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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!
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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. 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. 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.
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