAnQxata1iHOZJLBfeC6WXIeiiziQt/s1600/33563481+3rd.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407167860456594674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVf9uE27Rj6gRbfpGog0Ldprj0ahyKAaHQBfKMHW43B3txaBGUvxYGGDmaQAQyQmQ_NfaUuyuycGcYuAZM0J9h3cQwWJ3Du3REt2ak7enAS_nEuCAnQxata1iHOZJLBfeC6WXIeiiziQt/s400/33563481+3rd.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1MHZm5YmWREollHI6e4bZpMFRrBgy9qH3itnvVUM8RNvRmz0xSzknczHZTy2M3Rh0KZ4ksMZOT1iHoddX2HqmwpPjg6GRDEzmKZLhwDY37WAKSrI-GdNDzjEfb9t8tDv_KrwEiNHVbGR/s1600/kates+testerman+submition+photo.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 263px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409016348108997218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1MHZm5YmWREollHI6e4bZpMFRrBgy9qH3itnvVUM8RNvRmz0xSzknczHZTy2M3Rh0KZ4ksMZOT1iHoddX2HqmwpPjg6GRDEzmKZLhwDY37WAKSrI-GdNDzjEfb9t8tDv_KrwEiNHVbGR/s400/kates+testerman+submition+photo.jpg" /></a>Kate Schafer Testerman was a literary agent at Janklow & Nesbit Associates for nearly ten years, before founding her own <strong>KT Literary </strong>in 2008. She is interested in middle grade YA fiction as well as adult commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction. Her interests cover a broad range including teen chick lit, urban fantasy, magical realism, adventure stories, and romantic comedies.<br /><br />She loves working with her authors, offering hands-on experience, personal service, and a lot of encouragement.<br /><br />Her clients include <strong>Maureen Johnson</strong> which <strong>Disney-Hyperion</strong>, has acquired a three book deal series from Ms. Johnson who is the best selling young adult author. The auction agreement was negotiated by <strong>Jennifer Besser, Executive Editor</strong>,<strong> Disney </strong>Book Group, and Kate Schafer Testerman.<br /><br /><strong>Alyson Noël</strong>, Her book, <strong>Evermore</strong>, is a New York Times Bestseller and it was released in February 2009. Her next book in the series, <strong>Blue Moon</strong>, was released in July 2009. It was also another <strong>New </strong><strong>York Times Bestseller</strong>. Ms. Noel’s third book in the series, <strong>Shadowland</strong> is now available for Pre-order at Amazon. Shadowland will be released November 17th 2009.<br /><br /><strong>Ellen Booraem</strong>, <strong>YALSA </strong>have nominated her <strong>Best Books for Young Adult</strong> list 2010<br /><br /><strong>Daniel J. Blau</strong>- <strong>Producer/writer </strong>on America’s Next Top Model<br /><br />S. Terrel French, Josie Bloss, Matthew Cody among other exciting newcomers.<br /><br />Ms. Testerman is a graduate of the University of Delaware’s <strong>Honors Program</strong>. She’s a former cast member of the New York Renaissance Faire and an active member of the <strong>Society Of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators</strong><br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> How involved do you get with making changes and revisions to a work? Do you suggest revisions to your clients before submitting the work to publishers?<br /><br /><strong>K.T.</strong> I like to think of myself as a "big picture" editor for my clients. Often when I'm considering a manuscript for representation, I can see ways in which the manuscript can be improved. I like to have a conversation with the author and talk about these possible revisions, see if they mesh well with the author's own thought about their novel. Usually, I will ask for a revision even before officially signing a client, so I can see how they work with editorial suggestions. It's not a line edit, however, I might comment on the pacing of the plot, the characters' motivations and how they're expressed, parts I like and want to see more of, and parts that might detract from the bigger story.<br /><br />Ideally, the author and I are working together on the manuscript before any submissions to editors take place, to try to get the book in as perfect a shape as we can -- with the full knowledge that "perfect" may vary from editor to editor, and that an author's revisions only end when a book is in the stores, if then.