Writerly Ramblings

Vigilante Nights

2012-01-28T09:18:00.000-08:00

I've completely revised my contemporary YA novel, VIGILANTE NIGHTS, and am ready to toss it out to the world of agents. Yes...I'm querying agents. Again. After the crazy holiday season, this is what I've been working on for the last month. This book is a departure from the paranormal, fantasy genres I write in, but reminds me of writing my first published book, CHASING SHADOWS, which was set in a contemporary world (although with a psychic paranormal element). Sometimes, it's refreshing to my muse to write contemporary after filling my head with strange characters and fantastical worlds. It was time for a breather.

As usual, I don't write to market trends and write what I like...or what my muse tells me to write. This book is written from a boy's POV which makes it even less a "trend." But my muse demanded I write it! At least it has a romantic element so it should appeal to girls and boys. Here's a 2-line "pitch" for VIGILANTE NIGHTS:

After awakening from a coma, battered Lucas Alexander forms a vigilante club to expose the street gang that killed his twin sister. As he hunts the gang, the new girl next door helps him come to terms with his grief, but when Lucas becomes a target, he may lose everything again…especially the girl who gave his life new purpose.

Now here's a fun fact for you...I love Camaro's (and drive one) and Lucas's life revolved around a souped up 1968 Camaro SS...until his life flipped upside down.

Happy 2012!!!

2011-12-31T10:51:00.000-08:00

May 2012 bring you everything you wish for and be the best year ever!

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-16T11:44:00.001-08:00

Have a great Turkey Weekend!!

2011-11-22T19:28:00.000-08:00

Writerly Things Update

2011-11-20T12:07:00.000-08:00

Today, I finished my YA SciFi novel, tentatively titled, Flirting With Oblivion. The first draft clocks in at 80,111 words! YAY!!! After plotting this book in January, I started writing it on May 1 and have been writing it on and off since. Of course, life and editing other works got in the way of progress during the summer and fall, and I'm past my self-imposed target date of October 31, but overall the book took 5 months total to write. Now on to revisions and editing...First, I plan to revise Boomerang Nights somewhat. I received excellent editorial feedback on it and plan to utilize it to make BN a better book.

Have a great Thanksgiving week!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

2011-10-29T16:03:00.001-07:00

Halloween Recipies - Kitty Litter Cake

2011-10-16T19:16:00.001-07:00

This cake looks so real...so disgustingly real! But it's awesome. I had to share. It makes a great Halloween party dish.

Here's a link to the recipe: http://www.fabulousfoods.com/recipes/kitty-litter-cake-for-halloween

Autumn Days are Here Again!

2011-10-09T07:15:00.000-07:00

In autumn when the trees are brown
The little leaves come tumbling down
They do not make the slightest sound
But lie so quietly on the ground
Until the wind comes puffing by
And blows them off towards the sky.

The winds will blow their own
freshness into you,
and the storms their energy,
while cares will drop away from you
like the leaves of Autumn.

by John Muir

Times Flies When You're Having Rum...er Fun

2011-09-01T19:39:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's September already...almost fall. Wow! Where did summer go? Kids are back in school (not mine, but other peoples!), traffic has doubled in my morning commute (sux big time), and it's almost the 9/11 10-year anniversary.

No sitting on my laurels for me. I've been writing, editing, doing writerly things, and exploring my options for publication. More about all that later.

I just realized Twitter isn't working on my Blog, so it's time for some blog maintenance, I see! Don't fret, things will be back to normal soon. [Edited: apparently it's a communcation issue between IE9 and Twitter. Twitter techs are working on it and it should be fixed this coming week.]

Hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend (US holiday)! More from me soon!

CHASING SHADOWS is on SALE!

2011-08-06T18:37:00.000-07:00

If you haven't purchased CHASING SHADOWS yet, get your copy now and try out a new author!

Purchase options:

All Romance eBooks (various formats): $.74 (you read that right, 74 cents!)
Kindle: $1.49
Kobo: $1.49

Happy Independence Day America!

2011-07-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

Be Prepared for THE CALL

2011-06-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

When an agent comes calling…will you be ready?

Don’t panic! When you get an email from an agent who suggests The Call, or if an agent happens to call you out of the blue, you need to be prepared. Have your list of questions ready and handily available. Now you’re probably wondering, “what questions?” I’ve saved you the tedium of putting your own list together. Over the last few years, I’ve comprised a list culled from several writer sources. It’s a long list, but comprehensive. Some questions you may not care about, but it’s a starting point to keep you on track when your nerves are shot as you realize the next giant step in your Dream is unfolding.

If you’ve done your due diligence before querying the Agent, you should know the answers to some of the questions, i.e. how long the agent has been in business as an agent, if he/she is a member of the AAR, etc. See my Blog article on Searching for Literary Agents for a list of resources to gather your information about the agents you’re querying.

Here’s the list of questions to consider when you get The Call:

How long have you been in the agenting business? How many clients do you represent?

Are you a member of AAR? If not, do you follow the AAR guidelines?

What made you decide to represent my work?

Are you representing just this work? Or are you interested in representing my future works also?

Is my project ready for submission to publishers or are revisions required? If revisions are required, what are they?

What is your read and response times on edits?

What are your expectations for this book? What is your timeframe to submit to editors? Who do you have in mind to submit to? How soon? Chances of successful sale? Chances of a multi-book contract on proposal? Do you negotiate or just take deal? Do you submit to multiple editors at once? How many?

What relationships do you have with editors at certain houses? Who are your editor contacts? Are there some houses or editors who won’t work with you or you won’t work with? Why? Who?

At what point do you follow-up with editors? When do you give up?

How do you keep your clients informed of your activities on their behalf? Do you go over list of houses/editors PRIOR to submitting? Do you regularly send client copies of publishers’ rejection letters? Do you provide them with submission lists and rejection letters on request? Do you regularly, or upon request, send out updated activity reports?

What happens if you can’t sell my work? Do we revise? Move on to next work? Drop me as a client?

How often do you contact me? How often do you want to hear from me? How quickly do you respond to emails?

What is your approach to providing editorial input and career guidance for your clients or for me specifically? What are you feelings about writing in other age brackets, i.e. YA, or other genres? What is your vision for me, not just this book? What should I work on next?

Do you want to hear about new projects? Do you want to see proposals, or wait until work is finished? Will you edit and make suggestions? What about when a work is sold—do you offer edits and suggestions on further books in a series, or do you leave things up to me and my editor?

Do you consult with your clients on any and all offers? Some agencies sign subsidiary contracts on behalf of their clients to expedite processing. Do you?
Who in your agency will actually be handling my work? Will the other staff members be familiar with my work and the status of my business at your agency? Will you oversee or at least keep me apprised of the work your agency is doing on my behalf?

Do you have a specialist at your agency who handles movie and television rights? Foreign rights? Do you have subagents or corresponding agents in Hollywood and overseas?

Does your agency offer help and/or guidance with promotional efforts?

Do you issue an agent-author agreement? What is the duration? May I review the language of the agency clause that appears in contracts you negotiate for your clients?

What are your commission rates? What are your procedures and time-frames for processing and disbursing client funds? Do you keep different bank accounts separating author funds from agency revenue?

What are your policies about charging clients for expenses incurred by your agency? Will you list such expenses for me? Do you advance money for such expenses? Do you consult with your clients before advancing certain expenditures? Is there a ceiling on such expenses above which you feel you must consult with your clients?

How do you handle legal, accounting, public relations or similar professional services that fall outside the normal range of a literary agency’s function?

If we should part company, what is your policy about handling any unsold subsidiary rights in my work?

How do you treat solely created works I sell on my own? What about works I sell on my own to digital or digital-first publishers?

What are your expectations of me as your client?

Do you have a list of “Do’s and Don’ts” for your clients that will enable me to help you do your job better?

Teaser Tuesday

2011-06-21T17:36:00.000-07:00

In honor of not blogging for a while, I'm giving you a tease of my new YA novel, BOOMERANG NIGHTS. Here's an excerpt from the first chapter:

The thumping drone of the Camaro’s new headers oozed ‘68 perfection. Or as sweet as the muscle car should’ve sounded way back in 1968. I downshifted and rolled the car to a full stop at the dark Ocean Street intersection. “Sounds badass, you think?” I grinned at my twin.

Silver cranked up her window and mashed her elbow on the door lock so fast I thought she'd just discovered that sea air killed brain cells. “Someone’s hunched over in the ditch.” She squeezed closer to the center console. “Oh. My. God. There’s a body laying down there, too.” Alarm piggybacked on her shaky voice.

I rammed the gearshift in park and reached to unbuckle my racing harness.

She swung her head in my direction, her hand gripping mine before I unlatched the buckle. “You’re not going out there! Let’s just go.”

The streetlight was toast, making it hard to scope out the situation. “Someone could be hurt.” I pushed her hand away and unhooked the seatbelt.

“Call the sheriff,” she almost wailed, jabbing her new smartphone into my side. “Lucas, don’t go. Something’s not right.”

Her unease assaulted my synapses, twitched along my nerves. My twin’s intuition was usually right on, where I acted without a second thought. I stretched across her lap to peer out the passenger window. The trench caught a scant glimmer from my headlights, enough to make out the shadowy shapes.

Shrouded in dark clothing head to foot, a small man or woman crouched over a prone body in the shallow, weedy ditch. Cat-like eyes gleamed. Not moving. Just staring toward the car. Staring at Silver.

She grabbed my hand, squeezed my fingers into bone dust. I flinched.

“Hey,” I called out. “You need help?”

“Lucas! I'm scared.”

“We can’t leave if someone's hurt.” I flexed my fingers to loosen her vise grip.

The cat eyes in the trench flicked right, then left. A low keening, like a death dirge from some creepy ancient ritual, emerged from the ditch.

Happy Memorial Day!

2011-05-30T11:32:00.000-07:00

Last Few Days to Bid & Raise Money for Diabetes Research

2011-05-28T17:23:00.000-07:00

Brenda Novak's Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research is in its final days. Jump in and help raise money to fight for the 26 million people who have diabetes. The auction will end on May 31, although some items end earlier so check the end times.

