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It's agent interview time again! Remember: it's essential to get the RIGHT agent, not just AN agent. I'm delighted to welcome the very delightful (VERY VERY delightful)... ...Kat Kerr of The Donald Maass Literary Agency! So, Kat, you’re a literary agent… Tell us all about how that happened!
It’s a bit of a long story, so I hope you have some coffee ready! I came into agenting by starting off as a writer. From the time I was six to graduating college, becoming a published author had always been my goal. About five years ago, after finishing my first novel, I realized that I had no idea about how to get it published; it was not something that was ever taught to me as an undergraduate. Once I started researching what it takes to get published, I realized a couple of things. First, my novel was nowhere near ready—plot was all over the place, word count was not even close to an appropriate length, and the writing still looked like I was fresh out of school. I buried it for the time being. Second, when I learned what a literary agent was, I knew I wanted to be one. I still want to write, but I have so much passion for helping others realize their dreams and I knew that this would be the right job for me. Breaking into the industry was a bit difficult. I was at a disadvantage because, four/five years ago, remote internships were not as big of a thing, and the few existing remote opportunities required I be either a recent college graduate or have previous industry experience. I had neither going for me. I had a full-time job. And kids. I couldn’t give up a stable salary just to move up to New York for an internship. Remote was going to be the only way I could go, but I had to find something to bring to the table. If not industry experience, maybe another type of experience? My editorial eye was still good thanks to my college writing workshops, so I decided to start off as a beta reader. I placed an ad through a Goodreads forum and set up a blog/website through WordPress so that authors would know what sort of literature I was interested in and what to expect of me in regard to feedback. In that time, I got to work with a lot of authors and it taught me valuable skills such as time management and how to write editorial reports, which would later turn into reader reports once I landed my first internship. All in all, I worked two internships (one leading to a promotion as an agent), racking up a little over three years of industry experience before landing a job at my current agency, DMLA. And how has it been going so far? I love it! It’s a lot of hard work and it’s definitely not easy being a new agent when you’re just starting out—I have quite a bit left to prove—but every day I wake up and know I’m exactly where I should be and I’m surrounded by a wonderful team of people. What’s on your current wishlist? Oh, gosh, so many things! I’m still relatively new and therefore hungry to build my list. I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled for creative and journalistic nonfiction works that read as effortlessly as their fiction counterparts. Within fiction, I am looking for a couple of dark fantasies for both the adult and YA markets and a near-future speculative in the vein of Black Mirror. I would also like to see some more fun and quirky romances/women’s fiction that feature POC or the LGBTQ community in a non-issue driven way. And what are you definitely not looking for right now? Right now, I’m not really focusing on space operas or a Bildungsroman as I’ve just signed two new clients whose manuscripts are in these categories. I try to space out the types of projects I’m working on so I don’t have my clients competing against each other. While I am looking for fantasies, I wouldn’t be the right agent for fairy tale retellings. If someone were to query me with a retelling, I’d prefer a retelling of a classic like Faust or Dante’s Inferno. (One of my favorite movies is What Dreams May Come.) And of course, I recommend authors checking out the bottom of my submission interests to see what genres I do not represent. Can you tell us what it is that makes you request additional material? What is it that might lead to a full request? And what keeps you reading to the final pages? When looking at an initial query, I check to see what the concept is and whether or not it’s the kind of story I would be interested in. About 85% of my initial query rejections are from not connecting to the concept. If I like the query, I immediately read the sample pages to evaluate the quality of writing. I can usually make a decision based off these two things alone, but if I’m having a tough time making a call, the synopsis serves as a tie breaker. The synopsis will show me any glaring structural issues, as well as help determine if I like where the story goes. With partials, I always ask for the first fifty pages because if a reader can’t command my full attention and emotional investment by the end of those fifty pages, it’s not strong enough for me to keep going. Fifty pages should be sufficient to get to the hook of your story, regardless of whether it’s commercial or literary. When it comes to full manuscripts, I’m looking to see how it would fit into the market, and how much editing it would need, and how much I love it that I would be willing to take it on and work on it with the author. Full manuscripts are a large time commitment for me. I take a lot of extra time reading, evaluating, and researching so that if and when I offer representation, I go into that business deal fully prepared. It’s important to note that while this is my personal process in handling my inbox, every agent will have a different process based on what works best for them. So, when you fall in love with a manuscript, what might happen next? I fall on my knees and beg the author to sign with me, casting off any sense of personal pride. lol! That’s actually not too far from the truth, however there are a few steps first. I set up a call with the author. Even if I absolutely love their manuscript, that doesn’t automatically mean we’re going to work well together. Some other factors have to go in to the work relationship. I want to get to know the author on a personal level—what does their life look like outside of writing? What inspired them to write this current manuscript? Do they have ideas for other projects? How receptive would they be to feedback? Would my edit plan fit within their own artistic vision? If I think we’ll be a good personal as well as professional fit, then I cast aside all sense of personal pride and beg them to sign with me. 