<br /><br /><strong>E.I. </strong>What does exclusive read mean for both agent and writer? Under what circumstances might an agent request an exclusive read if he/she is interested in a manuscript?<br /><br /><strong>K.T. </strong>I don't ask that authors submit to me exclusively -- which means that when they send me their query, I expect that they're also querying other agents. Even if I like a query letter and ask for a partial, even beyond that if I like the partial and want to read more, I don't ask for an exclusive look at a full manuscript. The only time I do ask for exclusivity is if, as in your prior question, I've shared my thoughts and comments with the author on what I would like to see in a revision. Then I expect that the revision -- drafted based on my conversation with the author -- would be mine to look at exclusively for a set period of time, after which, if I haven't yet offered representation or made a decision, the author is free to send to other agents. Some agents work differently, and if they like a query, will ask for a manuscript exclusively. That's just not the way I work. I like the competition! Sometimes finding out that an author has other interest will help me really define my thoughts on a submission.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> Are there any acquisition trends you see on the near horizon?<br /><br /><strong>K.T.</strong> I'm hearing a lot of interest from editors in great middle grade fiction, but that's not so much a trend as it is a constant need. I don't know that the next big thing is. We've had vampires, werewolves, angels, zombies... I have an author with a <strong>YA series </strong>featuring ghosts that we hope will be a big hit, but is it a trend? I don't think so. The most interesting thing I've seen lately was completely different than everything else I've received lately -- if that's a trend, fine. Call it a "unique hook."<br /><br />Photo of Kate Schaffer Testerman by Sonya Sones<br /><br />To learn more about Kate Schafer Testerman please visit her <a href="http://ktliterary.com/">WEBSITE</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-49203590094235975942009-11-26T00:01:00.000-08:002009-11-27T21:27:04.489-08:00HAPPY THANKSGIVING<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVe_zNyrGU2B-ko9Sa1I99d0EG1kf889HTtGmznnLoOrTsQjjmA1SuyODy3Khcvm2TrKeU5hwV3ah6RA-METRTi657L3H5ONSa7rsXkw-KYXj0m0amAiLWlILgFB5p0xSpl9LOGIElSRA/s1600-h/thanksgiving-day-cornucopia.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135686358531458914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVe_zNyrGU2B-ko9Sa1I99d0EG1kf889HTtGmznnLoOrTsQjjmA1SuyODy3Khcvm2TrKeU5hwV3ah6RA-METRTi657L3H5ONSa7rsXkw-KYXj0m0amAiLWlILgFB5p0xSpl9LOGIElSRA/s200/thanksgiving-day-cornucopia.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><strong>To my friends and readers,<br /><br />Thank you so much for your enduring support and encouragement. I am very grateful.<br /><br />I wish each and everyone a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday.<br /><br /><br /><br />Warmest Regards,<br /><br />E.I. Johnson</strong><br /><br /><br />"Thanksgiving is generally considered a secular holiday, and is not directly based in religious canon or dogma". <br /><strong>Author Unknown</strong><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-45634928185899779542009-11-20T22:48:00.001-08:002009-12-15T05:37:39.029-08:00INTERVIEW: Daniela Rapp, Editor at St.Martin Press in New York City<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkHPJZsAoC4uAY53ojm2NXf4fBv5B11tTnDKU9gcRyPozwXRgFOdGKUA71aIyCDw1yyBxgGPmqqlsb5A6zv20zGBP0WABLW0JXuim-9CWRCMW5K7UGedaasnlJs1-3TatOPjlwL4yIhXL/s1600/33039386+dog+talk+by+harison+forbes.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406444512232035362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkHPJZsAoC4uAY53ojm2NXf4fBv5B11tTnDKU9gcRyPozwXRgFOdGKUA71aIyCDw1yyBxgGPmqqlsb5A6zv20zGBP0WABLW0JXuim-9CWRCMW5K7UGedaasnlJs1-3TatOPjlwL4yIhXL/s400/33039386+dog+talk+by+harison+forbes.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKKc536mwQ392emuXFhPki2tPWmn02E6EN3h3BAO3xMYMj_lTYLXA-hU3ESp9frqEc_IPsTM8kwL6KgVCIxJC2ttRBJ2iBRCUcv45fJc0cGqsHfpy85ZcCfu6b1_jptHkOYgOXxb3SacL/s1600/25028226.