You'll find all kinds of fun, exciting items to bid on for readers, writers and everyone else! Go forth and bid for a great cause! http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T12:03:00.001-07:00

I hope you all have a great day!

Chasing Shadows - Availability Expands!

2011-04-30T12:11:00.000-07:00

In addition to the Kindle format, CHASING SHADOWS is now available in digital format at Barnes & Noble (Nook), Sony Reader Store (Sony Reader), and Kobo Store (Kobo eReader). It's not necessary to own one of these devices to download their books. Like the Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader and Kobo eReader all offer FREE software for reading on the iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone 7, Windows PC & Mac.

For those who don't know, CHASING SHADOWS was published by Cerridwen Press, the mainstream romance imprint of Ellora's Cave. In January 2011, Cerridwen Press was consolidated under its parent company and is now the "Blush" imprint of EC. The romantic scenes in CHASING SHADOWS are suggestive only and not graphic, and CHASING SHADOWS is NOT considered erotic romance (which is the main focus of Ellora's Cave). The cover art has changed to reflect the new Blush imprint logo.

HAPPY EASTER!!

2011-04-23T11:58:00.001-07:00

Erin's Serving her Country...er...sort of

2011-04-17T08:49:00.000-07:00

I've been off the grid since April 1...which was the start of my week of jury duty. After dodging the jury bullet thru Thursday 3/31, I got called down to court on April 1. No joke either! And I got called into the courtroom to start jury selection on a 6 week criminal trial. That day, the judge let anyone go who did NOT have a personal hardship only to return on Tuesday April 5 to start "real" jury selection. Unfortunateley, I did not have a personal hardship! And it's not something you could lie about easily...in case you were wondering. The judge actually required proof of the hardship. The hardship also had to be personal, not a hardship to your employer.

Tuesday rolled around (no trial on Mondays), lo and behold after going thru grueling questioning of about 35 jurors, selected randomly, my name is called just before quiting time at 4:00. So back I go on Wednesday, April 6, where I was first on deck for questioning. Without lying thru my teeth, I couldn't escape. They went thru about 14 more people, and I got stuck as Juror #4. We were then sworn in and released as they went thru questioning another panel of 18 prospective jurors for 3 alternates.

On Thursday, April 7, the trial began....and it still continues. So my life now consists of jury duty by day, day job by night, leaving little time for much else. More about my experiences as a juror later!

Agent Pitch Contest at YAtopia

2011-03-17T19:35:00.000-07:00

YAtopia is hosting their first contest!

If you write for young adults (or children) and are looking for an agent, now's your chance to pitch to Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency! Ammi's normally closed to queries, so this is a great opportunity. Contest will close after 150 entries or on March 24, whichever comes first. Go forth and enter. Good luck! http://YAtopia.blogspot.com (While you're there, check out the great Blog the YAtopia authors have put together!)

Erin Go Braugh...

2011-03-16T21:42:00.001-07:00

For the Ireland in all of you...

Bare-Bones Synopsis Template

2011-03-13T16:21:00.000-07:00

Every writer hates writing a synopsis. It's one of the most dreaded parts of the writing process (after the evil query letter). But it is a necessary evil. Every submission needs a query letter, which includes a short 1-2 paragraph synopsis and of course, the manuscript edited & polished within an inch of its life. Eventually, you’ll need a synopsis in varying lengths, i.e. 1-page, 2-page, 3-5-page or longer because each agent/editor has her own guidelines.

Regardless of the length of your synopsis, it should encapsulate your story’s hook, the background of your main characters, the major plot points, and a resolution. It's a bit more convoluted than that, but that's a nutshell description. To get you started, I’ve drafted a synopsis “template.” In the coming weeks, I’ll include more detail of each item that goes into a good synopsis.

Synopsis Template

1. Start with a Hook: One or two paragraphs similar to the blurb on the back of a book. Mood and tone are important.

2. Introduce Main Characters: Introduce the main characters in your book—one paragraph for each. Tell their MOTIVATION, CONFLICT and GOALS. Tell the story problem. Why is she doing what she’s doing? What does she want? What keeps her from getting what she wants? How does she plan to go about solving her problem? Don’t include detailed physical descriptions unless the information is pertinent to your story.

3. Construct the Body of Your Synopsis: Write the high points of your story in chronological order. Include major plot points and turning points. Keep these paragraphs tight and don’t give every detail. Each scene should include ACTION, REACTION, and DECISION.

Example: Teryn kisses Lucas for the first time (ACTION). She makes him forget the guilt and grief he feels over his sister’s death (REACTION). Trouble follows Lucas and he won’t allow anything to happen to Teryn by getting involved with her (DECISION). The synopsis body should include:

a. First meeting/setup scene;
b. Each key plot development and relationship complication (2 main turning points and 2 main complications);
c. Build tension, summarizing the plot complications that move the story toward the black moment;
d. Black moment. Delve into the big emotional issues that must be overcome and show the emotional triumph of the hero and/or heroine.

4. CRISIS and RESOLUTION: In 3 or 4 paragraphs, show the main characters reactions. Keep this simple. Show your agent/editor the ending. Don’t keep them guessing! Resolve the plot (and romance, if applicable).

Searching for Literary Agents Online

2011-02-27T10:44:00.000-08:00

Based on my "vast" experience researching and querying agents, I’ve compiled a helpful list of the top online places to obtain information on literary agents. This includes information on what they’re looking for, if they’re open to submissions, how to query them, how to look up books an agent has sold, etc. Plus, I’ve listed a few sites where you can go to check out the good and the bad about agents.

Agent Databases:

Agent Query — Database of Literary Agents -- Self-Proclaimed “The internet's largest and most current database of literary agents”: www.agentquery.com

QueryTracker — Agent Search and Submission Tracking -- You must register to track submissions, but it’s free: www.querytracker.net. Or you can pay $25 per year for Premium Membership which grants you a few additional perks.

AuthorAdvance (formerly LitMatch) — Agent Search and Submission Tracking -- You must register to track submissions, but it’s free: www.authoradvance.com

The Association of Authors’ Representatives: www.aar-online.org

Publishers Marketplace — you don’t have to have a subscription to search an agent, however, it’s well worth the $20/mo to read about the publishing deals agents are making: www.publishersmarketplace.com

Preditors & Editors -- A great database that lists agents and potential agent problems. It’s always a good thing to check an agent against this list to see if there are reported problems: www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/pubagent.htm

Other Popular Sources:

Absolute Write Water Cooler – for all genres -- Bewares and Background Checks: www.absolutewrite.com/forums/index.php

Verla Kay “The Blueboard” – for Children and Young Adult: www.verlakay.com/boards/index.php

To Search for books an agent has sold and may be mentioned in the book acknowledgements:

Google — Search in “Books” Category -- Type in search box: “agent name of agent”

You can do the same at Amazon: www.amazon.com or Barnes & Noble: www.bn.com

General Information:

Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America — Writer Beware -- General, but valuable information about agents, scams, questions to ask, links to more information etc. -- www.sfwa.org/beware

Guide to Literary Agents Blog -- http://guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog

Have a Great Valentine's Day!!

2011-02-13T16:24:00.001-08:00

Agent Updates

2011-02-06T10:54:00.000-08:00

I'm suspending my "weekly" Agent Updates for a while. Honestly, other people/sites do it better than I do. If I see value, I'll resurrect my updates. However, I plan to revise my Searching for Literary Agents blog post in the next few weeks, which will list all the good current sites to use in your agent search. For now, here are the primary sources who report agent changes and moves:

QueryTracker.net - New and Updated Agents
AgentQuery Connect - Agent Updates
Publishers Weekly - you should sign up for FREE subcription to PW Daily.

There are many other sites as mentioned in my Searching for Literary Agents blog post to search for agents, but the sites above actually post changes on a daily basis.

Good luck!

Agent News 1-9-11

2011-01-09T17:54:00.000-08:00

My first agent updates for 2011!

Effective February 22, 2011 Natalie Fischer will be leaving the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency to join the Bradford Literary Agency. She will be CLOSED to submissions during this transition period. Continue to check her blog for updates: http://adventuresinagentland.blogspot.com/

Adam Korn, literary agent with DeFiore and Company, is returning to HarperCollins as executive editor at William Morrow on January 8. (Source: Publishers Weekly)

Joanne Wyckoff has joined the Carol Mann Agency as an agent, representing a wide array of nonfiction and selected fiction. Since 2005, she has been an agent with Zachary Shuster Harmsworth.

Happy 1/1/11

2011-01-01T16:26:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

2010-12-29T22:35:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011!! May all your wishes for the New Year come true. To start you on a path of wonderfulness for 2011, here are some "famous" wishes to spread around.

Irish Toast: In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, never in want.

Edith Lovejoy Pierce: We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called "Opportunity" and its first chapter is New Year's Day.

Sydney Smith: Resolve to make at least one person happy every day, and then in ten years, you may have made three thousand, six hundred and fifty persons happy, or brightened a small town by your contribution to the fund of general enjoyment.

F.M. Knowles, A Cheerful Year Book: He who breaks a resolution is a weakling; He who makes one is a fool.

Benjamin Franklin: Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man (or woman!).

Charles Dickens: A happy New Year to the world!

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-24T08:40:00.001-08:00

I wish you and your family a merry Christmas
and a happy New Year!
May all your holiday wishes come true.

Happy Holidays!

