Navigating the Slush Pile

March Madness: Chapter Titles

2012-03-15T09:46:00.000-07:00

This post applies mainly to YA and Adult. Not middle grade, chapter books, nonfiction, etc.

Confession. I hate chapter titles. I think it comes from when I was younger, reading chapter books, I could predict what was going to happen in the chapter based on the title and picture. Honestly, snotty child that I was, I felt like they were insulting my intelligence. So, to this day, I tend to ignore everything about chapter headings--chapter number, quotes, title, POV shift (part of the reason I have issues reading POV shifts). I've only allowed one of my clients to retain chapter titles, and that's because they're awesome, relevant, and give nothing away about the plot (that I can tell, maybe there's a whole other layer I don't get--I'm okay with that).

Because I feel like being cheeky

Here's another thing about chapter titles. When reading, I get so totally absorbed into a story that I completely forget that I'm even holding a book. So chapter titles, and anything that draws me out of the story, is super annoying.

Of course, there is always a time and a place.

POV shifts, especially first person POV shifts, do need a designation. However, make sure the voice helps the reader shift. If your two characters sound exactly alike, there's a bigger problem going on.

Part 1, part 2, part 3 with titles while chapter titles just have numbers. When this is done well, and the Part titles are clever, relevant, and make me go, o okay I get it, I'll go with it.

If you do have chapter headings, or even just the chapter numbers, do not make them fancy in your ms. There is a chance it'll get lost in translation. Set them either to the left or center, same font as the text, bold or italics if you must.

And that's my very personal opinion on the subject. It is, as many things in this business are, subjective. Some other may have differing opinions to mine, or even no preference at all. If you want to keep your chapter titles, be my guest. I will not discriminate when considering your ms. If I sign you, I will, in all likelihood, make you scrap them.

Happy writing!

March Madness: Queries are final... hands off!

2012-03-13T10:34:00.001-07:00

I'm not trying to call anyone out with this post. And if you find you've done the no-nos in this post, no need to follow up with another email or comment of apology. Your intentions were good, and I do appreciate it. This is more of a "keep in mind for the future" sort of post.

I'll set up the scenario.

I write a blog post about particulars of the query process. You're reading and reach a particular faux pas and scream "Noooooo!" at the screen like a bad horror movie. Because you queried me two weeks ago. And committed the faux pas. You rush to your email, dig up our email thread, or start a new one with the subject "correction to query submitted Month/Day", and hurriedly (but not so hurriedly you don't forget to be diplomatic or check for grammar and spelling errors) write me a note apologizing for not knowing I prefer my queries a certain way and to please overlook the error or accept the new query. I see the email in my inbox, smile to myself, give you an e-cookie (warm, gooey, chocolate chippy, zero calories--it's an e-cookie, go with it), think "oh, you adorable dear," and delete it (not your query, I'll still answer that, non-biasedly). [query no-nos can be found in my January Query posts such as this one on What Not to Include]

Look familiar?

This entire process is unnecessary. And you're cluttering my inbox. And wasting your own precious time.

Most things that you're wanting to correct are tiny things, things that will not sway my vote from yes to no. The exception may be if you realize you get my name wrong and catch it just after sending the email. Go to that email thread, send me another with a quick apology. I completely understand that mistakes are made. And it is nice to know you were actually (mostly) paying attention.

When you send a query... hands off! No resubmitting, no do-overs, no minor or major corrections, no additions to your bio.

Move on to a new project. Do not rework your query or ms (unless you're submitting to new agents or contests) until you've received all the feedback from your first/second/third round of querying. And since you've been concentrating on something else, you can go back to it with fresh eyes and incorporate the changes.

The only reasons you should be bugging an agent after submitting a query are 1) following up after the agent's preferred time frame to be sure they've received the query; 2) following up after the agent has had your ms for a preferred time frame; 3) to inform an agent of another offer of representation; 4) to withdraw the query/ms from consideration for a myriad of reasons including shelving the project (not suggested--get as much feedback as you can--it'll help you, if not for this project, then for the next) or accepting another offer.

And now that I've gotten half of you fretting over the tiny imperfections of your query, and the other half fretting that I hate you because you did this, I'll leave you with a reminder--

I'm not trying to call anyone out with this post. And if you find you've done the no-nos in this post, no need to follow up with another email or comment of apology. Your intentions were good, and I do appreciate it. This is more of a "keep in mind for the future" sort of post;

--and--

Happy writing!

March Madness: It's not me, it's you

2012-03-08T11:12:00.000-08:00

As heard in conversation between Query and MS:

MS: It's not you, it's me.
Q: I thought we were doing so well together, I complement your themes perfectly!
MS: You do, it's just that I'm missing something in my plot.
Q: I'm flexible. I'll change. Anything you need, I'll reflect your brilliance.
MS: I need to find myself. I need to fill the holes, complete my characters before I'm worthy of you.
Q: What will I do without you? I can't function without you! I have no purpose but to tell everyone about you!
MS: I'll be back, and when I am, you and I will be better for it. I promise, I'm doing this for you.

Some queries get rejected, not because they're poorly written--on the contrary, they can be the best representation of your ms possible--but because something is lacking in your characters or plot. For all I know, your query may not be representing your ms to the best of its abilities and the ms itself is golden, perfect. But I--and many agents--tend to take the pessimistic view and assume your ms is probably lacking the same elements as your query.

Often at conferences, I'll ask a writer to describe the main character. They will then proceed to tell me what happens to them in the plot. No, no, no. I asked about the character. Who is your character? Why should we care? What makes them tick? What will draw readers to them?

For example, try describing your best friend. Would you start by telling me about how, in the ninth grade, she went on this epic journey across the state to meet her biological father? That's a really cool story, one I'd like to hear from her if I ever meet her. Or would you tell me, a perfect stranger, about her bubbly personality and perseverance even when things seem bleak? Does she dress as a goth but always accessorizes with pink because of a girly streak she's proud of? Does she have this super quirky habit of writing people's names on her arm in sharpie when she meets them so she can remember their name better because she has a poor short term memory and she's determined to improve?

Now that's a character worth reading. And writing.

And when I read a query that begins, "Jessica was a normal teenage girl until the new kid at school starts paying attention to her and before she knows it, she's sucked into a werewolf clan," my eyes glaze over and my right pinkie toe starts to twitch.

Honestly, I don't want to read about a normal teenage girl. I want to read about an extraordinary character who experiences extraordinary things. In fiction, normal does not exist. Every character needs quirks, issues, a past to overcome. Think Sarah Dessen, Jennifer Echols. No vampires. No werewolves. Contemporary. And, arguably, "normal" characters. And, arguably, rather "normal" lives and events. But something about the "normal" girl and the "normal" events is off--something sets off a chain reaction, rippling not only to the plot, but to her personality and emotions. Suddenly, the tiny little things we knew about her--a fissure in a parental relationship, an OCD tendency, a drug habit--is magnified tenfold as she clings to anything she can while the plot ravages her life.

(I'm not knocking paranormal--you all know me, I love me some vampires. But I feel like talking about contemporary today. All of this can, and should, be applied to all genres.)

Let's have some fun.

"Jessica, a normal teenage girl" suddenly becomes "Jessica, a girl who obsessively buries herself in her garage band and mastering guitar riffs rather than deal with the reality of her mother's death and her father's drinking."

And the new kid at school? Let's give him a makeover too. Turn him into the boy next door, Chris. Chris and Jessica used to play in the sandbox together, but Chris's perfect family unit made Jessica uneasy as she watched her mother go through round after round of chemo, until she finally drew away from him--and his tone-deafness--completely. Are you tempted to make Chris an A-plus student who will tutor Jessica so her grades will improve so the school and child services don't start asking questions about her home life? Now, where would the fun in that be? As an agent, and a reader, I'm looking for intriguing and unique characters all around. And plot. Yes, plot. So make Chris a football star. No football, you say? Now you're thinking. Okay, hockey (cuz I know as little about hockey as I do football). Chris's own grades are slipping. They may be next door neighbors, but they don't pay attention to each other (and no, Chris has not been holding a candle for Jessica since sixth grade when she started to pull away from him; he's moved on) until they're stuck in study hall together.

"The new boy at school" becomes "an old friend" and the "werewolf clan" becomes "Chris's big Italian family who starts to pay way too much attention to Jessica's problems, and empty refrigerator." The implied "needing to stay away from the werewolves to save her own life" becomes "needing to keep the whole family at a distance to keep them from discovering her father's dark secret, a penchant for too much booze and losing his temper on the only other person in the house--her. But Jessica is beginning to realize that just because her family is falling apart, doesn't mean she can't have one, and losing herself in music has cost her something more important--warmth and friendship. But Chris isn't at all eager to welcome Jessica into his big noisy family or rekindle their old friendship--he wants out of it all." Because he's a werewolf and no one knows it. Just kidding.

Holy crap, see how much more fun that would be to write? And pitch? And read?

So, at a conference, when I ask WHO your character is, be prepared with quirks, maybe a tiny (like, five words) backstory, and her true personality.

Another example? Let's!

<Disclaimer: I honestly hate picking on Twilight, I do. But nearly everyone has read it so it makes for a good bad example. And I am nit-picking, deliberately overlooking the good so I can make a point. I'm not beginning an argument here over the qualities of Twilight, because there is actually a lot of good that can be said. But for today, go with it. And I am getting a little tired (ok, not really) of always talking about Anna and the French Kiss or Lola and the Boy Next Door. They're just too awesome for their own good. But, since they are so awesome, they'll go in the "good good example" category.>

Describe Bella Swan.

...I'm waiting.

She's a decent looking girl who is forced to move in with her father in the rainy Northwest. She's pale, despite having moved from Florida. She's never had a boyfriend. She's independent (wants to get her own job, pay for her own things). Book smart.

Ya. That's all I've got. She's normal. I want "normal."

Describe Twilight's plot.

The mysterious boy at school who has never paid attention to another girl, suddenly starts paying the new girl attention, even though it will endanger her because he's a vampire and can easily kill her, and his enemies will use her to their advantage for their sick games; but he involves her anyways because really he's just a horny teenage boy.

By the way, I'm 98.2% sure I would have rejected that query.

Describe Lola.

She's a budding costume designer and never wears the same outfit twice. Her passion for creativity outweighs any teasing she might get at school. She is so dedicated to the idea of being creative, worldly, and mature that she forgets sometimes that she is still just a teenager--which makes dating an older man hard for others to understand but makes perfect sense to her.

I want her hair

Not only do I want to read about her--I want to be her.

Describe Lola's plot.

When Lola's next door neighbors move back in after two years away, her confidence is severely tested. Her childhood friend, and one time love interest, Cricket is suddenly back in the picture, as wonderful, nice, nerdy, and caring as she remembered. Her parents see this as an opportunity to show Lola how much better it would be to date someone like Cricket, rather than her older musician boyfriend--but her boyfriend doesn't appreciate, or understand, Lola's sudden insecurities, a reminder that she is, in fact, much younger than him. Lola must discover who she truly is under the extravagant makeup, wigs, and costumes.

I'm 99.993% sure I'd have requested that query. And I haven't even mentioned the biological mother or quirky best friends or Lola's monstrous costume project.

So if your query, decently written, isn't getting the hits it should be, you may not have to (only) rework your query. It may be your ms. Same advice applies if you're getting comments on your ms along the lines of "I didn't connect with your characters; the plot didn't pick up fast enough; I liked your characters, but the plot wasn't solid or new."

Happy writing!

March Madness: What to Expect from the Madness

2012-03-06T11:04:00.001-08:00

Hope everyone enjoyed the January Query Month and February Requests Month. This month, the topic is: No Topic! AKA, March Madness. I'll be talking about things that don't really fit into my planned Topic Months. Not exactly a Q&A sort of month, more like me rambling about "important" things. Also, I'm taking a reprieve from Wednesday Reads this month (I apologize profusely to your TBR stacks). I've had too much on my plate/Kindle the last few weeks and haven't read anything besides manuscripts lately. Not to worry, Wednesday Reads will be back with a vengeance in April (I apologize profusely to your TBR stacks).

In April, the topic will be Offers of Representation. What to do when that offer comes. What to do when multiple offers come. Etc.

In May, the topic will be Conferences, to get you ready for a summer of awesome, er, conference season.

In June, I'll be taking a much needed blog hiatus (yes, I just had one in December, but to keep the blog fresh, and my inbox happy--read empty--I'll need another one).

Meanwhile, don't forget that this month is NaNoEdMo (National Novel Editing Month) (who is participating?). I wrote an article on Self-Editing you can check out here. Also, Cupid's Literary Connection is having an awesomely awesome event that you will want to stay tuned for (you may be seeing my name pop up somewhere--you just never know) so keep your eyes out for more info on that right here.

Anything else we should be keeping our eyes peeled for this month?

Happy writing!

Wednesday Reads: Dearly, Departed

2012-02-29T09:55:00.000-08:00

A few months or so before Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel was released, I stumbled upon it on Goodreads (if I remember correctly). But I was in a rush and didn't write it down. A few weeks later, I was still thinking about it. I couldn't remember all the details so I tweeted, rather frantically, looking for the title and author of a "futuristic steampunk... maybe with zombies?" Lia, the sweety, somehow saw my tweet and cleared it up for me. And, to my delight, I HAD remembered correctly.

Loooove, by the way

Futuristic steampunk with a Victorian society AND zombies.

If that isn't the coolest genre mash-up ever, I really don't know what is.

Synoctopus: (yes, I did just say synoctopus)

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

First Line: (prologue) "I was buried alive." The prologue is from Bram's--the love interest--POV, and this is a prologue I really enjoyed. He dies in the prologue. But, of course, from the back cover blurb, you know he's not actually "dead" (just mostly dead).

Kinda like this, but with no magic nut in sight to save him. Dum dum duuum!

First Line: (first chapter) "I slipped a white hand between the heavy velvet drapes." Okay, not terribly exciting as first lines go. BUT. I like how the first scene really paints the world in which Nora lives. You get a great picture of who she is expected to be, who the people are around her, what the world is around her, and the true self inside of her that can't be free (it's New Victoria after all).

Brownie Points: The relationship between Nora and Bram. Hands down, one of my favorites. It wasn't love at first sight (cue gagging). It was slow and steady (more or less). Built on trust above all else. They connect on a deep level (not just hormones because, well, I did mention the mostly dead part, right? And not as in Vampire sparkly mostly dead. Rotting from the inside mostly dead--but don't worry, it's tactfully done and not at all gross).

Recommendation: If you've never read a zombie book, a post-apocolyptic, dystopian, steampunk, etc, this is the one to start with. Also, I just think everyone should marvel at the genre mashing.

Would I represent it? So fast it'd make your head spin. I would love a great genre mash. In my inbox. Now.

Happy reading!

February Requests: FAQs

2012-02-28T08:43:00.003-08:00

Last month, I wrapped up January Query Month with a FAQs post. Found it so successful, decided to do it again with February Requests. Real people asked real questions, and I answered them. In this post. "Requests" covers the time between when an agent asks for a partial or full based on your query, to the offer/rejection. What to do when the offer actually comes, will be covered in another topic month.

If an agent requests a certain page count and I include a title page, does that count as part of the total pages? What about if the page request cuts off almost at the end of a scene? Is it okay to send the rest of the scene?

Firstly, no the title page does not count into the the total pages. Secondly, you are giving this matter way too much thought. Relax. I can answer your second two questions two ways: 1 It's so rare the agent will get to the end of your partial that they won't ever notice how you leave off (harsh, but true). 2 We'll be so riveted by the story that if you end in the middle of a ... we'll be screaming for more (by the way, do you see how annoying that is?). My preference is for you to end the scene, the sentence at the very least. If you've set up your scenes properly, we'll be wanting to know what happens next, more so than if you end in the middle of a ...

I know agents expect (unless otherwise noted on their guidelines) for writers to multi-submit when querying. But is it acceptable to query agents and e-publishers at the same time? And if so, what would be the proper Nudge Etiquette if an agent has your full and an e-publisher has made an offer?

This is a huge pet peeve of mine.It doesn't make sense to me for a writer to query both agents and small /e presses at the same time. You need to decide what you want. Big press or small press? By querying both, you're sorta saying "I'll just nab the first thing that comes along." Not necessarily the best thing (not saying that e-pubs or small pubs aren't the best thing--it's apples and oranges, and you can only have one). Of course, this is just opinion and I'm sure many other agents and professionals will tell you it's perfectly acceptable. I won't discriminate against a writer if they nudge me with an offer from a small/e press.
The Nudge is the same as if you'd had an offer from an agent, except instead of Agent it's small/e-press. Blog post here.

Do you typically ask for R&R via phone or email?

Email. I've mostly sworn off springing huge news on a person over the phone. I love hearing their squees, but they usually censor themselves way too much for me to get a really good kick out of it. Plus, they need time to process information before we talk particulars. Usually, I'll send an email with my general thoughts and an R&R request. If they agree to the general revisions and terms, I'll send particulars and talk via phone if we both want/need to.

How far into a manuscript does an agent get before they know it's one they want to represent?

Usually by ten pages in, definitely by 50, I can tell if I'm going to read the whole ms. Depending on how voice, characters, and plot hold up, I'll ask for an R&R or offer representation. Rarely do I get all the way to the end of a ms and just reject it. I got to the end for a reason.