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406446640724101682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKKc536mwQ392emuXFhPki2tPWmn02E6EN3h3BAO3xMYMj_lTYLXA-hU3ESp9frqEc_IPsTM8kwL6KgVCIxJC2ttRBJ2iBRCUcv45fJc0cGqsHfpy85ZcCfu6b1_jptHkOYgOXxb3SacL/s400/25028226.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HjsTXaFdI6ex95MWvR7hlmKK_Qolwe-As0c4kzgNTirZSecd3_DxnvGC8mkgEc_2SrcpN0HJuJJTupZfDRf9JXGBs2RxCA1_9LvfVPP5Txefuc3Pd1viOXCCU8oYnmi0iv32mZ3Rx7jx/s1600/40047269+murder+on+the+eiffel+tower.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406446636091094514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HjsTXaFdI6ex95MWvR7hlmKK_Qolwe-As0c4kzgNTirZSecd3_DxnvGC8mkgEc_2SrcpN0HJuJJTupZfDRf9JXGBs2RxCA1_9LvfVPP5Txefuc3Pd1viOXCCU8oYnmi0iv32mZ3Rx7jx/s400/40047269+murder+on+the+eiffel+tower.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSG_k7iYHc9htbcSmMtIhnTHQLPpqPAbyfF9VqVahdrxnDyvuruuuqA0TRKKgNaupJCZqu8q4An0K8zrPYvWoiCECbkZU-7OkUXpuYY-OstoDj-QKiA6JmgkhmFDaioH7_AgzZFDdWgN_/s1600/34346248+A+LIFE+IN+TWILIGHT.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406446638263644082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSG_k7iYHc9htbcSmMtIhnTHQLPpqPAbyfF9VqVahdrxnDyvuruuuqA0TRKKgNaupJCZqu8q4An0K8zrPYvWoiCECbkZU-7OkUXpuYY-OstoDj-QKiA6JmgkhmFDaioH7_AgzZFDdWgN_/s400/34346248+A+LIFE+IN+TWILIGHT.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_pb54XtLv7Z9A_GcVcB-oKMR1sh7RPaN-jAOSspW7FwMaF44tfDY953AiVvrT3khiXjg1JYV_K0fwhtvVgBQc_u98DAYHIftZ2pc5hmMXiBbgbLVAVkxXlQIK0diZc0ctcOGp_L-QF_Y/s1600/DANIELLA+RAPP+AGENT.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_pb54XtLv7Z9A_GcVcB-oKMR1sh7RPaN-jAOSspW7FwMaF44tfDY953AiVvrT3khiXjg1JYV_K0fwhtvVgBQc_u98DAYHIftZ2pc5hmMXiBbgbLVAVkxXlQIK0diZc0ctcOGp_L-QF_Y/s400/DANIELLA+RAPP+AGENT.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407791188468182978" /></a>Daniela Rapp got her start in the industry at a literary agency selling foreign rights. She is now an Editor with St. Martin Press and is actively looking for mysteries (historical and contemporary), high-concept women's fiction, serious narrative nonfiction titles, as well as books about pets, animals, nature, American history, language and humor, and travel. No historical fiction, no chick lit, no romance, and very few prescriptive books. She is especially interested in multi-cultural projects and Native American topics.<br /><br />Her other projects are “Things That Make Us (SIC) by Martha Brockenbrough. It is about apop-culture-studded rant on the abuse of grammar, spelling and usage to the offenders. “Murder On The Eiffel Tower by Claude Izner, which is a bestselling French mystery novel set in 1889. It is about a woman collapses and dies on this great Paris landmark and “Dog Talk” by Harrison Forbes, a veteran dog trainer and radio show co-host forgoes the maudlin for some genuine insight into dog behavior and psychology and “A Life in Twilight” About the last thirteen years of J. Robert Oppenheimer.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> In an industry that gets increasingly difficult to break into, what are a few things first-time writers can do in their query letters that might convince you to take a chance on them? <br /><br /><strong>D.R.</strong> St. Martin’s Press generally doesn’t accept unsolicited submissions directly from authors. We receive pitch letters or queries from agents, which means that we never actually see the initial query the writer may have put together. I have, however, seen query letters at various writers’ conferences over the years, and there are a few basic traps writers fall into when putting these together. A big turn-off for me is a letter riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, or one that is printed on cute, decorated, or colored paper. Simple, clean, and to the point is the way to go here – I am looking for concise and useful information, not personality. I also don’t need to hear that this is going to be a bestseller for sure, that it’s better than <strong>Dan Brown </strong>or that it is the next <strong>Malcolm Gladwell</strong> – let me make up my own mind. Tell me what genre your project is, give me a quick (one-paragraph or less) description, throw in a couple of appropriate comparisons, and tell me anything I need to know about your platform. A query letter really shouldn’t be longer than a page, and always include your e-mail address. My response might be faster if I don’t have to print out and mail a letter.