😊 What kind of agent are you? How do you approach your side of the business arrangement? What should a potential client expect from you as their agent? This is always a tough question for me to answer because I feel this question belongs more to my clients. I am—what could be described as--possibly the tiniest bit of a Type A personality. I tend to be very organized. I like schedules and timetables and research but, all that aside, the most important thing to me as an agent is making sure I maintain transparency and open communication with my clients. It’s very important that I am responsive to their communication needs, and that they always know when they can expect a reply from me. And, importantly, what do you expect from your clients? I look for writers who have a strong sense of what they want from their career. I’m a champion planner, but it’s hard to make a plan or guide someone if they aren’t sure yet what they want to do. It’s why I look for career writers and someone who has more than just the one book in their back pocket. In fact, it’s a bit of a red flag for me when authors talk about only having the one project planned out, especially if they are talking about a series. That’s a lot of pressure on me as an agent because if that one book doesn’t sell due to a shift in the market or for whatever reason, it’s the end of our working relationship because there are no other projects to pursue. I don’t expect all my clients to agree to every edit, but I also expect them to be objective enough in their work in order to handle feedback and be able to effectively communicate to me when an edit note doesn’t work. There are multiple solutions to fixing a problematic scene or moment within a manuscript and the most important thing is that we find a solution. All writers have dreams and goals – win an award, be a bestseller, get a movie deal – but what dreams do you have as an agent? To make all my clients’ dreams come true. My success lies in their success. And now the important stuff... Ketchup or mayo? - I have a feeling people are going to come after me, but I’m actually a metchup kind of girl. E-book or paperback? - Paperback. I can’t remember to keep my phone charged sometimes, there’s no way I’m going to be able to keep an e-reader charged. Plus, I just love the way a book feels when reading it and it’s hard to replace that. Day or night? - Any time that isn’t early morning. I am not a morning person. To say I’m cranky when I have to wake up before 8am would be a massive understatement. My kids already know to let me have at least 30 minutes and a cup of coffee before they start asking me questions in the morning. Walk or drive? - Drive! The longer, the better. I love road trips. Beach or mountains? - If I have to live in humidity, the beach. Otherwise, I prefer mountains. Dogs or cats? - BOTH! Chocolate or chips? - I am confused by this question. Both are tasty, but both very different. Sun or rain? - Sun, mostly. But there’s something about working to the sound of rainfall that I find very relaxing. Inside or outside? - I am not an outdoorsy person because I live in Florida and we have bugs. Big bugs. Bite-y bugs. I am not a fan of the bugs. Drama or comedy? - Depends on the mood. I love a story that will make me cry my eyes out, but I also love the feel-good aspect of a nice light-hearted rom-com.
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I AM THRILLED to welcome another wonderful agent to the blog today to give us that all important insight into, not only their wishlist, but also what kind of agent they are and what they're looking for in their authors. So... Please meet Katelyn Uplinger with the D4EO Literary Agency! So, Katelyn, you’re a literary agent… Tell us all about how that happened! When I was in college I couldn’t decide if I’d rather be an editor or agent. I don’t live in NYC and there weren’t as many remote opportunities back then like there are today. Being able to get my foot in the door with an editing internship sent me sailing in that direction with publishing houses. However, I always regretted not getting to intern for an agency too. A few years into editing there were more remote opportunities popping up and so I went for it and landed an internship with an agency. I discovered I really enjoyed the work and knew I wanted to make the switch. It took me several agencies where I held internship and assistant positions while still editing to get to where I am today. I’m glad I started as an editor though because I use my editing skills every day as an agent. And how has it been going so far? As well as being a new agent can go I’d say. I’ve signed some fantastic clients and have great projects on my plate. It seems to be a well-kept secret that being a new agent is hard, especially in the current state of the market where it is getting harder and harder to break out new authors. It takes time to build a client list and sales in this slow industry. Being an agent isn’t for the impatient or those who give up easily. What’s on your current wishlist? I have been on the hunt for a chilling historical horror. In fantasy I would like some lesser-known mythologies, like Aztec or Incan mythology. Across the board in all genres I represent, I love and crave unique settings, whether it’s a cave underground, Antarctica, or the Ice Age. I’m also looking to expand my nonfiction list with projects about history, especially fun or weird history. And what are you definitely not looking for right now? I’m not a fan of cop procedurals or other detective and thriller stories revolving around the CIA, FBI, terrorists, drugs, or crime gangs. Can you tell us what it is that makes you request additional material? What is it that leads to a full request? And what keeps you reading to the final pages? I love a story that has something unique about the concept or characters that I can pinpoint right away. I get a lot of similar concepts in my slush, so any fresh concepts or takes I notice. If I like the concept of the query and the sample is well written and leaves me wanting to keep reading, I request more. There are a lot of samples I enjoy but don’t feel like I am dying to keep reading and that is my biggest determining factor in when to request more. When it comes to the full requests that keep me reading until the end, they keep the momentum moving past those opening chapters and remain strong all the way through. These ones don’t drop the ball on stakes or pacing like I’ve seen many do. They get me excited