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I'm excited to welcome another awesome author to the blog today to find out more about their writing and their journey to publication. Please meet Kellie Doherty! Let's get this started! Who are you and what do you write? My name is Kellie Doherty. I’m an author currently living in Eagle River, Alaska, and I write adult science fiction and fantasy with queer main characters and a romantic bent. I also dabble in short story writing and some poetry, too!  Misti Eildelmann is a Vagari—a race whose innate crafting ability is connected to the creatures of the world. She’s also a Moon Knight. Misti is fighting a banished one when he slips a pendant around her neck that saps her strength. The pendant is dangerous. Deadly even. It harnesses crafting in a way not seen before, so she sets off to find help. Old and new friends join her on this quest, including her longtime crush Dylori Clyofis and a villager named Arias Silverstone. The journey is risky—filled with frightening suncreatures, evil worshippers, and twisted betrayal. Misti is thankful to have friends on this path into the scorching light, but something much bigger is waiting for them in the sunshine. Her pendant is just a piece of puzzle. Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you? My writing journey started when I was young and obsessed with Digimon and Pokemon, so much so that I started writing fanfiction about it. I loved the shows and games so much that I wanted to be a part of their adventures. Writing fanfiction was the way I accomplished that. I also wrote fanfic about Sailor Moon, Teen Titans, and some other equally nerdy cartoons. Fanfiction was my first foray into the writing world and where I learned the basics of how to write a story. After a few fanfic years, I felt comfortable in my writing skills and creativity that I wanted to pen my own worlds instead of playing in someone else’s. I wrote mostly short stories back then and dabbled quite a bit in poetry, though long-form novels have since captured my heart. How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown? Adventurous, to say the least, though a rollercoaster might be more accurate. I wrote my first science fiction book when I was in college—a novel adapted from a short story I had written—and sent it out to many different publishers and agents. None took, so I kept revising and reworking it, sending it to my critique group to make it stronger, and eventually moving on to write, revise, and critique the second book. One of my close friends had been accepted by this indie publisher called Desert Palm Press—whom I knew from my freelance editing career—and encouraged me to submit. It wasn’t until my first year of grad school did I actually get the courage to do it. I had been working toward a master’s in book publishing at the time and was learning all about the publishing world from a perspective different than the writing/author side. (Fascinating, by the way, and I hope to break into that world, too! It would be amazing to get a full-time job at a publishing house.) Anyway, I finally took a chance and submitted my science fiction book. About a month or so later, I had an email waiting for me that Lee, the publisher there, really liked my work! Finding Hekate came out in 2016 and its sequel Losing Hold came out in 2017. Together they’re now known as the Cicatrix Duology. After that duology, I wanted to break away from sci-fi and dive into fantasy. I’ve since written Sunkissed Feathers & Severed Ties—which came out in March of this year from Desert Palm Press—and I’m currently working on book two. This new adventure is going to be a five-book fantasy series, with each of the first four books having a different main character and the fifth book bringing them all together. Kind of like a Marvel universe style!  Mia Foley is running away from the attack that changed her life. She’s captain of a new spaceship when the Acedians find her and try blasting her peaceful crew from the black. She must sever her bonds in order to run, again. But she’s grown fond of this crew, particularly Cassidy Gates. Staying with them will jeopardize their safety, and they have much closer fears than the Acedian hunters. Mia’s time is running out. She’s becoming one of them. What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable? The hardest part of my experience thus far was probably the waiting period between getting Sunkissed Feathers to my editor for a final review and the book being actually being published. The pub date got pushed back for multiple reasons (life happens, right?) and it was both a nerve-wracking and thrilling time. The most enjoyable part is probably the writing aspect of it. It may be cliché for a writer to say they love writing, but honestly, I do! I get to create fascinating worlds and new races, cool tech and spaceships, fantastical creatures and magic. And then, I get to throw all the characters into the mix and explore deeper meanings, themes, and relationships. I go on adventure with my characters, and it’s just…fun! Plus, the writing community is awesome; I’m so happy to be part of it. (And honestly, if you don’t love writing, maybe consider putting your creative energies elsewhere. This is a hard gig!) Would you go back and change anything? I wouldn’t change anything substantial in my writing world since I’m here today because of the choices I’ve made and I like where I am in my writing. But if I could give my past self advice, I would tell myself to calm the eff down about everything. To not be so nervous about taking a chance. To trust the decisions and to really appreciate where I was at back then. But actually change anything? Never.  In the sequel to Finding Hekate, after escaping Donavin’s grasp, Mia Foley and her crew crash on a prison planet and need to deal with its inhabitants, beast and criminals alike. Mia hears Donavin in her mind once again and knows the transformation into one of his drones isn’t far off. Trapped in her own body, lashing against Donavin each chance she gets, and fearful that she’ll lose it all, Mia has to rely on her crew—on Cassidy—to save her. But she’s not the only one transforming in her little group, and things never go as smoothly as they could out in the black. Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? Or, what are your plans for the future? Five years from now I’d like to have my fantasy series completed. It’s a tight turnaround time, five books in as many years, but I’m really striving for it. I will, of course, take more time if the stories need it. After I’m done with that series, I’ll move onto my next writing project. I have a couple of stories competing for my attention right now and I’ll probably have more in the coming years, so it’ll be interesting to see which one I decide to pursue. I also hope to grow my readership and fanbase, build some more connections with fellow authors, and create more of a creative community. I’d like to find some more panels and conferences, retreats and festivals to go to in the coming years, too. I have a personal goal to no longer be nervous when speaking in public, but I’m not quite there yet. Doing more panels will only make me more comfortable. (Or so I hope!) On a non-writing front, I hope to get a full-time job at a publishing house. But really, in five to ten years from now, I’ll still be writing like I am now. I’ll have more experiences to draw from and more wisdom to tap into, of course, but I’ll still be the same nerdy fangirl I am today. What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out? Join a local writing or critique group! Forming bonds with other writers in your community is key to surviving in this career path. You’ll learn a lot from each other and grow as writers. Plus, it’s fun to routinely meet up and write, chat about the publishing journey, and gain insight into your work and others by critiquing it. And finally, the important stuff... Ketchup or Mayo? - Mayo Night or Day? - Night Inside or Outside? - Inside Dogs or Cats? - Cats Twitter or Facebook? - Twitter Ebook or Paperback? - Paperback Walk or Drive? - Walk Sun or Rain? - Rain Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? - Keyboard (but I still carry around a notebook/pen wherever I go) Comedy or Drama? - Comedy Chips or Chocolate? - Chocolate Thanks for joining me today, Kellie, and good luck with your writing!  Kellie Doherty is an author from Eagle River, Alaska, who writes science fiction and fantasy. Living in Alaska gave her an appreciation for nature, a hankering for a good cup of tea, and a passion for all things below zero. During those dark winter nights, she kept herself busy by writing stories and creating characters. When she noticed a lack of queer characters in science fiction and fantasy stories, she decided to create her own. Her first sci-fi book Finding Hekate was published by Desert Palm Press in April 2016, and the sequel Losing Hold was published in April 2017. She's currently working on a five-book fantasy series, and the first book Sunkissed Feathers & Severed Ties launched on March 27, 2019. You can find out more on her website: kelliedoherty.com kellie.f.doherty@gmail.com
Website: http://kelliedoherty.com/ Twitter: @Kellie_Doherty Facebook: @KellieDoherty89/ Desert Palm Press website: https://desertpalmpress.com/
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Today's interview is a MUST-READ for anyone with a pile of books begging to be read! Check it out and then join the challenge! Let's start with the most important question: What is the OcTBR Challenge? Put simply, it’s a challenge for the month of October to read through as many of your unread books as possible. I think a lot of us are pretty guilty at collecting amazing books we want to read, but never actually getting around to reading them. Well, now we’ve set aside an entire month to do just that! And who's behind this fantastic idea? It was conjured into being by Kathryn, Dan and Anna on Twitter – proving that procrastinating on social media when you should be writing can occasionally be constructive. Who can join in? How do people participate? It’s open to everyone! And although the aim is simply to celebrate reading for the month - so you can be as involved (or not) as you want online - we’re hoping people get into the spirit of things (and there will be prizes for those who do). We’re particularly excited for 1 October where we’ll be encouraging everyone to share photos of their TBR piles. Otherwise, you can sign up for blog posts, guest articles and updates on our website www.OcTBRChallenge.org. What made you start this? It came about from a silly tweet about taking a month off simply to read through your TBR piles, which then became real when the three of us realised “we should actually do this!”. Of course, in the real world you can’t really take a month off work to read. But when you look at events like NaNoWriMo, you can see that sometimes you just need a little encouragement and a competitive spirit and you can somehow find the time to get things done. We’re hoping that at the very least we can tap into this same spirit and help turn October into a celebration of catch-up reading. What's in your own TBR piles? Kathryn: Kick the Moon by Muhammad Khan, Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch, Scythe by Neil Shusterman, Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig, A Blind Guide to Stinkville by Beth Vrabel, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman - to name a few!! Anna: Mostly Swedish authors in my TBR pile! I do have Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig in it as well. More than one book by John Ajvide Lindqvist (the Swedish Stephen King, only better and creepier), C.S Lewis Perelandra, a reread. Swedish criminal professor Leif GW Perssons memoars, Jonas Gardells memoars, and Vaesen - Spirits and Monsters of Scandinavian Folklore, a beautiful, richly illustrated book that's both a wonderful read, and very decorative in my bookshelf. Will order more books very shortly, which is exciting! Dan: I have a very chunky copy of Wanderers (Chuck Wendig) sitting on my bedside table, which I’m dying to read. But I’ve also got knockouts like Children of Blood and Bone (Tomi Adeyemi), The Tiger’s Daughter (K. Arsenault Rivera), Phasma (Delilah S. Dawson), Luna (Ian McDonald), The Beast of Nightfall Lodge (S.A. Sidor), and Stories and Spilled Tea (a collection of short stories by Michael J. Martinez) in my pile. I have no idea how I’m going to prioritise them for October (although we have a great guest post on the website about that very problem). Do you have any recommendations in case people want to build a TBR pile in time for the challenge? Kathryn: One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, I Am Thunder by Muhammad Khan, Tin by Padraig Kenny, The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge, and pretty much any Terry Pratchett book. But then I am a kid lit and SFF nut! Anna: It doesn't have to cost a lot of money to fill up your TBR pile. A second hand bookstore can be a wonderful place, some real gems to be found. Your local library is well worth a visit, where you can get help finding almost anything! If you do want to spend a bit, take the opportunity to buy that book you've been wanting to read for ages, or the beautiful one that would stand out on your bookshelf. Dan: Go to your local bookstore. Browse. Pick up all the books with cool covers that catch your eye and read the blurbs on the back. Whatever makes your heart race a little faster, either buy them or get yourself to your nearest library and get hold of copies. And if you only find one book that strikes a chord, no problem! Just spend October savouring it. :) How cool is this?
