STATUS: I was in tears with laughter. What a great way to end the week.
What’s playing on the iPod right now? YOU’VE GOT IT by Simply Red
And this is for my new author Courtney Milan who just had her 5-house auction on Wednesday for her debut historical romance PROOF BY SEDUCTION which ended with Harlequin winning it in a good deal…this is exactly how it went, right?
STATUS: A little harried at the moment.
What’s playing on the iPod right now? Nothing but it should be MANIC MONDAY by the Bangles
I have to go out of town unexpectedly today and I won’t be blogging for the rest of the week. I apologize for the dead space for next couple of days.
In the meantime, enjoy this classic from Mitchell and Webb.
STATUS: TGIF! And I’ve got a lot to celebrate as I’m almost caught up—if we don’t count the fact that I haven’t looked at queries in 3 weeks and that I’m still behind on reading requested sample pages. If you are waiting to hear from us, please wait just a bit longer…
What’s playing on the iPod right now? SH-BOOM by The Chords
Sara & I are still compiling the tallies of our Tuesday’s poll so look for that on Monday. Also in regards to the handwritten manuscript we received this week, we decided to go with the happy compromise outlined by many of you in the comments section. Today we sent a letter requesting that the sender send us the return postage if he/she wants the manuscript materials returned.
We’ll await that response and as to your other question, no, I have not read it and don’t plan to. It could be the best and greatest next American novel and I wouldn’t really care. I have a terrific current client list right now and I’m positive that I don’t want to work with an author who isn’t computer savvy in this day and age when it’s imperative (for my communicating with him/her and for author self marketing and promotion). I did that once early in my career where I had an author who didn’t/couldn’t email and once was enough.
Now for today’s funny. Two reasons why I’m sharing. 1) Thought this youtube vid was hilarious and 2) dang these authors are savvy in terms of promotion. What a great and fun way to get the info out that your book has been nominated for a RITA! It’s all about the promo baby!
STATUS: Smile. Because it’s TGIF and it’s supposed to be a gorgeous weekend in Denver.
What’s playing on the iPod right now? TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME by Supertramp
Brooke Taylor’s debut UNDONE releases in August. She, along with several of my other debut clients, is doing promotional counseling with Bella Stander (and the agency picks up the tab).
She couldn’t resist sending this youtube video my way. If you are a soon-to-be-published author, big beverage alert.
Today is a twofer. Ally Carter sent this video my way. Some of her savvy fans did a mock movie trailer for I’D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU BUT THEN I’D HAVE TO KILL YOU as their project for film class. So fun and clever. Enjoy. (And no, we don’t have an update to share on where this project is in the film world. Maybe this will inspire Walden Media.)
STATUS: Answering emails, reviewing royalty statements, working on some contracts, and typing up notes for client manuscripts. Just a typical Friday morning…
What’s playing on the iPod right now? CALL ME by Aretha Franklin
Okay, this entry doesn’t have anything to do with publishing but I think the Improv Everywhere artists rock and I just have to share. I totally want to be an IE agent.
Have you ever noticed that the main characters in musicals just spontaneously burst into song? Well, now it happens in real life too.
And IE at the little league game is just a blast as well.
Nothing to do with publishing I know but I’m sure it brought a smile to your face and hey, it’s Friday!
STATUS: I crossed the finish line on two contracts. Hooray. Only three more in process and a fourth one just beginning.
What’s playing on the iPod right now? SPINNING WHEEL by Blood, Sweat & Tears
Quite a lot actually—especially when you are at a writers’ conference! Huge smile here. I certainly got asked about the new HarperCollins imprint this weekend and so when I have time tomorrow to organize my thoughts, I’ll be happy to share them with you.
Meanwhile, this story was too good not to share. I spent the weekend with Chuck Sambuchino of Writer’s Digest (he edits The Guide to Literary Agents) and Jessica Regel of Jean V. Naggar Agency (big shout out as they were both great company and Jessica is actively looking to build her list so if you write young adult, you might want to look her up).
