Blog Archive

• The Power of an Author Blog

  Dec 19, 2007

  I was curious about your take on author blogs. First, do you think author blogs sell books? Second, do you think revealing personal information, even when presented humorously, is appropriate? Over time I’ve found myself disenchanted with some authors after reading posts about the inner-workings of their marriage, as an example. I understand the need […]

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• Dear Santa . . .

  Dec 18, 2007

  Every Thanksgiving my mom takes advantage of the family being all in one place and forces us to write our Christmas lists. This year — like every year — a few books made it onto my list . . . even though I should really be asking for a bookcase to store all of the […]

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• Pitch Critiques Lucky 13

  Dec 17, 2007

  More critiques for you. I’ve seen a lot of great pitches so far. Here’s the original post, Perfecting Your Pitch, and you should be able to link back to all previous critiques if necessary. 72. Dead Man WalkingJessica had it all – her own agency, a popular blog, and even a man who liked watching […]

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• Michele Dunaway on When a Story Clicks

  Dec 14, 2007

  Michele DunawayThe Christmas Date (Harlequin American Romance) and Hart’s Victory (Harlequin NASCAR)Publisher: Harlequin EnterprisesPub Date: December 2007Agent: Jessica Faust (Click to Buy) (Click to Buy) Web site: www.micheledunaway.com One photojournalist, one girl next door, plus one hot and sexy race car driver, and one single mom who wants nothing to do with him, all add […]

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• Seeking an Agent Through Contests

  Dec 13, 2007

  I recently completed my first novel, which I submitted for a contest. The first prize is a publishing contract and the contest organizers require that the book submitted not be under contract. I am wondering though, should I wait until the contest results are announced in January to start looking for an agent? Or should […]

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• Pitch Critiques Round 12

  Dec 12, 2007

  More critiques for you. I’ve seen some great, great pitches so far, some that needed a lot of work, and some just a little tweaking. Good work, everyone. And great books! Here’s the original post, Perfecting Your Pitch, and you should be able to link back to all previous critiques if necessary. 66. lindaOn the […]

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• An Agent’s View of Contests

  Dec 11, 2007

  In your posting on Monday, Oct. 1, you mentioned that you knew a lot of writers are entering contests, and some writers are winning awards. You said these awards are “really exciting” to agents. This sparked some questions for me. How do agents view these awards on a more nuanced level than regarding them as […]

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• Mistakes Happen

  Dec 10, 2007

  In a recent post, When Agents Agonize, a reader commented, “I don’t supposed you ever agonize over rejecting someone and wishing you hadn’t? LOL That’s what I wish.” And it made me think of a story, one I hope I haven’t already told you. Earlier this year I was getting slammed with busy, busy authors, […]

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• Pitch Critiques Round 11

  Dec 07, 2007

  We’re almost halfway! Here’s the original post, Perfecting Your Pitch, and you should be able to link back to all previous critiques if necessary 61. bob dugganCharlie Justice was a twisted little adolescent. Some of that twistedness could be traced to the chemicals that course through the veins of every fifteen year-old male. If chemicals […]

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• Holiday Books

  Dec 06, 2007

  At Barnes & Noble I see that holiday offerings are already on display – and in the grocery store, holiday paperbacks on the kiosk near customer service. Does Bookends have an opinion on “holiday lit” as a genre, or wanna-be-genre? Ah, yes, it’s that most wonderful time of the year and holiday books abound. I […]

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• Tracking Agents’ Percentages

  Dec 05, 2007

  Maybe I’m out of line asking this, but could you give us a feel for the percentage of clients you take under contract whose work you go on to sell to a publisher? Maybe someone needs to create an independent, self-reporting database for authors to register their sales success rates with various agents. I’ll consider […]

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• Pitch Critiques Round 10

  Dec 04, 2007

  Plodding along and through. Here’s the original post, Perfecting Your Pitch, and you should be able to link back to all previous critiques if necessary. 56. cindy procter-king(humorous romantic mystery)Short one-sentence:A photographer falls for her sexy trainee only to discover he’s an ex-cop investigating sabotage at her boss’s studio…and she’s a suspect. Long one-sentence:When a […]

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