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> Do you demand the prose style or voice for literary writers be a notch in quality above the genre writers, or does it just depend on the story and subject matter? And what is your opinion on the overall climate for first novels?<br /><br /><strong>D.R.</strong> Hey, those are two questions, not one. I look for top quality no matter what genre I am acquiring. The type of genre fiction I deal with most frequently is classified as mysteries and suspense, but to me that doesn’t mean you can get away with inferior or clichéd writing. The lines separating genres are becoming more and more blurry, and many authors who are considered literary writers are actually writing mysteries or suspense, or vice versa. Look at someone like <strong>Dennis Lehane</strong> or <strong>Caleb Carr </strong>– top notch writing, suspense and mystery elements, and great plots. In the end, what I go for is a great hook and good story, but the writing has to be able to back that up.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> And what is your opinion on the overall climate for first novels?<br /><br /><strong>D.R.</strong> This is not new information, but first novels are really, really hard. These days, it is almost impossible to get published in fiction(especially literary fiction) unless your project has a great high concept, a totally fresh take and voice, and you have an already established platform, such as having been published in literary reviews, anthologies, magazines or the like. It also helps if <strong>Audrey Niffenegger </strong>is your best friend and you live next to <strong>Michael Chabon </strong>and they are willing to blurb you before your agent even submits your manuscript. Joking aside, though, we are always looking for new writers, and everybody has to start somewhere, so don’t be discouraged by what seem to be insurmountable obstacles. If your stuff is great, it will find its place.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-3669909895653891072009-11-19T12:46:00.000-08:002009-12-16T17:38:19.481-08:00INTERVIEW: Sharlene Martin - Agent and former development executive for television and independent producer for film<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9mZa6UNeevPzkk9-sH2l1vRWJMKVxHiXxriiW1ruhKrJrc2bZ_rlxoROrbRKzm6je2dizlwV9uB1jO2-XjMwBdPLMUTo9LlKvuIqGPc5ps5Wo6eZlK86g0MmFZ5xmHs7V4Wvp09i6ffG/s1600/13775718+2nd.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 182px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406346635258550690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9mZa6UNeevPzkk9-sH2l1vRWJMKVxHiXxriiW1ruhKrJrc2bZ_rlxoROrbRKzm6je2dizlwV9uB1jO2-XjMwBdPLMUTo9LlKvuIqGPc5ps5Wo6eZlK86g0MmFZ5xmHs7V4Wvp09i6ffG/s400/13775718+2nd.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3KL7X96oM-ldXd2CZ1KA5LeDjdTvvDqAg9LW37Zqdfr6FetKR7FZ6fTgTcPWiQcOzgyKVbu5Wk66lQMa5wQFJpFakW5V557oZ_YrC07sptKCywgj5ulmfnSKSk15xD2R4DBenaLpq0F0/s1600/44150033+3rd.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 260px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406346628088454914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3KL7X96oM-ldXd2CZ1KA5LeDjdTvvDqAg9LW37Zqdfr6FetKR7FZ6fTgTcPWiQcOzgyKVbu5Wk66lQMa5wQFJpFakW5V557oZ_YrC07sptKCywgj5ulmfnSKSk15xD2R4DBenaLpq0F0/s400/44150033+3rd.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTVJ-Ycvuo52A6zB1CE0JSEENcA9FCix371EWFUIHo4L6ODDBZDFDQWG0RkTS3vTqeTh6mQqdyoeJQoAWGyWbyf0bchNpAc0_QAD9vOpp_z15u7fEICQiihdEN8e3pffivIkWiMDonhaY/s1600/42894991.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 181px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406294375037278658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTVJ-Ycvuo52A6zB1CE0JSEENcA9FCix371EWFUIHo4L6ODDBZDFDQWG0RkTS3vTqeTh6mQqdyoeJQoAWGyWbyf0bchNpAc0_QAD9vOpp_z15u7fEICQiihdEN8e3pffivIkWiMDonhaY/s400/42894991.