Agent News - 12/21/10

2010-12-21T07:47:00.000-08:00

**New Agent** Katie Shea has joined the Caren Johnson Literary Agency, focusing on literary fiction, commercial fiction, with a strong and sassy voice, heartfelt memoirs, narrative nonfiction, diet, and health & wellness. She was a reader at FinePrint Literary Management and an assistant at Folio Literary Management and Langtons International Agency. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

**New Agent** Vickie Motter is now taking her own clients at the Andrea Hurst & Associates literary agency. She joined the agency in 2010 as an intern. Her blog covers all issues of publishing and advice to authors at navigatingtheslushpile.blogspot.com. She is seeking: YA contemporary & Adult fiction in the following areas: dystopian, steampunk, fantasy, dark fantasy, paranormal, cozy mysteries. She seeks new and previously published authors dedicated to continuously developing their craft and writing poignant nonfiction or marketable fiction. She loves all things weird, fantastical, morbid, and romantic. She has a special love of unique plots, dark themes, strong characters, an engaging voice, and witty humor. (Source: Guide to Literary Agents)

Deborah Grosvenor is re-establishing the Grosvenor Literary Agency, which she ran for 10 years prior to joining Kneerim & Williams where she's agented for the last three years. She will continue to acquire fiction and narrative nonfiction in the areas of politics, history, memoir, biography, the military, adventure, travel, and international issues. Her new website will be www.grosvenorlit.com. (Source: Publishers Weekly)

A member of the Absolute Write forums posted that agent Elizabeth Fisher of the Levine Greenberg Literary Agency received an email from Elizabeth that she was no longer agenting. Following up on this tip, her entry on QueryTracker.net indicates that she is now the Rights Manager at Levine Greenberg and is no longer working as an agent.

Agent News - 12/12/10

2010-12-12T10:23:00.000-08:00

**New Agent** Jacqueline Murphy has joined InkWell Management as a literary agent. Murphy was most recently editorial director at the Harvard Business Press, where she acquired and edited bestsellers such as Groundswell by Josh Bernoff and Charlene Li, and Iconoclast by Gregory Berns. (Source: Publishers Weekly)

**New Agent** Carly Watters is now an associate agent at P.S. Literary Agency. She is representing international literary and commercial fiction, women's fiction, chick-lit, sagas, literary thrillers, memoir, up-market non-fiction and crossover YA novels. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Etta Wilson will retire from Books & Such Literary Agency on December 15. She has worked in publishing for nearly 30 years: as editor of trade books at Thomas Nelson; as children's book editor at Abingdon Press, where she developed a list for the general trade; as head of book packager March Media; and as a literary agent. (Source: Publishers Weekly)

Mercury in Retrograde (argh!)

2010-12-08T17:43:00.001-08:00

Run for the hills...Mercury goes retrograde Friday. Prepare for electronics and mechanical things to go wonky...this is serious business!

"In general, Mercury rules thinking and perception, processing and disseminating information and all means of communication, commerce, education and transportation. By extension, Mercury rules people who work in these areas, especially those who work with their minds or their wits: writers and orators, consultants, commentators and critics, gossips and spin doctors, salespeople, teachers, travellers, tricksters and thieves. Mercury also has an occult side, so healing, astrology and the transmission of spiritual knowledge are also in his area.

Mercury retrograde gives rise to personal misunderstandings; flawed, disrupted, or delayed communications, negotiations and trade; glitches and breakdowns with phones, computers, cars, buses, and trains. And all of these problems usually arise because some crucial piece of information, or component, has gone astray or awry."

Read more about it here: http://www.astrologycom.com/mercret.html

Agent News - 11/28/10

2010-11-28T12:10:00.000-08:00

**New Agent** James McGinniss of McGinniss Associates Literary Agency. "Agency was founded by James McGinniss, who learned the publishing business inside and out while working for Vigliano Associates. After partnering with Barry Zucker, who possesses a great deal of business acumen and experience, the two started McGinniss Associates. They are determined to give their clients the stalwart representation and personal touch clients wouldn't receive at a bigger agency." (Source: QueryTracker.net and Agency Website)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T07:50:00.000-08:00

Agent News - 11/22/10

2010-11-21T09:18:00.000-08:00

One item to update this week:

** New Agent** Brianne Mulligan is a new associate agent at Movable Type Literary Group, focusing on high-concept YA and middle grade fiction, along with select commercial adult properties. She was most recently an associate editor at Razorbill. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Happy Veteran's Day

2010-11-11T12:27:00.001-08:00

Agent News - 11/7/10

2010-11-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

**New Agent** Lindsey Clemons joined Larsen Pomada Literary Agents in 2009 as an intern and is now taking on her own clients. She is seeking: "captivating thrillers, mysteries of all sorts and literary fiction. She is an advocate for strong, well-developed characters and fresh, distinct voices." How to query: Query her with the first 10 pages of your manuscript and a 1-2-page synopsis via e-mail (no attachments) at Lindsey.Reads.Books@gmail.com. (Source: Guide to Literary Agents)

Nathan Bransford of Curtis Brown announced on Friday, 11/5/10, that he is leaving agenting and the world of publishing. Nathan will be greatly missed by many! He will continue to blog, although his topics may change. (Source: http://blog.nathanbransford.com/)

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T08:57:00.000-07:00

Have a spooktakular Halloween!

Agent News - 10-30-10

2010-10-30T19:01:00.000-07:00

**New Agent** Barbara Galletly has joined agency Georges Borchardt, Inc. She’s seeking literary fiction, women’s fiction and non-fiction. No genre or commercial fiction. See an interview with Barbara here: http://motherwrite.blogspot.com/2010/09/interactive-interview-with-agent_10.html (Source: QueryTracker.net)

**New Agent** Katie Shea has joined the Caren Johnson Literary Agency. Katie started in the agent business as a reader for FinePrint Literary Management, then assisted agents at Folio Literary Management and Langtons International Agency. She is open for submissions and is specifically seeking literary and commercial fiction with a strong and unique voice, smart narrative nonfiction, and memoir, a story of a personal overcome or struggle. No fantasy, no vampires, no sci-fi, no children's books, no picture books. (Source: http://www.johnsonliterary.com/blog/

As of November 1, Kathleen Ortiz of Lowenstein Associates will be seeking manuscripts in the following areas (among the other areas on her acquisition list): romance (contemporary, urban fantasy and paranormal); contemporary women’s fiction; non-fiction (technology, pop-culture/entertainment, or women’s issues). See her Blog, Neverending Page Turner for more information.

Haunted Houses

2010-10-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

Another spooky seasonal poem.

Haunted Houses

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1858)

All houses wherein men have lived and died

Are haunted houses. Through the open doors

The harmless phantoms on their errands glide,

With feet that make no sound upon the floors.

We meet them at the door-way, on the stair,
the passages they come and go,
Impalpable impressions on the air,
A sense of something moving to and fro.

There are more guests at table than the hosts

Invited; the illuminated hall

Is thronged with quiet, inoffensive ghosts,

As silent as the pictures on the wall.

All houses wherein men have lived and died

Are haunted houses. Through the open doors

The harmless phantoms on their errands glide,

With feet that make no sound upon the floors.

We meet them at the door-way, on the stair,

Along the passages they come and go,

Impalpable impressions on the air,

A sense of something moving to and fro.

There are more guests at table than the hosts

Invited; the illuminated hall

Is thronged with quiet, inoffensive ghosts,

As silent as the pictures on the wall.

The stranger at my fireside cannot see

The forms I see, nor hear the sounds I hear;

He but perceives what is; while unto me

All that has been is visible and clear.

We have no title-deeds to house or lands;

Owners and occupants of earlier dates

From graves forgotten stretch their dusty hands,

And hold in mortmain still their old estates.

The spirit-world around this world of sense

Floats like an atmosphere, and everywhere

Wafts through these earthly mists and vapours dense

A vital breath of more ethereal air.

Our little lives are kept in equipoise

By opposite attractions and desires;

The struggle of the instinct that enjoys,

And the more noble instinct that aspires.

These perturbations, this perpetual jar

Of earthly wants and aspirations high,

Come from the influence of an unseen star

An undiscovered planet in our sky.

And as the moon from some dark gate of cloud

Throws o’er the sea a floating bridge of light,

Across whose trembling planks our fancies crowd

Into the realm of mystery and night,—

So from the world of spirits there descends

A bridge of light, connecting it with this,

O’er whose unsteady floor, that sways and bends,

Wander our thoughts above the dark abyss.

GTLA's "Dear Lucky Agent" Contest

2010-10-24T14:38:00.000-07:00

Guide to Literary Agent’s seventh “Dear Lucky Agent” contest is on! You have until November 3, to submit your book-length Young Adult fiction entries (and it's FREE!). See details here: http://tinyurl.com/23vmorc. Get your entry in. Good luck!!

Note: No new agent news this week.

I Need Your Vote!!!

2010-10-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

I entered my query for my current WIP in YALITCHAT's Query Kick Around Contest. Please vote for my query...it'll only take a few seconds, I swear!

My query is: BOOMERANG NIGHTS. Here's the URL to the contest page: http://tinyurl.com/24d5q3k

Thanks!!!

Creepy Movie Quotes

2010-10-18T18:01:00.000-07:00

In furtherance of my tribute to Halloween, here are some popular, scary movie quotes. Enjoy!

She just goes a little mad sometimes. We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven't you? (Norman Bates - Psycho)

Close your eyes and count to seven, when you wake you'll be in heaven. (Chucky - Child's Play 2)

The only person that I let in on the fact that I was still alive was a six-year-old kid. I'm gonna be six years old again. Well, John, it's been fun, but I gotta go. I have a date with six-year-old boy... and you have a date with death. (Chucky - Child's Play)

I met him, fifteen years ago. I was told there was nothing left. No reason, no conscience, no understanding; even the most rudimentary sense of life or death, good or evil, right or wrong. I met this six-year-old child, with this blind, pale, emotionless face and, the blackest eyes... the DEVIL'S eyes! I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up for I realized what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... EVIL! (Dr. Sam Loomis - Halloween)

I'm gonna split you in two. (Fred Krueger - A Nightmare on Elm Street)

A boy's best friend is his mother. (Norman Bates - Psycho)

Listen to them: the children of the night. What sweet music they make. (Vlad Dracula - Dracula) [about the wolves that are howling]

Agent News - 10/17/10

2010-10-17T16:54:00.000-07:00

**New Agent** Julie Just, formerly The New York Times children's book editor, has joined Janklow & Nesbit as an agent. She will start at Janklow & Nesbit in November. "Just's addition to the agency will bring a new focus on children's and young adult books. As Lynn Nesbit explained in a statement: "Julie, with her experience and intimate knowledge of those markets, is the ideal person to spearhead this new effort." (Source: Publishers Weekly)

Darkness

2010-10-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

In honor of Halloween, I'll periodically post a poem I find intriguing and fitting for this ghoulish month! I'm not really into poetry, per se, but I love this one (and it's very long). Freaky, eh?