Because Chuck is the editor for WD’s Literary Agents book, he’s got a lot of good inside info on how to land an agent—which he was happy to share with the writers at the conference by giving a workshop.
A workshop that had one little typo in the heading. He was scheduled to give a workshop entitled “How to Shag an Agent.”
Not quite the same thing as “How To Snag An Agent.”
To say the very least…
STATUS: I have to leave here before 5 p.m. I’ve finished two contracts, reviewed royalty statements, and then started negotiating a new deal for a current client. Way better than yesterday!
What’s playing on the iPod right now? IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY by Carly Simon
I just had to share this youtube video. I’ve literally sent this to all my authors, all my agent friends, and to all my favorite editors. We strive not to do this when we give feedback. I don’t think we are always successful…
Serious beverage alert but it is work safe so enjoy.
I promise I’ll be back tomorrow with my letter to the editor about Jamie Ford.
STATUS: It’s almost 6:30 p.m. and I’m shaking my head as to why I didn’t accomplish more during the work day…
What’s playing on the iPod right now? EVERY MORNING by Sugar Ray
Media Bistro is a fountain of good stories lately. Despite the gory nature of this news clip, I just had to laugh. If you are a writer and you commit a crime, don’t write about it in your “novel.”
I mean, duh. This doesn’t even qualify as a decent rant because really, how stupid can some people be?
Polish Writer Convicted of Murder He Described in Novel (AP)Fishermen dragged the dead man’s body — hands bound behind his back and tied to a noose around his neck — from the cold waters of the Oder River in Poland in December 2000. Police struggled to dig up any clues until a tip five years later led them to a novel with an eerily similar murder — and its author, Krystian Bala, who suspected the victim of having an affair with his estranged wife.
STATUS: It feels like it should be Friday already. The five day work week is so overrated.
What’s playing on the iPod right now? I’LL BE AROUND by Joan Osborne
I have an interesting book in my collection. An editor friend sent me CONFESSIONS OF AN HEIRESS by Paris Hilton last year or it might have been the year before last. I can’t remember.
I gobbled it up in one sitting. I found it hilarious and highly entertaining. And I’m no book snob, so I stuck it on my coffee table to share with the world.
Then an interesting thing started to occur. Friends would come over and instantly be horrified that I was so proudly displaying such a crass book.
But what I noticed is that these book snobs couldn’t keep their hands off of it. They just had to pick it up and start reading. Inevitably they would become engrossed in the book (as the evening continued around them).
Paris Hilton’s confessions was a book snob’s kryptonite!
Interestingly enough, I hear these same similar remarks about romance novels (“how can you read that stuff” etc.) and imagine the horror if any of those folks found out that a book they actually read and enjoyed would be considered romance (happens more than you think!).
What’s my point? None really, except maybe book snobbery is silly. Read what you enjoy and be proud of it.
STATUS: What am I still doing at the office at 7 p.m. at night on a Friday? Yep, it was that kind of day. Just need to kick out this blog and I’m outta here.
What’s playing on the iPod right now? I WANNA BE A COWBOY by Boys Don’t Cry
My sister-in-law gave me a great gift for the holidays. Now some folks would think it’s dangerous to give an agent a book but my sis-in-law Melissa is pretty darn savvy. She knew just how to tickle my reading fancy.
She gave me a novel that spoofs the publishing industry.
Folks, it’s hilarious. I guffawed loudly many times—much to the dismay of my husband. Thinly disguised real publishing players (but of course, the whole story is fiction—wink). But I don’t post this to my blog just to highlight how entertaining this read is. I’m posting it because I think it’s worth reading if you are serious about writing and publishing because a writer can’t successful spoof unless she nails that core element of truth and boy does Ms. Grimes hit it with a hammer.
It’s a nice bit of education—and you’ll have a helluva good time while doing it.