Blog Archive
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What I’d LOVE to Say
Aug 11, 2010
I often start drafts of blog posts and then let them percolate for a while before finishing or posting. Ironically, the week I started this particular blog post I was alerted to this blog: https://slushpilehell.tumblr.com/ I don’t think there’s anything I could possibly add. Jessica
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Firing an Agent
Aug 10, 2010
Some months ago I asked my agent about the possibilities of getting my novel adapted as a graphic novel. He dismissed the suggestion, saying that those particular rights belonged to the publisher. After examining the contract, I realized that those rights are mine alone with all the other derivatives (film, dramatic etc). Recently I have […]
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Query Recap
Aug 09, 2010
One early Sunday morning I sat down with my coffee and attempted to go through as many of the 280+ queries in my inbox as I could before my day started. This time around, unlike in other recaps, I didn’t focus on one day or one set time period. I simply wandered around the inbox […]
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Which Comes First
Aug 05, 2010
This came from the comments on a previous post . . . There has been contradicting advice on agents’ blogs these days about what should come first: the book deal or the website? A web presence before being published, or create a website after you’ve sold? Any takers on this debate? Frankly, I don’t think […]
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Length of Time Editors Take
Aug 04, 2010
What does it mean when an editor holds onto your manuscript for two months, not passing but not accepting either? Does it mean they are waiting for additional reads, something to change, what? This drives me nuts. I recently read it took the author of Percy Jackson 2 full years from query to getting an […]
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Do Agents Have a Voice?
Aug 03, 2010
We’ve all talked about voice hundreds of times and have an understanding of what it means when we hear “an author’s voice,” but while reading a book the other day I had a thought: Do agents have a voice? Let me explain. I was reading this book recently and throughout the entire book I kept […]
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An Offer From a Small Publisher
Aug 02, 2010
I recently received two very similar questions, and rather than answer them separately I thought I’d lump them together. I received a contract in the mail from a publisher today. I do not have an agent. I queried widely without success prior to submitting the manuscript to a few publishers that accept unagented material. I […]
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RWA 2010
Jul 30, 2010
Jessica rushed off to a breakfast meeting this morning, so I thought I’d pop on here and say hello from the Romance Writers of America conference in hot, sticky Walt Disney World. Most of our days have been spent meeting clients to catch up and talk career strategy, speaking on workshop panels (I’m presenting today […]
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Spending Money to Make Money
Jul 29, 2010
I’ve always been a huge fan of Seth Godin, and now that I finally got my act together to follow him on Twitter I can guarantee that many future blog posts are going to be inspired by his words of wisdom. If you’ve never read Seth Godin, do. He’s a must-read for any business owner, […]
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Mastering the Elevator Pitch
Jul 28, 2010
Anyone who is a member of RWA knows that today kicks off the RWA National conference in Orlando, and, as always, I will be in attendance. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I will be doing things a little differently this year. This year, I have not signed up to hold author pitch appointments. I’m already […]
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Erin Kellison on Series
Jul 27, 2010
Erin Kellison Shadow Fall Publisher: Leisure Pub date: July 2010 Agent: Jessica Faust (Click to Buy) Books in a Series: What Are You Writing? I attended RomCon earlier this month, a conference dedicated to readers of romance. During one of the sessions, a panel asked readers (including booksellers, bloggers, and reviewers) what their tastes were […]
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Silly Bandz and Books
Jul 26, 2010
What do Silly Bandz have to do with books? Well, nothing really. Sort of. Silly Bandz, for those who don’t know, are the new craze in preteen fun and fashion. These innocuous little toys sell for about $5 for a box of twenty and kids love them. They wear them, trade them, and collect them. […]
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