Darkness

Lord Byron (1816)

I had a dream, which was not all a dream.
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space,
Rayless, and pathless, and the icy earth
Swung blind and blackening in the moonless air;
Morn came and went--and came, and brought no day,
And men forgot their passions in the dread
Of this their desolation; and all hearts
Were chill'd into a selfish prayer for light:
And they did live by watchfires--and the thrones,
The palaces of crowned kings--the huts,
The habitations of all things which dwell, um'd,
And men were gather'd round their blazing homes
To look once more into each other's face;
Happy were those who dwelt within the eye
Of the volcanos, and their mountain-torch:
A fearful hope was all the world contain'd;
Forests were set on fire--but hour by hour
They fell and faded--and the crackling trunks
Extinguish'd with a crash--and all was black.

The brows of men by the despairing light
Wore an unearthly aspect, as by fits
The flashes fell upon them; some lay down
And hid their eyes and wept; and some did rest
Their chins upon their clenched hands, and smil'd;
And others hurried to and fro, and fed
Their funeral piles with fuel, and look'd up
With mad disquietude on the dull sky,
The pall of a past world; and then again
With curses cast them down upon the dust,
And gnash'd their teeth and howl'd: the wild birds shriek'd
And, terrified, did flutter on the ground,
And flap their useless wings; the wildest brutes
Came tame and tremulous; and vipers crawl'd
And twin'd themselves among the multitude,
Hissing, but stingless--they were slain for food.
And War, which for a moment was no more,
Did glut himself again: a meal was bought
With blood, and each sate sullenly apart
Gorging himself in gloom: no love was left;
All earth was but one thought--and that was death
Immediate and inglorious; and the pang
Of famine fed upon all entrails--men
Died, and their bones were tombless as their flesh;
The meagre by the meagre were devour'd,
Even dogs assail'd their masters, all save one,
And he was faithful to a corse, and kept
The birds and beasts and famish'd men at bay,
Till hunger clung them, or the dropping dead
Lur'd their lank jaws; himself sought out no food,
But with a piteous and perpetual moan,
And a quick desolate cry, licking the hand
Which answer'd not with a caress--he died.
The crowd was famish'd by degrees; but two

Of an enormous city did survive,
And they were enemies: they met beside
The dying embers of an altar-place
Where had been heap'd a mass of holy things
For an unholy usage; they rak'd up,
And shivering scrap'd with their cold skeleton hands
The feeble ashes, and their feeble breath
Blew for a little life, and made a flame
Which was a mockery; then they lifted up
Their eyes as it grew lighter, and beheld
Each other's aspects--saw, and shriek'd, and died—
Even of their mutual hideousness they died,
Unknowing who he was upon whose brow
Famine had written Fiend. The world was void,

The populous and the powerful was a lump,
Seasonless, herbless, treeless, manless, lifeless—
A lump of death--a chaos of hard clay.
The rivers, lakes and ocean all stood still,
And nothing stirr'd within their silent depths;
Ships sailorless lay rotting on the sea,
And their masts fell down piecemeal: as they dropp'd
They slept on the abyss without a surge—
The waves were dead; the tides were in their grave,
The moon, their mistress, had expir'd before;
The winds were wither'd in the stagnant air,
And the clouds perish'd; Darkness had no need
Of aid from them--She was the Universe.

Agent News - 10/10/10

2010-10-10T17:40:00.000-07:00

Cool date today...10/10/10! Only one lonely update to agent news!

**New Agent** Caryn Karmatz Rudy recently joined DeFiore and Company. Prior to becoming a literary agent, Caryn spent 17 years as an editor of both fiction and nonfiction for Warner Books/Grand Central Publishing. During that time, she edited a number of New York Times bestsellers. She is seeking: "I gravitate towards fiction with memorable characters, captivating voices, and original plotting, and I relish a great page-turner as much as a literary masterpiece. I am intrigued by a wide range of nonfiction, from narrative to practical, especially focusing on lifestyle, parenting, women's issues, and memoirs that exhibit quirky perspectives. In both fiction and nonfiction, if you can make me laugh, you've won half the battle." (Source: Guide to Literary Agents)

Agent News - 10/3/10

2010-10-03T15:24:00.000-07:00

Lot of updates this week...

**New Agent** Jordan McMakin has started McMakin Literary Agency representing YA and middle grade fiction in various genres. Her bio indicates she interned at Puffin and Viking Books for Young Readers and was an editorial assistant at Disney*Hyperion Books. See Jordan's Blog for more information: McMakinliterary.blogspot.com

**New Agent** Kate Folkers has joined Martin Literary Management as an associate agent. She was most recently at Harcourt Trade and Farrar, Straus in sales and marketing. Her focus will be commercial and literary fiction, and mysteries and thrillers. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

JL Stermer has left the Donald Maass Literary Agency and joined NS Bienstock as a literary agent. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Bernadette Baker-Baughman, formerly of Baker's Mark Literary Agency, has joined Victoria Sanders & Associates as an agent. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Colleen Martin has joined the Caren Johnson Literary Agency as rights manager. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Legendary literary agent Ralph Vicinanza, 60, died without warning in his sleep on September 25, 2010 at his home in Old Brookville NY, from what was apparently a cerebral aneurysm. See the full report at Locus Magazine.

Vote for BOOMERANG NIGHTS

2010-10-02T09:32:00.000-07:00

Hey, peeps, I need a favor! I entered my query for my current WIP in YALITCHAT's Query Kick Around Contest. I need votes! If you don't mind, can you go vote for my query...it'll only take a few seconds, I swear!

My query is: BOOMERANG NIGHTS. Here's the URL to the contest page: http://tinyurl.com/2eexdxb

Thanks!!!

Agent News - 9/26/10

2010-09-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

**New Agent** John Rudolph has joined Dystel & Goderich Literary Management as agent. He was most recently executive editor at Putnam in their children's and YA imprints. Prior to that, he was Associate Editor for Young Readers at S & S. See Dystel's website for his interests. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Agent News - 9/19/10

2010-09-19T12:25:00.000-07:00

**New Agent** Denise Little has joined The Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency. Denise brings editorial and more experience from Tekno Books and Kensington Publishing. She is seeking: romance, paranormal, young adult, mystery, thriller, science-fiction/fantasy, non-fiction, Christian books, horror. More about Denise, her interests and submission requirements can be found at her Blog. (Source: deniselittle.wordpress.com)

**New Agent** Joan Slattery will join Pippin Properties as literary agent and contracts manager, as of November 1. She has spent nearly 20 years at Random House, most recently as senior executive editor at Knopf Books for Young Readers. (Source: Publishers Weekly)

Seth Fishman is joining The Gernert Company as a literary agent. He was most recently at Sterling Lord Literistic, where he worked since 2005. Before joining Sterling Lord, Fishman was at the Donald Maass Agency, where he started his publishing career. (Source: Publishers Weekly)

Agent News - 9/12/10

2010-09-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

Yikes...life is devouring my time to blog. It'll be that way thru the end of September, too. But I'm still writing and querying agents. Slowly.

There hasn't been much agent news, either. Here's one update:

** New Agent** Victoria Marini is an associate agent at Gelfman Schneider Literary Agents. She's been with the agency since 2008 and recently started taking on her own clients. She is seeking: YA, commercial adult fiction, mysteries, creative nonfiction, memoir, pop culture, and humor. She is not into serious nonfiction, politics, math, religion or other academic/reference books. And while she loves edgy, paranormal, and suspenseful YA, she is not your best bet for traditional coming-of-age novels. (Source: Guide to Literary Agents)

Agent News - 8/22/10

2010-08-22T19:44:00.001-07:00

As you can see, I'm running behind again on the blog updates. I had a good excuse...I was working on an R&R of WICKED PARADISE. For those not in the writing world, an R&R is a "revise & resubmit" requested by an agent. But it's done and I'm moving on...

There's only a couple items to report, anyway.

Agent and former publisher of NAL Elaine Koster died on Tuesday, at age 69. Elaine Koster represented Khaled Hosseini among others. Elaine was also well known for acquiring paperback reprint rights to Stephen King's CARRIE from Doubleday for $400,000 while she was at NAL early in her publishing career. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

**New Agent** Louise Fury has joined the L. Perkins Associates. You can read more about her and her what she's seeking on her blog at: http://louisefury.blogspot.com (Source: Guide to Literary Agents)

Agent News - 8/8/10

2010-08-08T14:37:00.000-07:00

Colleen Lindsay of FinePrint Literary Management reported on her blog that she is leaving agenting for a position at Penguin. Good luck, Colleen! (Source: The Swivet)

Edward Knappman and Elizabeth Frost-Knappman's New England Publishing Associates has merged with Roger Williams's Publish or Perish Agency, with Williams serving as both owner and managing director. The Knappmans will continue as agents emeriti. NEPA represents approximately 150 authors and more than 500 titles. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

**New Agent** Weronika Janczuk has joined D4EO Literary Agency. She is open to submissions in romance, SF&F, thrillers, horror, commercial fiction, womens, literary, etc. See her Website for full wish list and bio. (Source: QueryTracker.net; Weronika's Blog)

Agent News - 8/1/10

2010-08-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

**New Agent** Jason Pinter is joining the Waxman Literary Agency as an agent (as of August 2). Pinter, who has been writing full-time (and occasionally blogging about publishing at The Huffington Post), previously worked as an editor at St. Martin's Press, Crown, and Warner Books (now Grand Central). He will be representing primarily commercial fiction (mysteries, thrillers, suspense), along with pop culture, sports, and YA/middle grade fiction. (Source: Publishers Weekly)

**New Agent** Foladé Bell has joined Serendipity Literary Agency. She is seeking: literary, upmarket and commercial women’s fiction with a strong sense of story, voice and character; funny and relatable fiction; Daring YA books that showcase a fresh, unique perspective; literary mysteries/thrillers that aren’t formulaic or market saturated, contemporary historical fiction, African-American issues, gay/lesbian, Christian fiction, humor and books that deeply explore other cultures. No subject is out-of-bounds. She loves nonfiction that reads like fiction. Feel free to approach her with ideas adapted from blogs or websites with new views on pop culture. (Source: Guide to Literary Agents)

Adam Friedstein has joined Anderson Literary Management as an agent primarily representing debut literary fiction, literary thrillers and suspense, young adult fiction, and narrative and serious nonfiction. He was previously at Trident Media Group. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Agent News - 7/25/10

2010-07-25T16:15:00.000-07:00

I'm back from vacation now and I have only one agent item to report this week:

Michelle Andelman has joined Regal Literary, where she will represent children's fiction. Previously she worked as a foreign rights scout and with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Best of the Worst Novel Openers

2010-07-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

No agent news this past week, but San Jose State University announced the winner of the 2010 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Writing Contest on 6/30/10. You won't find good writing in this contest! What you will find is the best of the worst first line in fiction. The contest has been around since the early '80's and is great fun! Here's this year's winning opener (sucking, kisses and gerbils, oh my!):

"For the first month of Ricardo and Felicity's affair, they greeted one another at every stolen rendezvous with a kiss--a lengthy, ravenous kiss, Ricardo lapping and sucking at Felicity's mouth as if she were a giant cage-mounted water bottle and he were the world's thirstiest gerbil."

