Question and Answer on Romance Divas!
Hi, Gang:
Just wanted to let everyone know that I've been answering questions all week as a guest over on Romance Divas. The questions have drawn to a close, but I'm still making my way through the answers, so I hope you'll pop on over!
It's about time to open a new Q&A here on the blog. We've been busy preparing for something BIG here at the agency (not blog-related) and a huge announcement about our big TKA news will be forthcoming shortly, and it's kept me tied up. BUT, I'm looking forward to announcing a new contest shortly, and also launching a new question and answer here! :)
In fact, just to whet your appetite for the next Q&A, I'll open this thread for ten questions. I will answer the first ten questions posted on this thread (after that, I'll close it down for now!)
So lay 'em on me, gang! And meanwhile check out the Romance Divas message board with my current Q&A!
Deidre
Just wanted to let everyone know that I've been answering questions all week as a guest over on Romance Divas. The questions have drawn to a close, but I'm still making my way through the answers, so I hope you'll pop on over!
It's about time to open a new Q&A here on the blog. We've been busy preparing for something BIG here at the agency (not blog-related) and a huge announcement about our big TKA news will be forthcoming shortly, and it's kept me tied up. BUT, I'm looking forward to announcing a new contest shortly, and also launching a new question and answer here! :)
In fact, just to whet your appetite for the next Q&A, I'll open this thread for ten questions. I will answer the first ten questions posted on this thread (after that, I'll close it down for now!)
So lay 'em on me, gang! And meanwhile check out the Romance Divas message board with my current Q&A!
Deidre
posted by Deidre Knight at 9:18 PM
18 Comments:
Hey Deidre!
Here's my question...
When you're reading a submission, what thoughts/questions go through your mind? I understand that first it has to grab you, but then do you start thinking of what editor it would grab, and where it would fall in the marketplace? Do you read it all the way through before asking yourself questions?
If it doesn't grab you, how far will you read before putting it down?
Gina
American Title II Finalist
Go Gina! Go Gina! :)
When I'm reading a submission, the first thing that goes through my mind is just to see if it draws me in. I sit back, soak it in for a few pages, and see if I'm really drawn in. Apart from that--and related, of course--is whether the writing is solid. If I love what I'm reading, that kind where my heart rate increases, I might immediately begin to think about the marketplace. I might even be doing that as soon as page ten if the material is strong enough!!
If I don't love it or if the material is simply average, I do know that pretty quickly. I wish I had time to give everything a deep reading, but if I did, then nobody would ever hear back from me. So I guess you could say I'm a bit ruthless when it comes to stopping reading. Now, don't everyone panic. If the writing is solid, and there's something there--some promise that has attracted me--I *will* continue reading. But if it's not there, then there's just no real purpose in continuing onward.
Congrats on finaling in American Title 2! WOO HOO!
How do you feel about an older heroine/younger hero scenario? It's a 10 year age difference, if that makes any difference, and a paranormal. Do you think there is a market for this?
Thanks!
How important is the author's career goals to your decision to represent someone? I know that the book you are looking at is important, but do you take into consideration the authors background and what they hope to accomplish in the future?
Thanks!
teri
Deidre-
As always, thanks for answering questions :)
I'm seeing more and more authors who are starting out by getting published in the electronic markets and then are branching out into the print market, either through their own determination or by getting scouted out by an editor. Do you think that editors are viewing the electronic market as a proving ground for newer authors? Kind of an if so, are there certain electronic publishers who look better on a writer's resume?
Cheers!
Kelly
I've read that you don't mind an author querying you again on a new book, after a rejection on a previous project. On such a requery, do you want to be reminded of the first query, or should we just assume you either remember, or don't want to?
Did that make sense?
Rachel
I understand the market is fairly limited for category manuscripts and so a lot of agents won't take on an unpublished category author. I've always wondered if I'm wasting my time (and the agent's) by querying a category manuscript with agents prior to querying Harlequin/ Silhouette. So my question here is:
When is the best time for a category writer to find an agent? Before or after selling the first category manuscript? If the author also writes in another genre, should she concentrate on querying that manuscript to agents and limit the category manuscript to H/S?