If an agent sees a query & 1 ch and gives feedback, saying fix this and send it to me, do they want you to query them again?

Sorta. You're going to send another email, with something like "Requested: Revised YA Romance" in the subject, a recap of previous correspondence and revisions (include query and paste all correspondence in the email below the important stuff). Attach or paste (depending on the format previously requested) the revisions (if they only read and commented on the first chapter, probably just send the first chapter). OR, you can do all of the above except for sending the revisions and wait for the agent to ask for it. But if an agent spends that much time on it and says "send it to me," they WANT to see it again.

If you pitch an agent at a conference (or bathroom stall), and they request it, does this replace the query letter? In other words, do you need to query the agent--should a query be included if the manuscript is requested?

Include the query. Even though we didn't see the query, just heard your pitch, we need a recap of what it is and a query is the best way to do it. If you gave us a one-line zinger that we responded favorably to, make sure that's included too. Anything to spark our memory and original interest. Do not assume the agent remembers your pitch (I remember very, very few pitches, and usually remember the worst ones the best).

Some months ago I had an agent request my full manuscript and request 8 weeks to read it. They confirmed receipt of my manuscript and I politely waited 9 weeks before sending a nudge email. The nudge email was quickly responded to, stating that they were still reading my manuscript and would let me know as soon as they made a decision. It has since been 4 weeks since the nudge response and it is somehow more difficult to wait without an expected date for their response. I've heard from several sources that I should now wait, at least, 3-6 months before sending a second nudge email.

This question actually doesn't come up that often (read, never), so I can only speak for myself and cannot attest to the opinions of other agents (catch an #askagent discussion on Twitter or ask on other agent blogs for a diversified answer). I'd say 4 weeks for a second nudge.

Questions and answers added 2/29 (happy Leap Day!)

An agent passes on one project but asks to see future projects. Do we need to attach the old correspondence as a reminder, or is it enough to highlight that fact in the query - especially if it's been, say, a year since? (And can we highlight the fact in the subject line somehow?)

To be on the safe side, yes, paste the correspondence in the email. I personally can swing both ways on this, but it's nice to have a reminder, especially in our own words. And yes, put it in the subject line. You'll get a much faster response that way. We requested more for a reason. We WANT to see more. You're a safer bet than everyone else in the slush pile, and worth our time.

I nudged an agent after 6 months. She responded with enthusiasm and asked for more time. Six months later, I nudged. She responded with enthusiasm and asked for more time. Rinse and repeat for the last two years.

Either nudge a lot sooner, or give that agent up as lost. Do you really want to work with an agent who takes that long to respond? Or even an agent who obviously isn't in love with your ms? And, from an agent's POV, if your ms isn't eliciting a "gotta have it" response, you may need to revisit your ms or work on something new. You've probably fallen into the dreaded Middle Pile (post here) and need a little spark to jump you out of it.

A question on fulls-- if an agent has your full for a long time, is it ever a good thing? Unfortunately I stalk query-tracker, and saw that an agent who has had my MS for over 4 months requested a full and rejected it the next week. This was a week or so ago. I have nudged, but to no avail. Could he be hanging on because he's waiting for the right time?

There are lots of reasons he may not have responded. Wait two-four weeks after that nudge and nudge again. He may not have received your email. He may be waiting for a break in his schedule to spend a bit of time on a rejection/revision request/offer. He may be finishing reading it and meant to get to you sooner. He may have jotted a note on a sticky note to respond to you, but it got stuck to the bottom of his shoe. Point is, nudge again. It could be a good thing, it could be a bad thing, it could be a meh thing. No way of knowing.

That's it!

If you have more questions about this process, please leave them in the comments of this post and I'll add to this post.

Happy writing!

February Requests: The Nudge

2012-02-24T08:55:00.005-08:00

Your query was successful. Congratulations! So, the agent asks to see a partial/full ms and you send it off in the requested format with a short note included either in the email thread or with a proper subject line (see links if you haven't been following my February Requests series--FAQs to come Tuesday).

Then you wait.

And wait.

And wait.

And.... wait.

Step away from the Girl Scout Cookies.

How long should you be waiting to hear back? Firstly, if you've done your research, most agencies and personal agent blogs give an amount of time you should expect to hear back by. It can be anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months, and some say that if you don't hear back it's a no (generally that's only for queries, not manuscript requests).

So wait that amount of time before stressing. Actually don't stress at all. Just because we didn't answer, doesn't mean we hate you. It means we were so busy we didn't have time to get to your ms yet. Most likely, it's sitting happy on our e-reader, waiting, just like you. However, there is a chance it got lost and never made it to the agent. It happens. Sometimes we forget to answer. Sometimes we think we answer but actually didn't.

That's the reason for The Nudge.

The Nudge, when done properly, is perfectly acceptable and a common practice. Don't sweat it. Don't think, "OMG this agent is going to HATE me for bothering them."

No, no, no.

Here's an example of a Nudge:

Dear (agent's name),

I sent you (so many pages) of (title, genre) on (date). I'm just following up to see if you've received the materials and if you've had a chance to read it yet. Our previous correspondence is below. Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

(closing signature)

Or some slight variation. But short, sweet, to the point. No flowery apologies, no badgering, no "look what I've done since I sent it to you, fancy awards, yippee!". If anything of significant note happens, yes you can slip it in, but by this point, it won't change my mind to whether I love your ms or not.

By the way, my response time is about 2 months. So if you haven't heard from me in 2 months, you may nudge me.

If you have any questions for my Requested Manuscripts FAQs post on Tuesday, please leave them here or on Twitter and I'll do my best to answer them all. Thanks!

Happy writing!

Wednesday Reads: Hounded

2012-02-22T22:26:00.000-08:00

Hounded: The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne. A very nice change of pace from women-centered Adult Urban Fantasy, comes a rich, multi-folktale/myth, male-centered Adult Urban Fantasy. With a really cute (big) doggy.

Synopsis:

Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old—when in actuality, he’s twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.

Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants that sword, and he’s hounded Atticus for centuries. Now the determined deity has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power—plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, his vampire and werewolf team of attorneys, a sexy bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good old-fashioned luck of the Irish—to kick some Celtic arse and deliver himself from evil.

First Line: "There are many perks to living for twenty-one centuries, and foremost among them is bearing witness to rare birth of genius. It invariably goes like this: Someone shrugs off the weight of his cultural traditions, ignores the baleful stares of authority, and does something his countrymen think to be completely batshit insane. Of those, Galileo was my personal favorite. Van Gogh comes in second, but he really was batshit insane."

I had to give you the full first paragraph. Atticus has a really fun, witty, at times wry, at times in your face, voice. It's always consistent, and I felt immediately connected to Atticus, despite his experience and gender. (Sometimes older beings can come off really superior and *not nice word*)

Brownie Points: I already mentioned the doggy. Who has his own awesome voice, combination silly dog and intelligent being. And yes, I said the dog has a voice. Don't worry, it isn't wacky. It ties in with Atticus's powers and works really well.

Also, I love the world. It's complex and involves names, gods, powers, and names that I've never heard of and cannot pronounce, but I was never lost. Plus, so many different myths and gods are pulled in and introduced you can't help but laugh out loud and marvel at the intricacy of it all.

Recommendation: For readers looking for a fantastic UF but a change of pace, plus a complex world and great characters. For writers, if you have a male voice that readers are unable to connect with--either too masculine for a female audience, or too feminine for a male character--you must read this.

Would I represent this? Yes! I'd love a male-centered, or even partial male-centered UF. The key to a really great UF is the world building. Must. Be. Done. Amazingly.

Happy reading!

February Requests: Format

2012-02-21T18:53:00.000-08:00

Agents will request partial or full manuscripts in one of two ways: paste it in the email, or attach it. And it's usually pretty clear how they want it. They'll say paste or attach.

Pasting materials:

Hit "reply"
Add your note: (agent's name), Thanks for requesting (so many pages) of (title). You'll find the requested material pasted below. I look forward to hearing from you. (closing signature)
Press "enter" a few times
Go to your manuscript and copy the desired number of pages (you can go over a few to get to the end of a sentence or scene)
Go to your email and paste the desired pages
Send

Attaching materials:

Save the desired number of pages in a .doc document (try not to use .docx as some ereaders have difficulty reading it)
Don't use fancy graphics as it detracts attention from your manuscript and can show up funky on some monitors and ereaders
Refer to my blog post Formatting for Ereaders if you want your manuscript to look pretty whether on a computer or ereader
The file name you save your document under should be the title of your manuscript. Be sure your name and email is on the title page of your manuscript (so I know who it belongs to)
In the email thread hit "reply"
Add your note, (agent's name, Thank you for requesting (number of pages) of (title). The requested material is attached. I look forward to hearing from you. (closing signature)
Attach requested material
Send

It may seem pretty self explanatory, but you'd be amazed at how many people don't do this. It's simple. I need nothing else. No explanations of how you came up with the idea, how I shouldn't just the first 50 pages because it picks up after that, how much you worship the ground I walk on, etc.

Remember. Simple is good. It's your ms that needs to speak volumes. Not you.

Happy writing!

February Requests: The Return Email

2012-02-17T07:39:00.000-08:00

I love organized chaos as much as the next person... But this is one of my biggest pet peeves. And it comes down to being an organizational issue.

Let's set it up.

You query me.
I hit "reply" and request pages.
You hit "reply" and attached requested pages.
I hit "reply" and ask for more pages, materials, etc.
You hit "reply" and send requested materials.
I hit "reply" and offer representation.
You hit "reply" and etc, etc, etc

Get the picture?

This makes it super easy on me because now I have all of our correspondence in one location, one email thread. I can easily toggle back through our conversation to refer to certain information.

Or you can do it this way.

You query me.
I hit "reply" and request pages.
You begin a new email thread with "Requested Partial" and title in the subject heading, with the original correspondence quoted in the email so I can easily refer to it, with attached or pasted pages.
I hit "reply" and ask for more pages, materials, etc.
You hit "reply" and send requested materials.
I hit "reply" and offer representation.
You hit "reply" and etc, etc, etc

In a case in which you need to inform me of an offer of representation:

You send me a query.
I "reply" and ask for a partial manuscript.
You "reply" and send pages.
I read the pages but meanwhile...
You "reply" (to the same thread of emails) and inform me that you have an offer
I "reply" and ask for the full manuscript.
You "reply" with the full.
I "reply" within the allotted time with my answer.

Or you can do it this way:

You send me a query.
I "reply" and ask for a partial manuscript.
You "reply" and send pages.
I read the pages but meanwhile...
You begin a new email thread with "Offer of Representation" in the subject, with all original correspondence between us in the email and a short note informing me of the offer.
I "reply" and ask for the full manuscript.
You "reply" with the full.
I "reply" within the allotted time with my answer.

Whew. That was hard. Not.

You should see my inbox. It's a mad house in there. If I see a new message in an email thread I've already responded to, I will pay attention to it. And it makes it really nice if I need to go back through my inbox for our correspondence and I don't need to toggle through multiple email threads for the info I need. And, hopefully, this will make it nice and easy on you too, in your own crazy writer inbox.

Now, I'm not going to write you off entirely if you deviate from my lovely setup here. But please, make it easy on everyone.

Happy writing!

Wednesday Reads: Bright Young Things

2012-02-15T09:33:00.000-08:00

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen. So my December blog hiatus got an unexpected goal--read all of Godberson's available novels. I've finished the Luxe series (loved, loved, loved), and I've already read both available BYT novels (can't wait for the next!). Gobserson does history right. Her characters are so true to their time period (biggest pet peeve while reading historical novels is when a character is ahead of her time--unrealistically feminist or willful). Astrid is my favorite--she's one of those girls that, if she had existed now, you probably would have hated her guts in high school. She's selfish, naive, beautiful, out for a good time, horrible with relationships even though she's in love--yet you can't help but like her, root for her, eager to see what happens to her next, or see what she will do or say next.

Synopsis:

The year is 1929. New York is ruled by the Bright Young Things: flappers and socialites seeking thrills and chasing dreams in the anything-goes era of the Roaring Twenties.
Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey escaped their small Midwestern town for New York's glittering metropolis. All Letty wants is to see her name in lights, but she quickly discovers Manhattan is filled with pretty girls who will do anything to be a star. . . .
Cordelia is searching for the father she's never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamorous than she ever could have imagined—and more dangerous. It's a life anyone would kill for . . . and someone will.
The only person Cordelia can trust is Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia's brother, Charlie. But Astrid's perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.
Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the illicit speakeasies of Manhattan, and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls' fortunes will rise and fall—together and apart. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Luxe comes an epic new series set in the dizzying last summer of the Jazz Age.

First Line From Prologue: "It is easy to forget now, how effervescent and free we all felt that summer." Another reason I love Godberson's novels--her narrative voice is at the same time whimsy and straightforward, easy to connect with despite the 3rd person narrative, very indicative of a gossip column of the time. And each prologue of each book gives you a taste of what to expect--which makes you want to read even though you don't really know what is going to actually happen.

First Line From first chapter: "The handful of wedding guests were already assembled in the clapboard Lutheran church on Main Street, and though they had been waiting for a quarter hour, any stray passerby might have noticed a lone girl still loitering outside." Like, whoa. I'm not giving anything away here. Cordelia is such a rich character, and Godberson such a clever writer. Most writers, I'm sure, when in a situation with a character who does not wish to be married, would have them leave before the wedding. Ah, no, not Cordelia. She's selfish, but you feel her pain and desires so acutely.

Brownie Points: The characters. I've already gushed. But they're so rich, so complex. Products of their time, written in a way we all can relate to them.

Recommendation: Everyone should read it. Historical at its best.

Would I represent it? Yes!

Happy reading!

Happy Valentines Day!

2012-02-14T09:41:00.000-08:00

I'm interrupting you from our regularly scheduled programming to direct yourself attention to fun stuff.

Namely, Oasis for YA: YAmore Blogfest. Writers were encouraged to post 250 words of a swoon worthy scene from one of their projects over the weekend.

I, uh, might have read them all over the weekend. It was just so much fun!

Two of my favorites, of course, were from two of my clients which I think everyone should check out because. Well. Wow. Katy Upperman's is a scene of, not so much forbidden, as wrong in all the right ways, and ya, read it here. Taryn Albright's scene is from the ms that I signed her for, and the characters are hilariously rational, read it here.

To celebrate Valentine's Day, I'm going to settle in with some chocolate pie tonight and read about some star-crossed zombie lovers (don't worry, I'll Wednesday Reads it sooner rather than later).

How are you celebrating?!

What's your favorite all time romance?

What's going on in the blog and Twitter world today, Valentine's related, that everyone should know about?

Happy loving!

February Requests: The Note

2012-02-10T10:22:00.000-08:00

Let's start February Request month with what I like to call The Note. It's not a letter. Not an explanation.

When an agent requests some pages from you, 20, 50, 100, the whole thing, you attach (or paste in the email as instructed) the pages and add a note in the email.

A Note.

Why do I repeat myself? Because some people use it as an opportunity to explain why I shouldn't be put off by the first few pages and if I just push through I'll see why it's so great, or where and when they came up with the idea, or that it's based on a part of their life that meant so much to them, or a million other little things that frankly, the agent neither needs nor cares to know.

You know the expression, you never get a second chance at a first impression? Or first impressions matter most? Don't forget, second, third, fourth, fifth impressions matter too. Let us fall in love with your manuscript and start seeing dollar signs before you let the crazy out of the bag. Go back to my "don't" list for queries (here and here). These will apply to almost every step of the process. Forever.

So, the Note.

(agent's name),
Thank you for requesting (title). The (so many) pages are attached. I look forward to hearing more from you.
(closing signature)

Ain't it purty? Of course, put your own spin on it. You don't have to use my exact words. The agent has already decided he/she is going to read your ms, so you just have to deliver and wait. You can add more personal notes if you have a deeper connection to the agent (for example, it makes me smile if a writer references a joke we've shared on Twitter), but again, not necessary. Most likely I'll forget who you are once I start reading the ms. You don't exist.

Why should it matter if you're professional or not since I don't care about you while I read? Because I care about you after I read. Or, in some cases, a very unprofessional writer can turn me off from reading their ms at all--because I already know I don't want to work with them.

Happy writing!

Wednesday Reads: Nightfall

2012-02-08T16:00:00.000-08:00

I started this book sometime in the middle of the day a couple weekends ago, got through a good portion, read some more in bed and... stayed up till four in the morning to finish it. Nightfall: A Dark Age Dawning novel by Ellen Conner. Adult Post-Apocalyptic Paranormal Romance.

Synoctopus:

Their instincts will save them.
Their passion will transform them.

Growing up with an unstable, often absent father who preached about the end of the world, Jenna never thought, in her wildest nightmares, that his predictions would come true. Or that he would have a plan in place to save her-one that includes the strong, stoic man who kidnaps and takes her to a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest.

The mysterious ex-Marine named Mason owes a life-debt to Jenna's father. Skilled and steadfast, he's ready for the Change, but Jenna proves tough to convince. Until the power grid collapses and the mutant dogs attack-vicious things that reek of nature gone wrong.

When five strangers appear, desperate to escape the bloodthirsty packs, Jenna defies her protector and rescues them. As technology fails and the old world falls away, Jenna changes too, forever altered by supernatural forces. To fight for their future, she and Mason must learn to trust their instinctive passion-a flame that will see them through the bitter winter, the endless nights, and the violence of a new Dark Age.

