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Featured Blog Posts (380)
Staff Writing Series and Trilogies- what do you need to know?
From BookEnds, LLC: http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/2010/01/writing-series-and-trilogies.html
The question from a blog reader: "I have finished two books of what will be a trilogy and am wondering about the logistics of querying a trilogy. I recognize the first book needs to stand alone, and I plan on mentioning it is the first in a trilogy (that will… Continue
Added by Jessica Capelle on February 2, 2010 at 1:48am — 1 Comment
Win a scholarship to the Backspace Writers Conference & Agent-Author Seminar in NYC!
Per Agent Colleen Lindsay:
I am thrilled to announce that the good folks at Backspace (an incredible online writers community THAT YOU SHOULD JOIN IMMEDIATELY! GO! NOW!) have once again graciously agreed to donate two scholarships to their upcoming Backspace Writers Conference & Agent-Author Seminar, which will be held in New York City from May 27th through the… Continue
Added by Jessica Milar on February 4, 2010 at 10:07am — No Comments
Staff Amazon Publishing The Self-Published
Amazon gives self-published a second life by Bob Minzesheimer USA Today
After Zetta Elliott couldn't interest publishers in her novel about a black-Latina teen who travels back in time to Civil War-era Brooklyn, she joined a growing number of writers and paid to publish it herself in 2008.
A Wish After Midnight sold about 500 copies — nearly covering her expenses, she says. More important, she says, her teen novel was praised on blogs and used in schools and…
Added by Georgia McBride on February 8, 2010 at 2:00pm — No Comments
Staff Ten Things To Know About Today's YA - PART I
Check in each Wednesday for the next installment in the series.
DON’T conceive of yourself or your book as being the “next” anybody. Despite what a lot of experts recommend, the hard truth is no one is going to be terrifically interested in your work if you’re pitching it as similar to books they’ve already read. When an editor or agent sees you comparing your work to some bestseller, chances are…
ContinueAdded by Georgia McBride on February 3, 2010 at 2:10pm — 2 Comments
Staff YA IS RED HOT! Tips From 3 TOP Agents!
Psst! Wanna write a scorcher for the booming YA market?
OK, here’s the secret: The first thing you need to do is create an authentic, quirky, true-to-life voice.
The story and characterizations in Young Adult fiction are crucial too, of course, but the most important element is that distinctive narrative… Continue
Added by Georgia McBride on February 1, 2010 at 8:00pm — 2 Comments
Staff Want A Book Deal? Write A Great Hook!
From The Book Deal Blog by Alan Rinzler
I can’t help smiling when I read a good hook. When it happens, it’s a rush, a little like falling in love.
The hook — those critical initial sentences of a query letter from an author, or the opening of the book proposal itself — are the first and most important words that agents and acquiring editors read.
Hooks that capture and delight us
If the hook doesn’t capture… Continue
Added by Georgia McBride on February 1, 2010 at 9:00pm — 1 Comment
Staff Didn't Make it to SCBWI NY? Have No Fear!
Click here to follow!
Added by Georgia McBride on January 30, 2010 at 11:25am — No Comments
Staff What Is YA?
Generation YA
28.07.09
Just what is a young adult novel? Surely the answer is simple: a work of fiction that is aimed directly at, and relates to, teenagers. Controversy over age ranging on books raises the all-important question—does teenage fiction actually exist, is it possible to… Continue
Added by Georgia McBride on December 19, 2009 at 8:22pm — No Comments
Staff The Death Of The Slush Pile
By KATHERINE ROSMAN from wsj.com
In 1991, a book editor at Random House pulled from the heaps of unsolicited manuscripts a novel about a murder that roils a Baltimore suburb. Written by a first-time author and mother-to-be named Mary Cahill, "Carpool" was published to fanfare. Ms. Cahill was interviewed on the "Today" show. "Carpool" was a best seller.