to see how the story ends. I usually read a full manuscript over multiple sittings, so a story needs to make me eager to pick it back up again. This is when most get a rejection, when I put the story down and can’t bring myself to pick it back up or discover I’m more eager to get back to a different requested full. So, when you fall in love with a manuscript, what happens next? When I’m nearing the end of a project and find myself considering offering, I often shoot the author an email to make sure the project is still available (if you receive an offer remember to inform other agents!) and to see what future projects they have in the works. I’ll also check out the author’s social media and website to make sure it looks professional and that there are no red flags. If everything I’ve seen makes me think the client’s work would be a good fit for my list, then I contact the author to see about setting up a phone call to discuss working together. What kind of agent are you? How do you approach your side of the business arrangement? What should a potential client expect from you as their agent? When it comes to what kind of agent I am, every client wants to know if I’m editorial, which I am. Most of my clients tend to be strong at the line level and so we focus on developmental edits together. I offer to authors I’m excited to work with and whose writing I’m eager to represent. When I sign clients I’m thinking long term and I see it as my job to guide my clients every step of the way. A fun little fact about what to expect from me is a recommended reading list of craft and publishing books I give every client to help not only with their writing, but what to expect when it comes to being a published author. And, importantly, what do you expect from your clients? Outside of putting in the work on your end on things like revisions and meeting deadlines, I want my clients to be communicative if they have questions or need anything. Don’t be afraid to contact your agent! Most importantly, I expect my clients to be able to keep going when publishing gets tough. Publishing is never an easy industry and it is always full of waiting and rejection. All writers have dreams and goals – win an award, be a bestseller, get a movie deal – but what dreams do you have as an agent? A lot of my dreams and goals revolve around success for my clients, like meeting the above goals for them since as an agent my job revolves around the careers of my clients. However, publishing is a slow industry, so I try to focus on more immediate dreams and goals. Right now as a new agent I’m focusing on building my client list and getting myself established. And, most importantly, things we all need to know... Ketchup or mayo? - Ketchup! E-book or paperback? - E-books. Their convenience wins out for me. Day or night? - I admit I’m a night owl. Walk or drive? - Walk. Beach or mountains? - Beach! I live in a mountainous area and don’t get to visit the beach enough. Dogs or cats? - I like both, but I have to pick cats because I’m allergic to dogs. Chocolate or chips? - Chocolate. Sun or rain? - Sun. Inside or outside? - Outside. The only season I’m not outside as much as possible is winter. Drama or comedy? - Comedy. I like to laugh a lot. It's time for another author interview today, so please welcome Anthony Custode Jr!  If you've ever worked in a call center, you probably have a few stories you could share. But Adrian Wescott has a story that might just top them all. An aimless drifter who is stuck at a soul-crushing job, Adrian accidentally unearths a chance to alter his life and those of the degenerates in his inner circle. To achieve his ambitions of white-collar supremacy will require more focus and thought than he's put forth cumulatively to this point in his underwhelming life. Temptations of the carnal and pharmaceutical variety stand in the way of his million-dollar dream - but for the first time he can say no. Sort of. Who are you and what do you write? My name is Anthony Custode Jr and I write multiple genres of fiction. So far I have written a thriller, romance/erotica and a children sports book. My newest release, Customer Service, is a crude comedy. So I guess you can say that I’m a Jack of all Trades. Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you? My writing life began pretty early. I had a poem published when I was in 1st grade. Also, my 1st grade teacher told the teacher’s aide that my writing was ‘a riot’ in front of the entire class. I wasn’t sure what she meant by that at the time, but looking back I take it as a compliment, How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown? The journey has been filled with ups and downs for me. I graduated college with a degree in journalism. I was working for a sports website, covering my two favorite professional sports teams. Unfortunately, an error made by one of my colleagues derailed that project and we were forced to fold. So, I turned to writing books. That is when I wrote Andrew’s Journal, which is a twisted thriller that is not for the faint of heart. I was in a dark place mentally and I guess I took it out on my characters. At the time, I just wanted to write something and have it published. But after friends and family raved about the book, I couldn’t shake the itch of producing more, so that’s what I did. I don’t fixate on specific genres, but instead I write about what inspires me. I have to say that the support I’ve received on Twitter far outweighs any support I get from most friends and family, so I have to be thankful for the community that we have. It’s not easy to be a self-publishing author because of the immense amount of work it takes to produce, edit and market each work. But I’m enjoying the ride for sure. What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable? There are two things that are the hardest, and they kind of go hand-in-hand. Marketing is such a pain because you never know where to start. How to reach an audience. But I think I’ve started getting the hang of it a little bit at least. The other is patience. It’s so hard to be patient, but if you take shortcuts, your product will suffer. I would love to write one draft, send it off and have it be perfect and sell millions of copies. But it doesn’t work that way. So as difficult as it is to be patient with the process, I’ve learned that it’s much better than trying to fix mistakes after the fact. The most enjoyable part of writing by far is the reactions of people that read my work. My mother read Vanity’s Price Tag and sent me a text when she was done thanking me for making her cry. I have two friends that love my work so much that they consistently message me and ask about updates. They also have posted direct quotes from some of my books to their social media, telling their friends how much they can relate to them. That is the greatest feeling in the world – when you can make an impact on someone’s life with your writing. Would you go back and change anything? The only thing I would change is paying more attention to the PR and Marketing classes I took in college. Those tools would be beneficial now. Everything else has happened and made me the person I am today, so it would be tough to say I would change anything else. Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? Or, what are your plans for the future? I really would love to be able to support myself and my son on my writing alone, without the day job. It might seem like a pipedream to most, but any dream will stay a dream if you never chase it. I don’t necessarily need the fame. Actually, I wouldn’t care for fame at all. But if I could make an impact on lives and write books for a living while living comfortably, that would be the ultimate fantasy. What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out? Read and write often. You never know what kind of influences another writer can make on your writing by just reading their stuff. I’m currently reading The Lord Poet by Megan Franks and it’s amazing. She’s so talented and I’ve found myself drawn to her ability to be so descriptive that I actually went back and changed some things in my own work. Before that, I read Lamar Neal’s poetry book, We All Need Therapy. He really made me feel his emotions and I was able to take some of the things he did and incorporate it into my own work. And both are self-publishers, too. Which goes to show the talent that is out there in the non-traditional markets. Also, other writers are NOT your competition. Support them. Find writers that you connect with and build them up because it’s contagious. As long as you’re doing it genuinely. And before you go... Ketchup or Mayo? - With a gun to my head? Mayo. I had a back experience with ketchup when my sister squirted some into my mouth while I was sleeping. Ketchup and cotton mouth is a combination that you never really forget. It’s not delicious. Night or Day? - Night time, for sure. It’s cooler. Inside or Outside? - I’m more of a hermit I guess, so inside. I like to be cool. If it’s snowing outside, though, I wouldn’t mind being outside for a bit. Dogs or Cats? - Neither. I’m not much of an animal person (ducks to dodge objects hurled at my head). But I live with my brother and he has a dog. She’s not too bad, I guess. Twitter or Facebook? - When I was younger, it would have been Facebook. But I gravitate toward Twitter now. There’s too much drama on Facebook. Or mine, at least. Ebook or Paperback? - Paperback. Definitely Walk or Drive? - Drive. I love road trips, too. Sun or Rain? - Rain. Sun is hot. I don’t like hot. Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? - Keyboard. My handwriting is atrocious. Comedy or Drama? - Comedy! Make me laugh! Chips or Chocolate? - Chips. Actually, Lays came out with a Crispy Taco flavor that I LOVED and now I can’t find them anywhere. It’s been a couple of years and I still haven’t let it go.  Anthony Custode Jr is an American author from Western New York. After graduating from Niagara Falls High School in 2004, he attended Buffalo State College where he earned a Bachelor's degree in journalism. After working for various publications on a freelance basis and a brief stint in sports media, Anthony turned his attention to writing books. He composes controversial fiction and his twisted imagination and storytelling makes him one of the more unique authors to burst onto the independent scene. Previously Published Work: Andrew’s Journal – A Novella (Thriller) Vanity’s Price Tag (Romance/Erotica) The Fourth Liner (Children’s Sports) Find out more here! Today, I wanted to post a little spotlight on THE ASTRID NOTES, the latest YA contemporary by Australian author Taryn Bashford, which was released a few weeks ago and works as a companion novel to Taryn's first book, THE HARPER EFFECT published in 2018. Not only is the author my good friend, but I'm always excited and surprised when I find a book I fall in love with that's outside my usual reading tastes. I was lucky enough to beta read an earlier draft of THE ASTRID NOTES and, as mentioned, I'm happy to admit it wouldn't ordinarily be the type of book I'd pick up in a bookstore or library. But I was delighted by how addictive it was. I was sucked in by Taryn's beautifully smooth writing, the always present intensity in her voice, and the well-rounded and real characters I connected with immediately. It's about music and performance, deep fears and past pain, following passions, and crawling out from beneath the suffocating behaviours of controlling parents … a perfect recipe for a dramatic YA novel, right? Absolutely! But at the same time it has the balance of drama and joy and sadness and hope just right and, I feel, is unique in its content. All in all it was an absolute pleasure to spend some of my precious free time in the world of THE ASTRID NOTES! So, rather than listen to me blabber on about it anymore, just go grab your own copy so you too can fall in love with Astrid and Jacob!  Astrid Bell Dutiful daughter. Classical singer. Secret pop songwriter. And suffering from stage fright. Jacob Skalicky. Trust Fund Kid. Indie singer. Immensely gifted performer. And refusing to sing again. Are they polar opposites? In his grief and fury at the world, Jacob certainly thinks so. But when Jacob loses everything and Astrid uncovers a shocking family secret, they may need each other to make sense of their lives.  Taryn is the author of The Harper Effect and currently lives on the Sunshine Coast with a family that includes teen children and a highly-strung dog. Taryn’s lived on four continents, meaning her job experience has been varied: an advertising sales rep, a ski chalet chef, a late-night newsreader and the CEO of an internet company, but writing and Australia are her true loves. Taryn is currently working on her PhD in Creative Writing while tutoring undergraduates and writing more novels. When she’s not writing or teaching, she’s training for triathlons in the hope they will compensate for the fact she spends ten hours a day sitting on her tushie.
