Blog Archive
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New Client Alert – Tlotlo Tsamaase
Jun 18, 2021
Name: Tlotlo TsamaaseWhat you Write: Speculative fiction, sci-fi, magical realism.Agent: Naomi DavisWhy BookEnds? I was mesmerized by their astounding experience and track record of success they’ve accomplished for their talented authors and illustrators. Another reason is their visibility online, which is quite informative and engaging; as well as their strong presence in the publishing industry. I was especially and […]
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When a Book is “Too Quiet”
Jun 17, 2021
Quite a few of my recent rejections stated that I felt the book was “too quiet,” something we also get a lot from editors. Well I do. I tend to have a soft spot for the quiet book. But what exactly is “too quiet” and what can an author do to remedy this? Books that […]
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How to Know Whether a Literary Agent is Reputable
Jun 16, 2021
Querying your book is hard enough without having to worry about querying an agent that’s not reputable. It’s best to do that before you ever send your first query. But where do you even start? Our recent video gives you all the tips and tricks for knowing whether an agent is one safe to query:
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Turn Your Nonfiction Idea into a Powerful Book Proposal!
Jun 16, 2021
New Speakeasy Event Alert! If you’ve been following along, you know that BookEnds has been having a wonderful time hosting seminars and workshops with Speakeasy. So far, Jessica Faust has hosted several on Writing a Rejection-Proof Book Query, James McGowan is hosting one on Crafting a Picture Book Submission Package, and more are in the […]
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The Top Reasons Your Nonfiction Proposal was Rejected
Jun 15, 2021
Agents review nonfiction with a different lens than we review fiction. Because selling nonfiction is a different beast. Typically nonfiction is sold on proposal (instead of a full manuscript) and always the author’s platform is weighted as heavily as the idea itself. So while I’ve discussed all of the things needed in a solid nonfiction […]
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Weeding Out Negativity to Grow Successfully
Jun 10, 2021
Every good garden needs weeding. Every successful author/entrepreneur/business owner knows that this key to success expands well beyond the vegetable patch. Just like a bountiful garden needs weeding, so do our own lives. I’ve talked before about the Negative Nellies who tried to choke out my dreams before I even got started. They were not […]
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What Do Literary Agents Do All Day?
Jun 09, 2021
That’s a good question. What DO literary agents do all day? We had a YouTube viewer ask us, and we decided to make a video out of it. Want a peek behind the publishing curtain? Enjoy!
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New Client Alert – Elba Luz
Jun 04, 2021
Name: Elba LuzWhat you Write: YA Contemporary Agent: Emily ForneyWhy BookEnds? I am lucky to have met Emily through the fellowship at BookEnds and through the fellowship I’ve been able to see the collaborative and skillful work ethic of the BookEnds community and it felt right to stick around! There’s no place I’d rather be than […]
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Mistakes Happen.
Jun 02, 2021
Plain and simple: mistakes happen. Especially while querying. So, Jessica Faust and James McGowan sat down to give this message to querying authors everywhere. The pressure is always on to be perfect in queries, but sometimes mistakes happen. Watch here:
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How Agents Prepare an Offer of Representation
Jun 01, 2021
Typically when an author receives an offer of representation they give the other agents about two weeks to respond. This could be two full weeks or two business weeks. That’s really up to the author. There’s a reason why giving a little more time benefits not just agents, but authors too. The Benefit of Time […]
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New Client Alert – Kris Coronado
May 28, 2021
Name: Kris CoronadoWhat you Write: nonfiction picture booksAgent: James McGowanWhy BookEnds? When I first began diving into the world of querying, I accidentally stumbled upon the BookEnds team on Twitter. Right off the bat, everyone seemed extremely passionate about what they do, yet also warm and approachable. Even so, I still wanted to make sure I […]
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An Agent’s Submission Strategy
May 27, 2021
I saw something on Twitter a while ago about how editors respond to an agent’s submission strategy. It bugged me and while I’ve sat on it for the required 24-hours, I think it’s time I say something. In the Tweet or Twitter thread, editors were complaining about being on the bottom of an agent’s submission […]
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