Read the full article and see other entries: http://www.sjsu.edu/news/news_detail.jsp?id=3437

Agent News - 7/5/10

2010-07-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

Tons of agent news to report now that I'm finally caught up!

**New Agent** Amanda Luedeke joined MacGregor Literary as Chip’s assistant a year ago and is now a full agent. She is seeking: children's, YA, speculative, and post-college-aged fiction and nonfiction. Amanda will also be helping with foreign deals. (Source: Guide to Literary Agents)

**New Agent** Ann Bohner has formed Pen and Ink Literary. Ann reps romance, women's fiction and YA. (Source: QueryTracker.net)

**New Agent** Adam Schear has joined DeFiore and Company. Adam reps commercial and literary fiction and a list of non-fiction. (Source: QueryTracker.net)

**New Agent** Christine Mervart has joined Anderson Literary Management. Christine reps short story collections, literary fiction and a short list of non-fiction. (Source: QueryTracker.net)

**New Agent** Anita Bartholomew has joined Salkind Literary Agency. Anita is seeking mystery/suspense, historical, courtroom/legal thrillers, detective, paranormal, YA and middle-grade. (No picture books.) She also enjoys narrative nonfiction in the categories of memoir, history, science (expert-authored), biography, inspirational/dramatic true story, current affairs, culture, and politics/policy. She looks at prescriptive nonfiction: expert-authored health/medical, and other expert-authored works, written for a consumer audience. She also has her own personal website: Editors and Authors. (Source: Guide to Literary Agents)

Rachel Vogel has joined Movable Type Literary Group as associate agent and international rights manager. She was at Lippincott Massie McQuilken. She'll specialize in upmarket fiction and narrative non-fiction. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

As of June 2010, Jeff Gerecke has left the Gina Maccoby Literary Agency and formed his own agency, G Agency, LLC. More info at: http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/jeffg/

Clients of Stephanie MacLean have reported on the Absolute Write Forums that she has left Trident Media Group.

Happy Birthday, America!

2010-07-02T18:58:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July! Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Query Letter Writing

2010-06-26T15:49:00.000-07:00

First off, I guess I don't have to tell you that I suck at updating my blog. The Day Job got super crazy the end of May up through now, and it left me with little energy for extra stuff. But I'm making great progress on the revisions for my YA contempary novel! I have a personal goal to make and by George, I'm gonna do it!

Having said that...it occured to me a few days ago that, once again, I needed to write another blasted query letter. Can I tell you how much I loathe writing query letters? A. Lot. I'd rather eat brussel sprouts. Maybe. I'd rather draft 5 contracts from scratch. I think I'd still rather write a query letter than drink milk though. Nasty stuff.

It would be nice to fantasize that I'd have an agent before Boomerang is done so I don't have to write a query letter. Unfortunately, even then, a writer never stops having to reduce his or her book into one or two paragraph blurbs or one liner pitches for one marketing forum or another. I remember doing it for Chasing Shadows (come on, it wasn't that long ago!) for post cards, "back cover" blurb, bookmarks, website, advertising, etc. Writing a query letter is great practice for all the marketing efforts.

So I spent a couple of hours between last night and this morning and took a crack at a 2 paragraph query pitch for Boomerang. I must say...I like it! It seemed too easy. Either I'm better at writing them, having written one (a million times each) for 3 other books, or I'm delusional. I like to think that I've gotten better. (You can keep your thoughts to yourself on this point!) Plus, Boomerang doesn't have a "fantasy" world that I need to build into the query since it's a contemporary story, which made it easier. Screw them brussel sprouts and contracts. I'll write another query letter if it's this easy! Of course, I may not say that the next time...I just think my main character's goals, motivations and conflicts in this book were easy to reduce to a 2 paragraph pitch. I have the who, what, where, why and how and that's what counts. I'll rewrite and/or tweak the query a million times before it goes out the door (after I get some feedback on it), but for a first effort, I'm pleased with myself.

Gah...now I gotta write a one sentence pitch and a synopsis. I'll save them for the hot days of July.

Agent News - 5/23/10

2010-05-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

It seems like many agencies are expanding into the popular & exploding children's/YA market. Here's an update on the latest agency forming an internal children's division.

"Folio Literary Management is expanding its presence in the children’s book market with the launch of Folio Jr., which will represent creators of middle-grade and young adult novels, as well as “selective” picture books. Two new hires at the agency—Marcy Posner and Emily van Beek—as well as Folio’s Molly Jaffa will represent clients for the division, though Folio Jr. will also encompass other children’s/YA authors at Folio, including those represented by other agents." (Source and more information: Publishers Weekly).

Agent News - 5/16/10

2010-05-16T13:16:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest scoop:

Emily Van Beek has left Pippin Properties to join Folio Literary Management and help them build their children’s book division. Source and more info: http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2010/05/09/emily-van-beek-leaves-pippin-for-folio-management/

Nicole Robson joined the Fischer-Harbage Agency in 2008 as an assistant and has been promoted twice. She is seeking: compelling fiction and nonfiction, specifically books with an international focus. In nonfiction, she loves narrative nonfiction and history. (Source: Guide to Literary Agents)

Writerly Status

2010-05-13T19:55:00.000-07:00

YAY!!! I finished my totally revised speculative romance novel, WICKED PARADISE, last Thursday! I'd previously called it a fantasy, but it has various "speculative" elements, i.e. fantasy, paranormal, utopian, space and time travel, and post-apocalyptic. "Fantasy" just doesn't cover it all. In the end, it's a romance no matter how you look at it....with lots of adventure and magic, though! WICKED PARADISE clocks in at 92,000 words, which puts it squarely in the accepted word count for a romance novel.

The always adventurous and somewhat daunting agent querying began, with my first batch of 10 queries going out between Friday and Monday. So far, I've received one request for a partial, and yes, the inevitable rejection has already arrived. Fear not! I don't let the rejections get to me anymore. Been there, done that. So over it, my skin is made of armour. With a few holes here and there.

And finally....I've started the revisions this week on my young adult slightly-ghostly contemporary (how's that for a tag?), BOOMERANG. I'm so stoked to be working on something fresh and new again!

There you have it...lots going on in my writing world, home life, day job...I don't have time to keep up on my blog much, but I'll post when I can. Until then...enjoy Spring, now that it's finally here!

Agent News - 5/10/10

2010-05-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

One item from last week:

Marissa Walsh has joined FinePrint Literary Management as an agent, focusing on children's picture books, middle-grade and YA. She will also be acquiring pop culture, humor, narrative non-fiction, and memoir. Walsh began her publishing career at Nan A. Talese/Doubleday and the Ellen Levine Literary Agency. She was an editor at Delacorte Press/Random House Children's Books for seven years, and is also an author. (Source: Publishers Weekly)

Agent News - 5/2/10

2010-05-02T09:29:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've updated agent moves, etc. Just one of those months... Without further ado, here's what I have for the last month!

Marcy Posner, former agent and foreign rights director at Sterling Lord Literistic, has joined Folio Literary Management as an agent specializing in children's and young adult as well as women's fiction, romance and serious and commercial non-fiction. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Devin McIntyre has opened his own agency, The McIntyre Agency. He was previously an agent at Mary Evans Inc., which he joined in 2002. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Bree Ogden has been made an associate agent at Martin Literary Management. Bree represents: children's, young adult and graphic novels. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Georgia Cool has joined Mary Evans Inc. as an agent. In addition to developing her own list, Georgia will oversee foreign rights for the agency. Formerly, she was an assistant editor at Farrar, Straus and, prior to that, was at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

**New Agent** Sarah LaPolla joins Curtis Brown, Ltd. Sarah represents: Fantasy, Horror, Literary Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult, and Narrative Nonfiction. (Source: Nathan Bransford's Blog)

Ayesha Pande has officially announced the change of what's left of Collins Literary to Ayesha Pande Literary, now with a new mailing address and web site as well. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

**New Agent** Taylor Martindale joined the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency in 2009. Prior to that, Taylor was the submissions coordinator at Bliss Literary Agency, Intl. She's seeking: YA fiction—specifically contemporary, paranormal, urban fantasy, and any story with a captivating voice. Taylor is also interested in commercial fiction, women’s fiction, and multicultural fiction. (Source: GTLA)

GTLA's "Dear Lucky Agent" Contest

2010-04-07T17:39:00.000-07:00

Guide to Literary Agent’s fourth “Dear Lucky Agent” contest is on! You have until April 14, to submit your Middle Grade or Young Adult fiction entries. See details here: http://tinyurl.com/yzbwj5h. Get your entry in. Good luck!!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-02T19:57:00.001-07:00

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Happy Easter!