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlrTIcS5qy29r5fmEDG_N23arnApMGZ4t0WPZ1XjZZKFnbIZtuBG-N-JyVaceMYcHJ3AiiCHrKzzKgfVf0F8DBFSRljflMXy5am8BTOrqjXnZrBYZldeo9pU_Yd-zPjt817-5tchptSoT/s1600/44662702.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 245px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406294374078462642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlrTIcS5qy29r5fmEDG_N23arnApMGZ4t0WPZ1XjZZKFnbIZtuBG-N-JyVaceMYcHJ3AiiCHrKzzKgfVf0F8DBFSRljflMXy5am8BTOrqjXnZrBYZldeo9pU_Yd-zPjt817-5tchptSoT/s400/44662702.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ueC1sz4GXB1sAonw9bBOuHkdpp1eXKUdcKUTtHyOoyx6xMQuphvZ8ZPIz63YDi-bJmIjPLKyMzXVo9sA7m_UsKsXKOXPNrLU4cCa_kVasGH9UZ2xcvOTEbbuIkszmklteYuthgufAN7F/s1600/25451+SHARLENE+MARTIN.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 349px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406290990039385746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ueC1sz4GXB1sAonw9bBOuHkdpp1eXKUdcKUTtHyOoyx6xMQuphvZ8ZPIz63YDi-bJmIjPLKyMzXVo9sA7m_UsKsXKOXPNrLU4cCa_kVasGH9UZ2xcvOTEbbuIkszmklteYuthgufAN7F/s400/25451+SHARLENE+MARTIN.jpg" /></a> <br />She’s the founder of Martin Literary Management Agency, a non-fiction agency since 2003. She has a remarkable reputation in the publishing industry and has a growing list of over 100 non-fiction sales to renowned major publishers as St. Martin, Harper Collins, Penguin Putnam, McGraw Hill, Crown, Ballantine and Warner.<br /><br />Ms. Martin is a former development executive for television and independent producer for film. Her clients have made appearances on <strong>Oprah</strong>, The Today Show, 20/20, Good Morning America, The View, <strong>Martha Stewart</strong>, to name a just a few.<br /><br />One of her client’s book <strong>“You’ll Never Nanny In This Town Again”</strong> was a New York Times and LA Times Best-seller. The book was <strong>optioned</strong> to <strong>20th Century Fox TV </strong>as a <strong>sitcom</strong>.<br /><br />She is always looking for a narrative non-fiction that has high adaptability to film and television screen. She specializes in highly commercial nonfiction genres including memoirs, parenting, health, true crime, celebrity related books, pop culture and business. Everyone from editor, writers and publishers loves working with her because she’s an avid fan of good writing, an advocate and guardian of her client’s work.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> What would you like to see more authors incorporate into their writing? Better character development or maybe better plot or maybe better language, etc?<br /><br /><strong>S.M. </strong> Each book and each writer presents a different set of strengths and challenges, so I can’t put out a general rule there, but I can tell you that the biggest problem that I repeatedly encounter is that of hurried and careless work. Oddly, this happens just as often with highly educated and qualified people as it does with writers new to the field. Highly qualified people sometimes give in to arrogance, feeling as if their qualifications alone should exempt them from careful preparation of their proposals. The attitude seems to be that readers should simply respect them for who they are and not question the work itself. With new writers, the same mistake is often made because they are not familiar with the level of excellence that represents their serious competition and so they enter the arena inadequately prepared. They seem to not realize that in writing, as in so many other endeavors, quality of work and consistency of effort shine powerfully and can compel even a reluctant person to embrace something they might have otherwise rejected.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> If you were to make a list of things a writer should NOT do when querying an agent, what would be on that list?<br /><br /><strong>S.M.