I am thrilled to be back on the blog today with another literary agent interview. It's important to me that I help as many new writers as I can prepare in the best way possible before they choose which agents to query. And today I'm welcoming my friend, Heather Cashman, an agent with Storm Literary! So, you’re a literary agent… Tell us all about how that happened! While presenting at a conference in St. Louis, I met Vicki Selvaggio again (one of the loveliest people in the industry). She mentioned at dinner that Storm was thinking of expanding, and we kept in touch. Easy peasy, right? Nope. Like everything in publishing, it took me another eight months before Storm was ready to announce that I would be one of their new agents. But it was worth the wait, and Storm has been the perfect fit for me! And how has it been going so far? Vicki has been the best mentor in the world. After my previous experience with agent interning, my editorial background, and all the networking while managing Pitch Wars, this job is the perfect fit. I love working with authors to help them realize their dreams of being traditionally published. And I love finding editors the perfect manuscript! What’s on your current wishlist? I'm not one of those readers who has a niche. I've always read widely and acquired widely as well. I love stories with imperfect heroes and understandable villains (who consider themselves the hero). I enjoy complexity of plot, a twist I didn't see coming (which is way too rare), and stories written to explore the world and human condition. For more info, here are a couple links: My Website | #MSWL | Storm Literary While YA is my wheelhouse, I'm in need of excellent MG that has that authentic MG voice. And what are you definitely not looking for right now? For some reason, I still receive a lot of Adult submissions, which I only take at conferences. I'm not one for gratuitous violence or sex or gore. I'm not a fan of mermaid stories, but I can't say I'd auto-reject them either if the voice and plot and world are there. I don't auto-reject anything, tbh. I'm also not a fan of animals as main characters unless it's a picture book (which I also don't actively acquire but take on with MG and YA clients). Can you tell us what it is that makes you request additional material? What is it that leads to a full request? And what keeps you reading to the final pages? Here goes... I begin reading a query, and the character is interesting. The world feels unique. The premise is intriguing. If that's all there, I skip to the pages. Then, voice. If the text is smooth and easy to read, the beginning gives me some conflict and lets me know what the character is really like--and I can get behind their arc and relate to their flaws--then I find myself at the end of the twenty pages without wanting to stop and stretch or take a drink, I'll probably request the full. I never request anything but the full, because that's just another email if I like it. After that, it's all about tension on every page (positive or negative), a plot that plays with and against a theme, and a character arc that's satisfying. So, when you fall in love with a manuscript, what happens next? I always ask to see 4-6 more projects. They can be completed, WIPs, jacketflap copy, or just a paragraph about the premise and character. My main goal is to be with an author for the life of their career, and even if I love that first book to pieces, if their other work isn't for me, then I don't set up a call. I want to make sure I can be there for the long haul, because publishing is a marathon. I don't want to get to the five-mile mark and run out of water. What kind of agent are you? How do you approach your side of the business arrangement? What should a potential client expect from the great Heather Cashman?! First--saying I'm great makes me blush and shake my head. Second--I'm not sure how to categorize myself or even what the categories are. But I will say this... While I always see this as a professional relationship, I always do my best to be personable. I've learned over the years to stay positive. Rejection is a rung up the ladder of success. I'm collaborative, proactive in selecting the next project, very editorial, and value communication above everything else. Publishing is a business. It's contracts and financial management and turning art into a living. I try to keep it real while also valuing it for what it is--a piece of a person's heart and soul. And, importantly, what do you expect from your clients? I expect them to be self-motivated, have realistic expectations, be self-educated and proactive about craft, social media, and technology. I expect civility and kindness and patience. You can't be a traditionally published author without having mastered the waiting game. Of course, I don't mind helping my clients when they're struggling or stuck or flailing. We all do that as authors, and I've sat on a Skype call many times where I wanted to hand my client a tissue and give them a hug. I'm more than willing to be the one to hold a hand now and again, but that shouldn't be a regular occurrence, and the work load has to be 100% from both sides. By the time an author queries me, they should have a support group with CPs and have an established habit of writing that will sustain them. All writers have dreams and goals – win an award, be a bestseller, get a movie deal – but what dreams do you have as an agent? I have many dreams as an agent. I'd love to have a Caldecott Winner and Newbery Medalist, a Coretta Scott King Award winner, a Hugo, Nebula, Bram Stoker, you name it! I'd love to have every single one of my clients sell a book. Statistically, that's very improbable, but I want them all to taste the success they dream of, and I hope, work, and strive every day to make that happen for them. Ketchup or mayo? - Ketchup. And mustard. E-book or paperback? - Love paperback but almost exclusively read on e-readers. Day or night? - Day and night. Walk or drive? - Road trip! Beach or mountains? - Uh, why not both? Dogs or cats? - I'm a dog person but my husband has Cat Williams. She only likes me when I'm eating meat. Chocolate or chips? - Chocolate. Sun or rain? - Rain. Inside or outside? - Outside. Drama or comedy? - Whatever my current mood demands. Woohoo! How cool is Heather?!! And, the best part is, Heather is now open to queries, so GO GO GO!!!! I'm thrilled to welcome a wonderful author to the blog today who's celebrating the release of her latest book!  