Agent News - 3/28/10

2010-03-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

Not much to report this week on agent changes. I'm sure agents were too immersed in the Bologna Book Fair last week. Thru my own querying, I discovered the following agent change:

Brandi Bowles formerly of Morhaim Literary Agency has moved to Foundry Literary + Media.

Agent News - 3/21/10

2010-03-21T10:34:00.000-07:00

Unsubstantiated reports on the Absolute Write Forums indicate that Nikki Van de Car has left Sterling Lord Literistic and Maya Rock has left Writers House.

Former newspaper columnist Joyce Holland has become an associate agent at D4EO Literary Agency. (She has been reading manuscripts for the agency.) She is focusing on mysteries, romance, science fiction, thrillers and "nonfiction that leaves her feeling she's discovered a new truth." (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Sally van Haitsma has formed her own agency, van Haitsma Literary, after six years at the Castiglia Literary Agency and, before that, the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. She represents commercial and literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, current affairs, pop culture and business. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Agent News - 3/14/10

2010-03-14T18:10:00.000-07:00

The remaining staff of literary agency The Creative Culture has become part of DeFiore and Company Author Services. Agents Debra Goldstein, Laura Nolan, Matthew Elblonk and Karen Gerwin have all joined DeFiore. See my 2/28/10 update on Mary Ann Naples' status. (Source: Publishers Weekly)

David Patterson has joined Foundry Literary + Media as an agent. Patterson was most recently a senior editor at Henry Holt and Company, where he worked for three years, after having worked as an editor at PublicAffairs. At Foundry he will be focusing on serious narrative nonfiction, with some pop subjects and authors, and the occasional work of fiction. He can be reached at dpatterson@foundrymedia.com. (Source: Publishers Weekly)

Agent Jud Laghi has formed the Jud Laghi Agency. He will continue to be affiliated with LJK Literary Management. He will continue to represent primarily non-fiction projects, especially narrative, popular culture and business, along with literary fiction and thrillers. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

"Dear Lucky Agent" Contest

2010-03-13T10:19:00.000-08:00

Guide to Literary Agent’s third “Dear Lucky Agent” contest is drawing to a close. You have until tomorrow, March 14, to get your Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance (adult or YA) entry in. See details here: http://tinyurl.com/yj78dvu. Get on it, and good luck!!

Agent News - 2/28/10

2010-02-28T16:56:00.000-08:00

Agent Mary Ann Naples, co-owner of The Creative Culture, has joined startup OpenSky (www.theopenskyproject.com) as VP of development, representing the voices of authors and brands at the company. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

**New Agent** Attorney and author Marisa Corvisiero has recently formalized a relationship with agent Lori Perkins whereby Marisa is accepting submissions via the L Perkins Literary Agency, and is now building her list. Marisa has a Facebook page and a LinkedIn network. A new website and blog are in the works. Marisa is the founder of The Corvisiero Law Practice, P.C., a boutique law firm in midtown New York City where she practices entertainment law among other areas.

She is seeking: Fictions interests include cross genre romance, science fiction, fantasy and urban fantasy, horror, literary, quality chick lit, young adult and children's books. Nonfiction interests include memoirs, how-to (in any industry), guides and tales about the legal practice, parenting, self-help, and mainstream science (no textbooks please).

How to contact: Send your query and first two chapters (or full book for picture books – illustrations are not necessary) to Marisa at marisa@lperkinsagency.com

Agent News - 2/14/10

2010-02-14T19:19:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Agent Updates:

Don Fehr joins Trident Media Group as a literary agent representing fiction and non-fiction authors. He was most recently the editorial director at Kaplan Publishing. (Source: Publishers Weekly)

**New Agent** Mandy Hubbard has joined the D4EO Literary Agency where she will concentrate on YA and Middle-Grade fiction.

Mandy began her career in publishing on the other side of the desk: as an author. Her debut novel, PRADA AND PREJUDICE, (Razorbill/Penguin-- June 2009) is in its fifth printing. She has four other books under contract, divided among Harlequin, Llewellyn Flux, and Razorbill/Penguin.

Mandy interned at The Bent Agency before joining D4EO Literary, where she is now building her list, focusing on YA and Middle-Grade fiction.Mandy is interested in a broad range of YA/MG, whether they be contemporary or historical, fantasy/paranormal or realistic. She loves books with a heavy focus on romance, as well as “issue books” with a strong voice. If your book has a high concept or a big hook, she wants to see it.If your story includes portals to fantasy worlds, wizards or dragons, it’s probably not for her. Please, no chapter books, pictures books, poetry, non-fiction, or books for the adult market.

To query Mandy, send your query letter, along with the first five pages of your manuscript (both pasted into the body of an email) to mandy@d4eo.com. (Source: Website: http://www.mandyhubbard.com/) and Blog: http://mandyhubbard.livejournal.com)

Agent News - 2/7/10

2010-02-07T11:00:00.000-08:00

Couple of agency items to report this week:

Martha Guzman has joined the Maria Carvainis Agency as the contract/subsidiary rights manager. She previously worked as associate manager, domestic rights at Random House.

Pouya Shahbazian is joining FinePrint Literary Management as a literary manager/producer, specializing in book-to-film and TV deals for clients and also running FinePrint Productions, producing and packaging film and television projects.

Agent News - 1/31/10

2010-01-31T16:04:00.000-08:00

Again, not much agent news this busy newsworthy week. The publishing world was awash with news of Apple's long-anticipated iPad tablet which will rival Amazon's Kindle, Sony's eReader, B&N's Nook, etc. in the digital reader market. Or at least, that's what some people think. We'll have to wait and see. Digital Book World was happening this week, so lots of news coming out of that expo. Lotsa other stuff I won't bore you with because other people can do it better!

QueryTracker.net blogged a great article on when to nudge an agent, Nudging Know-How. Great stuff!

On to the agent news:

May Wuthrich has joined Rob Weisbach Creative Management as a senior associate, developing her own clients as well as contributing to the company's efforts for their other clients. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Update...done, Finito, FINISHED!

2010-01-27T18:01:00.000-08:00

Woohoo! On Sunday, I FINISHED the first draft of my young adult contemporary novel "Boomerang!" It clocks in at a whooping 86,300 words! 11,000 words over my initial target, which seems the norm for me. But by the time it's revised and edited, I'll have deleted and added a bunch of words and it'll end up closer to my original target of 75K.

Begun in May of 2009, "Boomerang" is a contemporary young adult novel, written from the viewpoint of a troubled 17-year-old boy. The book is about revenge, vigilantism, and street gangs, with a quirky ghost who actually likes living in the Afterlife. Oh my! This book has lived inside me in various iterations since I was a teenager, and I'm excited to finally put the real story to paper.

Next up on the agenda: Let "Boomerang" revisions stew while I make a few updates to my fantasy romance novel before I begin querying it anew.

Agent News - 1/24/10

2010-01-24T17:41:00.000-08:00

Not much news on the agenty front this week. Just one little news item not yet officially announced:

Agent Brendan Deneen of Fine Print Literary Management is leaving agenting and moving on to an editorial position at Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press. (Source: Absolute Write Water Coo ler)

January Update - Almost there!

2010-01-20T18:54:00.000-08:00

I hit the 75K mark on my YA contemporary novel this past weekend. That was my original target word count. Yet, I tend to undershoot myself and always go over the target. I don't have much left to write to finish the ending, so I should be done with the first draft this coming weekend! Probably just a few 1000 more words!! YAY me!

Then I'll spend February adding the villain's point of view in my fantasy romance novel. Something I should have done when I wrote the original, and always thought I should do. This gives me a chance to let my YA contemporary percolate before I dive into revisions with a fresh mind come March.

First step in revisions: As I write a first draft, I always keep a running list of revisions, ideas, plot fixes, etc. Plots and sub plots always seem to change as Muse takes over my brain (or my fingers). So I have to go back and cut out characters I don't need, sub-plots that got dropped, expand sub-plots left weakened, cut scenes, move scenes, fix and sprinkle backstory, etc.

2nd step: stay tuned!

Agent News - 1/17/10

2010-01-17T17:04:00.000-08:00

Agent Kathleen Ortiz was kind enough to provide me with her likes and dislikes in what she's seeking. I've updated her entry on my 12/6/09 posting.

** New Agent** Dorothy Spencer has joined the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency, representing adult fiction and non-fiction in a variety of genres. Spencer has worked in acquisitions and development for more than fifteen years, working with publishers including Watson-Guptill; Van Nostrand Reinhold; Henry Holt; Chronicle Books; Prentice Hall Press; and W.H. Freeman, as well as with book packagers including Read/Write Press and LifeTime Media. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

** New Agent** Rubin Pfeffer, who was most recently senior v-p and publisher of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, is opening an East Coast office for L.A. based East/West Literary. Pfeffer has been brought on as an agent and partner, and will be based in Boston, handling digital initiatives, among other things, for the agency, which specializes in representing children's authors and illustrators. According to an announcement from EWA, Pfeffer will be "developing and creating content for the 21st-century incarnations of publishing, both electronic and traditional print." (Source: Publishers Weekly)

Agent Michelle Humphrey has left Sterling Lord Literistic and is now at Martha Kaplan Agency. She continues to seek young adult works. Email: michelle.c.humphrey@gmail.com (Source: Verla Kay Blueboards)

Jacky Sach, co-founder of BookEnds Literary Agency is retiring from publishing after 10 years as an agent. BookEnds will continue operating under the ownership of Jessica Faust. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Agent News - 1/10/10

2010-01-10T11:54:00.000-08:00

Now that the holidays are over, agent news is in full swing. Here are the first updates of the year. May you find that perfect agent in 2010! Enjoy!

**New Agent** Elizabeth Evans has joined the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. Evans began her career as an agent at Kimberley Cameron & Associates, where she has worked for the past six years. She will represent a wide range of nonfiction, including memoir, travel/adventure writing, journalism, and science, as well as select titles in YA fiction, women's fiction and mysteries. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

** New Agent** Chelsea Gilmore has joined the Maria Carvainis Agency. Most recently, Gilmore was an editor at Avalon. She will focus on women's fiction, literary fiction, mystery-suspense, pop culture, and YA books. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Colleen Lindsay at FinePrint Literary Agency has re-opened to queries again. Please be sure to carefully read her updated submission guidelines on her Blog.