First Line:
From Prologue: "In the mid-twenty-first century, the power grid collapsed." Begins with a brief history of the world. Somewhat necessary, not too thrilling.
From First Chapter:
""Don't move."
The hot rush of breath against her nape made Jenna juggle her keys and then drop them."
Starts off right away with Jenna, wily, calculating, endearing, sarcastic, and Mason, her for-her-own-good kidnapper. There really isn't a better way to start a ParaRom, is there? Kidnapping? Duct tape? End of the world?

Brownie Points: One of my favorite of all time romance story lines: woman tames man, teaches him how to get in touch with his softer side, man heals woman's soul. With demon dogs, hilarious spare characters, and a main character who ends up being more badass than the guy (in my opinion).

Beefs: Have I ever mentioned that I hate epilogues? I might have only just realized that. Not that this one ruined the book or anything, it was actually a very nice epilogue. But I can do without them.

Recommendation: If you're getting sick of vampire romance, or contemporary paranormal romance, try this on for size. It'll have you at the edge of your seat (their lives are in danger every single moment).

Would I represent it? Yes! Creative. Sexy. Great character growth. Great spare character personalities (you can always tell the strength of your characters by the weakest link). It's exactly the kind of ParaRom I'd love to work with.

Happy reading!

February Requests

2012-02-07T13:29:00.000-08:00

Last month was query month. This month, I'll talk about specifics once your ms full or partial is requested. This will cover email etiquette, stalking etiquette, formats for submitting, what to do while you wait, etc.

But first, I want to reiterate something I mentioned in my Query FAQs. I calculated a .19% chance of being signed from the slush pile. But then I negated all of that awesome math with this:

HOWEVER. If your query is captivating, you've done your homework, your writing is solid, your characters unbelievable (in a believable sort of way), and your plot rockin, you will get noticed and signed. Which is to say, it's not about luck at all--it's about passion, dedication, and skill.

Are you guys getting sick of people telling you to keep persevering? If at first you don't succeed, try, try again? People say it, because it's true. As callous as it may sound, if you're not being published, it's because you're not ready, because your writing isn't at the same level as those who are getting published. But that's not to say you can't get there. Or that published authors haven't been where you are now.

Also, remember. If you're at this stage, your query is getting requests, that means agents like your idea. Your pitch. You. That's half the game (maybe an eighth). Coming up with an idea to captivate your audience.

Happy writing!

Cupid's February Blog Contest

2012-02-03T07:27:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for an amazing contest in which agents fight over your work, check out Cupid's BLIND SPEED DATING.

You may remember I mentioned I was in Cupid's January contest against John Cusick, and we found some amazing entries. Plus, the trash talk was fun.

I had so much fun I'm participating again. This time against TEN OTHER AGENTS.

There are two windows of opportunity to submit your work for this month's contest TODAY AND TOMORROW.

The contest is open for ADULT, YA, and MG.

Go to Cupid's Literary Connection here for more details.

Hope to see you in the ring.

Happy fighting--I mean writing!

Wednesday Reads: Anna Dressed in Blood

2012-02-01T18:50:00.000-08:00

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake. I was pleasantly surprised with this one. Boy narrators are really tricky to get right (I don't like it when they're so over the top boy--gross, sex obsessed--that they don't appeal to a wide range of readers), but Cas was very relatable. Confident in himself and he knows how to blend into new places to get a job done--then of course we watch as he encounters something new and has to find his way through it while staying true to himself. (by the way, I'm in love with the cover--there is just something about black and white and red that gets me every time)

Synopsis:

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.
So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

First Line: "The grease-slicked hair is a dead giveaway--no pun intended." Cas is so matter of fact about death and ghosts, it eases you right into the supernatural without making a huge deal out of it. Plus, the beginning scene is a huge Save the Cat moment, while staying true to his character.

Brownie Points: I'm going to give it to Anna actually. A ghost, by the way. Blake does a fabulous job at making Anna so human, but we never once forget that she is, in fact, a ghost.

Recommendation: If you think all paranormals and supernaturals have gone the way of Twilight, guess again. And read Anna. I think you'll be suckered in.

Would I represent it? I do have a ghost story on my list already, however if it's unique and unlike anything I'd ever read (while being everything I love in a ghost story) I'd definitely take a look. Possibly a tall order, but that's why I love writers you know. As for Anna, if she had been in my inbox, I'd definitely would have snatched it up.

Happy reading!

January Query Time: FAQs

2012-01-31T10:53:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who submitted their questions. Below you'll find a lovely list of Query Frequently Asked Questions. (and yes, these are very, very frequently asked, so I'm glad to finally have a post dedicated to them)

If I have no fiction credentials, what do I put in the author bio in the query? Can I leave it off?

Yes! Just leave it off. The agent doesn't need to hear about how you've been writing since you were six or how you were inspired by your dog. Leaving it blank won't reflect badly on you at all. It will make your query simple and to the point (which I do love).

For the "summary" part of the query, what sort of word count do you like to see?

Great question! Let's see... I'd say 150-300 words would be good for the summary. That's not counting the intro, thanks, and bio. Back cover blurbs (like the "synopsis" I post each week for Wednesday Reads) tend to run about 100-200. You can get good practice by trying to write a 100, 200, and 300 word blurb and see which works best.

I have a series planned, but the first novel is a standalone. Do I mention that?

It could matter less to me if you have a series or a single book--the writing has to prove it first and the idea of the first book needs to intrigue me enough to read it. But ya, you can mention it. (title) is the first planned book of the series (series title) but is a stand alone. Don't spend any more time than that on it.

How do I query a novel that is part of a series (not a stand alone, cliff hanger, etc)?

Again, mention that it's part of a series. You don't have to inform us that there is a cliff hanger. My reasoning is, either we're interested in the idea for this one book (and will therefore want to see more) or we won't be. Then when we get to the manuscript, either we'll read all the way to the end and love your writing, or we won't. We'll cross the "change the ending or leave it" bridge when we get to it.

Should I mention if I'm currently under contract for publication?

Yes. Even if it's a small press, it will show the agent two things. One: someone wants you. Two: you have the dedication to do whatever it takes. Be sure to say who the publisher is, when you'll be published, and the genre.

Should I mention if I was previously agented (but parted amicably)?

Yes. More likely than not, it'll move your query out of the slush pile and earn you a quicker response. Someone has already vetted that you're worth the deeper look, so we pay attention. Ask your prior agent if you can name drop him/her. If it's a big name we all recognize, you'll get a fast response.

Do I mention if I have self published (a book I'm not currently querying)?

Sure! Again, it shows your dedication. If your sale numbers were high, you especially want to mention that.

What do I need to include if I'm seeking representation for a self published book?

Firstly, think hard about your goals before you self pub. Are you looking to be the next Amanda Hocking? That takes a lot of dedication and marketing and writing several books in a short period of time. If your sale numbers are very low and/or your book is more than 6 months old, that reflects badly on your dedication. You need to include the synopsis, sale numbers, pub date, avenue of publication, and links so we can check it out if we so desire (Amazon, Barnes&Noble, etc). If you have any quotes or recommendations from notable authors, include that.

What's your average number of queries rejected? Week? Month? Year?

I get approx 10 queries a day (depending on time of year, blog exposure, conferences, etc). I might request materials from 1 of those queries. Say 70 queries a week might get 5 requests (that's a 93% rejection rate). Let's go with that 93%, so out of the 3,640 queries I get a year, that's 3,385 queries rejected, only 255 requested. And I'd say, approximately, I might read more than 50 pages on 30 of those (I think I'm being very generous on that number). Last year, I offered on 8 manuscripts--7 of which came from queries. So, approximately, you have a 0.19% chance of being signed from the slush pile.
HOWEVER. If your query is captivating, you've done your homework, your writing is solid, your characters unbelievable (in a believable sort of way), and your plot rockin, you have a superb chance at getting noticed and signed. Which is to say, it's not about luck at all--it's about passion, dedication, and skill.

How important is it that I draw comparison between my work and that of others? (readers of X would enjoy this; my ms is Y meets Z)

Besides showing your ability to follow directions, it also shows you know your market and have done your homework (dedication and easy to work with). Agents can usually spot the market intended through your genre and query, but in case it's not clear we need that extra information. However, if the comparison is unclear (I can't picture what Happy Feet meets Gangs of New York would entail--thanks Rick for the awesomeness) or is obvious that you don't know what you're talking about (if you use thrillers to describe your ChickLit), it can hurt you. I have seen queries which I loved, but the comparison line drove it home with such ingenuity and (what I like to call) the YES! factor, leading me to read the ms as soon as I received it. In most cases, the comparison is bland and obvious (I definitely know a Sarah Dessen look-a-like when I see one), but it will neither help nor hinder your query. If I'm interested, I'm interested.

What sort of comparisons work best?

There are lots of different sorts. There's the MovieA meets MovieB. BookA meets BookB. If done well, you can do MovieA meets BookB. The always fun If AuthorA had a baby with AuthorB. You see the list goes on and on. Honestly, no one format works best. It has to be true to you and your ms. Try out several on friends, critique partners, strangers, Tweeps, fellow conference attendees, to see what works best.

How do I write a synopsis for my 130k book? I'm trying to condense it but there is too much to talk about.

Firstly, the word count is too high. For any genre. Unless you're a tried and true author and you've had your name on the New York Times Bestseller list. Most likely the reason you have too much to talk about, is because there is too much to talk about. If the plot is solid, and no extraneous characters or info, the synopsis should follow smoothly. As for how to write a synopsis, all I can suggest is try, try, try again. Write a one page synopsis, and a longer synopsis because agents request different lengths. There is a lot of info out there on how to write a synopsis (Google it).

I queried a manuscript to some agents a few months ago, but have completely rewritten the manuscript, leaving only a few things the same (title, characters name, etc). Can I query those same agents with this "new" manuscript now? How do I inform them I'm querying a fully revised manuscript?

I'm assuming they only have the query, not the partial. If so, then no, don't tell them. If you've included sample pages with your query, when they request to see more pages you can include a note to let them know you've revised so the first pages won't look the same. A revised ms will not sway them to read it based on the query; either they're interested in the idea or not. If they have the ms already, and you want them to read the revised, you can try, you have nothing to lose. But I'd recommend against it. When you query agents, leave your ms alone. Don't touch it. Work on something else. Only when they've all responded do you revise. It makes the process less complicated, gets you working on something else to get ready to send out, and gives you distance from the ms for a better revision.

You suggested in an earlier post to include your website in your query. Does a blog count or should I invest in a big fancy author website?

Below your name, in your signature, you can include your blog link, Twitter link, and anything else that is pertinent and relevant. You do not need to make a fancy author site. You do not need to include these things in the body of the query (bio section). It takes up space and attention. It's much less intrusive in the signature and if I care to, I'll click it myself (don't say, here's my site for you to check out, ugh). If you have an extraordinary amount of followers or views, you can include that in your bio. I also like to know if you're in any special blog groups (ie, YA Confidential, Bookinistas, YA Highway, etc), that you can include in the bio.

Do I need to tell you about my pen name? Or use only my pen name?

Honestly, I find pen names annoying in queries. You're not hiding your identity from me (I hope) so don't sign that way. In your signature, you can include w/a pen name (meaning, writing as). Do not tell me in your query that you're writing under another name, and for the love of the world, don't explain to me how you came up with the name. We can deal with pen names when we get there.

When I send an update to agents with my manuscript to let them know I have an offer, do I tell them the name of the agent?

No! At least, I hate knowing and I think it looks unprofessional. If an agent specifically asks, you may tell them, but they don't need to know. Here's why I don't like knowing. Publishing is often referred to as a big family; we all know each other. And if my agent friend is the offering agent, I may back off on it to be nice. Or, to certain agents, I'll offer only because I feel like I'm in competition with them. I like to be perfectly blind and think only about myself and this timeline I have to decide against.

Happy writing!

January Query Time: What to include

2012-01-27T08:53:00.000-08:00

Now we get to the particulars.

I find the list of "what to include in your query" to be much shorter than the "do not" list. Here's what you need: salutation with agent's name, about two paragraphs (3-6 sentences each) of summary/back cover blurb, briefly about the author, sign out.

Your query should look something like this:

Dear (name of agent),

about the ms

little more about the ms--word count and genre included

about the author

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

(name)
(email)
(website if applicable)
OR your usual closing signature

Nice and clean, right? This is my favorite sort of query. It launches right into the book with the main character, a tiny bit of world building if it's fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian, etc, the main struggle, love interest. Done. The author bio is in first or third person (no preference) and includes relevant information.

You can also do another format:

Dear (name),

(title) is a (word count) (genre). I'm submitting to you because you mentioned on your blog you want to see more (genre) queries/you like (specific book)/you represent (specific author)/my friend is your client-mother-brother-co-worker. One line hook.

about the ms

little about the author

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

(name)
(email)
(website if applicable)
OR your usual closing signature

Note the use of the word SPECIFIC several times throughout the opening paragraph. I can always tell when someone hasn't actually done their research. If you like my blog or I've mentioned liking one of your comparable titles or we've met somewhere, be specific. Anyone can say "I like your blog, here's my query." (Yes, it's happened.)

Your "about the ms" should be simple and to the point. By simple, I mean use simple sentences. Don't get fancy. Agents read a lot of queries daily, and I for one tend to skim-read--if I find something of interest, I slow down. But if your sentences are too long, packed with info, convoluted, I can't retain as much info as quickly (and there's a good bet your ms will look like that too). By "to the point," I mean get in and get out. Here's an example:

(name of main character) is (brief description). She's thrust into (main conflict). She must rely on (love interest) which is an issue because (personal dilemma). (evil character) will stop at nothing to (what's at stake).

Your query is obviously going to be more involved. But there are the main points you need to hit.

Why should we care about you main character? Who is she/he? How will we connect with him/her?
What's her life like before the problem?
What and how does the main conflict get thrust upon her?
Who is the love interest? Or other character of large importance--keep this absolutely limited to one or two people (three on occasion). You don't want to bombard the agent with info and characters; also, it takes to long to portray their significance and "why we should care."
Who is the bad guy? This can be grouped up there with the main conflict. Remember your "man vs man" "man vs self" "man vs nature" from third grade.
What's at stake? Vitally important. Is the world going to implode? Is the main character going to lose her family? Her sanity? Her self respect? The chance to avenge her father?

Read back cover blurbs of books. Seriously. Sit in a bookstore aisle and pull books off the shelves. Note how they draw you in, first to the character, then to the conflict. And notice how brief it is. For the books that you read, note how many subplots and characters get left out. It's necessary. Which is also a good reason to have critique partners help you, and you help them. It gives you perspective.

Ask all the questions you want to ask. Next week, I'll answer them.

Happy writing!

Query Homework

2012-01-26T15:25:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I'll post my January Query post on what to include in a query.

Today I want to direct your attention to an awesome new contest blog, Cupid's Literary Connection, that John Cusick and I just participated on--a love triangle contest--not about love triangles. We battled each other for the best entries.

The reason I'm talking about this instead of my planned January Query topic, is because I'm giving you homework. Go to Cupid's site here and check it out. Read the entries. See the comments. And see which ones John and I picked. It's a great insight into the agent mind and what we're looking for.

Also, the queries are written well and are all to the point (exactly the sort of query I love). It's also a great opportunity for you to try out your query and get feedback. Look for future contests. Next month is Blind Speed Dating (just got your interest, didn't it?).

Happy writing!

Wednesday Reads: Chihuahua Karma

2012-01-25T10:25:00.000-08:00

I know I don't normally review e-books, but this one was just so splendid! Adorable, quirky cast of characters, and will make you believe in true love. It could be described as a beach read, a cozy sort of women's/romance (yes, the /romance is necessary because while Cherry is driven by love, there are few actual romantic scenes--you'll see why), a supernatural love story gone awry. That sort of thing.

Chihuahua Karma by Debby Rice. Find here on Amazon or here on Barnes and Noble.

Synopsis:

When socialite Cherry discovers her husband Larry has been cheating, she gulps down a fist-full of Vicoden with a bottle of wine for breakfast and accidentally falls of her penthouse terrace. She wakes in the body of a mini chihuahua, Sugar, belonging to the corner laundry. Though pocket size, Cherry is not without her wits, and manages to find her way back into her old life--as the pocket buddy of Larry's new girlfriend.

In her diminished state, Cherry finds new perspective. She yearns for Richard, a love she gave up years ago in favor of Larry's Black American Express card. And she forms an unlikely alliance with Don Paco Fernandez, a temperamental ghost with a taste for tequila and pretty ladies. Through Don Paco, Cherry discovers that only she can save an orphaned child from her impending adoption by a sinister couple. She can only hope that the tiny body she inhabits can be effective enough to set to right wrongs she committed in her former life.

The size of Sugar--but imagine her wearing Chi-couture

First Sentence: "I was young, beautiful and rich--just golden enough to imagine that I had the world by the balls." Cherry has all sorts of hilarious insights like this. She starts out on top of the world, a woman and character that you really can't like, but makes the beautiful redemption into a good, honest person--er, dog. I want to give you the first few sentences though, because it sets up the story so nicely and Cherry's voice shines through.