Sherryl Clark has more than 70 published children’s and YA books, including novels, chapter books, picture books and verse novels. Her books have been published in Australia and overseas, including the USA, UK, Spain, Mexico and China. Her crime novel, Trust Me, I’m Dead, is published by Verve Books UK, and was picked up in a two-book deal after the novel was shortlisted in 2018 for the CWA Debut Dagger. Sherryl taught creative writing at Victoria University TAFE for 23 years and is now running her own workshops and master classes. She has an MFA from Hamline University in Minnesota, and a PhD from Victoria University. Her website is at www.sherrylclarkcrimewriter.com. Follow her on Twitter  Trust Me, I’m Dead is available on Amazon Australia Print copies available from the Sun Bookshop in Yarraville, or from the author. Hi Sherryl! Welcome to the blog! Who are you and what do you write? I’m a writer and a teacher, a reader, an editor, a mentor. I write a lot of things – been writing children’s and YA fiction for many years, but always coming back to my crime fiction when I can. I also write a fair bit of poetry, and I write blog posts and articles (most recently for Medium). Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you? I wrote a lot of poetry early on, and my first (truly awful) crime novel when I was about 35. I did an Arts degree at Deakin because at that point it was the only way I could get good feedback on my writing, through the assignments. My first published pieces were poems and some short stories. My first book was a collection of poems. Those early publications were so important – they gave me the confidence to keep plugging away at it. How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown? When I look back, I’ve always been writing crime. I have at least three unpublished novels (and I still have some of the rejections I received!). I wrote several crime short stories for anthologies, one of which now pops up a lot in high school texts. You never know where things will go. I started writing children’s and YA in 1996, thanks to the encouragement of a friend, and that kind of took over my writing life. I have 71 books published now in that area, including a MG crime novel. Teaching writing has been important to me – I learn from my students, I learn more about writing by having to distill and teach it to them. I always want to discover more, and then share it. I love seeing students get published! But I’m glad now to have left TAFE and the compliance nightmare, and have the time and creative headspace totally for my own writing at last. What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable? The hard part is always the rejections, but I think I’ve grown a thicker skin over the years (you have to, to keep going). I think rejections with no real explanation are very hard. But we all get them, so … The most enjoyable is teaching, helping people grow in their writing, but also in their knowledge about the publishing industry so they understand how it works. The champagne to celebrate a contract is great, but so is celebrating the completion of a first draft! Love the first draft. Would you go back and change anything? No, I don’t think so. It’s been up and down, but the ups are worth it. Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? Or, what are your plans for the future? In 5 years I’d like to be still writing both of my series because I love both characters and I know I have ideas for them (Mal’s first novel hasn’t been accepted anywhere yet). In 10 years, I think I’d still be writing, but maybe something different! I always want to be travelling, and reading, too. What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out? Learn about the industry and the market, and what you need to achieve to break in (the quality of your writing and the originality of the concept). If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that ‘really good’ isn’t enough anymore – you do have to try to ‘break out’ in some way, have a strong voice or character or story concept. Ketchup or Mayo? Mustard! Night or Day? Day, preferably dawn even though I don’t often see it. Inside or Outside? Probably inside, with air con or heating so I can write in comfort. Dogs or Cats? Cats. Twitter or Facebook? Facebook mostly. Ebook or Paperback? Paperback. Walk or Drive? Walk. I see and hear so much more. Sun or Rain? Sun (but not mid-summer in Melbourne, thanks). Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? Mostly keyboard, but pen and notebook for poems. Comedy or Drama? Drama. Chips or Chocolate? Chips – with a glass of wine! I'm delighted to welcome lit agent Jessica Reino to the blog today, who has recently joined Metamorphosis Literary Agency as a junior agent. If you're thinking of querying her, read on! So, you’re a literary agent… Tell us all about how that happened!
I’m new to agenting, but not to the publishing industry. I am a multi-genre author and worked as a freelance editor specializing in substantive editing. I love talking with other authors about their process, their goals, and the developmental structure of their books. When I saw that Metamorphosis Literary Agency was looking for interns, I jumped on the chance to learn about the agency-side of things and the rest is history. And how has it been going so far? It’s been going great! We have such a wonderful team here at Metamorphosis and I’ve been seeing some stellar queries that I’m excited to take a look at. What’s on your current wishlist? My current wishlist is: Adult, psychological/legal thrillers, mystery and suspense, women’s fiction, contemporary romance, and fantasy. YA, contemporary romance, horror, science fiction and fantasy with strong world-building and action to drive the story, magical realism and paranormal. MG, any and all stories that are character-driven with heart and she is also on the lookout for MG horror. Nonfiction, pop culture, health, sports, parenting, and humor books. As you know, I’m very active on Twitter and tweet about my wishlist using the hashtag #MSWL often. I’m very interested in characters that have disabilities, mental illness, or chronic health problems but not have that be the center of the story. And what are you definitely not looking for right now? I am not looking for erotica, historical romance, historical fiction, or picture books at the moment. Can you tell us what it is that makes you request additional material? What is it that might lead to a full request? And what keeps you reading to the final pages? A well-written query with an interesting concept will definitely get my attention. For a full request and to keep me reading to the final pages, I have to find the concept interesting, the voice engaging, and make a connection to the story. So, when you