</strong> Please do not tell me your troubles. Please don’t tell ANYONE your troubles. The attempt to use pity to motivate a stranger to help you is fraught with unmanageable risks. First of all, literary representation is not some sort of game show wherein the most pathetic person wins a consolation prize. Secondly, I am in no position to be the judge of who does or does not “deserve” to be helped. And thirdly, perhaps most important of all, is the fact that if you begin a relationship by crying about your situation to a stranger, you are doing two self-destructive things at once: (a) You are portraying yourself as a source of pity instead of a source of excellence (and excellence is what we are seeking here), and (b) You are portraying yourself as someone who cannot manage their affairs and who expects to be given special consideration based upon being pitiful. Consider this – how can you know that the person who receives and reads your personal plea isn’t dealing with a terrible personal situation far worse than your own? Such a lack of sensitivity on a writer’s part gives the unintended message that the writer in question lacks fundamental insight into the human condition, and creates the concern that this failure of insight will be echoed repeatedly in their work.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> How do you account for the fact that other publishers missed out on the qualities you recognized so readily?<br /><br /><strong>S.M.</strong> I’d love to know the answer to that one, and hate to have to boil my response down to “different strokes for different folks,” but it just seems to be that one person’s pleasure is another’s pain. The thing I do that I believe separates me from many other representatives is that I work with each writer individually and will not send out their work until it is in a compelling and powerful form. I know from watching my partner Anthony Flacco struggle with poor representation in the years before I got into this business that even major marquee agencies such as the ones he was working with will often just throw their clients’ work up against a wall to see what sticks. I hate that approach and will never do it.<br /><br /><strong>E.I. </strong> Is narrative nonfiction the hottest genre right now?<br /><br /><strong>S.M.</strong> There are more nonfiction books being sold now than works of fiction, to the point that many people in the general public have forgotten how to use the word “novel.” You often see it used to refer to any book, when it can accurately be used only to refer to works of imagination, not of fact. The huge how-to market accounts for a lot of the nonfiction market today, but there is also the burgeoning field of personal memoir adding to the numbers. Of course there are a lot of worthless memoirs out there, works of narcissism by visionless souls who honestly feel that their life ought to be more compelling than yours or mine, but there are also fine life stories written by enlightened and compassionate people. Such books have worthy things to contribute to their readership by virtue of the insights their experiences have imparted to them. These are the writers I seek out, and every time I find one, it’s like discovering a fat gold nugget on the ground between your toes. I open every prospective book proposal in the hope that it will turn out to be another one. They are not just how I keep the lights turned on here, they are the reason I am doing this with my life.<br /><br />Photo of Sharlene Martin by A. Karno<br /><br />To learn more about Ms. Sharlene Martin please visit her <a href="http://www.martinliterarymanagement.com/index.htm">WEBSITE</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362593795009418809.post-71861027181711070792009-11-10T06:06:00.001-08:002010-05-20T10:33:02.228-07:00INTERVIEW: Vicky Bijur - Agent, Founder of Vicky Bijur Literary Agency<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNOorSuwbV47QMd74tEV42P2FTfkI9gnghBq_QKWUZG2uMPQQcHQSY_wiGNdpzuqEYKeroHG1KIQZzTXiqvwcKDmLMTYPWEPa3PmKT4mk0Oc05Zv12r9L675M6beCiT5aXhkWibKw9Hu1/s1600-h/margaret+maron+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 