Kate Epstein of The Epstein Literary Agency is now accepting YA nonfiction and fiction.

Laney Katz Becker, formerly of Folio Literary Management is now with Markson Thoma Literary Agency. From the agency's website: "She gravitates toward “book club fiction,” (i.e. novels with substance that you're eager to talk about); character-driven stories; and smart, psychological thrillers. She also loves a great memoir, especially if it teaches her something new, exposes her to a different culture/country, or has a great voice. She's always on the prowl for narrative nonfiction, (especially from journalists), as well as practical non-fiction—parenting, family, relationships, pets—by experts with solid platforms. Laney specializes in debut authors and her “newbies” have made the New York Times, national and International bestsellers' lists. She also welcomes previously published authors."

Stacey Glick, who's been an agent at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management since 1999, has been promoted to v-p at the agency. DGLM has hired Rachel Oakly as Jane Dystel's assistant. (Source: Publishers Weekly)

Happy 2010!

2010-01-01T09:36:00.000-08:00

I hope all your dreams come true, you reach all your goals, and satisfy all your resolutions for the new year. Have a happy and prosperous 2010!

Debut Book: Gentlemen Prefer Succubi

2009-12-31T08:32:00.000-08:00

Finally, here's a paranormal romance I've been dying to get my hands on all year! I've already scooped up my copy and now you should, too.

Title: Gentlemen Like it Hot (click title to Buy at Amazon.com)
Author: Jill Myles
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: December 29, 2009
Format: Mass-Market Paperback

Book 1 of the Succubus Diaries

Once upon a time, Jackie Brighton was a completely forgettable museum docent.

But then she had a one-night stand with a fallen angel and was bitten by a vampire…and now she’s a succubus. Now, she’s turned into a babe, needs sex to survive, and can put people to sleep with a touch of her fingertips.

Sounds great, right? Except for the fact that she’s caught between both the Heavenly and Infernal Host in an ancient turf-war, and now both sides want a piece of her…

Look for Book 2, Succubi Like it Hot on January 10, 2010!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

2009-12-23T12:13:00.001-08:00

May your holidays be filled with life, laughter, and love!

Agents, Holidays & Stats

2009-12-20T10:15:00.000-08:00

All was quiet on the agent front last week. Everyone must be enjoying the hustle & bustle of the season.

Some agents are still working, though, but that may change this coming week. Last week I received a PARTIAL rejection, but then received a FULL request, so AgentLand hasn't shut down completely. However, there are many agents who shut down completely and post on the web about it, some take the time to catch up, others continue business as usual (excluding the actual holiday). So why stop querying unless you're super busy yourself? If you query now, and the agent is out of the office until after the New Year, one can argue that your query beats those who waited and queried after you. But then I've heard that some agents don't necessarily work from the oldest to the newest query. There are really no hard & fast rules. Just do what your head & heart tell you to do.

For whatever it's worth, I thought I'd provide an update on my slow agent quest: currently, I have 4 partials and 4 fulls being read by agents, which is a high ratio for me and just one short of my highest of a couple weeks ago. I'm hoping 2010 brings me an offer.

Happy Procrastination Shopping!!!

Agent News - 12/13/09

2009-12-13T18:25:00.000-08:00

**New Agent** Natalie Fischer is a new agent at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. She is seeking: "historical and narrative nonfiction (including memoir, biography, and popular science/culture) and literary and creative fiction in these areas: historical, young adult/teen, women’s, romance (contemporary and historical), cross-cultural, and select paranormal. She is looking for hard-working, talented new authors with a fresh, unique voice and hook." (Source: Guide to Literary Agents)

**New Agent** Adriann Ranta has joined Wolf Literary Services LLC. Formerly of Anderson Literary Management, she is seeking fiction and limited nonfiction, with an emphasis on children’s, middle grade, and young adult books. She is most interested in realistic, true-to-life stories with conflicts based in the real world. She likes edgy, dark, challenging voices, unique settings, and everyman stories told with a new spin. She does not want academic nonfiction, self-help, spiritualism, religion, or sci-fi. (Source: Guide to Literary Agents)

Paul Fedorko has left Trident Media Group and joined N.S. Bienstock as a literary agent. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Rappaport Agency to Close. Owner Jenny Rappaport writes: "It is with a great deal of sadness that I announce that The Rappaport Agency will be closing for business at the end of the year, due to economic reasons. I have been privileged to get the chance to work with amazing people over the last four and a half years, many of who I am proud to call my friends. In the coming weeks, I will be wrapping up outstanding submissions and putting things in order." (Source: Jenny's Blog)

Debut Book: Three Days to Dead

2009-12-08T20:46:00.000-08:00

Here's a fantastic urban fantasy from debut author Kelly Meding I've been wanting to read since I first saw her query letter posted online during her agent hunt! Add this one to your must read list. Don't forget, books make wonderful holiday gifts for the book lover on your shopping list!

Title: Thr ee Days to Dead (click to Buy at Amazon.com)
Author: Kelly Meding
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: November 24, 2009
Format: Mass-Market Paperback

They’ll never see her coming. . . .

When Evangeline Stone wakes up naked and bruised on a cold slab at the morgue—in a stranger’s body, with no memory of who she is and how she got there—her troubles are only just beginning. Before that night she and the two other members of her Triad were the city’s star bounty hunters, mercilessly cleansing the city of the murderous creatures living in the shadows, from vampires to shape-shifters to trolls. Then something terrible happened that not only cost all three of them their lives but also convinced the city’s other Hunters that Evy was a traitor—and she can’t even remember what it was.

Now she’s a fugitive, piecing together her memory, trying to deal some serious justice—and discovering that she has only three days to solve her own murder before the reincarnation spell wears off. Because in three days Evy will die again—but this time there’s no second chance. . . .

Agent News - 12/6/09

2009-12-06T08:40:00.000-08:00

Through these busy holidays, I'm restricting my blog to Agent updates and new book releases. I barely have enough time to write a few pages each day!

**New Agent** Susan Hawk has joined The Bent Agency as an agent. Hawk, who was most recently marketing director at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, will be representing young adult and middle grade authors and is actively acquiring nonfiction and fiction (especially literary fiction), as well as fantasy, science-fiction, historical fiction and mystery. (Source: Publishers Weekly)

**New Agent** Kathleen Ortiz of Lowenstein Associates is looking for YA fiction and non-fiction only. Ms. Ortiz was kind enough to provide me with her interests and submission requirements as follows:

"Looking for any and all types of YA, both fiction and non-fiction, only. No adult stuff. For YA fiction I’m open to everything from contemporary to fantasy, though I’d absolutely love to find an amazing steampunk manuscript or a manuscript that tackles really edgy or taboo issues. I don’t mind taking a risk if the writing is good. While I’m open to all sorts of points of view and male or female protagonists, I’d love to find a romance from the guy’s point of view. For non-fiction I’m looking for something that appeals to teen guys, though I’m open to various topics (see below for what I’m NOT looking for).

Not looking for picture books, chapter books or middle grade. In YA non-fiction, I’m not interested in fashion or dating guides.

Best way to get in touch with me: go to http://www.lowensteinassociates.com/ and fill out the form that’s on Barbara Lowenstein’s page (this will change once our web person gets back, but for now – that’s how to query). Just be sure to indicate somewhere in the form that it’s YA so I know it’s for me. Please don’t query me directly through email, as those get deleted. We take form submissions, only. Please do not e-mail me directly – use the form, only."

Agent Don Congdon, 91, died Monday at his home in Brooklyn. As the NYT notes in their obituary, he "spotted the talent of Ray Bradbury early in both their careers [and Bradbury remained his client from 1947 on] and whose long list of celebrated authors also included William Styron, Jack Finney, Evan S. Connell, William Shirer."

Agent News - 11/29/09

2009-11-29T11:30:00.000-08:00

PJ Mark, formerly agent and international rights director at McCormick & Williams, will join Janklow & Nesbit Associates in January as an agent. (Source: Publishers Weekly)

** New Agent** Justine Wenger has joined the Emma Sweeney Agency, LLC. She is seeking: literary fiction, short story collections, and food-related non-fiction. "I'm looking for stories that are well-written with surprising, yet simple craft and driving characters. "I am also a fiction and poetry reader for BOMB Magazine and OPEN CITY, which is a good example for the style of fiction I would like to acquire." (Source: Guide to Literary Agents)

** New Agent** Jennifer Lawler is a new agent at the Salkind Agency. She is seeking: "Self-Help and How-To books, including books on personal growth, sports, crafts, self-care and home-care. Jennifer also has a lively interest in history and narrative nonfiction, including memoirs." How to submit: jennifer@studiob.com. Send a query that explains about the work and you as an author (publishing history, credentials for nonfiction). If you choose, you can send a proposal as an attachment even without getting a blessing ahead of time (though this policy may change over time). (Source: Guide to Literary Agents)

Happy Long Weekend!!

2009-11-24T20:56:00.000-08:00

Agent News - 11/22/09

2009-11-22T12:22:00.000-08:00

Mary Grey James has joined East/West Literary Agency (EWA) as a partner literary agent. James was previously a lead book buyer for Ingram Book Company. James also serves as the v-p/president-elect of the Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) and chair of the WNBA Pannell Award Committee. (Source: Publishers Weekly)

Michelle Brower has joined Folio Literary Management as an agent after five years with Wendy Sherman Associates. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Stacy Carlock recently rejoined the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency as an acquiring associate agent. "She is interested in character driven stories that deal with women’s issues (both fiction and non-fiction). She is also interested in spiritual stories that come from being real. She is always into a great page turning beach read - particularly legal thrillers with complex and interesting lead characters and just good fun reads. She loves business books that encourage and develop people skills and ethical awareness."

Jenny Rappaport of the Rappaport Agency LLC is temporarily closed to submissions. Read more here.