fall in love with a manuscript, what might happen next? If I’m loving the manuscript, I am making editorial notes in my head as well as making a list of possible editors that I know will also love it. That’s when I know there’s something special. What kind of agent are you? How do you approach your side of the business arrangement? What should a potential client expect from you as their agent? When clients sign with me, I’m all in! Yes, I’m interested in the manuscript that I fell in love with, but I am interested in my client and their career goals. Publishing is a tricky business, and I want clients to know that I am completely invested in their writing and their careers, which will be different for each person. I am definitely an editorial agent so I will always have discussions/comments about a manuscript to make sure it is polished before sending off to editors and will always have my authors’ best interests. With that being said, creativity and final decisions always remain with the author. I want authors I work with to feel comfortable talking to me about their goals, their wishes, and their worries. We’re partners and we’re in this together. And, importantly, what do you expect from your clients? I expect clients to be willing to work because the work doesn’t stop once you get an agent. I also expect clients to be open to feedback. Communication is so important for a strong partnership. All writers have dreams and goals – win an award, be a bestseller, get a movie deal – but what dreams do you have as an agent? This is such a great question! As an agent, my dream would be that my clients would know that I fully support them in their careers and that we brought books and stories out into the world to make it a better place. Awards, bestsellers, and movie deals certainly couldn’t hurt though And before you go... Ketchup or mayo? Ketchup E-book or paperback? Paperback Day or night? Day Walk or drive? Walk Beach or mountains? Beach Dogs or cats? Dogs Chocolate or chips? Nut free chocolate (I have a lot of food allergies) Sun or rain? Sun Inside or outside? Depends on the day Drama or comedy? Comedy I'm pleased to welcome back author Chris Bedell on to the blog today to talk about his latest book and how it came to be! NEVER GIVING UP By Chris Bedell Writers often get a lot of advice—some of it useful, some of it not helpful or applicable at all. But the most important writing advice is to never give up. The mantra is true despite sounding cliché. Although for the purposes of this blog post, I’d like to mention how that advice relates to shelved manuscripts and my recently published New Adult Thriller, BURNING BRIDGES. BURNING BRIDGES has been five years in the making—I finished it back in the spring of 2014. I even sent out several queries, which were ultimately rejected. But here’s the thing. That version of BURNING BRIDGES was really bad. Sure. There were some good ideas and potential with the manuscript, but I needed to level up my writing craft and have a more concise plot. Flash-forward five years later to the spring of 2019. I still couldn’t stop thinking about BURNING BRIDGES. I always knew I’d return to the novel—I just didn’t know when. And there was also something creative about it. I had never once read a book or seen a movie or TV show involving identical triplets. In order to get the novel to the publishable version, I did a complete rewrite. Nothing survived the draft from 2014. But that’s okay. The rewrite was something I had to do to get to the real story. The revision involved going from 71k words to 61k words, and I added three more points of views (so four points of view total), in addition to using close third person point of view instead of first person. Using close third allowed me to make sure that the four voices didn’t sound the same while still having the close feeling that first person captures. The novel still felt too niche for literary agents since they aren’t really taking much New Adult fiction. So, I put my querying emphasis on pitching legitimate small presses. I finally got an offer of publication when I was at the airport, waiting for my flight to Aruba at the end of June 2019. Accepting the offer happened less than two weeks later, and the book’s publication date was fast-tracked, releasing July 17, 2019. Ultimately, many successful paths exist in publishing. However, I hope my path for BURNING BRIDGES will inspire other writers, because that weird, shelved manuscript might be unearthed someday. Anyway, if New Adult novels, thrillers, and LGBTQ characters interest you, I hope you’ll consider giving BURNING BRIDGES, GONE GIRL meets Sarah Michelle Gellar’s RINGER, a try (…the book is available on Kindle Unlimited!).  They've always said that three's a crowd... 24-year-old Sasha didn’t anticipate her identical twin Riley killing herself upon their reconciliation after years of estrangement. But Sasha senses an opportunity and assumes Riley’s identity so she can escape her old life. Playing Riley isn’t without complications, though. Riley’s had a strained relationship with her wife and stepson so Sasha must do whatever she can to make her newfound family love and accept her. If Sasha’s arrangement ends, then she’ll have nothing protecting her from her past. However, when one of Sasha’s former clients tracks her down, Sasha must choose between her new life and the only person who cared about her. But things are about to become even more complicated, as a third sister, Katrina, enters the scene... Chris Bedell's previous publishing credits include Thought Catalog, Entropy Magazine, Foliate Oak Literary Magazine, among others. BURNING BRIDGES is his first New Adult novel. Chris also has other books--published and soon to be published. His debut YA Fantasy novel IN THE NAME OF MAGIC was published by NIneStar Press last October. Meanwhile, Chris has three forthcoming novels. A YA Paranormal Romance novel DEATHLY DESIRES and a YA Contemporary novel I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN from Deep Hearts YA while Magnolia Press is going to publish his YA Thriller I KNOW WHERE THE BODIES ARE BURIED. Furthermore, Chris graduated with a BA in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2016. Another book birthday author is joining me on the blog today! Please meet my pal Tia Barber...  