Blog Archive
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Publishing: A Leap of Faith
Jan 14, 2008
My first novel was published in July of last year and I’ve almost completed a second manuscript, with a third and a fourth already planned. Now, my dilemma: previous publisher has basically given the green light to send this new ms. their way, but I’m looking to both (a) improve marketability by going with a […]
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Pitch Critiques Round 17
Jan 11, 2008
What have I done to myself? I apologize if these are getting tedious, but I feel the need to get to everyone’s now. It’s only fair. I only ask that you, the readers, and especially those of you who received a critique, continue to hang in there and voice your own opinions. And if you’ve […]
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Questions Not to Ask an Agent
Jan 10, 2008
Or maybe I should have titled this Not Bothering to Ask an Agent Questions . . . As you’ve been talking a bit about questions clients ask of agents… Would you be upset if a potential client signed up with you WITHOUT asking any questions? I’ve done my research, I know which agents I want, […]
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Pitch Critiques Round 16
Jan 09, 2008
Moving right along. . . . Here’s the original post: Perfecting Your Pitch. 90. patgIn the summer of 2001, branch manager for a national chain of travel agencies, Prudence Peters’ week begins with a demotion and hears that her office faces closure. By the end of the week one of Pru’s agents is fired and […]
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Email vs. Snail Mail Queries
Jan 08, 2008
I received a question lately from an author with an interesting experience. Rather than relay the entire story I’ll sum up (I hope you don’t mind). About four years ago this author had an experience with a psychological thriller where in the end she received eight offers of representation and signed with a heavy hitter. […]
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Is Good Writing Really Enough
Jan 07, 2008
Whenever I’m on an agent panel someone will ask what we’re looking for, and almost always one person, or everyone, says, “A really well-written book.” But is good writing really enough to sell a book? The truth is no. It’s not good enough to find an agent, sell to a publisher, or find a reader. […]
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Pitch Critiques Round 15
Jan 04, 2008
Moving right along. . . . Here’s the original post: Perfecting Your Pitch. 83. BrendaThe highlight of C. J. Ellington’s day was his walk to the post office. Excitement coursed through his body as he awakened each morning, eagerly anticipating his two-mile trek into town to check his mail. He never knew what to expect: […]
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Respecting Romance
Jan 03, 2008
I received a question recently in the blog email account that was really insulting. Now I know the author didn’t intend to insult me, or at least I assume she didn’t intend to insult me, but I couldn’t help but take it that way. A member of a romance writers group, the reader asked if […]
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The Start of Something New
Jan 02, 2008
I always get excited at the start of a new year. A new year is a time for new beginnings. Not so much resolutions, but a time to shake off the bad habits, bad energy, or bad luck from an old year and start fresh. I’m not usually one for concrete resolutions. Oh, sure, I’m […]
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Happy Holidays!
Dec 21, 2007
BookEnds is closed for the holidays until Wednesday, January 2, 2008. Have a wonderful holiday and we’ll be blogging again in the New Year.
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The Benefits of Being an Agent
Dec 21, 2007
I had an interesting thought regarding Erik’s comments considering this is an agent’s blog. The hype machine costs money, yes. Didn’t Trump just pay out something like $25K to about 1,000 people standing in line waiting to buy his book and have it autographed? Who bears the cost of promotion? Authors and, sometimes, publishers. Do […]
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Pitch Critiques Round 14
Dec 20, 2007
I hope you’re not getting bored with these yet. I think we’re finally well beyond the halfway mark. Thanks, everyone, for submitting and commenting, and please continue to do so. I think making this a forum where everyone can improve her pitch is terrific. This has been fun for me. Here’s the original post, Perfecting […]
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