SIGN UP NOW! It's that time again! FIND THE RIGHT AGENT, NOT JUST AN AGENT! And today, I welcome another awesomely terrific agent to the blog... Veronica Park of Fuse Literary So, you’re a literary agent… Tell us all about how and when that happened!
I've had a lot of jobs over the years, from journalist to professional public speaker, to marketing consultant. When I started working in publishing, I realized it was the only job I'd ever had that used all of my random skills at once. It's also a field that is constantly changing, so you're forced to rethink your perspectives and continually gain new skills, which I appreciate. And how has it been going so far? So far, so good. It's a challenging job, but I prefer that. I love working with my authors to bring their stories out into the world. What’s on your current wishlist? I'm currently specializing in nonfiction, women's fiction (in particular, stories from underrepresented perspectives that illustrate feminist issues) and adult romance. I am also very selectively considering YA romcoms, particularly if they're diverse with a fresh setting. And what are you definitely not looking for right now? I'm not looking for children's books, political thrillers, memoirs that focus on tragic events, or historical stories set during WWII. 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'm very into voice and perspectives. If it feels like the writer owns their story in a way nobody else can, if it reads authentically and viscerally, if it makes me forget that I'm reading, that's always a great start. I request full manuscripts when the premise and execution seems solid and well thought out. But I only offer if the entire package seems like a good fit for what I represent, including the author's attitude, habits, and goals. When you fall in love with a manuscript, what happens next? I always set up a call to discuss plans and ideas with the author. Just as every author won't be a perfect fit for me, I might not be the perfect fit for every author. It's important to feel like the working relationship will be clear and productive. Otherwise, we're both better off looking for someone else to work with. 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 a question that will have a lot of different answers, constantly evolving from day to day. Overall, I view the agent/author relationship as a business partnership, in that we are agreeing to combine our efforts in the hope of reaching a mutually-agreed-upon goal or set of goals. In publishing, like most businesses, it's difficult to promise results unless you have insider knowledge, or a crystal ball, or you just don't mind fibbing. Which is why I prefer to promise effort, because that's a thing I can control. I also promise my authors that they will be able to count on me for clarity, inasmuch as they want to know how things work, because I personally believe that the publishing industry should be more transparent and collaborative overall. I'm very aware of the fact that my way isn't always going to be the right way, the best way, or the way that works for everyone all of the time. That's why I regularly attempt to re-educate myself by listening, innovating, and researching more effective ways to support my authors and get their work in front of the right audiences. And, importantly, what do you expect from your clients? I expect each of my clients to do the work. To me, that means not only writing, but revising, researching, networking, and building a brand that works with the goals they want to attain. For example, it's okay for an author to avoid social media if they have no intention of ever becoming a bestseller. Or, you might be able to get by being unable or unwilling to revise your book, if you can afford to hire an editor before you submit your work. But I find that it's difficult, if not impossible, to work with authors whose goals don't align with their attitude or work ethic. If someone queries me with something I don't represent, or asks me to tell them who they are as an author, I already know that they haven't done the minimum amount of research or self-reflection required for me to successfully represent them. It shouldn't be that common an occurrence, but unfortunately, it is. 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 enjoy being someone who helps others create a workable road map to reach their goals, particularly if their goals include bettering the world we live in, even if it's in a small way. The best result I can hope for, with any given author, is that they look back at where they started and are amazed at how far we made it together. What we accomplished, what kind of mark we left, and what adventures we had along the way. In that way, I'm kind of like Gandalf. And to the important stuff... Ketchup or mayo? - Both, mixed together. It's called fry sauce. E-book or paperback? - I prefer paperback or audiobooks, when I'm reading for fun, because all of my work-related reading is electronic. Day or night? - Night. Walk or drive? - Drive. Beach or mountains? - Mountains. Dogs or cats? - Cats. Chocolate or chips? - If by "chips" you mean the English version, then chips. Sun or rain? - Rain. Inside or outside? - Inside if it's raining. Drama or comedy? - Dramedy. I love hosting and interviewing authors on my blog, no matter their journey to this point, no matter how they became published. And today, I'm pleased to welcome an indie author from my neck of the woods! Please welcome AV Mather!  AV Mather is a Brisbane-based writer of fantasy adventure stories for Young Adults, Middle Grade and Children, and author of Refuge. Previous career experience includes work as a Scenic Artist and Secondary School Art teacher. Interests include art, history, psychology, imagery, popular culture, road trips and good stories, real and imagined.  To find out more about Alison and her books, click the links below! Website Goodreads Amazon Instagram: @avmather THE INTERVIEW...
