Blog Archive
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Query Letters Represent the Author, Not Just the Book
Sep 13, 2018
Agenting and publishing is my business and every decision I make from requesting to read an author’s book, to offering representation, to pitching editors, to negotiating a contract on behalf of the author is a business decision. I do this all on behalf of, and with, my business partner–the author. From the first time I […]
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Welcome to BookEnds, Jessica Armstrong!
Sep 12, 2018
I’m thrilled to welcome Jessica Armstrong to BookEnds! I fell in love with her women’s fiction novel, its dual time periods, and the setting of New Orleans which came alive for me as if it was a character itself. I can’t wait for you to read her story, but in the meantime you can get […]
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My Mission to Empower Authors
Sep 12, 2018
A lifetime ago I started this blog as a way to empower writers even when I couldn’t attend writers conferences. Long ago when I first started in this business the internet was still in its infancy and except for a few AOL chat rooms there wasn’t much available (not even websites) to writers. Authors were […]
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How to Frustrate an Agent in 5 Easy Steps
Sep 11, 2018
Disclaimer: If you don’t appreciate snark this is not the post for you. Not sending requested material. If you aren’t ready to send your manuscript to an agent you aren’t ready to query. In fact, if you do not have a full manuscript and a synopsis written, edited, and fully revised you are not ready […]
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Taking Charge of the Author-Agent Relationship
Sep 06, 2018
We all know that communication is the key to a strong relationship and the author-agent relationship is no different. If you want a good solid business partnership, which you do, then you need to help establish the kind of communication you want with your agent. One of the things I frequently hear from authors is […]
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Editing: The Toughest Job an Author Has to Do
Sep 05, 2018
A reader asks: So here is my question:I wrote a contemporary romance novel. In the first part of the book, the main character talks about her childhood in Russian in 80’s/90’s (mainly my life). She says a lot (about 5,000 words about her childhood experience).My beta readers (age early 30s to 60’s) all loved that […]
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This Month From BookEnds… September 2018!
Sep 04, 2018
This September seems to be a huge month for cozy mysteries here at BookEnds Literary Agency! Of course, we have some great new romance books for you, as well. Take a look at all that’s publishing from BookEnds this month! And more– Monthly Spotlight- THE CATS CAME BACK by Sofie Kelly (9/4) | Amazon | Barnes […]
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Why Great Books Don’t Always Sell
Sep 04, 2018
A reader asks: Jessica … I have a GREAT BOOK! That’s what my test readers say; that’s what my family says; that’s what I SAY! A dozen well-respected agents have given my pitch the bounce. Is it one strike and I’m out? If I up my game with a new strategy, will you see if […]
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Welcome to BookEnds, S.M. Freedman!
Aug 31, 2018
What genres do you write? Read? My first two books are mystery/thrillers with a touch of paranormal, and the two I’m currently working on are psychological suspense. I enjoy detective stories (I love Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone and I’m so sad the alphabet now ends in Y), thrillers, gritty suspense, and some horror (especially Stephen […]
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Living the Good Life with Determination
Aug 30, 2018
Not too long ago I talked about how I was making a concerted effort to stop using the word “busy.” We have a habit, when people ask how we are doing, to say we’re busy and it often comes with a sigh and a bit of a moan about how hard life is. And I […]
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Approaching an Agent at Conferences
Aug 29, 2018
A reader asks: I love going to the LA SCBWI conference every year. It’s become an old friend and I do meet some that I only see at the conference, as well as meeting new people. That said, I have never felt comfortable going up to an agent and trying to start a conversation. One […]
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Eight Tips to Make Your Pitching Experience a Success
Aug 28, 2018
One of the most frequently asked blog questions is about pitching. I get it, pitching is stressful and not usually something you sit in on to learn from. Unlike queries, you don’t get to read other people’s pitches to get a sense of what works and what doesn’t. To make it a little easier for […]
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