Q & A Thursday!
We hope you all are ready because it's Thursday, your chance to rack our brains! Today up on the block we have agent Pamela Harty. Pamela has had a phenomenal year, this woman has been selling projects like their is no tomorrow!
So what what have you got for her? You know the rules, the first five people to post their question will get some wonderful advice and insight from Ms. Pamela. We here at the Knight Agency are here for you, and today Pamela is opening the door to whatever you got! So, what have you been wondering about lately?
posted by Elaine Spencer at 9:44 AM
12 Comments:
Pamela -- was wondering if you regularly read Miss Snark. She had a post yesterday wherein she advised CURRENT CLIENTS not to give her WIPs, but instead give her finished, polished proposals. She basically said that even though you're a current client, she still wants something that she can sell right off the bat. She said she is not an editorial adviser; rather, she is a career/business adviser.
Your thoughts on this? Do you feel the same way?
What are the rules regarding historical fiction?
If a purely fictional character was "inspired by" a real person, how can an author dodge the legal bullets?
For instance: A fictional Ohio politician makes his way to fame and fortune by bootlegging during prohibition.
A real Ohio Gov. from that same era was known to be behind the sale of bootleg whiskey in Columbus.
Or what about a fictional Ohio Newspaper owner, with the power to sway presidential elections?
How close is too close?
What a great opportunity!
Here's my question: What genre(s) do you see selling very well right now, in your experience, and are you happy about that trend? Just curious. :D
Thanks!!!
Hi Pamela,
I was wondering if you've noticed any annual cycles in publishing (i.e. whether it's easier to sell a manuscript in the fall when editors are back from the Hamptons/Berkshires).
I understand that good writing will sell in any climate and certainly, I'm not waiting for an equinox. Still, all the businesses I've worked in have followed yearly rhythms of some description.
Thanks.
OK, Brandi
Here's your answer.
I think opportunites for African American writers are greater now than ever before. It seems as if publishers are realizing what a huge market this is, and they dont want to miss the boat.
This said, I do think the bar is being raised. The market is more crowded and expectations are higher. Stories have to be stronger, and I think this translates into more varied story lines and more muticultural relationships which is a better reflection of our society in 2006.
Hope this helps.
Thank you kindly for taking time to answer my question! I appreciate it.
FYI, for anyone out there interested in the liability question:
I found an article by Alan J. Kaufman, Defining Libel in Fiction
October, 2001
PMA Publishers Marketing Association
Kaufman has 25 years of experience as a Publishing Attorney, and served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel to Penguin Books.
He states: "The dead cannot be defamed, because the law holds that a person’s reputation dies when a person dies."
So I guess that clears my case, but for more information, read his article at:
http://www.pma-online.org/scripts/shownews.cfm?id=559
THanks Pamela!
More on legal issues for writers...
I had to change the name of one of my characters (a governor's son) because the name I'd given him was the name of an actual past governor. My publisher's legal team vets my manuscript.
Hi, Pamela!
I know I'm late, but if there's any way you could answer this, it'd be keen:
I'm currently hawking a sharp psycho-thriller to hard-to-impress agents, and that's hungry work. What's a healthier ice cream: Breyers or Edy's?
Cheers,
barabus
I am in the process of designing a web site to attract agents. After I get an agent,it will be changed. It would be interesting to get your opinion on it. It is located at www.sirjohn.us
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