Who are you and what do you write? Hi, my name is Alison and I write MG fantasy adventure stories, under the name AV Mather. Tell us about your book! Refuge is about a twelve-year-old Brisbane schoolgirl called Nell, who desperately wants to be noticed by her work-obsessed parents. When she is sent to the tiny township of Sippy Creek to spend two weeks of the summer holidays with her estranged grandfather, on the heels of a catastrophic last day of school, that goal seems even further out of reach. Miserable and lost, Nell wanders the basement of Sippy Creek Public School, searching for the detestable Drama Course that her mother has enrolled her in – when she discovers a sign that she assumes will lead her to where she wants to go. Following the directions, Nell rushes to open the door at the bottom of the stairs. In that instant her wish to escape the mess of her life is granted and she emerges in Refuge, a world born from the last desperate act of eighteenth-century psychiatrist, Doctor Nathaniel Fray. Refuge is a world like no other, populated by dysfunctional children from different places and times. Like Nell, they have been lured to this seemingly safe haven by Doctor Fray, who provides care and shelter for those in need, but at a terrible price. Truly alone and out of her depth, Nell must decide who to trust among this host of dubious characters. Each has different advice and their own agenda, and she has only three days to choose her future before being trapped in Refuge forever. This story is about finding your own strength and your own character, regardless of what other people are doing or saying. It can be very difficult to back yourself, particularly when you are young and out of familiar territory. It becomes easy to be taken in and controlled by others, when you are lost and desperate. Nell discovers that she does have worth, beyond the needs and desires of the people around her. She has her own power, and this gives her the courage to forge her own path. Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you? Writing began late in life for me, as an accumulation of triggers. I have always been an extremely communicative, if not confident, person. I am an only child with a huge imagination, who grew up in a semi-rural suburb of Brisbane in the seventies/eighties. My mother was an academic Canadian who made a point of fostering in me a love of books. As a devotee of Jungian psychology, she had a fondness for fairy tales, myths and legends from all over the world, so these were my bedtime stories. My father was raised on a dairy farm at a time when – unimaginable today – the only form of entertainment was a radio. So, like most farmers, he was always fond of a yarn, and the more entertaining the better. Words and the ability to craft language have always dazzled me. Along with the fairy tales and standard coming-of-age novels, I grew up with the wonderful comedy writing of Spike Milligan, Monty Python and Douglas Adams. Fantasy was always my first love, though, and I hero-worshipped anyone who could make a fantasy story seem as real as everyday life. After growing up and completing a degree in Visual Arts, the idea was kicked around that my mother and I should write and illustrate story books. It never went any further, sadly, but it did ignite a flame of interest. After leaving my job as a high school Art teacher, the flame grew stronger and was fuelled by the experience of communicating ideas and knowledge to young people. I decided to take the next step of exploring that by writing stories. How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown? Like running the 100 metres in the Olympics at five different speeds and constantly having to stop and go back to the beginning again, while maintaining an enthusiastic smile. I first wrote a story for young children, entitled Violet Green, had some interest but no success in finding a publisher for it, and then I wrote Refuge. It took me about six months to write and then another two years to rewrite and edit. I tried to interest publishers in the story for another year without result and then decided to have a professional manuscript assessment done. This was the best move I could have made and I only wish I had thought of it earlier. A couple of months later I had signed with an agency in London and felt like I was finally on my way. Unfortunately, it coincided precisely with hard times for the publishing industry and doors closed tightly. After pursuing avenues for four years, my agent decided to leave the children and YA sector and focus on adult fiction, which put me back at the beginning again. In all honesty, I had all but decided to put Refuge away when it was suggested that I go ahead and publish it through Amazon. As the book had already been professionally edited and was ready to be published, I decided to go ahead, back myself and become an Indie Author. What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable? In my experience, the hardest part of writing books has been trying to get them agented/published. It makes writing them seem like a working vacation and bears almost no relation to the creative process at all, despite being the second half of the equation. It is almost like a conflation of two entirely separate industries. The most devoted support system for those who’ve made it inside the walls, and yet the most exclusive club for those scratching at the door. The most enjoyable experience is getting to live for a while in a fantasy world of your own making. To create every part of it. That time when everything is flowing and you are living entirely inside your own creation, simply recording it as it happens around you. Also, having a young person enjoy your book so much that they choose to dress up as one of the characters for Book Week. That is very special. Would you go back and change anything? Yes, I would have made a few different decisions but I think anyone who hasn’t experienced instant success would say the same. Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? Or, what are your plans for the future? If life has taught me anything to date, it’s not to be too prescriptive about the future. I have a couple of ideas up my sleeve for stories that I would like to write, and hopefully more that will appear when they’re ready. I feel like I owe Nell another trip to Refuge, despite the trauma the first one caused her. She has unfinished business there and some disreputable characters are still at large. I would also like to give readers the opportunity to spend some more time with their favourite characters. What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out? Think hard about how you are going to cope with repeated disappointment. There are few situations in life that can prepare you for the knockbacks that are par for the course in publishing. We are conditioned to say to ourselves, ‘I’ve been refused ten times now, surely it has to be my turn next’, when in reality it doesn’t work like that at all. You may well be the one in a thousand who scores on their first try, but the odds are that you will be knocked back often. Industry insiders are not exaggerating when they say that there are thousands of brilliant manuscripts out there that will never become books. Take that to heart and do everything you can to give your story the best chance of success. Start by seeking an unbiased opinion of your work. If you think it is worth proceeding and it is within your means, get a professional manuscript assessment. If you can’t afford it, research the process and get your manuscript into the best shape you can. Do not throw away your one shot with a publisher on messy work. Be aware that you will be doing all this hard work for free and that it will not guarantee success, only improve your chances. You must be able to accept that and still do it anyway. And finally... Ketchup or Mayo? - Mayo. Night or Day? - Night. Inside or Outside? - Both. Dogs or Cats? - Cats to look at, dogs for company. Twitter or Facebook? - Instagram. I love pictures. Ebook or Paperback? - Both. Walk or Drive? - Drive, so I can go further. Sun or Rain? - Rain. Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? - Keyboard, now that I have taught myself to touch type. Comedy or Drama? - Drama. Chips or Chocolate? - Both, please. Thanks for joining me, Alison, and good luck with Refuge! I'm so thrilled to be able to share with you the cover of the awesome Laura Brown's next gorgeous romance novel. And it is sooooooo good. Like drool-y good. So, you know, don't ask unnecessary questions, just go pre-order it today! Falling for someone you shouldn’t is a problem, but when your lives are thrust together at every turn, keeping your hands off them becomes a whole lot tougher… When social worker Nica Anders indulges in one night of sexual passion with delicious Deaf man Cam Thompson, the last thing she expects is to see him the next day while visiting her hospice client. She understands the ethical implications could mean losing her job, but their attraction builds like a raging inferno and Nica can’t help but get burned. Cam Thompson’s life is a mess. He’s losing his grandmother, the one and only person who’s supported him his whole life, and her dying wish is for him to settle down with a good woman--specifically her social worker Nica Anders. And despite Nica giving him mixed signals and Cam wanting to avoid further heartbreak, he’s falling hard and fast. Steamy, touching, heart-warming. A much-needed #OwnVoices romance to go perfectly with that plate of chocolate brownies and glass of wine!  Laura Brown lives in Massachusetts with her quirky abnormal family. Her husband has put up with her since high school, her young son keeps her on her toes, and her two cats think they deserve more scratches. Hearing loss is a big part of who she is, from her own Hard of Hearing ears, to the characters she creates.  I love this time of the week! I have yet another fantabulous literary agent interview for you today with another fantabulous literary agent. Remember: Get the RIGHT agent, not just AN agent! Please welcome, Lynnette Novak from The Seymour Agency! So, Lynnette, you're a literary agent... Tell us all about how and when that happened! Thank you for having me on your blog, Kate. I’m excited to be here! I’ll TRY to keep this short, but no guarantees! I was a teacher in Canada, and at the same time, I wrote romantic suspense stories and did some freelance editing on the side. Spring ahead a few years…I married an American boy and moved to the US, where I continued to write and freelance edit. While I’ve worked with beginner, intermediate, and advanced writers as well as bestselling authors, it wasn’t until I participated in Pitch Wars that I got the agenting itch. I loved going through the slush pile to choose the project I wanted to work on, and it was thrilling to see my authors get picked up by agents and published! But, I was under the impression I had missed the boat when it came to agenting. I thought you had to go right from school into interning, which I didn’t. When I was at RWA (Romance Writers of America) as a Golden Heart Finalist for one of my RS manuscripts, I chatted with agents about them having my dream job. I was shocked to hear that my seventeen years of freelance experience was enough to jump into the industry as an agent—no interning right out of university. Who knew? By this time, I’d had an offer of representation on my manuscript as well as two R&Rs, but I was so excited about becoming an agent, that I pushed all that aside. I couldn’t pursue a new career as an author AND a new career as an agent, so I put my writing on hold. Will I go back to it? Maybe. For now, I’m LOVING being an agent and don’t miss writing. I’m fulfilling my creative needs through agenting instead. Did I mention how much I LOVE my job? I did? Well, I dooooooo!!! What's on your current wishlist? I pin my current wish list on my Twitter feed, so people always know what I want to see in my inbox. Here’s what I have posted at the moment: In adult fiction: thrillers, psychological suspense, horror, fantasy, sci-fi, contemporary romance, romantic comedy, and mysteries (traditional, amateur sleuth, and cozy). In young adult fiction: thrillers, psychological suspense, horror, mysteries, sci-fi, fantasy, and contemporary. In middle grade fiction: fantasy, sci-fi, action/adventure, mystery, contemporary, horror, and humor. However, I’m really wanting to see more: adult horror, thrillers, rom-coms, and contemporary romance, as well as YA contemporary and pretty much all MG. I’d love to see more diversity and #ownvoices in everything I seek too. And what are you definitely not looking for right now? I’m not looking for: romantic suspense, historical romance, inspirational romance, Christian fiction, nonfiction, screenplays, novellas, short stories, anthologies, poetry, memoirs, picture books, chapter books, or previously published (including self-published) work. Can you tell us what it is that makes you request additional material? What is it that leads to a full request? The premise must feel fresh, I need to fall in love with the author’s voice, and the writing has to be pretty good. I’m an editorial agent, so I can help the author with craft issues that might come up, but I need to see the author has a basic understanding of the craft. And what keeps you reading to the final pages? It’s the same thing that keeps me reading to the end of a published novel. I have to be drawn to the voice, the characters, and the plot, and the pacing has to be right. If not, I’ll lose interest (even if it’s a published novel). Of course, this is VERY subjective. Another thing I consider is whether I LIKE this manuscript or LOVE it. I have to LOVE it if I’m going to represent it. I know I have that feeling when I can’t stop thinking or talking about the manuscript. I also know I MUST HAVE this manuscript if I can’t wait to get back to reading it or if I put my life on hold (sorry family) to finish reading. What kind of agent are you? I’m an editorial agent. This means I’ll most likely request a few rounds of edits from my authors. And, yes, I sometimes give them homework. Gasp! I know. I can’t help it. It’s the teacher in me. I want my authors to learn and grow as writers, so I do everything I can to make that happen. What should a potential client expect from you as their agent? I’m there for their career, not just one book. I keep my clients updated on their subs and am always around if they need me (with the exception of a vacation or sleep—hey, even agents need to recharge!) And, importantly, what do you expect from your clients? Respect. Trust. Communication. Must be open to revisions. (I mean TRULY open to killing your darlings, if need be.) Patience. This business is all about “hurry up and wait,” so we all need to be patient, which isn’t easy. And, most importantly... Ketchup or mayo? - Ketchup E-book or paperback? - Paperback Day or night? - Day Walk or drive? - Depends… Beach or mountains? - Why can’t I have both? LOL Dogs or cats? - ALL ANIMALS. I’m an animal lover and would have a zoo, farm, sanctuary, and shelter if I could. Oh, and dragons. Always dragons. Chocolate or chips? - Chips Sun or rain? - Sun Inside or outside? - Depends—it can get pretty cold here in the winter! Drama or comedy? - Comedy Thanks for having me! Writers can query me at: querylynnette@theseymouragency.com. Please paste the query and first five pages in the body of the email. If you’re on Twitter, follow me at: @Lynnette_Novak. It's with great pleasure I welcome another fantastic author to the blog today who writes gripping crime fiction with Sharpe Books! Please meet Shaun Baines!