Agent News - 11/15/09

2009-11-15T14:02:00.000-08:00

Sophia Seidner has left Wiley after three years as an international rights manager. She will continue as a satellite literary agent with Judith Ehrlich Literary Management. She is looking for literary fiction and nonfiction including self-help, narrative nonfiction and memoir with special interest in current events, business and health and science-related topics.

Josh Getzler is moving to Russell & Volkening as an agent. He has been at Writers House for the past three years (prior to which he was coo of the Staten Island Yankees). He anticipates building his list of literary and commercial fiction, with a particular bias toward suspense and crime novels.

Gene Brissie is re-joining James Peter Associates, a literary agency founded in 1971, as president. Gene was most recently associate publisher of The Lyons Press. JPA represents authors in nearly all nonfiction categories, including business, finance, reference, health, sports, self-help, history, biography, current events, public policy, and more.Mary Jack Wald has announced her retirement at the end of this year after 35 years in publishing, most recently as an agent. Mary Jack Wald Associates, Inc. will be dissolved later this year.

(Source for all this week's news: Publisher's Marketplace)

November Update

2009-11-11T19:39:00.000-08:00

Whew! I finally got back to working on Boomerang Wars this past weekend, and tonight I hit the halfway mark! At least I hope it's the halfway mark. I tend to go over projected word count on a first draft. I had to rein in a sub-plot I contemplated adding, although it's still in the back of my mind. Which could be a bad thing...'cause Miss Muse takes over my mind sometimes and I have no control (over Musey, that is). Anyway, after working on something else for a while, it felt good to get back to BW. I'd love to finish the first draft by the end of the year, even though the holidays tend to get in my way. Egads...I'm even toying with the idea of killing off another character. I don't know if my other characters can handle it without complete destruction of the family unit. Magic, murder and mayhem...Musey's moto.

The agent search has slowed down because I just haven't had the time. I really need to focus my energies on WRITING, crafting, creating, the art. Obsessing over agents and queries, etc. was really putting a damper on Miss Muse. I still have queries, fulls and partials out there, and the hunt will go on, slowly but surely. I will snag an agent. I will snag an agent. I will snag an agent. Clicking my heels now!

Agent News - 11/7/09

2009-11-08T12:44:00.001-08:00

Just a couple of noteworthy items in agent news this week:

** New Agent** Former publisher at William Morrow Lisa Gallagher has joined Sanford Greenburger Associates as an agent. She notes, "I want to apply my extensive marketing experience to help bring writers and their work to the widest possible audience across various media and formats." (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Dystel & Goderich Literary Management is opening a second office in Los Angeles in December, to be run by agency VP Michael Bourret, who has been at DGLM for 10 years. He will continue to grow his own list of author clients while also "aggressively pursuing new film and TV opportunities for the agency." (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

Debut Book: Tempest Rising

2009-11-04T18:55:00.000-08:00

Seems like I've been waiting forever for this book to debut. I simply adore the cover (and it isn't just because purple and blue are my two favorite colors)! Most of all, I can't wait to dig into it! If you're an urban fantasy fan, you don't want to miss this one.

Title: Tempest Rising (click to Buy at Amazon.com)
Author: Nicole Peeler
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: October 27, 2009
Format: Mass-Market Paperback ($7.99)

"Living in small town Rockabill, Maine, Jane True always knew she didn't quite fit in with so-called normal society. During her nightly, clandestine swim in the freezing winter ocean, a grisly find leads Jane to startling revelations about her heritage: she is only half-human.

Now, Jane must enter a world filled with supernatural creatures alternatively terrifying, beautiful, and deadly- all of which perfectly describe her new "friend," Ryu, a gorgeous and powerful vampire.

It is a world where nothing can be taken for granted: a dog can heal with a lick; spirits bag your groceries; and whatever you do, never-ever-rub the genie's lamp.

If you love Sookie Stackhouse, then you'll want to dive into Nicole Peeler's enchanting debut novel."

Agent News - 11/1/09

2009-11-01T08:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to November! Just a few agent updates, plus I've included a link to agent Janet Reid's "20 Tips on Query Letters."

Mary Grey James has joined East/West Literary Agency as an agent and partner. Previously, she served as a lead book buyer at Ingram for 11 years. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

**New Agent** Marissa Walsh at Shelf Life Literary reps Children's, MG, and YA. (Source: QueryTracker.net)

**New Agent** Jill Marr at Sandra Dijkstra Agency is looking for commercial, historical, multicultural, thrillers/suspense, women's, and YA fiction. (Source: QueryTracker.net)

Agent Janet Reid (Query Shark) of FinePrint Literary Agency gives good advice on writing query letters in her article “20 Tips on Query Letters.”

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hope you have a spookatcular day!

Agent News - 10/24/09

2009-10-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

Lots of agent news this week, which includes 4 new agents!

Agent Amy Tipton has left FinePrint Literary Management to join Signature Literary Agency. Amy is looking for both fiction and nonfiction–edgy or quirky, commercial or literary–in particular, she is interested in YA, middle grade, and women’s fiction. In nonfiction she is looking for women’s studies/academia, fashion/beauty, and pop culture. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

** New Agent** George Bick has joined the Doug Grad Literary Agency as an associate agent. A sales and marketing veteran of over twenty years at Warner Books, Random House, Simon & Schuster, and HarperCollins, he was most recently Senior VP, director of sales and associate publisher. Bick is actively looking for narrative non-fiction, business, science fiction, horror/paranormal, thrillers, military, comics and graphic novels, diet/self-help, memoir, pets/animals, romance, science, humor, pop culture, and travel. Query by email letter first at query@dgliterary.com. (Source: Publishers Marketplace)

** New Agent** Yishai Seidman joined Dunow, Carlson, & Lerner in 2009 after stints at Artists & Artisans and Writers House. He grew up in Philadelphia and has since moved to New York City, where he earned his degree from Yeshiva University. Yishai enjoys reading a broad range of fiction including literary, postmodern, and thrillers. On the nonfiction side, he likes books on sports, music, and pop culture. (Source: QueryTracker.net)

**New Agent** Gwendolyn Heasley is a new YA agent at Artists & Artisans, Inc. She is the author of the upcoming YA novel, Confessions of a Teenage Recessionista, which will be published by HarperCollins. She’s actively seeking authors of young adult manuscripts of all genres, specifically manuscripts that have a sharp voice and vivid settings. (Source: QueryTracker.net)

**New Agent** Naomi Hackenberg of The Elaine P. English Literary Agency is now taking submissions of her own. Naomi is looking for young adult fiction. (Source: QueryTracker.net)

Debut Book: The Shifter

2009-10-21T18:54:00.000-07:00

Another recent debut book from one of the peeps who hangs out at the AW forums. Looks like a great young adult fantasy adventure! It has a very distinctive cover which drew my eye right off the bat. I never can resist a cover in blue tones! Add it to your reading list.

Title: The Healing Wars, Book 1: The Shifter (click to Buy at Amazon.com)
Author: Janice Hardy
Genre: Fantasy (Young Adult)
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: October 6, 2009
Format: Hardcover

Nya is an orphan struggling for survival in a city crippled by war. She is also a Taker—with her touch, she can heal injuries, pulling pain from another person into her own body. But unlike her sister, Tali, and the other Takers who become Healers' League apprentices, Nya's skill is flawed: She can't push that pain into pynvium, the enchanted metal used to store it. All she can do is shift it into another person, a dangerous skill that she must keep hidden from forces occupying her city. If discovered, she'd be used as a human weapon against her own people.

Rumors of another war make Nya's life harder, forcing her to take desperate risks just to find work and food. She pushes her luck too far and exposes her secret to a pain merchant eager to use her shifting ability for his own sinister purposes. At first Nya refuses, but when Tali and other League Healers mysteriously disappear, she's faced with some difficult choices. As her father used to say, principles are a bargain at any price; but how many will Nya have to sell to get Tali back alive?

Agent News - 10/17/09

2009-10-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

Not much in the agent news this week.

I wanted to point out a fun and constructive article on Agents' Chapter 1 Pet Peeves and Writing Cliches originally published in Writer's Digest in 2008. Good info here. Of course, these are agent opinions and not all agents may see these "pet peeves" in a negative light. However, the list gives you a good idea of what to avoid in your chapter one for your best foot forward. In this competitive market, us writers need all the help we can get!

Agents' Chapter 1 Pet Peeves and Writing Cliches Part 1 and Part 2.

Have a great week!

Teaser Tuesday #2

2009-10-13T21:55:00.000-07:00

Here's a little teaser from my current work in progress. For the fun of it, I've entered the paragraph in Nathan Bransford's 3rd Semi-Annual Stupendously Ultimate First Paragraph Challenge. I don't normally enter these kind of agent contests, but something told me to throw caution to the wind and just do it. Check out Nathan's blog and read some of the interesting first paragraphs. At current count, I believe there are over 1,500 of them. Go Nathan!

Here ya go:

"The drag racers hit the intersection and twin sets of headlights flickered on. The hot rods slammed into the passenger side of my Camaro. Barreled through my twin sister. Steel scraped steel, screeched, tangled. The car flipped on its side, bounced and rolled. A strong odor of gas filled the air. Metal burned through my side as if a butcher had taken a cleaver to my gut. Something crushed my left leg and I gasped out a mangled sound. My last conscious awareness was Silver crying through the telepathic static shutting down my brain, It hurts, Lucas, oh God. Are we dead?"

Welcome to the world of seventeen-year-old telepathic twins, Lucas and Silver Alexander.

This is a "first draft" and things always change in revisions. So I don't know if I'll stick with this paragraph or if it'll change. I'm working up a prelude to this event and it might end up the last paragraph of chapter 1. Who knows? My brain works in mysterious ways.

Agent News - 10/10/09

2009-10-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

Not a lot of agent news to report this week.

The Reece Halsey North, Reece Halsey New York, and Reece Halsey Paris literary agencies have merged into Kimberley Cameron & Associates. They've kept the same offices and staff, and you can find new contact info at their new website: http://www.KimberleyCameron.com). (Source: Agent Query)

QueryTracker.net has a new look and feel. Check it out!