"I was young, beautiful and rich--just golden enough to imagine that I had the world by the balls. Death was the furthest thing from my mind. But even a morbid obsession with the afterlife could not have prepared me for what happened.

"I was murdered on a beautiful summer day. Technically it was an accident. Larry didn't get his hands dirty. He drove me crazy, and I did the rest."

Brownie Points: Sugar. Even though Sugar herself has no personality, simply being a mini-chi is hilarious. It's the way people treat Cherry while she's Sugar--outfits, dog carriers, baby voices. It's an insight into the world of miniature dogs that makes you want to simultaneously gag and coo over how adorable they are.

Recommendation: The book would appeal to fans of The Devil Wears Prada and The Nanny Diaries, as well as fun beach reads, chick-flicks, and anything dog related. I urge you to give this one a chance. You'll be laughing out loud on every page.

Would I represent it? I'd love to work with a book with a host of characters as fun as this one. It's not exactly in my looking-for genres, but I would definitely keep an open mind to supernatural quirky contemporaries.

Happy reading!

January Query Time: What not to include

2012-01-24T10:11:00.000-08:00

I'll try to keep on topic and off of rants and fun stories about horrible queries I've seen. Like this one time...

We've discussed why a query is important, what it is, what it's not. Here's a handy list of what not to include. Thursday will be what to include, how to format, etc.

Apologies. Nothing turns me off more than a writer apologizing for taking up my time. Or telling me how swamped I am. Or being humble, or anything like that. In this regard, keep it impersonal. Formal.
Aggression. Don't blame me for you being rejected. Don't blame readers or publishers or the state of the economy. Besides distracting me from the important stuff--the query--it makes me not want to work with you.
Excuses. If you make an excuse for why your word count is too long, just don't query. If you find yourself needing to explain the first few pages or why you need to get past the first fifty to really get into the story, you shouldn't be querying. You know deep, deep, deep down that there's something wrong. We want a close-to-finished-you-slaved-over-it-went-to-classes-and-had-beta-readers-read-it query/ms.
Don't tell me it's been professionally edited or that your friend who's an English major has edited it. And especially don't tell me that you'll have it edited if I think that's best. (you should be getting the gist--get to the query)
You don't need a hook. My preference is getting straight to the query. And don't introduce it with, "Thanks for your time. Here's my query..." or "Now, on to the query!"
If you use a hook, please, please, please, keep it to one line. Two at most. If the sentence is overly wrought or too long, I get bored. It's TELLING not SHOWING. Your query SHOWS, you TELL.
To introduce your author bio just say, "I've been published by (specific publisher, name of book, year of publication)" or "I'm a member of (specific organizations)." Etc. Don't say, "Now, a little about me." Again, it's distracting (you won't get automatically rejected if you break this rule--my rule--but do keep it in mind).
Don't say you've been writing for years, since you were a little kid, just quit your job to write full time, your mother loves your stories, etc. It looks amateurish. If you have nothing in your bio, thank the agent for his/her time and close.
Don't offer an exclusive. Don't say who it's currently out with.
I don't care if you tell me it's a simultaneous submission. I assume it is--it's a smart practice. I hate finally getting to a query after a month only to find out I was the only one it was submitted to. I made you wait a month before you could get to anyone else! Remember my job-application metaphor? Would you put in an application for only one job at a time and wait until they got back to you?

Get to the query. Have you ever called someone up or visited someone and you just need one bit of information from them? You make a little polite chitchat and suddenly you can't get away from the person. And before you know it, you know all their woes and the name of their first dog--fluffy-kins. It was a rottweiler. Agents are looking for that one bit of information--not the extras. That can come later with the phone call.

Last week, I said that the query is not a business letter. Particularly, I was thinking about the header you include on business letters--your address, my address, etc. Maybe in the days of old, when people still used snail mail, that was common practice for queries. But you don't need it (also, it's a telltale if you didn't do your research; for example, our agency has moved its main offices from CA to WA, so if you use the old address, I know you're not doing your research). It's distracting. You won't get rejected over it, but most of my advice this month tends to be towards the "cleaner and tighter, the better". (I'm going to talk more about this business letter thing next week--it deserves the attention.)

More on Thursday.

Happy writing!

January Query Time: What it's not

2012-01-19T10:34:00.000-08:00

Now we now why a query is important and what it is. But what isn't it?

It's not:

A synopsis
An apology
Begging
A mass letter
One line asking the agent to look at the attached materials
Two lines asking if the agent is accepting queries
Three lines asking what sort of genres the agent accepts
Unaddressed
A business letter
A letter to a friend
A solicitation
A complaint
An opportunity to sell me your self-pubbed book
An opportunity to brag
An opportunity to blame
An opportunity to whine

Wow, that was actually a lot of fun.

Next week, I'll go over what to include in a query and what not to include. If I don't cover something vitally important or you'd like a clarification, please leave a comment.

Happy writing!

Wednesday Reads: Lola and the Boy Next Door

2012-01-18T09:10:00.000-08:00

Normally, I don't review sequels or second books in series, but Lola really isn't a sequel. It's a companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss (you may remember my review here), and Anna is in it as minor-ish character. But Lola stands on her own. In all her shining, glittery glory. Stephanie Perkins is officially one of my favorite authors.

Oh, and I happened to like Lola more than Anna. Not that I didn't enjoy Anna. I did enjoy my 300 page trip to Paris. I was just able to connect with Lola way more. There's a scared teenage girl locked inside of me who really wants to wear crazy clothes and wigs every day.

Synopsis:

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn't believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit - more sparkly, more fun, more wild - the better. But even though Lola's style is outrageous, she's a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket - a gifted inventor - steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

First Sentence: "I have three simple wishes."

It's not a book about genies. It's actually a very straightforward way to start the book, but Lola's voice immediately shines through. And here's what I mean by that: if you mix a bunch of first pages together, anyone who has an inkling of an idea who Lola is, will not mistake the first page for another character. Here's more of the first page to give you an idea.

"I have three simple wishes. That's really not too much to ask.
The first is to attend the winter formal dressed like Marie Antoinette. I want a wig so elaborate it could cage a bird and a dress so wide I'll only be able to enter the dance through a set of double doors. But I'll hold my dress high as I arrive to reveal a pair of platform combat boots, so everyone can see that, under the frills, I'm punk-rock tough."

The next two wishes briefly touch on the two major conflicts of the novel (her neighbors and her boyfriend). The first page is very successful in laying out voice and conflict, being just enough in-your-face to emulate Lola and get the plot rolling, without being Telling.

Brownie Points: Well, the entire book. Besides that?

Lola's parents. They're gay. But here's what I love about this. It's not a novel about having gay parents. She just happens to have loving parents who don't always agree with her choices but allow her to live her own life--and they just happen to be two men. Plus, she lives in San Francisco (just like in Anna, Lola is very successful with setting as a character), which was a great choice for setting. If it'd been set in a small town, not only would Lola be seen as more eccentric, but her parents might have been an issue. It's done beautifully.

Recommendation: Everyone should read it. If you like YA even a little bit, or Adult contemporary for that matter, you should read it. It's a highly successful novel with a highly successful character. I suggest you start with Anna, it's a fabulous read, then Lola, then anything else Perkins ever produces.

Would I represent it? Yes, yes, yes! What have I been talking about? Character. Plot. Setting. It's all golden.

Happy reading!

January Query Time: What it is

2012-01-16T21:25:00.000-08:00

I'll spend more time on this next week, getting down into the particulars. But for an overview...

A QUERY IS a brief overview of your manuscript, a back cover blurb, designed to intrigue an agent or editor to read more, and can incorporate important highlights of your author bio.

Imagine you're looking for a job.

Haunting, I know.

You put together your resume, cover letter, and list of job opportunities. Sounding familiar? Your query is, in essence, an application.

Now, imagine you're in HR looking to hire a new employee. You have one job available and 500 applicants (we're in a recession, aren't we?). 450 go into the immediate NO pile because they're not qualified, the job is wrong for them, or something about their first few lines just turns you off. The remaining 50 dwindle after a closer look, probably for many of the same reasons above, they just weren't that obvious on the surface. Say you call 10 people back. Three never respond, one can't make the interview. 6 are left. You interview them. Maybe a second interview. Maybe you have another colleague interview them as well.

If you're lucky, one of those candidates are exactly what you're looking for. So you hire them.

How long does the average employer spend on each application if they have a stack just staring at them? Not long.

On Thursday, What a Query Isn't.

Happy writing!

January Query Time--Importance of the Query Letter

2012-01-12T13:12:00.000-08:00

It's a new year. Let's start with the basics.

Okay, not the basics. The basics are sentence construction. I might be inclined to rant about the misuse of semi-colons every now and then, but otherwise I leave that to your first grade teacher.

We all know how important a query is. Most of us know what it is. Some of us know what it is not.

This month will be broken down into sections. Next week: what it is and what it is not.

Today: the importance

It gets your foot in the door. Agent reads. Agent likes. Agent requests pages. Another post for another day.
Demonstrates your knowledge and use of proper sentence and paragraph construction.
Demonstrates your ability to structure ideas in a concise form.
Demonstrates your ability to follow direction.
Shows that the ms has unique characters and complete plot.
Proves you know how to sum up your book and describe it in the most market-friendly way.
Unless you're just really naturally good at it, a good query will show the agent that you've spent time and effort on the process. You're someone we want to work with.

And all that without you having to TELL us any of that. Amazing what a little SHOW can do, right?

Happy writing!

Wednesday Reads: Blood of Eden

2012-01-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Second Wednesday Read of the year! So far I'm sticking to my New Year's resolution. Every other week is an adult book. This week is a quirky Urban Fantasy. It is adult, but the protag is at that age just above New Adult--but she is still in college, so call it what you will. I call it fun. Blood of Eden by Tami Dane.

Synopsis:

Sloan has a sky-high IQ, a chaotic personal life, and a dream: to work for the FBI. Her goal is within reach until an error lands her with the FBI's ugly stepchild: the new Paranormal Behavioral Analysis Unit. She'll get to profile criminals, but the pool of suspects is a little more...diverse. Yet even as Sloan tackles her first case--a string of victims, all with puncture wounds to the neck--she can't silence her inner para-skeptic.

To catch the killer she'll have to think like one. That means casting aside her doubts, and dealing with the bizarre nightmares that started with the job. But the strangeness is only beginning, as Sloan pieces together the shocking truth about a case that's more personal than she ever would have guessed.

First sentence: "Rotten eggs and sulfur. Oh, the sweet stench of home." And she doesn't live in hell. Her roommate loves to experiment in their kitchen, hence the smells. I love the roommate by the way. We're quickly introduced to both her and the mother before we get to the job part--it's a great introduction and shows us so much about Sloan before we get to the paranormal stuff. Plus it's hilarious. Learn from this opening.

Brownie Points: Rather than the protag being thrust into a paranormal world in which she has to fight her attraction to a sexy vampire or werewolf, Sloan stays pretty firmly rooted in the human world. She's on a team of human FBI agents tracking down the paranormal. But the branch of the FBI is brand new so none of the usual rules of team hierarchy apply. They're all figuring it out together. Which makes for great opportunities for Sloan to be part of the team and action while she's still an intern. The reason this is a brownie point is because it's different. The entire team is learning about the paranormal together--most of them begin as skeptics and only three-quarters through are they all actually convinced of the paranormal.

Oh, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Sloan's mother. She's my favorite character. Hands down. If you have an insane/paranoid/overprotective parent in your WIP--or you want to read one--check this out because it's done flawlessly.

Recommendation: For readers who like a little quirk and romance in their Urban Fantasy without going cozy or full-on romance. For ParaRom readers looking to expand into UF without going cold turkey on the romance.

Would I represent it? In a heart beat. I do love cozy paranormals, dark Urban Fantasy, and full-on ParaRom. But I especially love when they all blend into a delightful mix.

Happy reading!

What I've learned from Blogging

2012-01-09T09:53:00.000-08:00

My blog has been up for about a year and a half now, but since it's the new year I thought it was about time I actually talk about my experience and what I hope others gain by blogging themselves.

I started blogging when I was still an intern. Everyone was talking about how important platform is, and just as many people refused to do it. It was too hard, they said. I don't need to know when people are going to the bathroom, others said. And some, like me, didn't like the dependence on technology (I still don't). So, lowly, wide-eyed intern that I was, I decided to give it a try. So I could say, "if I can do it, you can do it."

I opened a Twitter account and started my blog. It was rocky at first, but I found my footing easily. My biggest surprise though: it was fun. People on Twitter rock. It's not like Facebook in which you talk about yourself and tag pictures of friends. Everyone on Twitter--at least the publishing sector--is in Twitter for networking reasons. And that's how I use it. Likewise to blogging.

So here's a quick list of things I've learned from blogging:

Pictures are fun, but use few and keep them relevant
Bulletpoints are a great way to convey info fast and effectively
Keep your posts short--aim for 300 hundred words until you hit your stride
Have a common theme (mine was wide-eyed publishing beginner talking about new things as she learns them--to an extent, it still is)
You'll always be surprised by which blog posts become favorites--mine is a post on how to format your ms so it looks pretty on an e-reader (and in general). Another is about death. Who knew?
Target your blog to your audience. Go to where your audience is and advertise your blog there
Twitter is a fast and effective way to advertise your blog
Connect with other blogs similar to yours. Interact with them with insightful--not self-centered--comments. If you're around enough, people will recognize your name and flock to your blog
Contests have a way of getting people irrationally excited--it reminds me of college when events advertised "free food"--guaranteed to get people in the door (I haven't done contests on my blog but it's always a future option).
Do not use your blog as a place to complain. More than one author recently has lost chops because of a hot temper.
Do not only talk about yourself--remember, you're writing for other people, not just yourself
Give yourself opportunities to learn from your readers; ask questions
It's easy to tell in a query when someone has actually done their research. My blog is linked in my bio on the agency website--if a querier says they saw my bio but doesn't mention my blog, pretty sure they didn't do their homework properly. If someone mentions they like my blog but no specifics, they might be trying to take a shortcut (I will give them the benefit of the doubt half the time). I pay better attention to those who actually know what they're talking about--we already have a connection and that makes me pay a little more attention. It's my shortcut through the slushpile, if you will.
Keep your writing blog up to date, especially if you link it in your query--if I have time and feel like it, I will check your blog out. And it does help tip the scales to a request or rejection. Agents are looking for writers who stick to their decisions and follow through.

For the rest of January, I'll be starting a monthly topic. January's topic: QUERIES. I'm starting with the basics and going step by slow step. And I'm going to see if we can have some fun at it too.

Happy writing!

Kreative Blogger Award

2012-01-06T08:21:00.000-08:00

Thanks to The Literary Mom for the nomination!

Kreative blogger award:
The rules:
1. Share 10 things about yourself that readers might find interesting.
2. Pass the award onto 6 other bloggers (be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs to let them know).

Ten things about my self...

1. I consider myself a "reverse book snob." After reading too many 19th century and literary books for college, I'm hard pressed to pick up either a "literary" novel, short story, poem, avant garde, or classic. I hate Holden Caulfield, Thomas Pynchon, and Herman Melville with an equal passion (but have deep respect for Melville, Pynchon, and Salinger). I like commercial books and I'm not afraid to shout it.

2. I'm vain about my nails and feet and love to paint my nails. Right now I'm partial to Crackle paint and sparkles (not at the same time).

3. I only consume caffeine at Chinese restaurants because I love their tea. I'm usually jittery for a solid four hours afterwards.

4. Random or bizarre things in public don't faze me. I went to college in Bellingham, thankyouverymuch. I feel nostalgic when I pass people on the street shouting nonsense or dressed in wacky clothes. I miss Free Hug signs.

5. I'm allergic to cane sugar and still dream about fudge.

6. I love 80s and 90s movies. Action, rom-com, teen, and sci-fi especially.

7. A Star Wars reference will make my day. Last week, I witnessed three separate accounts of "These are not the droids you're looking for." It was a good week.

8. I only set my alarm clock to end in a 3 or 7 (5:23, 8:37, etc). Otherwise, I'm not OCD. As long as you don't rearrange my kitchen.

9. I don't own as many books as people think I should. My collection is actually pitifully small. I borrow books from the library (or my clients). I currently have 15 books out and 20 on hold. If I do buy books, it's either because I met the author or I know I'll be loaning that one out a lot. One day I will be rich enough to single-handedly support the publishing market. Until then...

10. I have never owned an Ipod, MP3 player, or other music listening device other than a CD player which only gets use in my car if I can't find books on tape--my car doesn't have a CD player so I have to hook it in.

Six other bloggers I feel deserve the reward: (it would be obvious if I choose my own clients, but they all deserve it--please check out their blogs, all listed to the right)

1. YA Confidential. They've teamed together with real teens to bring an honest perspective to YA writers who may otherwise have no access to the real teen. Plus, their posts can usually make me laugh or rub an invisible mustache and go "Hmmmmm."

2. The Bookinistas. A group of writers and authors who review only the books they love. I trust all of their opinions and on Thursday can be found hopping from blog to blog and adding to my TBR list.

3. Bibliophile Brouhaha. An honest, wonderful, awesome book blog. I can always rely on her reviews. And I'm pretty sure half my TBR is because of her.