The Book! On a scale of one to dead, Stephanie's date with the mysterious, uber-sexy Theo ends at a six--as in 'feet under.' She's the country's premiere online matchmaker, but Stephanie's own love life is a disaster. So, when 'Death' phones her for a date, she knows her mom, a fading Hollywood starlet with bucket loads of free time, is taking yet another stab at her self-imposed spinster status. And the best way to get back at a meddling parent? Do the exact opposite of what her mom expects. Date on. Greek primordial, Theo, is at breaking point. Loneliness and boredom are sorry bedfellows, and walking the newly departed to their final door drains him. Then he gets Stephanie's soul call. He's certain she'll have good advice for him before her time is up, but . . . she wants a date? What follows is nothing short of mythical. Sizzling chemistry, near-miss accidents, soul-changing travel, a magical gown, and a wine bar full of secrets: god-powers are at work for Steph, but her death is inescapable, sending Theo into a downward spiral that threatens reality itself. But Stephanie's end is just the beginning . . . and it'll be her job to prove . . . It's never too late for love. * * * * * * * Death On Line One is a modern day paranormal romance featuring primordials, gods, mythical monsters, and a quirky 35 year old heroine with a knack for fumbling, well, everything.  The Interview... Who are you and what do you write? Hi! I’m T.K. Barber, I write Romance in several different veins. Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you? Gosh. Well, most writer’s stories probably begin like “I wanted to read a book about something and couldn’t find it, so I decided to write it.” That’s mostly true for me, but I was simply too impatient to search for it, to be honest. I’d never been a big reader, so I wasn’t even sure what to look for. And it only officially started 3 years ago, though I’d written poetry in high school. How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown? The journey has been...interesting and fast. Once I decided “hey I could probably do this book thing” I wrote a TON. My very first book, Arrhythmia, (which will be coming out—rewritten—in a couple years) was such a lil newborn baby. I honestly didn’t know anything. EXCEPT I learned I could really tell a story. Mechanics—ehhhhh, needed a lot of work. Even so, it was well received, which only spurred me to write more, and faster. I couldn’t type as fast as these ideas wanted to come out of my head. (Death On Line One was actually conceived, written, and given cursory edits in a little over 3 months! It was a push to make #KissPitch.) To the date of this interview I have 63 wips. In 3 years. 🤣 What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable? Hands down the hardest part is my disability. I have a rare neurological disorder called Intracranial Hypertension (IH) which mimics a brain tumor’s worst symptoms, but has no true cure. There are only a couple medications that help with the swelling around the optic nerve, and the preferred one I had a bad reaction to. So, second tier for me! I lost some vision in my left eye before I was officially diagnosed and started treatments, but there are days when I can hardly see at all. Imagine having a migraine and wearing two pairs of someone else’s glasses, (opposite prescriptions, one upside down) at the same time, plus tinnitus. There have been days where I’ve passed out from the raised pressure, as well. The problem is, my muse kinda doesn’t care, and keeps shoving words and plots into my brain. So, on flareup days I use my ipad & keyboard attachment, throw my screen up to the apple tv and blow the font up large enough so it goes from seeing quadruple to seeing double—which I can work through. Now, when the vision issue piggy backs one of the pressure headaches...well, those days I just sleep. BEST thing, has been learning that I’m actually a tad bit more capable than I thought I was, even though I’m still kinda all over the place. Also, meeting fellow writers, finding a group of people who truly cheerlead for me at every turn, and learning that these bizarre things in my mind are actually things people want to read—and love! Would you go back and change anything? Oooh. That’s a tough question. I think I’d go back and turn off the self doubt. It’s such a pointless, vicious monster that’s cost me a lot. Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? Or, what are your plans for the future? In 5 years I hope to have achieved at least one official best seller status. Not because I think it means my work is somehow magically better than another author who doesn’t have it, but because that would solely mean that in the course of a week (or two—I can’t recall) 5000 people will have bought one of my books. That’s a lot of people I might touch with my stories. 10 years I want at least one of my books turned into a movie. Past that, I dunno. I just want people to love my characters, talk about them like the real people they are to me, and clamor for more words. I’m all about the fans. What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out? Stop relying on advice all the time. Here’s why. There’s good advice, and there’s crap advice. Problem is, you’re too green when you start out to know which is which. The single worst thing I ever did for myself was look up what a particular VERY famous author had to say about writing multiple books. (see above ‘self doubt monster.’ Someone made a passive aggressive comment about how many WIPs I had.) According to *famous author*, I was doing it all wrong, and it wasn’t possible to be successful that way. So I decided to make my brain focus on one book. Just one. It broke me. I nearly gave up writing. I cried a LOT. Because the book I was writing wasn’t working, no matter what. And my muses were seriously upset that I’d turned off the fountain. I still get sick when I think about how many ideas I lost during that time. But *famous author* said the only way to be successful was to stick to one book. I was obviously a failure, right?! It was a very, very low point in my career. Thank God I had a couple good people help me through it, otherwise Death On Line One wouldn’t exist!! Ketchup or Mayo? —mayo! Night or Day? —night Inside or Outside? —inside Dogs or Cats? —cats! Twitter or Facebook? —tough...uh...facebook Ebook or Paperback? —ebook Walk or Drive? —omg drive. Sun or Rain? —rain (I’m sounding more and more like a moody hermit as this list goes on) Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? —keyboard (ipad preferrably!) Comedy or Drama? —Comedy! (Ha! See? Not all moody!) Chips or Chocolate? —chips. Only because chocolate and I aren’t on speaking terms anymore |
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October 2020
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