164px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412756102136041842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNOorSuwbV47QMd74tEV42P2FTfkI9gnghBq_QKWUZG2uMPQQcHQSY_wiGNdpzuqEYKeroHG1KIQZzTXiqvwcKDmLMTYPWEPa3PmKT4mk0Oc05Zv12r9L675M6beCiT5aXhkWibKw9Hu1/s400/margaret+maron+bk+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44cBp4cgfNTTR5VsKQSc2_MyiG7AIikSS7qCUeRYb5mHLmVak0wqjgsW2CKjcyOlGHZTZxLhe2NzvZrCClwIhcDe28uDAG0fI8M-NrMTP5CiwqR7CHZgnhyphenhyphenJwTTklYusPwHBIOULG5S7s/s1600-h/laura+lippman+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412756098799140402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44cBp4cgfNTTR5VsKQSc2_MyiG7AIikSS7qCUeRYb5mHLmVak0wqjgsW2CKjcyOlGHZTZxLhe2NzvZrCClwIhcDe28uDAG0fI8M-NrMTP5CiwqR7CHZgnhyphenhyphenJwTTklYusPwHBIOULG5S7s/s400/laura+lippman+bk+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwpakDZFL3ktBnRsgAZLxNjlL0F5WZHuF1yErUYGPOUbf6LCk5h8w0MgDwva2rg2ugwg9WmIXGBwfSZDXS9G6eD803K3wnjzR9er-fgws58N_k8pv99gR-gA3geN85ANpeHRmQbbdMebZ/s1600-h/larry+gonick+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412753223971256834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwpakDZFL3ktBnRsgAZLxNjlL0F5WZHuF1yErUYGPOUbf6LCk5h8w0MgDwva2rg2ugwg9WmIXGBwfSZDXS9G6eD803K3wnjzR9er-fgws58N_k8pv99gR-gA3geN85ANpeHRmQbbdMebZ/s400/larry+gonick+bk+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LKq47KP9TiK-5JZRV4ZKqeEMQjvfCCUjsV4Rz7ABlXTI41G1wR0wyarUBp1Gf1IkXNh3yjW_VJlpNyJgpuleekMVzvlEzIhPv_QbQFAWKiUSo8VFh1Jw6tmilQlGSN3mnKr7ffO-705c/s1600-h/mystery3_edited.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 169px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402476385310897810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LKq47KP9TiK-5JZRV4ZKqeEMQjvfCCUjsV4Rz7ABlXTI41G1wR0wyarUBp1Gf1IkXNh3yjW_VJlpNyJgpuleekMVzvlEzIhPv_QbQFAWKiUSo8VFh1Jw6tmilQlGSN3mnKr7ffO-705c/s400/mystery3_edited.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCS3eRoFmB2eWstZ5mCzE7rEick_qnpnC1JRAFi1Wi0i57vzAWi4H2oKBUHlS_G2FcotJ5PaLq5rNavGbZiMeXZbvk6OkagtzIp48YrZ-83h9rtZ1tRvTEv5x03lm0Jny5hNLEdBptqYv/s1600-h/robert+kanigel+bk+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 180px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412757764863362226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCS3eRoFmB2eWstZ5mCzE7rEick_qnpnC1JRAFi1Wi0i57vzAWi4H2oKBUHlS_G2FcotJ5PaLq5rNavGbZiMeXZbvk6OkagtzIp48YrZ-83h9rtZ1tRvTEv5x03lm0Jny5hNLEdBptqYv/s400/robert+kanigel+bk+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFuDAJQnxeERTh-bEkHAQLOOVtYPjc452Mhg6OojBMTmNFRKganRI5PqdFVRG1JHkiABzHnU5d5R_OQgVf0rul3oQRzWIQ_rRf_2HJ2fn6FNDojg8vAmOw0nbJZuYEyBQ1BaVFtb9KAiL/s1600-h/steven+greenhouse+bk+1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 181px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFuDAJQnxeERTh-bEkHAQLOOVtYPjc452Mhg6OojBMTmNFRKganRI5PqdFVRG1JHkiABzHnU5d5R_OQgVf0rul3oQRzWIQ_rRf_2HJ2fn6FNDojg8vAmOw0nbJZuYEyBQ1BaVFtb9KAiL/s400/steven+greenhouse+bk+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412760283252319154" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4khJXEniLekbQr2E34MCeVVlSy49XcTBs6aDNWWAD1ZXJ8_NQ_NqIHoawjpRqnZd4q_sUf1a0x5pvRp_qFCu3Ocphnte6RDeFDxkdn1p2wchGoGaWGPY78cE5P6Yi9jwBybPgKAcpyIP/s1600-h/30938879.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 263px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402485202490739026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4khJXEniLekbQr2E34MCeVVlSy49XcTBs6aDNWWAD1ZXJ8_NQ_NqIHoawjpRqnZd4q_sUf1a0x5pvRp_qFCu3Ocphnte6RDeFDxkdn1p2wchGoGaWGPY78cE5P6Yi9jwBybPgKAcpyIP/s400/30938879.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Vicky Bijur is a literary agent and founder of Vicky Bijur Literary Agency, in 1988. She has worked at Oxford University Press and with the Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency.<br /><br /><strong>Notable clients:</strong><br /><strong>Laura Lippman</strong>, New York Times bestselling novelist “What the Dead Know”<br /><br /><strong>James Sallis</strong> “Drive”, optioned <strong>for film by Hugh Jackman</strong><br /><br /><strong>Larry Gonick</strong> “Cartoon History of the Universe”, “Cartoon History of the Modern World”<br /><br /><strong>Margaret Maron</strong>, winner of Edgar, Anthony, and Agatha awards<br /><br /><strong>Steven Greenhouse</strong>, NYT labor reporter “The Big Squeeze”<br /><br /><strong>Robert Kanigel</strong> The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan NYT food writer Ed Levine “New York Eats”, “Pizza: A Slice of Heaven”<br /><br />Ms. Bijur, also represents cookbooks, memoir, biography, parenting, self-help, psychology, science writers, environmental issues and health. She is interested in contemporary and historical fiction as well as crime fiction.