Blog Archive
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Jessica A’s 2014 #GiveaBook picks
Dec 16, 2014
As many of you know, Penguin Random House has started the #GiveaBook social media campaign to promote books this holiday season. If you haven’t already heard about it, check out this page (https://randomnotes.randomhouse.com/tis-the-season-give-books-and-give-back/) for all the details. You won’t see me doing a video (I didn’t do the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge video either—thanks a […]
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That Holly Jolly Feeling
Dec 12, 2014
Here’s what happens this time of year. I become extra thankful. Actually, this is something that happens regularly throughout the year, but right now I’m blogging about it. I have been an agent for 15 years. It’s a job I’ve always been proud of and a job that I have never really felt was a […]
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Have a Bookish Holiday #GiveaBook
Dec 11, 2014
I’m sure I’m not the only one who loves to gift books and loves the gift of a book. Typically everyone on my list is doing to get a book of some kind or another. Sometimes it’s a book I’ve read, loved and want to share and other times it’s just something that seems to […]
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Bookkeeping for Dummies by Lita Epstein
Dec 11, 2014
The fast and easy way to master the art of bookkeeping If you’re a business owner or an employee who manages finances, the latest edition of Bookkeeping For Dummies is for you. This handy guide gives you clear and concise information on how to keep track of accounts, prepare balance sheets, organize ledgers or journals, […]
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Publishing Facts and Figures
Dec 10, 2014
A few months ago I was asked to be a guest on Writers2Writers a local cable show for writers. Just as I thought it was a really fun and different experience. I’m not sure I’ve ever been on TV as an actual guest. The group I met were all so wonderful that I wished I had been […]
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Branding Yourself for Publishing Pros
Dec 09, 2014
We talk so much to authors about the importance of branding yourselves. Of picking a genre and sticking with it or at least identifying what you’re really strong at and making sure that comes through in your brand. We encourage authors to have a brand and a hook and tell them that they should be […]
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Hold Up, It’s the Holidays!
Dec 08, 2014
If you’re still actively submitting queries and submissions my suggestion is stop. In fact, stop by Thanksgiving. It’s exactly what most agents have done when it comes to submitting. Let’s face it, publishing isn’t that much different from many other companies. People are busy with holiday parties, shopping and daydreaming about sugar plums (whatever those […]
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The Synopsis: The Final Word (at least for this week)
Dec 05, 2014
Unintentionally we had a week devoted to the synopsis, two of the posts came organically from your comments. I love that. I had no plan to do a Friday post on the synopsis until I saw this comment from yesterday: This actually exemplifies for me *exactly* why synopsis-writing is frustrating. Not only is there a […]
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Synopsis Tips from an Expert
Dec 04, 2014
The majority of my clients view writing a synopsis as a necessary evil. They don’t like writing them, but they know they have to. There are one or two who might give away their firstborn children if it meant getting out of writing a synopsis, but there actually is a handful that seem to like […]
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Mastering the Synopsis
Dec 03, 2014
The title of this post is a little bit of a misnomer because I’m not sure I have the ability to teach you how to master anything. I suspect that only practice can do that. That being said, I think I can give you some tips on writing a strong synopsis. 1. Actually write it. […]
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The Dreaded Synopsis
Dec 02, 2014
I’ve yet to meet an author who likes the synopsis. The word seems to spark fear and hatred in the hearts of writers. Well get over it. The synopsis is going to be part of your writing life for as long as you decide to be a writer so it’s something you better learn how […]
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Queries: Getting Pickier and Pickier
Dec 01, 2014
When I first started out as an agent I was desperate. I’m not going to lie about that. I was sitting in my spare bedroom, turned home office, aka BookEnds headquarters trying to eek out a living by reading query after query (all via snail mail in those days) hoping one or two would be […]
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