4. The Bookish Brunette. A real woman who knows her books. And shoes. And purses. And zombies. Can I be her? Plus, her rating are given as stilletos. A good portion of my TBR is due to her as well.

5. this literary life. Bree Ogden is fabulous. Just saying. I know every time I visit her blog I'm going to find something that wows my socks off. And she's as close as I ever come to art and that other I'm afraid of.

6. Fiction Vixen. The adult stuff. Paranormal Romance. Urban Fantasy. Historical. Drool...

I think I have a thing for book blogs...

Happy reading!

Wednesday Reads: Love Story

2012-01-04T08:14:00.000-08:00

Love Story by Jennifer Echols. I decided a month or two ago that I would read as many Jennifer Echols books as I can. I didn't get all that far (I had to make sacrifices for the sake of the leaning tower of TBRs), but I'm glad I at least read Love Story. Honestly, I hadn't read the back cover when I decided to read it, but I did right before I started reading. I couldn't open the cover fast enough. Then I started reading. And I didn't stop. I almost read it all in one sitting, but that elusive thing called sleep made me put it down. It was funny, surprising, and so, so true. Beautiful character development.

Synopsis:

SHE'S WRITING ABOUT HIM. HE'S WRITING ABOUT HER. AND EVERYBODY IS READING BETWEEN THE LINES.
For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?
Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.

First Sentence: "Captain Vanderslice was something of an ass." The first few pages are Erin's first submission to her creative writing class, which actually shows so much about her. I warn caution if ever you try to do this, very tricky, but when it's done right, it's to great effect.

Brownie Points: Like I said: character development. Also, use of short stories within a larger story--those are plain hilarious. I actually laughed out loud several times reading this book. I connected really well with Erin--probably better than I have with almost any other Echols character... not sure what that says about me.

Beefs: It ended.

Recommendation: If you haven't explored YA "romantic drama" or really any Jennifer Echols, I highly suggest it. So highly, if I had the book in my hands and we met on the street, I'd force you to read it right then and there and stare at you the entire time. Also, that sounds really fun. And creepy.

Would I represent it? Consider me looking for romantic drama. Officially. The trick though, is spectacular character development. There's no swashbuckling, so your characters can't hide behind fancy footwork.

Happy reading!

Happy New Year!!!

2012-01-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

My resolution this year is to read as many Adult novels (in my preferred Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy) as Young Adult. I struggled with this last year just because there are so many great YA novels. Of course, this goes hand in hand with a goal I've had for a while: sign some Adult clients (not that my clients aren't big kids already).

What are your reading/writing resolutions for the New Year?

Also, check out this week's Authornomics on the agency blog--the interviewee today is our own Andrea Hurst, talking about writing, advice, and resolutions. And enter to win a developmental edit with her! If you don't know, every week Andrea Hurst and Katie Flanagan interview someone in the industry, from new writers to best sellers, agents to editors. Check in every week because you never know when something great might be given away.

Happy resolutioning!

December Hiatus

2011-12-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Taking a break from the blog this month, but I'll be back at the first of the year with more fun stuff, advice, and Wednesday Reads. My agently duties will still be in full swing, ie still accepting queries (please no NaNo novels). I'm also looking for some fun events for 2012: blog contests, judging contests, conferences, etc, so please put the word out!

Happy Holidaying!

NaNo Debreifing

2011-11-30T07:37:00.000-08:00

Remember at the beginning of the month when I asked for a brief description of what you thought you were going to write about? (Do you still have enough brain cells to remember the beginning of the month, when you were so full of hope, energy, and time?) Tell me where your novel ended up! Did you scrap it? Did it turn into something else? Is the plot and characters so awesomely awesome that you have a new one line pitch for me? Also, what you do you plan to do with your NaNo novel now? Going to revise (and revise and revise) before you query it? Or shelf it and get going on another?

Happy writing! (go take a nap!)

Feeling Yammy?

2011-11-23T09:18:00.000-08:00

Let's have some fun today! I have no idea where this is going to go, so let's jump on board the crazy wagon and hold on tight!

What one Thanksgiving dish best describes your writing/reading style? This can pertain to the sort of things you write or read, or the manner in which you write or read.

For example, I would be an upside down turkey (I cook my turkey upside down so the breast cooks in the yummy juices; makes for a really juicy turkey): the staple of the meal, very traditional, but with a twist no one saw coming. I suppose this describes the sort of things I like to read: good writing, solid structure, but a twist on the norm that makes everything that much better.

Happy eating!

'Tis the Season

2011-11-21T13:06:00.000-08:00

We're heading into cold weather (some of you have already had it), which brings up images of roaring fires and thick blankets. Tell me, what's your ideal writing and/or reading environment? Personally, I prefer sunshine and a bottle of suntan lotion, but I'm getting pretty partial to a fire and hot tea. Now it's time for snow to seal the deal--as long as the power stays on.

Happy writing!

NaNo Halfway Point

2011-11-15T10:14:00.000-08:00

Has anyone given up yet? Haha. Just a few things on the agenda today:

1) BACK UP YOUR FILES. If you haven't already, back up your files. Last year when I did NaNo (the first and only time), I didn't. I had them on a thumb drive because I was worried my computer was about to crash. Instead, the files on the thumb drive got corrupted. I did manage to save the 60K words, but it didn't have punctuation, format, quotation marks, nothing. Needless to say, it was a nightmare to fix, which I finally did a few months later.

2) What's the craziest thing you've done yet this NaNo? Forget your child? Scream EUREKA!! in the middle of the grocery store because you just realized how to overcome a plot hiccup? Go two days without eating? Manage to write 1K words on your grocery list? Start over with a new idea?

3) And just in case you need it:

Happy (safe) writing!

#freeadvice Day 5

2011-11-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Last day of free advice!! But keep it coming! And find me (and all the other #freeadvice participants) on Twitter to share even more! For our last day, I couldn't just put one piece of advice up.

Master the art of B.I.C... Butt in Chair.

---Em Musing, blog here

Our next piece of advice comes from three different sources; all connected and all valuable... and can help you master B.I.C.

Read. Read. Read!!

If you want to write in a particular genre, you should probably, you know, read in it, too.---Krista V.

It will help you be aware of what's in the market, and make you a better writer.---Angela Cothran

Expose yourself to enough, and cliches will be that much easier to avoid.---David King

Happy writing!

#freeadvice Day 4

2011-11-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

There are three Ts to writing:

Talent
Tenacity
Thick-skin

The first will come from perfecting the other two.

---Elissa blogs at Awesome/Fearsome

What a great way to say "never give up," advice we hear all the time. And it can be applied to any aspect of your life!

Keep the #freeadvice coming!

Happy writing!

#freeadvice Day 3

2011-11-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

Mind control is cheating and has already been thoroughly explored by Star Trek. Find another way to move your plot along.---Janice Sperry blogs at Come Out When You're Happy

In other words, don't fall back on overused standbys and cliches to make your story interesting. We can actually make this a really fun game. Replace a cliche for "mind control" (say reading minds), and replace a title for "Star Trek" (say Twilight or True Blood). Give me your best twists on Janice's advice!

And keep your own #freeadvice coming!

Happy writing!

#freeadvice Day 2

2011-11-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Twists aren't just for the end of a story. Use them from the beginning so readers never know what to expect.

Today's #freeadvice comes from Angela. Check out her blog at Live to Write... Edit when Necessary (its own great advice). I picked her advice to feature today because it's something that's such a duh sort of thing, but no one ever puts it in such simple terms. And some writers really need to live by it. Put it on a sticky note above your computer, right next to Life is a Box of Chocolates...

Keep the great advice coming via Twitter and Blog!

Happy writing!

#freeadvice

2011-11-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

If you get stuck while writing a scene there are four things you can do to get moving again that never fail: kill a character, write a kissing scene, add zombies, or blow something up. --Stephanie Allen. Visit her blog at My Personal Fairytale (here) and follow her on Twitter (here).

Do you have some free advice? Tweet me (or leave it in the comments). If I like yours the best, I'll feature it on my blog along with your blog and twitter links! (If you leave it in the blog comments, include your blog and/or twitter links; if you tweet me, I'll follow up with you for links if you win.) Up to three winners this week (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday). If you enter, please visit the winner's sites to spread the lovin'. And visit with Stephanie, whose Tweet inspired the fun in the first place.

Happy writing!

NaNo break

2011-11-04T08:14:00.000-07:00

Tap tap tapping away? If it's on your computer and you're actually getting word counts done, stop reading now. If your fingers are tapping your desk and your word count sits at a very tiny number... well read on. It might not help your word count or writer's block, but it's a good use of your time since you're not doing anything else.

(This would be termed a non-helpful blog post. Next week I'll see what I can do about being more inspirational.)

Go to the Google homepage. Type in "do a barrel roll" and press enter.

That is all.

What are your favorite internet time wasters when you're supposed to be typing or brainstorming?

Happy NaNoing!

Wednesday Reads: Save the Cat!

2011-11-02T19:53:00.000-07:00

The month of NaNo brings us writing guides rather than novels for our weekly book review (I know how busy you all are, and I wouldn't want to tease you about all the books you're missing out on by writing all the time--like giving you chocolate but not letting you eat it). Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder has a subtitle of The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need.

Screenwriting? you ask. Ah ha! Let's stop focusing so much on the minuties of writing shall we? It is, after all, NaNoWriMo, in which you furiously scribble as much as you can without thought of writing details. Instead, let's think about plot, character arch. Maybe you get a week in, couple 10K and suddenly you have no idea where to go. Browsing a book solely on plot and character (told in a witty voice that will hold your attention) might help you must through.

Brownie Points: Snyder offers us tips on how to plot before you even write, how to think about each scene and arch (character and plot) to keep you on track. With charts and worksheets! Blake's Beat Sheet might be one of the most useful tools you'll ever need as a writer.

Beefs: It is a book about screenwriting. It's not necessarily a bad thing. I found it fascinating to learn about the movie business, how movies are thought up and planned out--parallels the book business in many aspects. Some readers may find it tedious and want to scream, But I'm a Writer! You watch movies, don't you? It's great practice for when you don't have time to read. Watch movies in your genre (the equivalent of) and deconstruct their plot and character arches.

Recommendation: I believe everyone should at least take a look at this book (what can it hurt?). But those who often find themselves hitting writer's block or are told that their plots are slow or their characters need work, should read it. Take notes. Study. Apply.

Have you read Save the Cat!? Would you recommend it to other writers? Or, to you, is it a waste of time for writers?

What are your favorite writing guides to refer to others and revisit yourselves?

Happy reading!

On your marks... Get set... NaNo!

2011-11-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

NaNoWriMo begins today. Did you know?!

Let's have a little fun. Put down your pens... er... minimize your word document...

Do you have a set idea in mind for your NaNo novel? Think you know where it's going? This might work best if you're a panster rather than a plotter, but who knows?

Last year when I did NaNo, my light-hearted, rom-com-esque novel inspired by a friend turned into an emotional, dark journey into the past, and it did not have a happily ever after. Whoops. (and no, I'm not NaNoing this year--too intense for me, and too time consuming)

Tell me, in one or two sentences, what you think your NaNo novel is going to be about. Visit me again at the end of the month and give me another short blurb to see if or how much changed. Do you have any fun NaNo-changling stories from past years?

Happy (as in, don't go insane) writing!

Boo!

2011-10-31T12:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween! In the writing world, I truly do consider this a frightening day... because NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow! I won't be participating (one year was enough for me) but I'll be thinking of you all. Blog posts will be shorter next month, filled with fun and games, wisdom, tips, comic strips, etc.

But before we go into a month in which my clients will probably stop talking to me (let me know beforehand if you decide to poof!) and my readers forsake me, let's have some fun with Halloween.

Firstly, check out the agency blog's Authornomics (here) this week, featuring Tex, Editorial Director of Under The Juniper Tree, a dark, literary horror magazine for children's stories and artwork. Find out what makes a great scary story, enter to win a critique with Tex, and find out what he and Marjorie Merle are dressing up as this Halloween! Website here.

Secondly, share some of your favorite sites, topics, pictures, stories, costume, favorite scary book or movie. And tell me what type of Halloween you enjoy: sweet costumes, pumpkin carving, and some Hocus Pocus? Stephen King or slasher flicks, lights off, haunted mansion type of Halloween? Or traditional Day of the Dead festivities?

Myself, I like carving pumpking (mostly so I can toast and eat the seeds), put on a lame costume I've used for several years running, navigate a corn maze, and snuggle down with some good movies; my absolute favorite is the little known but super awesome Monster Squad (shout out if you've seen it).

Lastly, gaze in awe at this:

That is all.

Happy haunting!!

Wednesday Reads: The Invention of Hugo Cabret

2011-10-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

For this week's read, I thought I'd look at a book that's been a long time favorite of mine. It came out in 2007, so it is pretty recent. What's amazing is that it hasn't spawned it's own following of copy cats. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick is a novel told in part by traditional narrative, and part by pictures.

Synopsis:

Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

First Line/Page: The novel actually doesn't start with a sentence. It starts with a serious of pictures that introduces the reader to the setting and character--Hugo and a train station. Only then, when we're intrigued and pictures cannot possibly tell us any more, does the narrative begin. Some amazing first lines I share with friends to tempt them to read. With Hugo Cabret, I show them the first few pages. Sometimes I merely flip to a random illustrated page and they stare in wonder at the art of it.

Brownie Points: The plot, characters, writing, it all holds you captive. The illustrations are the cherry on top, but necessary as well. The whole book is a Brownie.

Recommendation: Everyone should read it. And what's great, is that it appeals to any age group. It's simple enough for children to understand, but complex and rich enough for adults to remain captivated.

Would I represent it? If I'd had a chance to represent this very book, I hope I would have had enough sense to latch on. However, when it comes to art, I'm pretty much lost, so more likely than not I would have passed (hard to admit that). I hope no one makes this the next "big thing," like all the literary classic spin offs of a couple years ago. I'd love to see Selznick's work stand alone forever, with no contenders/pretenders. It's unique and it should stay that way.

Also, Selznick had another book released just last month, titled Wonderstruck, that for some reason I haven't read yet, but plan to immediately. You should too.

Happy reading!

Wednesday Reads: Moonglass

2011-10-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby. One of the reasons I love my clients, is they always give me great recommendations (comps that hadn't made it into my TBR list yet). This one was a perfect summer read.

Synopsis:

Anna’s plans for junior year are washed away when her father accepts a job transfer. There’s no denying that living in a cottage on the beach has its perks, and it happens to be the town where her parents met and fell in love, but Anna is none too eager to rebuild her life from scratch. She already did that once, after her mother passed away years earlier.
Despite her reluctance, Anna is slowly won over. But even as she makes new friends and relishes the gorgeous ocean view, she is confronted by her family’s history. Everyone around Anna seems to know more about her own family’s past than she does…and she begins to realize that she and her father can’t outrun the painful truths of her mother’s death.
Anna’s sea glass collection proves that time can smooth rough edges—but what about when the jagged hurt of loss remains as sharp as ever?

First Line: From prologue: "I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now I've thought maybe my mother drowned in both." Do I need to tell you why I love this opening?

From first chapter: "Rain and wind pelted the ocean's surface so hard it looked like it was boiling." Anna's entire life revolves around the ocean, so it makes perfect sense that the opening sentence would evoke the water. And reflect her feelings.

Brownie Points: You've noticed my background picture right? I love the water. And, as a veteran beach comber, I appreciated Anna's connection with the water and beach glass (though finding washed glass on Washington beaches is a bit different--hello rocks!).

Okay, brownie point number 2. The characters. Kirby has a talent for bringing characters to life. Even Anna's first friend, Ashley, who should be a cliche (rich, blonde, tiny dog, ditz), is funny and real. And Tyler, the leading man, is... well, never underestimate a good boy. Who needs the bad boy vampire type? Psssh. You'll fall in love with all of Kirby's characters.

Recommendation: If you enjoy Jennifer Echols or Sarah Dessen, or the beach, read it.

Would I represent it? Yes, please!

Happy reading!

New Interview with ME!

2011-10-10T08:43:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a lot of interviews lately, haven't I? This week, find me over at Andrea Hurst's blog, where I've been interviewed for the Authornomics series. A great resource, and the interviewers are sooo savvy.

Find my interview here.

Find a list of past and upcoming interviews here.

Happy reading!

Authornomics: Interview with a YA Agent

2011-10-06T15:08:00.000-07:00

Are you keeping up with the Andrea Hurst and Associates blog interviews?

In case you missed it, this week our fabulous interviewers interviewed Mandy Hubbard, YA author and agent (and all around amazing person). Get an inside look into her dual life here.

Happy reading!

Wednesday Reads: The Luxe

2011-10-05T08:58:00.000-07:00

The Luxe, by Anna Godbersen. Why did it take me so long to read it? I've been hearing wonderful things about it for ages. Probably because there's no fantasy, magic, steam power! (I think I've been drinking too much Harry Potter Kool Aid.) But here's a wonderful, gossipy, historical mystery, with bells, frills, and whistles.

Synopsis:

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.
Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions.
White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.
This is Manhattan, 1899.
Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone—from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud—threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future.
With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city's gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan's most celebrated daughter disappear...
In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

First Line: From the prologue: "In life, Elizabeth Adora Holland was known not only for her loveliness but also for her moral character, so it was fair to assume that in the afterlife she would occupy a lofty seat with an especially good view."