<br /><br />Her <strong>clients</strong> have appeared on <strong>The New York Times best-seller </strong>list, in <strong>The New York Times Notable Books of the Year</strong>, <strong>Los Angeles Times Best Fiction of the Year</strong>, <strong>Washington Post Book World Rave Reviews of the Year</strong>, and been nominated for <strong>the Los Angeles Times Book Award</strong> as well as the <strong>National Book Critics Circle Award</strong>. Three of her mystery writers have <strong>won Edgar awards</strong>.<br /><br />Ms. Bijur, has served as president of the Association of Authors' Representatives and chair of its ethics committee.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> If you could choose the perfect manuscript you would want to see pop in through the mail slot tomorrow morning, what elements would it contain?<br /><br /><strong>V.B.</strong> I want to be drawn in by the first page of the book. I can still remember reading the first page of <strong>Julie Smith’s</strong> NEW ORLEANS MOURNING in 1987 and <strong>Laura Lippman’s</strong> BALTIMORE BLUES in 1996 and <strong>Lisa Genova’s</strong> STILL ALICE two years ago.<br /><br />I want to feel when I tear myself away to eat dinner that I can’t wait to get back to the manuscript. And when I do get back, I want the part of the book that I’ve read to come flooding back to me. It’s always a bad sign if I can’t remember much about setting, premise, character when I return to a book after an interruption. Iam partial to novels that have a strong sense of place. I would hope that the characters’ voices are distinctive, that they don’t all sound alike. I look for dialog that sounds authentic. I love being drawn into another world, the way I am when I read <strong>Margaret Maron’s</strong> novels, where you practically hear the crickets and smell the pine needles as you sit in your New York City apartment.<br /><br />The plotting shouldn’t feel contrived; on the one hand you want events to make sense, on the other you don’t want to see developments coming a million miles away. Information should be conveyed in a subtle way, not through dialog that feels expository. All of the above are totally subjective responses to fiction. Every reader has a different set of criteria for evaluating and a different way of appreciating a novel. It’s a truism to say there is no right or wrong way to write. Two astute readers can have opposite reactions to the same book. But this is what I love in a novel.<br /><br /><strong>E.I.</strong> A well written query letter is key to snagging an agent's attention. Can you briefly explain what components the ideal query should include? Should the writer attach a page or two of prose just so the agent can get a feel for writer's ability?<br /><br /><strong>V.B.</strong> A query letter should be one page only, even if it’s emailed. It helps to have the first chapter of a novel included. I prefer the chapter to be embedded in the email rather than an attachment that needs to be opened. There should be one paragraph in the letter describing the book and one paragraph providing information about the author. I always pay closer attention if in the introductory paragraph the writer mentions that he or she is familiar with other clients of mine; it helps to know the writer has done some homework about the sort of books I represent. If the letter is sent through snail mail, the writer should include an SASE.<br /><br />To learn more about Vicky Bijur please visit her Website at: <a href="http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/vbijur/">http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/vbijur/</a><br /><br />Photo of Ms. Vicky Bijur by Allan Jacobson<div class="blogger-post-footer">Enter the Wireless Contest June 1st to August 31, 2009
http://eijohnson.com/entryform.php</div>E. I. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697881500751383333noreply@blogger.com0