Shaun lives in Scotland with his beautiful wife and less beautiful dog. He writes about crime, but rarely commits any. Woodcutter and Pallbearer were published by Sharpe Books and feature Daniel Dayton as the reluctant head of a crime syndicate in the north-east of England. When he is not writing, he grows his own vegetables, rescues ex-battery chickens and keeps bees. The Interview...
Who are you and what do you write? My name is Shaun Baines and I'm a writer-aholic. While I read all genres, I mainly write in crime, which has a huge span in itself. From hard-boiled noir to cosy mystery, crime fiction has something for everyone. My books are best described as urban thriller. Woodcutter and Pallbearer follow Daniel Dayton, a reluctant leader of a crime syndicate in north-east of England. I work hard on making them addictive reads so when a reader says they are hooked from the first page, then I've done my job. Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you? It began when I moved to a damp cottage in rural Scotland. I had plans to start a gardening business in the spring, but this was winter and nothing grows in a Scottish winter. With three months to waste, I decided to follow a life's ambition to write a book. Inspiration came from my new neighbours. I'd catch them giving me odd looks as they wondered why someone like me might be in a place like that. Maybe they thought I was a gangster on the run and the first page of Woodcutter was written. How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown? It's been relatively painless, but not without its sticking points. I wrote a book. Got an agent. Published through an independent publisher. Agent left his job. All writers, including myself, were cut loose. Wrote a sequel. Acted as my own agent. Sequel accepted by a second publisher. Claimed back rights to first book. Also accepted by the second publisher. Currently editing third book. Second publisher eagerly awaiting. This all occurred from 2016 so its been a bit of a whirlwind. What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable? Someone smarter than me once said, Writing is like telling a joke and waiting two years to see if it was funny. I'm not a patient man and writing a novel takes a long time. Editing, pitching and publishing takes a long time. At any point, the process can breakdown or stall. It can be a frustrating tightrope walk. In part, the enjoyment I receive is due to this process. Good things are never given. They are always earned. Nudging a book over the finishing line is a huge achievement, especially when it comes with positive feedback. Would you go back and change anything? When I was at university doing my English Literature degree, I had the opportunity to enrol on a Creative Writing course. I didn't because it seemed too esoteric. I mean, what kind of person thinks writing flowery words might be a job? Twenty years later, I regret not taking the chance. I might have learned some basic skills I'm frantically trying to learn now. That said, I don't believe attending (and paying for) a creative writing course guarantees success any more than hard work does. Where would you like to be in 5 years time? Maybe a bit slimmer? My gardening work pays for most of my bills and my part-time self-sufficiency provides food for most of my family. My ultimate goal is to make enough money from writing so that the electricity isn't cut off and my family don't perish from malnutrition. But I would like to continue with my gardening business. I would like to donate the money I make from gardening to a food bank, both in my local town of Dumfries and in my home city of Newcastle. No-one should ever go without food. The third Dayton book is due to be published at the end of 2019 and I'm also hoping to self-publish a short story anthology at the beginning of 2020. What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out? This advice seems harsh and I don't want to discourage anyone from writing, but it would be – Go hard or go home. It's a jungle out there. A handful of writers write a book, become a bestseller and change their lives forever. As for the rest of us, we're in the trenches. We're basically doing a job no-one asked us to do so we have to fight every step of the way. The trick is not to take it personally. For every rejection, every harsh critique or poor sales performance, remember you're doing something you love. (If you don't love it and you're doing it for the money, then jog on. You're not going to be happy.) Do it because you want to entertain or have something to say. You'll be fine. And before you go... Ketchup or Mayo? - Mayo. All the way. Night or Day? - Day. Morning, preferably. Earlier the better. Inside or Outside? - Outside. Crazy gardener here. Dogs or Cats? - Dog. Got a crazy dog. Twitter or Facebook? - Twitter. It gives me access to famous people. Ebook or Paperback? - Mmm. Not sure. I enjoy both. Walk or Drive? - I drive a van with 165,000 miles on the clock. Safer to walk. Sun or Rain? - Rain. No-one got cancer from rain. Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? - Keyboard. With two speedy fingers. Comedy or Drama? - Comedy. Chips or Chocolate? - Depends. If by 'chips' you mean what I call 'crisps,' then it's chocolate. If you mean 'chips' as in deep fried potato wedges smothered in heart-stopping salt, then I'm a chips man. It's that time again! I'm DELIGHTED to welcome another fantastic literary agent to the blog today, another fantastic agent who's just reopened to queries as well! Remember: Get the RIGHT agent, not just AN agent! Please welcome Tia Mele from Talcott Notch Literary Services! So, you’re a literary agent… Tell us all about how and when that happened!