Though told in third person, with chapter POV shifts, the narrator manages to maintain a slightly snarky voice--maybe more ironic than snarky. It kept me riveted an involved all through the twisting plot, multiple scandals, and character shifts.

I gave you the line from the prologue because it demonstrates the narrator's voice. But also because the prologue was surprising. I would never suggest a new writer do this (chalk this down as Expert Level; you wouldn't try playing Guitar Hero on Expert your very first time, would you?). The prologue is basically a commentary on the guests at Elizabeth's funeral, giving us just enough information so that when we meet them again in the book (takes place leading up to Elizabeth's death), we know a little about them--and it intrigues us as to how they came to be as they are. It could be considered back story, or information dump, but it's done in such a way you keep reading.

Brownie Points: I've briefly mentioned the POV shifts, and I have to again. When I first realized that each chapter would follow a different character, I was annoyed. But I didn't stop reading. And I found, despite the third person, I was dedicated to each and every character. We were given enough time with each one to understand what makes them tick. Again, this is set on Advanced level--don't try this at home.

Recommendation: If you've read any Historical in the past and liked it, you should definitely read it. If you, like me, only read Historical Fantasy, this might be able to change your mind. When I have time, I will be reading the rest of the series. But I'm super excited to read another of Godbersen's books, Bright Young Things, set in the Roaring 20s.

Would I represent it? Have you ever heard me say that I'm not looking for Historical? Well... I might take a look if the time period interests me (can't really say what does interest me, so I guess the timeline is open). Unless done really well, I probably will reject something written in a similar style. I prefer third person limited or first person.

Happy reading!

New Interview! (and food)

2011-10-03T11:43:00.000-07:00

If you're interested in reading a new interview from me, conducted over at a fairly new blog, Pots & Pens, follow this link here. As a side note, for those out there trying to find a new blog hook, it'd be a great idea for you to check out Pots & Pens because they have a wonderful hook--food! So go check it out, and I might have included a very delicious recipe in the interview... anyone like Creole?

Happy eating! er... reading...

Wednesday Reads: Shut Out

2011-09-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

Kody Keplinger strikes again! Remember her debut novel, The Duff? If you enjoyed that, and you love witty, fun, while serious reads, check out her new book, Shut Out.

Synopsis:

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

First Line: "There is nothing more humiliating than being topless in the backseat of your boyfriend's car when someone decides to throw an egg at the windshield."

Lissa's very frank, often insightful and hilarious at the same time, continues steady through the entire book.

Brownie Points: Keplinger has quite the talent when it comes to writing and discussing often taboo subjects such as sex. That and she has really sexy libraries (library scenes, library boys... ahhhh libraries).

Recommendation: I highly suggest both of Keplinger's books for teens, boys if you can get them to read it, especially if they're feeling the pressure to have sex, are having sex, thinking about having sex... or, you know, what a good book to read.

Would I represent it? With a voice like that and an ability to put new spins on old topics? Heck yes!

Happy reading!

Call for Book Suggestions

2011-09-22T11:14:00.001-07:00

As you know, I don't read or represent Middle Grade or younger YA. However, more than once I'm asked to recommend books to younger kids to read (I'd like to read some younger books as well, to round out my education).

So I'm asking you, dear reader, to help me compile a list of books, new and old. In particular, I have in mind my 10 year old boy cousin, an advanced reader, having a hard time finding things to read.

Let's build this list! Leave your recommendation in the comments, and I'll update this very post with our new list, which all of us can revisit as needed. Indicate the genre, whether you think it's best for boys, girls, or both, and the age group.

Updated 8/22/11

The List: Most I have not read, but all of these come highly recommended by my readers. Please feel free to comment on which you love the best, and I'll add a * for those that get multiple recommendations, a ** means it got very high recs.

This list will be a work in progress, meaning I will be cleaning it up, adding genres and ages, titles and authors when I have time. Please continue to suggest books and vote for your favorites!

Also, a great blog post by Literary Rambles, recommended by one of my commenters: YA Books in Libraries (click here).

Diary of a Wimpy Kid
RL Stine's Goosebumps or Nightmare Room series
Anything by Rick Riordan*
The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini*
The Alchemyst: The secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott
Absolute True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexi (YA or upper MG, parental discretion advised)*
The Dark is Rising*
Number the Stars
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles (fantasy, not YA or MG)*
Eragon
How to Train Your Dragon
Fablehaven
Mudville by Kurtis Scaletta
Mamba Point by Kurtis Scaletta
Deltora Quest
The Seventh Tower series
Charlie Bone series
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (I highly recommend as well)*
The Circle of Magic series (I remember reading these--loved them!)
Tyger, Tyger and the rest of the Goblin Wars trilogy by Kerstin Hamelton (Irish mythology)
Gary Paulsen's The Hatchet series
Anything by Brandon Mull
Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer**
The Healing Wars Trilogy by Janice Hardy
Percy Jackson books
Pendragon books
Harry Potter*
Black and Blue Magic, by Zylpha Keatley Snyder (and anything else by Snyder)
The White Mountains trilogy by John Christopher
Brian Jacques Redwall Series - Upper MG for Boys*
Lloyd Alexander The Black Cauldron series - MG for Boys
The Chicken Doesn't Skate - MG Boys
Who Put That Hair On My Tooth Brush - MG Boys and Girls
The Golden Compass Trilogy
Ender's Game
Georgia Byng (sp?)'s MOLLY MOON books
Zazu Corder's LIONBOY series
Cordelia Funke's DRAGONRIDER
Louis Sacher's Sideways School books
THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY
Terry Pratchett's DISCWORLD books (Start with the Tiffany Aching books, then move onto the books about the City Guards (with Sam Vines), then give him the witches)
Edward Eager's books
Roald Dahl
Narnia series
Brandon Sanderson, young-YA series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, epic fantasy series Mistborn, The Way of Kings, stand alone Elantris
The Genius Files by Dan Gutman
Jake Maddox, sports themed books
Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones
Mary Pope Osborne, Magic Treehouse
The Queen's Thief series, adventure
N.E.R.D.S. by Michael Buckley, spy adventure
The Cherub series by Robert Muchamore, upper MG spy adventures
The Gallagher Girl series Ally Carter, spy adventures for girls
His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman*
Shonen manga
The Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner*
The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, younger to upper YA*
Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness
The Giver by Lois Lowry*
The Warriors series by Erin Hunter*
Anything by Louis Sachar
Peter Pan books by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Kiki and the Shadow City, detective/adventure, MG
Harriet the Spy, for girls
The 39 Clues
The Ranger's Apprentice series
Chris D'Lacey's The Last Dragon chronicles starting with The Fire Within
Escape at Night - a civil war adventure by Laurie Myers
Murder Afloat by Jane Leslie Conly about a boy in 1880's Baltimore who's shanghaied and forced to work on an oyster schooner
Dark Life by Kat Falls about people who colonize the ocean floor after global warming forces everyone under - it's kind of a western underwater.
Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, spy adventure
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke about young pickpockets in 18th century Venice
Inkheart series - Cornelia Funke, boys and girls
Savvy - Ingrid Law, girls
Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of A Tree - Lauren Tarshis, girls
Small Persons With Wings - Ellen Booraem, girls
Shug - Jenny Han, girls
Coraline - Neil Gaiman, boys and girls
The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin - Josh Berk, boys
Chronicles of Ancient Darkness - Michelle Paver, boys and girls
The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann, MG dystopian for boys

Happy reading!

Wednesday Reads: A Certain Slant of Light

2011-09-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

Haunting and beautiful. A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb. It's marketed as a YA, and it does have some YA themes--but the main character, Helen, was a woman when she died and has seen many years since, so the balance between YA themes (in some ways she is very much a child) and her adult spirit (she had a husband and family in her human life) are very intriguing. And also, isn't the cover equal parts terrifying and beautiful?

Synopsis:

In the class of the high school English teacher she has been haunting, Helen feels them: For the first time in 130 years, human eyes are looking at her. They belong to a boy, a boy who has not seemed remarkable until now. And Helen--terrified, but intrigued--is drawn to him. The fact that he is in a body and she is not presents this unlikely couple with their first challenge. But as the lovers struggle to find a way to be together, they begin to discover the secrets of their former lives and of the young people they come to possess.

First Line: "Someone was looking at me, a disturbing sensation if you're dead."

Love.

Beefs: Not so much a beef, it was done very well, but more of a word to the wise. On page four, we begin a bit of back story, all of Helen's previous hauntings. This passage is done well; it's necessary, short, to the point, but doesn't lose the "sensual prose" (got that off a review from Amazon, has a nice ring doesn't it?) that the whole book is written in.

Brownie Points: I was thoroughly captivated through the entire thing. Really, I couldn't put it down. I got made when I was interrupted (it's been happening more rarely to me lately when reading). A combination of her beautiful writing and the naive yet intelligent characters was quite unputdownable. At times while reading I got angry, or scared for them, or an overwhelming eeriness concerning the subject matter, and I just felt so happy, so at peace at the last page with a perma-grin on my face for hours. Ahhhh, love a book like that.

Recommendation: Even if you're not entirely into ghost stories, or if you're looking for an unconventional ghost story, I suggest you try this one out. It's not going to be for everyone, but if you're the right sort of person this is aimed at, I know you'll fall in love.

Would I represent it? Sadly, probably not. It's too literary for my list and tastes, but then again, you never really know until something like it crosses through the slush pile.

Happy reading!

Authornomics and more!!!

2011-09-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Andrea Hurst and Associates blog will be continuing its Authornomics series. Every Monday, read a new interview from editors, agents, authors, and other publishing know-how professionals. Get insight, advice, and every so often you might just be able to win a prize.
See the agency blog here. See the schedule for upcoming Authornomics interviews here.

If you're local to the NW, you won't want to miss classes, presentations, and retreat opportunities presented by Andrea Hurst and Associates, Whidbey Island Writer's Association, and other fantastic opportunities. They're always updated on the agency website here, and you can also see upcoming events on the blog sidebar here.

See what else Andrea Hurst and Associates can help you with here; craft, marketing, consults.

And don't forget to read about the agents at the agency here. And, yes! we're on Twitter too! Follow Gordon Warnock and Andrea Hurst. Follow me too! Get me to 1000 followers and there might be something in it for you...

Coming this Fall

2011-09-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

Non-Fiction:

No Buddy Left Behind: Bringing U.S. Troops' Dogs and Cats Safely Home from the Combat Zone
Authors: Terri Crisp with Cynthia.Hurn
Publisher: Lyon's Press
Release date: October 4, 2011
Amazon Link Here

The love of a dog or cat helps heal soldiers’ emotional trauma. One very special woman and program brings them back together after the war.
No Buddy Left Behind is an animal book with a difference. It is not only about rescued dogs and cats, but also about U.S. soldiers trying to survive the horrors of war and readjust to life back home. It unveils the life-altering relationships American troops serving in the Middle East share with the stray dogs and cats they rescue from the brutalities of war. Overcoming monumental obstacles, Terri Crisp makes it her mission to save these wartime “buddies,” get them out of danger, and bring them home to the soldiers who love them.So, how does someone get animals out of a country at war when normal resources are lacking and every step of a plan to transport animals could get you arrested, kidnapped, or blown apart? As Crisp soon learns, each rescue mission from first to last is a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants experience, and no animal is truly safe until its paws touch American soil. Terri and her team have saved the lives of 223 dogs and forty-two cats befriended by military personnel since February 2008—and No Buddy Left Behind finally tells this story.

A Book of Miracles: Inspiring True Stories of Healing, Gratitude, and Love
Author: Dr. Bernie S. Siegel, Foreword by Deepak Chopra
Publisher: New World Library
Release Date: September 17, 2011
Amazon Link Here

Bernie Siegel first wrote about miracles when he was a practicing surgeon and founded Exceptional Cancer Patients, a groundbreaking synthesis of group, individual, dream, and art therapy that provided patients with a “carefrontation.” Compiled during his more than thirty years of practice, speaking, and teaching, the stories in these pages are riveting, warm, and belief expanding. Their subjects include a girl whose baby brother helped her overcome anorexia, a woman whose cancer helped her heal by teaching her to stand up for herself, and a family that was saved from a burning house by bats. Without diminishing the reality of pain and hardship, the stories show real people turning crisis into blessing by responding to adversity in ways that empower and heal. They demonstrate what we are capable of and show us that we can achieve miracles as we confront life’s difficulties.

Fiction:

How to Party with a Killer Vampire: A Party Planning Mystery
Author: Penny Warner
Publisher: Signet
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Amazon Link Here
Amazon Link for First Book in the Series Here

Party planner Presley Parker's new gig is the star-studded wrap party for a horror film. The location is a graveyard-conveniently, because the night of the bash, a tabloid journalist is murdered.

Under Attack: Under World Detection Agency Chronicles Book 2
Author: Hannah Jayne
Publisher: Kensington
Release Date: November 1, 2011
Amazon Link Here
Amazon Link for First Book in Series Here

Sophie Lawson is a human immune to magic, which comes in handy for helping paranormal beings transition into everyday life. But fallen angel Alex Grace and his search for the Vessel of Souls is one curse she never saw coming. Suddenly an unexplainable string of killings and destruction has even San Francisco's demons fearing for their immortal lives. And Sophie isn't about to trust Alex's all-too-vulnerable charm or his secret agenda. Now their hunt is revealing dangerous secrets about Sophie's past, and malevolent power hellishly close to turning one irreverent human into the ultimate supernatural weapon.

Wednesday Reads: Pleasure Unbound

2011-09-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Isn't that title scandelous? Haha, Pleasure Unbound, a Demonica Novel, by Larissa Ione, gave a great take on Demons. Guess what? They're actually evil! Well, many of them.

Synopsis:

In a place where ecstasy can cost you your life . . .

She's a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure-but fears it will always be denied her. Until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life.

Two lovers will dare to risk all.

Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his quest to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable-and let Tayla possess him, body and soul . . .

First Line: "Had Eidolon been anywhere but the hospital, he would have killed the guy pleading for his life before him."

Great first line, great first scene. Eidolon, a demon, is a doctor working in a demon hospital. I love Eidolon because he has values and morals, even when those close to him do not.

Brownie Points: I mentioned the demons above, didn't I? I'll repeat it. There are many types of demons that exist in the world, the main characters don't even know everything about every one; some are straight evil, some are somewhat evil, some try not to be evil, etc. Which the other main character, Tayla, must come to terms with. Black and white do not exist, only a world of grays.

Recommendation: I always come back to JR Ward, don't I? Like Ward, Ione creates a rich underground world. Like Ward, Ione screws her characters up and challenges them to put themselves back together (via sex, of course). If you're looking for a steamy novel, go no further.

Would I represent it? I've mentioned before that I like more Paranormal than Romance in novels I represent... however, if it's constructed like this one, I'll definitely be looking favorably on it.

Happy reading!

New Blog Features

2011-09-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed? I've updated a few things on my blog to (hopefully) make navigation (pun) easier for you.

Pages:

About me: includes specifics on how to query me and what I'm looking for. Also included are genres that I'm not looking for (since "all" in YA doesn't actually mean "everything").
Wednesday Reads: A listing of all the books I've reviewed, broken down by Adult vs Young Adult (any New Adult will be under YA) and includes the genre.

Sidebar -->

Now includes a listing of my clients' blogs. Go check them out! (they're amazing)
My most popular blog posts from the past month. Check it out in case you've missed any highlights.
Follow by email: now you have the option to receive blog updates by email!

Please, if you have any ideas on how to make my blog more comprehensive, or if there are any features that are not already included, please leave suggestions in the comment section of this post.

Happy writing!

New YA Blog--YA Confidential

2011-09-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

Check out a brand new blog! Targeted to YA writers to give you an insight into the minds and lifestyles of real teens. YA Confidential. From writer (and client) Cambria Dillon, she says: "Our goal is going to uncover more about what it’s really like to be a teen." And what is it going to entail? "We’re going to have teen roundtable posts where we approach our teen spies with a general topic and see what they think about it. We’re going to have our teen spies tell us what books they’re loving and why, what books/movies/tv shows get it right and why, what makes them happy/sad/stressed/anxious/etc and WHY."

So check out the brand new blog, YA Confidential, here. To learn more about it, remember to check out Cambria's blog, here.

Did I mention they're kicking it off with prizes? Want to know what one of the prizes is?! Critique with me? You're right! Keep your eye on YA Confidential updates for more info.

Happy reading!

Word Count

2011-09-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

I don't believe I've ever had a post yet about word count. Mostly because I assumed writers (those participating online) knew all of that information already. You can find it anywhere.

I just Googled it. BookEnds has a great post here. Colleen Lindsay has laid it out in handy bullet points here. Even Wikipedia puts its two cents in here, by way of a chart to show the word counts for novels, short stories, and novellas.

When reading queries, agents do discriminate based on word length. Even if your query is pretty good, if you're pitching anything over 120k, I'm going to reject it. Only in fantasy or some sci-fi will I look at anything over 100k. On the other side of the coin, I will also reject (most) anything under 60k (including YA--I've mentioned in a previous post here that I prefer longer books; just don't get too long).

If you are a debut author, stick to the guidelines. When you're famous you can do whatever you want.