Thanks!
Dawn
I have a question that's tangential to Jenny's (and BTW, Jenny, every ebook contract I've seen specifies a date on which the contract terminates). If an author regains the rights to a book (whether traditionally pubbed or e-pubbed), are agents and editors typically interested in taking a look at it? Is it ever worth an agent's while to try to sell a book that's previously been published (unless the author is Janet Evanovich, obviously:-). What if the book has been rewritten or expanded? Or is this one of those "it depends" things?
The link to the Romance Divas has an error.
Romance Divas had a little server problem but it's all better now.
This isn't an agent-client/query question; I wondered about how/when/why you decided to be an agent.
It just sounds like such an amazing job and I was just curious if one day, you woke up and said, "I want to be an agent!"
Deidre,
Thanks so much for the congrats! It's a thrilling ride and I'm just at the beginning. :) BTW--this is the Restoration set historical I told you about.
Thanks for the answer to my question. Reality checks are always a good thing.
Gina
Shalanna,
If I'm thinking about the same agent blog you are, then I believe that particular post was meant to reference that if the agent noted that a promising non-fiction proposal happened to be penned by a particularly good-looking writer, it could only contribute favorably to his/her platform and to the book's potential (Cf. Ann Coulter). So much buzz about a non-fiction book takes place on the outside of the covers. But it is just one possible aspect of a platform. Non-fiction tends to be handled very differently, because platform (i.e. expertise, etc.) is so important, where fiction is more about the writer's ability to tell a good story.
And it doesn't necessarily follow that an ugly writer would damage the deal potentials, especially in fiction, where most authors are lucky to get more than tiny, thumbnailed grainy pictures on the inside of the back cover. :-)
Shalanna - what ARE you talking about?
Kristen asked:
[quote]How do you feel about an older heroine/younger hero scenario? It's a 10 year age difference, if that makes any difference, and a paranormal. Do you think there is a market for this?[/quote]
At least to me, this would be a tough sell. There'd have to be some very important reason for an age difference like that. In real life, it's not a huge thing these days, but with romance editors, I feel like it would be. The only way I'd see it working is if the age difference were a big part of the story.
tjbrown posted:
How important is the author's career goals to your decision to represent someone? I know that the book you are looking at is important, but do you take into consideration the authors background and what they hope to accomplish in the future?
Thanks!
Yes, background--if relevant to the story--does play into my decision occasionally. Of course, as is so often the case I'd have to say that it all depends on the story or the situation, however.
As for career goals, yes, I like to know where the author ultimately wants to go so I can determine if I'd be the right agent to take them there. For instance, if someone wanted to write something that simply didn't interest me, then it obviously means I may well be the wrong agent for their overall career.
Kelly asked:
Deidre-
As always, thanks for answering questions :)
I'm seeing more and more authors who are starting out by getting published in the electronic markets and then are branching out into the print market, either through their own determination or by getting scouted out by an editor. Do you think that editors are viewing the electronic market as a proving ground for newer authors? Kind of an if so, are there certain electronic publishers who look better on a writer's resume?
Kelly, it's interesting, but I JUST answered this question over on www.romancedivas.com today. You should visit the ASK DEIDRE forum b/c I definitely gave a thorough answer on this one!
Rachel asked:
I've read that you don't mind an author querying you again on a new book, after a rejection on a previous project. On such a requery, do you want to be reminded of the first query, or should we just assume you either remember, or don't want to?
Did that make sense?
Hi, Rachel:
I don't think you should remind an agent of a rejection on a query--only on a submission, and in that case, if they made positive comments or if you had some extra communication. It's sort of like telling a person you want to date, "Hi! Remember me? You didn't like me the first time we went out... I'm hoping maybe this time you will." Maybe not quite like that, but you get the point. :)
Post a Comment
<< Home