It was kind of an accident! I kind of knew what an agent did and thought it might be something I wanted to do, so I applied to a bunch of internships when I was a senior in college. I landed at Talcott Notch and I've been there ever since, as an intern, assistant, and now an agent. And how has it been going so far? I love it! I get to be a part of a lot of different parts of publishing, from editing to making contacts to handling contracts and royalty statements. It's not an easy business to be in, but it's so much fun for me. What’s on your current wishlist? I'd really love more nerdy MG and YA. I love to cosplay and go to cons, so seeing books set in that world would be awesome. I'm also looking to build my list with more adult projects, specifically romance and women's fiction. Nonfiction is high on my list as well, especially nonfiction exploring nerdy topics like cosplay, cons, and fandom. I'm open to pretty much any nonfiction, though! The number one thing on my wishlist is a book that has a similar vibe to the TV show Chuck, specifically a YA version! And what are you definitely not looking for right now? I don't represent adult projects outside of women's fiction, romance, and nonfiction, so I'm not a good fit for adult Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller, etc. 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 need to be engaged with the plot and characters in those first ten pages. If the pages are intriguing and I can't possibly go without knowing what happens next, I'll request more pages. I usually ask for fifty pages and a synopsis. After I read the fifty pages, if that momentum keeps up and I need to read more, I'll request a full. For me, it's all about keeping the reader interested. I want the pacing to be consistent and even when things are calm, I want the characters and plot to encourage me to keep turning the page to see what happens next. When you fall in love with a manuscript, what happens next? I set up a phone call! I'll email the author letting them know I enjoyed the project and include some initial feedback, and I'll ask when they're available. I also try to send some notes along before we have our phone call so we can talk about my editorial vision for the project and make sure it matches theirs. 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? I'm a very editorial agent. I send a ton of notes to my authors so we can get the project as strong as possible. I'm also very open in terms of communication. My authors know who has their project on sub and what the response was when we hear back from editors. I'm interested in building partnerships, so I'm involved in my clients' projects from start to finish, and I love talking to them about future things they want to write so we can discuss where their focus should be. And, importantly, what do you expect from your clients? I expect clients who love to write and are passionate about their work. I try to keep my clients writing, because it's great to have more projects to put out if one doesn't sell. I also want my clients to talk to me and maintain open communication so I know what is going on with them and we can work together to create a trajectory for their careers. 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? Right this second, my dream is to sell my clients' work. They're all incredibly talented writers with stories that readers will love, so I want to get them out into the world. That's my overall goal, honestly. To get great writing out to readers who will connect with the characters and plots. And what we all really need to know... Ketchup or mayo? - Ketchup E-book or paperback? - It depends - I prefer paperback in most cases, but ebook is so much more convenient when I'm traveling. Day or night? - Night! Walk or drive? - Walk Beach or mountains? - This is a hard one, but I'll say beach Dogs or cats? - Dogs! Chocolate or chips? - Chocolate Sun or rain? - I love the rain! Inside or outside? - Outside! Drama or comedy? - Comedy It's #PitMad tomorrow (as if you didn't know that already!), so what better time to post our next agent interview! Remember: The RIGHT Agent is Better Than AN Agent! So, you’re a literary agent… Tell us all about how and when that happened! I didn’t realize “book” publishing as a career existed until I’d already worked in another industry, had 3 babies, spent 10 years as a stay-at-home-mom, and then undertook my own feeble attempt at writing the great American novel. By this time, I’d learned about querying and agents, and was fascinated that I could be part of the funnel of talent to publishing houses rather than me actually having to write those dang-hard books myself! With my journalism degree in tow, along with my background in non-profit and magazine editorial, marketing and sales, and an undying devotion to devouring as many books as I could, I thought I might have the prerequisites to this career. Luckily, Gina Panettieri at Talcott Notch Literary Agency agreed, and I spent 8 months under her and Saba Sulaiman’s wings learning the craft. My family and I ended up moving back to Atlanta not long after I left Talcott, and I was VERY, VERY fortunate that a contact I knew from publishing Twitter informed me Spencerhill was hiring a new agent. Fortunately for me, I sent them an email, got a pretty fast response (imagine that, a fast response from an agent!), had some great conversations, and joined Spencerhill in 2017! And how has it been going so far? Things have gone really well for me, though I will readily admit building a list as a new agent is not for the faint of heart. I could not do it without the support (both emotional and financial) of my husband for which I’m always grateful. The sales cycle is a LOOOONG one, but I digress… I was lucky that I got my first sale fairly quickly, selling (@saskwriter) Kurt Kirchmeier’s THE ABSENCE OF SPARROWS to Little Brown Books for Young Readers in a pre-empt (which is an exciting way to say that the editor wanted it so badly that they bought it before anyone else could). It was an encouraging start, and