Based on genres I represent and what I'm looking for, I give you the bullet-pointed list of word counts:

YA contemporary: 60k-90k
YA fantasy/para/sci-fi: 70K-100k
Adult para/UF/sci-fi/fantasy: 70k-100k

Pretty basic right? (I didn't list every genre because you can probably get the hint from this list). Due to world building, I expect fantasy-esk genres to be on the upper side (closer to 100k--but not over!). Many people will say that for adult or YA fantasy/sci-fi that up to 120k is okay (and I just said above I might look at it), but aim lower if possible.

Before you query or pitch, get your word count to a desirable length. Never say in a query or pitch that "I know it's a bit long/short, but I am open to suggestions on how to lengthen/shorten." This your job as the writer--deliver the best product possible. More than once I was being pitched a novel and when asked the word length the writer would reply with the word count while wincing. If you wince when you tell people your word length, you know it's not appropriate. Instead, say that it's not ready to submit and you're aiming for x. Then don't submit until it's edited, polished, as perfect as you, your critique partners, editors, friends, writing guides can make it.

Wednesday Reads: The Scent of Shadows

2011-09-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

Love the title. The Scent of Shadows by Vicki Pettersson. Adult Urban Fantasy.

Synopsis:

When she was sixteen, Joanna Archer was brutally assaulted and left to die in the Nevada desert.
By rights, she should be dead.
Now a photographer by day, she prowls a different Las Vegas after sunset – a grim, secret Sin City where Light battles Shadow – seeking answers to whom or what she really is … and revenge for the horrors she was forced to endure.
But the nightmare is just beginning – for the demons are hunting Joanna, and the powerful Shadows want her for their own…

First Line: "He didn't look dangerous, not at first glance. Still, a girl can never be too careful on a blind date, and that's why I'd insisted Mr. Sand meet me in a popular steadhouse nestled in a casino dead center on the Las Vegas Strip."

I gave you the first two sentences. Here's why: First sentence is good, but it's the second that locks everything in place. Plus, I love that she's on a blind date. Not something you'd expect of a bad ass chick in an Urban Fantasy. Also, this is a great beginning; without much telling you're established, just the first two sentences, in most of the Who, What, Where, When, Why.

Brownie Points: This was a long book, and a lot of major plot points happen, but you never feel overwhelmed by what's going on. The characters help a lot with that. Joanna is a very relatable character. And the paranormal stuff is just enough of a twist. Unfortunately, I can't say much more about any specifics because it would completely give everything away.

Recommendation: Looking for something a bit different but with great human emotions and a bunch of crappy things thrown at the main character? Haha, thought so.

Would I represent it? Yes. Here's a nice balance between Dark UF and not so dark (Kim Harrison and Charlaine Harris both give blurbs on the cover), while remaining pretty dark. Stuff that happens: dark. Some of the characters and humor: light. Great balance. Loved it!

Happy reading!

New Webinar with Andrea Hurst--Sign Up Now!

2011-09-06T10:18:00.000-07:00

Register Now!

Writer’s Digest Webinar

The Plot Thickens: An agent's tips on story structures that sell

September 8, 2011

If you are serious about getting published or wondering why your manuscript is not getting the attention you desire, let instructor and literary agent Andrea Hurst show you how to structure a plot that will keep an agent turning the page.

Learn what agents and editors look for in a marketable novel or memoir. Once an agent determines an author has mastered the craft of writing, the next thing they look for is an intriguing plot. At the agency we often find that even the best writers may not be able to sustain a memorable plot. Andrea presents techniques that will help build your story, solve plot issues, and create a strong beginning, middle, and end. Get noticed, get read, and up your chances of getting sold.

Length: 90 minutes

Price: $89.00

Bad Ass Chicks in Leather

2011-09-02T08:31:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I love Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy is the excessive use of leather. I do have to wonder though, are leather pants and leather bustiers really all that comfortable to run and fight in? But I guess that's why our imaginations are so tantalized by the imagery.

Points go to, of course, JR Ward for putting her vampire, demon-fighting good guys in leather pants and shit kickers. Oh those boys...

But I have to love Hannah Jayne's main character in her Underworld Detection Agency series because she does not wear leather, though her vampire roommate certainly does.

Personally, I'd go with camo/canvas pants, but hey, if I were in a novel I'd run around in four inch boots as well.

What other aspects of ParaRom and UF do you love that you'd be hard pressed to find in other genres?

Happy reading!

Wednesday Reads: Nightwalker

2011-08-31T09:22:00.000-07:00

Soooooo good! Nightwalker is a Dark Adult Urban Fantasy by Jocelynn Drake, first Dark Days novel..

Synopsis:

For centuries Mira has been a nightwalker—an unstoppable enforcer for a mysterious organization that manipulates earth-shaking events from the darkest shadows. But elemental mastery over fire sets her apart from others of her night-prowling breed . . . and may be all that prevents her doom.
The foe she now faces is human: the vampire hunter called Danaus, who has already destroyed so many undead. For Mira, the time has come to hunt . . . or be hunted.

First Line: "His name was Danaus."

For the book, it's a very good set up line, because Danuas is very important (written in first from Mira's POV). I like the paragraph following this line, something very tricky to do well (and it is!) which is a description of his eyes. But even that description tells so much about Mira.

Brownie Points: Mira. Loved her. I imagine that if I were a 500 year old vampire, I'd be a lot like Mira. What I really loved about her was that she acts like she's 500, calm and collected, bored at times, curious about things that are new to her (she's 500, that's hard to do). Which of course, is where Danaus comes in. But if you think they get along right away... haha, think again. They're kinda not friends, but not really enemies, and they constantly talk about killing each other. But... oh I love the characters!

Recommendation: Read it now.

Would I represent it? Give me a novel like this one and I will fall at your feet in gratitude. I guess I'll contend myself for now by reading every book by Drake (love it when an author inspires me to do that). What I especially liked about it were the characters, the darkness of it, and there was absolutely nothing cute about it (not one character was flamboyant or eccentric or the "brother" character). I like a nice solid departure from cozy paranormals.

Happy reading!

Why I Love JR Ward

2011-08-25T09:02:00.000-07:00

JR Ward and Susan Elizabeth Phillips, are on my favorite author list for much the same reason (please note that SEP is adult contemporary romance, which I do not represent). They have what I call "The Psychological Screw You" factor. Not so much "screw you" as in the reader, but in terms of character development and plot. If you've ever read a SEP novel, while laughing out loud every other scene, you'll realize that she's great at creating this amazing characters then throwing them down a cliff. The joy of reading about these characters comes when you watch them try to climb back up the cliff. She throws everything into it, too: family drama, past loves, financial ruin, reputation, jobs. Throughout the journey, you become close with the characters. Plus there is a lot of tension and frustration (and the sex scenes aren't there for the sake of being there; they are a result of the characters--not plot devices).

Now, JR Ward does similar things to her characters as well. Each character is so psychologically twisted that they have a hard time being in civilized company. Part of this is a result from the character's self--by that I mean a product of them being vampire (or a mix: vampire/celestial offspring, vampire/demon sucker, vampire/beast). All of them are dealing with scars from their past. Again, as I mentioned above with SEP's novels, the sex in Ward's novels are not plot devices or included for the sake of inclusion. Each scene is a product of the characters and sometimes act as a therapy tool.

(One of the main reasons I mention sex, is that it's one of the biggest mistakes a new writer can make in their ms, and one of the biggest reasons I'll reject a paranormal romance. If I see anything throbbing in the first two pages, it's usually a red flag. It must be done well and, as I said above, as a result of character development.)

Have you noticed that I haven't really talked about plot? It's all about character development. So whoever says that literary novels are all about character development, and commercial novels are only about plot, are dead wrong.

The point of this post, besides paying homage to two fantastic authors and their creations, is to show what I'm looking for when it comes to Paranormal Romance. If anything is going to be throbbing, there better be a good reason for it.

Happy reading!

Wednesday Reads: Haunting Jasmine

2011-08-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

Haunting Jasmine by Anjali Banerjee was a light, fun, women's fiction with a supernatural element that was a joy to read. Plus, you've got a multicultural character that everyone can connect with.

Synopsis:

A call from the past brings divorcee Jasmine Mistry home to Shelter Island to run her beloved aunt's bookstore, which has always been rumored to be haunted. With that knowledge, Jasmine embarks on a mystical journey, urged along by her quirky family, and guided by the highly emotional spirits of long-dead authors. Surprisingly, she finds herself moved to heal her broken heart when she falls unexpectedly in love with an enigmatic young stranger.

First Line: "I didn't see this turn of events coming, or going. My ex-husband, Rob, used his charm like a weapon, and ultimately he didn't care whose heart he broke--or whose life he ruined. Neither did he care whose bed he woke up in. My mother would say, Well, Jasmine, that's an American penis for you. You should've married a Bangali. Faithful, good, and true to his culture. Her words conjure an image of the royal Bengali penis decked out in a traditional churidar kurta, its head peeking from the gold-embroidered white silk kurta at our Indian wedding."

You probably see why I included the first paragraph instead of first line this time. I wanted to show you a really great opening. You immediately get a sense of Jasmine's voice and what is most important to her: hating her ex and not following tradition. You also see what the main conflicts are, which, incidentally, are also her ex and her culture. In the next paragraph you learn of another conflict, that of her aunt wishing her to take care of her bookstore. And voila! You're in the story.

Brownie Points: I love, love, love that this isn't your traditional "I see dead people," sort of thing. Jasmine sees the ghosts of dead authors in her aunt's bookstore. That's it. But how cool is that?!

Recommendation: Great for people looking for a light read, slightly quirky women's fiction, a little romance, or supernatural. Also fantastic for those who want a multi-cultural novel but have a hard time finding one that appeals to everyone. Also, don't forget to check out Anjali's other novels, website here (I plan to).

Would I represent it? No. And before you ask why I bothered to review it if my answer is no (you know how rarely that happens), I'll explain. As it's the month of Adult Para&UF on my blog, I decided to give an example of something that I love but won't be representing in the near future. I am sticking to Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy. Whereas I would classify this as Supernatural, or as I often call it, a Supernatural Ghost Story (which I will actually take a look at in YA--but it needs to blow me out of the water; I already have one--thanks Katy!--and the bar's set pretty high). I have, however, come to love reading things like this.

Change of Topic

2011-08-22T09:42:00.000-07:00

For the next month or so, I'll be taking a break from talking about YA--on the blog. I still represent YA, am still looking for YA, and still love my YA clients. But I've been going nonstop on the blog about YA for about a year, so it's time for a genre switch. All my Wednesday Reads will be Adult Paranormal Romance or Urban Fantasy. All my discussion topics will revolve around the same genres.

From you, dear reader, I'd like to get a list of your favorite ParaRom and UF novels (to add to my already ridiculous TBR pile).

Also, any topics you would like to see addressed or discussed, please leave comments, suggestions, and questions in the comments of this post.

Happy writing!

Crossovers

2011-08-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Much akin to the advice do not say that your target audience is everyone, do not include in your query or pitch that your novel is a crossover. Crossover novels are a cultural phenomenon that cannot be predicted (at the very least, your agent or editor will decide to target a wider audience if applicable).

In case you don't know what a crossover novel is, it's a novel that begins either as an adult novel but appeals to young adults, or starts as a young adult novel but appeals to adults. Lord of the Rings (adult to young adults), Harry Potter (middle grade to young adult to adults), The Hunger Games (young adults to adults), are only a few.

To me, there is no such thing as crossovers. I see so many adults reading YA that it's becoming a pointless term, and of course young adults have always read adult novels. But we do need our labels and it makes organizing a library much easier.

Tell me dear readers, your favorite crossover novels? Do you aspire to write the next great crossover?

Happy reading!

Wednesday Reads: Dragon Bound

2011-08-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison satisfied the part of me that is restless while waiting for JR Ward to come out with a new book.

Synopsis:

Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful-and passionate-of the Elder races.

First Line: "Pia was blackmailed into committing a crime more suicidal than she could possibly have imagined, and she had no one to blame but herself."

Got my attention. Did it get yours?

Here's what I love about this line: main character is front and center; we know the main conflict (and it's interesting); leaves enough mystery to keep us reading on; we know how she feels about the main conflict and there is more conflict behind it (for some reason she did it but didn't want to).

Brownie Points: For some reason, I'm not sold on the whole turning into a dragon thing. Rats, sure. Parrot, okay. Wolves, oh yeah. But Dragons never intrigued me, even in fantasy. This book managed to change all of that. Hmmm, Dragos was a yummy dragon. Thanks Thea for changing my mind!

Recommendation: Like I said above, readers of JR Ward will love it. Any other ParaRom readers will love it too. Smart. Sexy. Fun.

Would I represent it? Yes, I would. And I am looking for something similar to it. I am looking for Paranormal Romance.

Happy reading!

Rereaders

2011-08-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

As an agent who reads client manuscripts several times over (and one more for good measure after that), I'm not a rereader in "real" life (real life being the world in which I am solely a reader, reading for pleasure). I thought Rereading would make an interesting post.

Why don't I reread? Probably because I enjoy the experience of reading for the first time. I read for pleasure--much like you'd enjoy a movie--that thrill you get watching/reading a high tense scene, or getting to know a new character, slowly like a new friend. But if I read something again, I don't get that experience. Rereading takes you into a different world--you see new things, you start analyzing, second guessing yourself and the author. If you're reading for the sake of learning or analyzing, you lose a bit of the pleasure. I don't like doing that (unless I'm editing of course, then I LOVE it--ah, give me a little control and I'll create WW3--and yes, I'm aware I'd make a great story book villain).

In a previous post, Comfort Books, I mentioned that Ella Enchanted was one of the few books I've reread (I can't count how many times I've read that book). So why have I reread a childhood favorite but not an adulthood favorite (Hunger Games for example, I've read the entire series only once)? Probably because I was friends with all the characters and I didn't mind rereading their adventure. But also, because it reminds me of my childhood. The only thing I'd gain from rereading Hunger Games is a better appreciation for how great an author Suzanne Collins is. Harry Potter, yes, I've reread. But mostly for education value and to keep up with my friends' incredible ability to keep little details in their minds (I was lost in conversations that dealt with the tiny details in the series--I was and still remain a loyal Potter head--I have a Tonks wig and Voldemort's wand--again with the evil villain thing!).

There is one more book I will reread. Wuthering Heights. I've read it a few times, and will probably read it a few more in my life time. Because I love it? No! I'm actually obsessed with how much I dislike that book. I don't understand the appeal. So I will read it more times than my favorite books just to figure it out.

Let's discuss. Are you a rereader? Why? Why not? If you do reread, is it to relive a pleasure, or for education? (You have more writerly minds than I do, so maybe you enjoy picking books apart to see how they were constructed?).

Happy rereading!

Wednesday Reads: The Girl in the Steel Corset

2011-08-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

Besides my first thought (ouch! that's gotta hurt), I was very excited to find another amazing Steampunk. The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross.

Synopsis:

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her.
When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….
Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.
Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.
But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.

First Line: "The moment she saw the young man walking down the darkened hall toward her, twirling his walking stick, Finley Jayne knew she'd be unemployed before the sun rose. Her third dismissal in as many months."

Great first line. And yes, I gave you second as well because they made the paragraph. But just from the first-- intrigue.

Beefs: There was one line that broke me from the novel, otherwise I was in it and dedicated to the story; and the line reminded me of the Scooby Doo episodes when the bad guy would say "I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids!" Not so much a beef as I had to share my moment of hysterical laughter before diving back in to our band of misfits.

Brownie Points: go to the Steampunk elements. Wonderfully done. Painted the world really well, something that was both familiar and foreign. Plus I love a little Steampunk mixed with paranormal.

Recommendation: If you've never read Steampunk before, this is an excellent one to start with. If you love Scott Westerfeld's Steampunk series, you'll love this as well. If you just want a good YA read, read it.

Would I represent it? Uh, yeah. I totally would. And I am looking for YA steampunk (more along the lines of Cross or Westerfeld's steampunk series rather than Cherie Priest's series).

Happy reading!

PNWA

2011-08-04T07:31:00.000-07:00

This weekend I'll be at the annual PNWA conference. If you're attending, please find me and say hello!

And remember to attend local conferences. Get involved.

Network with not only agents and editors, but also other writers. You may be able to find a new critique group more tailored to your needs. They may be able to impart advice, such as finding agents or other conferences/workshops to attend. They may be the voice at midnight you need to help get you through your first draft/multiple edits.

Take time to implement changes to your ms after attending workshops before sending it out to agents you've pitched at the conference.

Take advantage of extra pitch session time to ask advice.

Take advantage of having book doctors there to let you know where you are at with your novel and what you can do to step it up

But always, ALWAYS have fun!!

Happy conferencing!

Wednesday Reads: The Girl of Fire and Thorns

2011-08-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson is a debut novel, genre is YA fantasy. It comes out September 20, 2011. Make sure you get a copy.

Synopsis:

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.
Elisa is the chosen one.
But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.
Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.
And he’s not the only one who needs her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.
Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.
Most of the chosen do.

First Line: "Prayer candles flicker in my bedroom. The Scriptura Sancta lies discarded, pages crumpled, on my bed. Bruises mark my knees from kneeling on the tiles, and the Godstone in my navel throbs. I have been praying--no, begging--that King Alejandro de Vega, my future husband, will be ugly and old and fat." That's the first paragraph, and I had to restrain myself from giving you the whole page. Carson manages the right amount of voice and information without being over the top or an info dump (tricky in fantasy).