That was the last time Random House, the largest… Continue
Added by Georgia McBride on January 15, 2010 at 9:55am — 1 Comment
Staff What To Do When You Can't Find An Agent
By Michael Hyatt via http://www.michaelhyatt.com
In the past three weeks, I have received several email messages from individuals trying to get published. They are frustrated because they can’t get an agent to represent them. Yet, they know that most publishers, Thomas Nelson included, won’t consider proposals unless they come through an agent. If you find yourself in this situation, read… Continue
Added by Georgia McBride on January 10, 2010 at 6:08pm — 2 Comments
Staff What Agents Hate-From Writer's Digest
DESCRIPTION
“I dislike endless ‘laundry list’ character descriptions. For example: ‘She had eyes the color of a summer sky and long blonde hair that fell in ringlets past her shoulders. Her petite nose was the perfect size for her heart-shaped face. Her azure dress—with the empire waist and long, tight sleeves—sported tiny pearl buttons down the bodice. Ivory lace peeked out of the hem in front,… Continue
Added by Georgia McBride on January 4, 2010 at 11:00am — 2 Comments
Staff Paulsen to Launch Eponymous Children's Imprint-PM
President and publisher of Putnam Children's for the last 15 years Nancy Paulsen will launch an eponymous imprint, Nancy Paulsen Books in 2011. She plans to publish 12 to 15 picture books, middle grade and young adult novels a year. Paulsen will keep her current position until a replacement is named, with a search underway now.
Paulsen says in the announcement, "I am thrilled with the opportunity to return to my true… Continue
Added by Georgia McBride on December 17, 2009 at 4:41pm — No Comments
Staff Thinking of Signing With A Small Press? Read This First
11:44 AM Posted by Lori Calabrese
For most authors, writing their books is a hurdle in itself to overcome. They have such aspirations about the success of their work, it can be devastating and costly to work with a publisher that doesn't meet their expectations. I recently worked with two authors using two different small publishers, both experiencing frustration and disappointment in their projects. One situation involved a full year… Continue
Added by Georgia McBride on December 15, 2009 at 11:31am — 1 Comment
Staff You've Been Offered A Book Contract. Now What?
Five Things To Watch For.
First, off, let me say this: I'm no lawyer.
Second: Your best line of defense in signing a book contract is to get an agent or a lawyer to look over it before you sign it. If you go the lawyer route, make sure you find one who specialized in literary contracts. (Try The Authors Guild for help).
Contracts are tricksy things, and it's in the publishers interest… Continue
Added by Georgia McBride on December 15, 2009 at 9:30am — No Comments
Staff Creating a unique buzz for Patterson's new YA
Little, Brown Gears Up for New Patterson Novel
This article originally appeared in PW's Children's Bookshelf.
By Sally Lodge -- Publishers Weekly, 11/19/2009 12:25:00 PM
Initial marketing efforts launching James Patterson’s Witch & Wizard were shrouded by a veil of secrecy. At this year’s BEA, Little Brown kept ARCs under wraps and under lock and key—literally. Now the publisher is keeping anything but mum about the novel, which debuts… Continue
Added by Jessica Capelle on December 14, 2009 at 9:47pm — 3 Comments
Staff Christian publishers embracing YA
YA's bumper crop in Christian fiction
by Jana Riess -- Publishers Weekly, 6/2/2008
Young adult literature is hot. According to the Young Adult Library Services Association, sales of books aimed at the 12–18 age group grew 20% between 1999 and 2005. With general market YA such a hot commodity, and religion soldiering on as a steady growth category—up 5.2% in 2007, according to the Association of American Publishers—it's no surprise that Christian… Continue
Added by Jessica Capelle on December 14, 2009 at 10:04pm — No Comments
Staff Three Agents Looking for New Authors
Three agents hungry for new authors
Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency
PMB 515
1155 Camino del Mar
Del Mar, CA 92014
Sandra Dijkstra says her agency is always looking for new authors, fresh voices, and original stories. Moreover, three of her agents are especially hungry for clients:
Read about the agents… Continue
Added by Jessica Capelle on December 15, 2009 at 4:30am — No Comments
Staff The Truth About Literary Scouts
What Does a Literary Scout Do?
01 Nov 2009 | Liz Thomson
Literary Scouts come in to their own at book fairs but, in a role where discretion is all, much of their work goes on behind the scenes and remains something of a mystery to rest of us. Liz Thomson hears how they work…
To listen out, to observe, to explore, to evaluate, to discover… Continue
Added by Georgia McBride on December 14, 2009 at 12:30pm — 1 Comment
Staff SHIVER Agent Laura Rennert's 5 Writing Do's
Added by Georgia McBride on December 14, 2009 at 12:00pm — No Comments
Staff The Tenners Are Coming!!!
http://georgiamcbridebooks.wordpress.com/…
Added by Georgia McBride on December 13, 2009 at 6:30pm — No Comments
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