I’m happy to say I’ve begun to build a great roster of wonderful, supportive clients. (BTW, Kurt’s book went on to be a Junior Library Guild selection—and if you haven’t read it you should. It’s like Stranger Things but with a storm that turns people to glass statues.) What’s on your current wishlist? Middle grade (all genres, upper MG especially), YA (all genres), adult sci-fi, adult fantasy, women’s fiction (with suspense, thriller or unique hooks) and romance (secular and inspy/Christian, and I prefer contemporary romance). I’m a big fan of commercial hooks written with or without a literary feel. If you can pitch it to me in one sentence and make me salivate to read it, that’s the high-concept hook I’m looking for. To bring up some specifics, I’d love to find more spooky or dark MG stories, happy adventure-y ones too, horror across all age groups (MG, YA and adult), YA thriller/suspense, YA contemporary fantasy, LatinX vampires, adult fantasy rooted in southern folklore (preferably not based or set in Louisiana), accessible space opera, an inspy/christian GONE GIRL, more category romance (suspense especially), and anything that comps to Odd Thomas or National Treasure or Percy Jackson. And what are you definitely not looking for right now? Erotica, stories with animal protagonists, chapter books, picture books, non-fiction 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? Let me start a little before the actual ‘request part’: I almost always look at the writing sample, but a well-written query letter with a timely, marketable hook will almost always get me to read a little longer, a little deeper into the sample. When the sample answers the promise in the query letter with quality writing and an emotionally engaging narrative that’s even better. At Spencerhill, we ask to see the first three chapters in our queries, so I usually request a full when I get to the end of the sample and can’t wait to read more. I keep reading to the final pages of the book when the plot keeps moving and doesn’t get hung up on unnecessary rabbit trails, and again, is answering the promises made in the query letter. When you fall in love with a manuscript, what happens next? I usually look up the author (Twitter, their website, etc.) and make sure there’s no red flags there. Then I either call them or email them with an offer of representation. I know I’ve sent email offers at 2 am, when I’ve finished reading a full and was like, “No way I’m wasting any more time before doing this.” After a client signs, we do all the fun announcements, sign paperwork, post pics on Spencerhill’s web site, and their pic and bio on my personal one, and they get an edit letter from me. After revisions, I reread and we polish. I’m usually aware of my list of editors to sub to at that point but we shore up the list. I bounce submission letters I’ve written off clients for their perspective and often to add their voice to what I think is a marketable pitch letter. Then it goes out into the world. My clients always get feedback immediately when it comes in. 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? I hope my clients see me as their partner in crime. I’m not a closed door agent where we don’t talk and they get an update only every once in a while and they fear interrupting me. I’m very communicative. I spend a fair amount of time texting and talking to clients. They know they can buzz me anytime. It's not unusual for me to be chatting with someone on text at 10 pm. My mom was a realtor and she always taught me that success is often dependent on your availability, and so I try my best to always be accessible (and that goes for my relationship with editors too!). I'm also a very editorial agent. I'm not hands-off by any means, but I also recognize that my client's work is personal to them and not mine to rewrite. My goal is to push them to greatness. And, importantly, what do you expect from your clients? This is an interesting question. I guess I expect my authors to reach out to me if they have an issue so we can talk it through before it blows up. Establishing and meeting expectations is a healthy part of any relationship. As I expect to rep my clients across their career, when I see their 2nd or 3rd book in my inbox (not the one I signed them for), I expect that work to be as vigorously revised as their 1st or to have been through the rigor of their CPs just as they would before querying. I can give them my best if they give me their best. 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 dream of being the kind of agent that editors know and respect, a person who is as kind as they are professional. When my email lands in their inbox, I want them to move it to the top of the pile because a) they know I have fantastic taste and b) they know working with me and my clients will be a great experience. I also want them to recognize that, as I'm not a NYC agent but a south-eastern one, that some of that taste will translate to my list. And that can be a very good thing. And now, importantly... Ketchup or mayo? - Both on fries lol! E-book or paperback? - e-book, mostly for convenience Day or night? - NIGHT Walk or drive? - I live in Atlanta, most definitely drive. When I lived in downtown White Plains, NY, I walked everywhere but Stop and Shop. Beach or mountains? - Mountains (sharks are scary) Dogs or cats? - Dogs, but only because I came home from college and was allergic to my darling cat, Boots. Chocolate or chips? - Chocolate Sun or rain? - Sun Inside or outside? - Inside Drama or comedy? - Drama! ****
Client books to check out: Kurt Kichmeier's THE ABSENCE OF SPARROWS Kristy Acevedo HOLO SERIES (CONSIDER #1, CONTRIBUTE #2) Kellie Parker (writing as Kellie VanHorn) FATAL FLASHBACK (pre-order 12/2019) Rebecca Hodge EDGE OF SAFETY (pre-order February 2020) How to Query: Query Ali only via Spencerhill's query manager web site: https://querymanager.com/query/1032. Emailed queries will be deleted unless they were a request or referral. Ali reopens to queries 9/1. |
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