New US cover

Beefs: Actually, I wasn't super thrilled to read it based on the description, cover, and title (all good, of course, but I'm not sure if I would have picked it up off the shelf--thanks Carol!!!). But I was hooked (line and sinker) after page one.

Brownie Points: Voice and character (and plot and supporting characters and world building and ending). What the synopsis does not tell you is about who Elisa really is (good thing too, putting all her traits on the back cover would have sounded gimmicky to me and probably would have turned me off). Elisa is a fat, lazy princess (who should be in Overeaters Anonymous) who is destined for greatness but does nothing with her life except pray and eat. The character arch is so well done, and I felt such a kinship with Elisa throughout the entire novel.

UK cover

Recommendation: Fantasy has a habit of being very heavy (Game of Thrones for example), but this novel manages to capture everything good about both the Fantasy and YA genres and meld into one terrific read that is neither too long, too short, or too heavy. Even if you don't like fantasy, I highly recommend it.

Would I represent it? I'm restraining from using ridiculous font that is sparkly and big and changes color, and maybe screams at you with trumpets. It would read YES.

It's possible that this is one of my favorites books I've read all year (if not in the number one spot).

I am currently looking for fantasy.

Happy reading!

Books that Changed My Life

2011-08-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

So far we've talked about Guilty Pleasure books, Comfort books, but now let's talk about Books That Changed My Life.

Pretty epic, right? People are accustomed to saying, this person changed my life, or this event changed my life. But a book? I've listed four, though really, every book we ever pick up shapes us, influences us in some way, even if it is just to make us happy for a few hours.

Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner--I learned to read off these books, I skipped picture books and moved right on to chapter books, and I read these books until I was far too old to keep reading them
Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear by Lensey Namioka--inspired me to learn the violin in the 4th grade, which I played all the way through high school, and has had a huge hand in shaping who I am today--I've never reread it, it's not even a favorite book or a comfort book, but it had a huge impact on me as a child and I remember to this day how I felt when I read that book
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins--might have been one of the first YA that I was proud to wave in front of people's faces and say this is what I want to do
Harry Potter by JK Rowling--I can't not mention it, it did help shape my childhood, my imagination, my expectations--I was one of the generation right in the middle of it; elementary school when the books started, college when they ended--I also met some of my best friends through this mutual interest

Tell me about a book or books that have changed your life.

Happy reading!

Comfort Books

2011-07-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

As I was writing my Guilty Pleasure post, I started thinking about old friends--books that is. I'm sure we all have those, the books from our childhood or a book that helped get us through a bad point in our life. People always say they have a favorite song for those reasons, and yes I do too, but let's talk books. As I stated in my previous post, I have guilty pleasure books that I don't talk about on my blog or review in my Wednesday series because I don't represent it and I like to stay on topic.

Let's get all off topic this week :D

I have a comfort book so loved it's worn and faded from spending way too many nights under my pillow--I don't even have to read it, it just stays under my pillow when I need a friend. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine came out when I was in the fifth grade. I bought it from the Scholastic book fair and probably read it five times that year and at least once for every year following. It's one of the only books I've read more than once (another post for another time). So why isn't it over there ---> listed with my favorite books? Because I'm not looking for fairy tale books. As sad as that is. (And please do not mention the movie by the same name--it will be cause for rejection... I'm mostly kidding.)

So tell me: what is your all time comfort book?

Wednesday Reads: And Then Things Fall Apart

2011-07-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

And Then Things Fall Apart by Arlaina Tibensky is the epitome of great voice.

Synopsis:

Keek’s life was totally perfect.

Keek and her boyfriend just had their Worst Fight Ever, her best friend heinously betrayed her, her parents are divorcing, and her mom’s across the country caring for her newborn cousin, who may or may not make it home from the hospital. To top it all off, Keek’s got the plague. (Well, the chicken pox.) Now she’s holed up at her grandmother’s technologically-barren house until further notice. Not quite the summer vacation Keek had in mind.
With only an old typewriter and Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar for solace and guidance, Keek’s alone with her swirling thoughts. But one thing’s clear through her feverish haze—she’s got to figure out why things went wrong so she can put them right.

First Sentence: "I once watched a collector kill a monarch butterfly on a nature show by putting it under a glass dome with a piece of cotton soaked in gasoline." Is that gripping enough for you? The beauty of this first line and its metaphor, is that she doesn't dwell on it throughout the book. She moves on to other things but the line served its purpose, both to catch our attention and set up Keek's voice.

Brownie Points: Tibensky managed to make me interested in Sylvia Plath (not enough to read Sylvia Plath) but she examines The Bell Jar in such a way that is neither dry nor boring. Also, I already said above, but this book has the most captivating voice. I love her witty, smart humor with touches of self pity and realism.

Recommendation: If for nothing else, you must read for voice. But also read it because it is a smart, sexy read, and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how much you'll love it and Keek.

Would I represent it? You know, if this had showed up in my slush pile, I would have rejected it. Most likely, the amount of voice and plot (no one dies! haha) would have scared me off, thought it was too much of a risk. And the voice is a bit younger than I normally acquire. Actually, I probably wouldn't have picked it up off the shelf if it hadn't been recommended to me, but I'm so glad it was because I loved every page.

Happy reading!

Guilty Pleasures

2011-07-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

One of the best pieces of advice you'll receive is this: read in your genre.

However... sometimes it's beneficial to read outside of your genre. Not to mention therapeutic. I can only read so many YA novels before I have to take a break. I do read Adult paranormal and Urban Fantasy, and I love light humor (I read waaay too much dark YA, serious at the very least, very rarely something that is all humor), which is why I enjoy cozy mysteries and light adult paranormal.

I only talk about YA and Adult para/UF on my blog because those are the genres I represent and know the most about (and learn the most about). This may the only post that I deviate from my genres.

When I need a break from reading (without actually taking a break--I think I might have a nervous breakdown if there isn't a book in my purse), I read (or listen to) Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I've read other women's fiction in the past, but I'm stuck on the one author for a while. It fulfills a part of me that can't be satisfied otherwise. I randomly picked up a book on tape at the library and fell in love with the first sentence. I've recently complete Phillips's entire Chicago Stars series and am about to dive into all of her other books. When I finish with her, I'll probably find another author to listen to in my car, but the prospect of not having Phillips's humor and witty plots (yes, I said witty plots) as company in car rides is more devastating than having no more Harry Potter books to read (don't burn me at the stake for saying that please).

Your turn dear reader. When you need a break from your research, writing, comparable books, what are your guilty pleasure books?

Do you read them for the sake of research (see if there is something from other genres you can add to your own to give it a fresh take)? Read them purely to give you mind a break for a while? Read them because secretly you wish you could write it?

Happy reading!

Wednesday Reads: Wither

2011-07-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to read Wither by Lauren Destefano (Amazon) for a while. I didn't even know what it was about, despite reading the description multiple times. But based solely on the cover, I knew I wanted to read it. And I finally did. Worth it!

Synopsis:

What if you knew exactly when you would die?
Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.
When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.
But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

First Line: "I wait. They keep us in the dark for so long that we lose sense of our eyelids. We sleep huddled together like rats, staring out, and dream of our bodies swaying."

Brownie Points: Rhine's relationship with her sister wives is slow, real, perfect. Also, the way Destefano treats the topic of polygamy is well done. Not at all in your face, condemning, or promoting it. It is what it is. World building at its best.

Recommendation: If you enjoy Dystopian, a strong, quiet, subtle character and story line, dark but hopeful, you'll love this.

Would I represent it? Yes!

Happy reading!

Books for Boys

2011-07-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

I've been asked a few times to suggest reading material for teen boys who feel a little alienated in the girl-reader dominated market of YA fiction. Being a girl, of course, all of these are great for girl readers too, and I can't say I've read many marketed-toward-boys books (if there are even many out there). Also, most on this list happen to be some of my favorites (of all time). (Also note that these are YA, not MG. However, if the boy has read Hunger Games, most of the other recommendations will be the proper reading level).

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Amazon). Despite being told in a girl's POV, boys are able to connect with Katniss's story: thrust into the lime light, forced to grow up before she's ready, sacrificing herself for her family and country. Action level is very high in the entire series. Great for the reluctant reader.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (website) (Amazon). Told in alternating POVs of a boy and girl (tomboy), boys will be able to connect with both characters. It's a smart novel that voracious and reluctant readers alike will love. It combines action with history and steampunk. Also a great novel to introduce readers into steampunk.

Paper Towns (Amazon) by John Green (website). I would start a boy reader with this book, then give him Looking for Alaska (Amazon), then all his other novels (Will Grayson, Will Grayson is my favorite, but for reluctant readers start with the two above). And actually, you can reverse the order (I had a long debate with myself which to list first--Paper Towns won because it opens with an "adventure"). John Green embraces the nerd in his novels (online, he has a community of writers and readers known as "nerd fighters").

Across the Universe by Beth Revis (website) (Amazon). Also told in alternating POV of a boy and girl, this novel balances the dual struggles of the protags as well as the unique identities of the genders. Often called light scifi, or dystopian mystery on a space ship, it's a great way to get into the scifi genre.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner (blog) (Amazon). Told in the POV of a boy with the adventure of Hunger Games and a mystery that is never fully revealed (we're only on book two of three and we still don't know who the good and bad guys are!--third installment comes out Oct 2011), this is a must read for boys and girls alike who want a good adventure/fantasy, or are looking for something similar to The Hunger Games.

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting (website) (Amazon). Though told in the POV of a girl, I recommend this to boys because of the suspense aspect and the gruesome angle (she finds dead bodies). Also has a light romance angle that doesn't overwhelm the story.

Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden (website) (Amazon). I read, no, devoured this series in 8th grade, and it has stuck with me all these years. Still some of my favorite books of all time. Told in the POV of a girl, it follows a group of friends in Australia who wage a guerrilla war on an army who has invaded the country while the group was in the bush camping. How does that description not hook you?

You'll notice that my list is all recently released novels (with the exception of the Tomorrow series by John Marsden). I could have included on my list Holes, The Giver, etc, but I'm a believer in giving boys (especially reluctant readers) something they are (99%) guaranteed to like. I respect the classics (they are classic for a reason), but kids are forced (yes, forced!) to read older books in school, and something just isn't working. I also haven't included Harry Potter (if they haven't read it by now, they won't), Eragon (beautiful writing, but might not captivate the reluctant reader), or Percy Jackson (heavy into the Greek mythology that also might turn off a reluctant reader).

Goodreads has a list for boys here. I haven't read the majority of the books and am curious as to your opinion; which of the listed books would you recommend?

And here is a list from Amazon here, mostly for comparison (I wouldn't recommend most of these books to boys unless they are tried and true voracious and advanced readers).

Any books you highly recommend for boys? Or books that you know for a fact boys have enjoyed?

Happy reading!

Wednesday Reads: The Forest of Hands and Teeth

2011-07-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

It took me two tries to read The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. I know, I know, it's a great book and how could I have put it down the first time? The first time I tried reading it, I don't think I was in the mood for a quietly disturbing book. But the second time, I just let the beautiful sentences flow over me. And I'm glad I did because this book was right up my alley on morbid/disturbing/well written scale.

Synopsis:

In Mary's world, there are simple truths.

The Sisterhood always knows best.

The Guardians will protect and serve.

The Unconsecrated will never relent.

And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village. The fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power. And, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.

Now she must choose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded by so much death?

First Sentence: "My mother used to tell me about the ocean." One of the ways the reader can connect with Mary is with her almost single minded desire to see the ocean. We've all had dreams, and this is Mary's. It's what drives her, gives her hope. I have a sailboat as my background on my blog, so you can imagine that I connected with Mary on this.

Beefs: This book was almost quiet (hence why it took me two tries to read it). But I could also list that under Brownie Points because it was so beautifully written. And that's the only beef I can come up with.

Brownie Points: This was one of those books in which I never knew what was going to happen. Obviously Mary's going to survive (anyone can figure that out--it's in first person and how many authors actually kill their main characters?), but other than that I had no idea what was coming next. It was a pleasant change.

Recommendation: If you haven't read it yet. You need to. Unless you're against death in YA and zombies, then this really isn't your cup of tea.

Would I represent it? I'm not sure how far I would have gotten if I'd come across this in my slush pile. Sadly, probably not far, then I would've had to kick myself later. However, yes, I'd love to represent something like this.

Happy reading!

Authornomics Interview Series: Chuck Sambuchino (and prize)

2011-07-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today on the Andrea Hurst and Associates Blog, we're interviewing Chuck Sambuchino (link here), editor, writer, Writer's Digest, and Guide to Literary Agents. Head over there and check out his great info.

Also, Chuck will be choosing one random commenter to win a free one year subscription to WritersMarket.com (value $50). Comment on the post within one week to enter to win.

Check back every Monday on the agency blog for new interviews. We'll be giving away more prizes periodically this summer. And every Thursday you can find me there as a guest blogger with my most popular posts.

Happy writing!

Wednesday Reads: The Vespertine

2011-07-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a historical fantasy that I loved (few and far between-- my favorite historical fantasy of all time is the Gemma Doyle Trilogy). The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell.

Synopsis:

It's the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.
When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia's world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she's not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

First Line: "I woke in Oakhaven, entirely ruined." Ruined how? you ask. Well, that's the point right? To get you asking questions. And, as the page prior has informed you of the location and date (1889) you can probably guess what kind of ruined a girl can be. And the beauty of you knowing everything? You're wrong.

Beefs: Hot and mysterious as Nathaniel was, I wanted to know more about him. But he is a complete sigh fest nonetheless; hot and mysterious and completely in love with Amelia.

Brownie Points: The historical is done so well. Historical facts (fashions especially) are introduced in such a way that readers knowing nothing about this time period are immediately thrust into it with a great understanding of what is going on.

Recommendation: Even if you don't normally dive into historical novel, I highly recommend you read this one. And if you are sad the Gemma Doyle series ended and are looking for a good historical fantasy, check this one out.

Would I represent it? I would love to find a historical fantasy to represent. It's a hard genre, but so worth it.

Happy reading!

Questions for the Agent: Length

2011-06-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

From when I was gone, I asked you, the lovely reader, to ask me questions and/or suggestions for future blog posts. I'm back. I'm (mostly) caught up with work. And now I'm answering your questions in segments. And asking for more questions. Here's the time to find out all you can about the agent (remember most everything is subjective and does not apply to all agents).

I often say that I like longer books to shorter ones. What do I mean by this? Well, that's a good question. Let's see if I can answer it.

First, compare a literary novel to a children's chapter book. What are the differences? Besides theme and the age of the characters, you have multiple subplots in a literary novel. Relationships and plot points are given more page time and dug deeper into.

Let's compare movies and TV series (think of a TV series as a very, very long movie, limited to one season, multiple seasons would be like multiple books). A regular length movie might have time for a couple subplots, but mainly it's going to focus on the struggles and tribulations of the main character. A TV series, however, can concentrate on several subplots because it gives you time to learn each character and keep track of what's going on. People go from having one or two main problems, to several. You learn about what they love, things in their past, how they interact in several different situations. You become invested.

Let's see if I can clarify it anymore. When I read a book, I want to be involved. I don't want to be in and out of a situation too quickly: beginning, middle stuff happens, conclusion. I want beginning, side trip, oooh intrigue, middle stuff happens, more middle stuff happens, oh didn't see that coming, wait she did what, I think the end is coming, oh my gosh, end.

The only way you can really know, is by reading. Go read. Go read books that hover around or under 60,000 words, then go read a book that clocks in more than 100,000 words. Try to stick with single person POV (otherwise you're in something completely different). Or read only third person POV. Then compare the POVs as well.

I reviewed Hunger, about a girl who becomes one of the riders of the apocalypse, Famine, and she happens to be anorexic. It's a fantastic story. You can map the plot something like this: introduction to characters, first doorway (embarks on the journey), about three things happen to teach her about life and herself, second doorway (point of no return), conclusion. If this story had been expanded, she would have traveled away from home for more than a few hours at a time, she would have met new friends, discovered even more about herself, we would have seen her settle into her new role, maybe balance her life. I'm not saying the book should have done it. I loved it as it was. But I like to become absorbed in books and be taken on a long journey.

Look at Hunger Games. Katniss goes through the first doorway (which launches her into the story from which she cannot return, much like when Luke's aunt and uncle die in Star Wars, launching him into a journey he cannot return from), then from there she meets a myriad of people and gets put to the test so many times we know everything about her by the end, who she was and who she becomes, then we get to see the consequences of her actions (second doorway) and how people react to her.

Hopefully that answers the question of what I mean by "longer books." Also, remember that it isn't just word length that matters. It's the depth and complexity of characters.

Happy reading!

Wednesday Reads: City of Bones

2011-06-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. After a discussion on Twitter about the best troubled, broken, bad ass boys in YA, several people convinced me to finally (finally!) read this series. Jace (who wins the most broken boy award in YA) was the original reason I started reading, but all the characters convinced me to continue reading.

Synopsis:

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.
Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon.
But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

First Line: ""You've got to be kidding me," the bouncer said, folding his arms across his massive chest." The scene begins at Pandemonium, the all ages club Clary likes to go to, and at which she meets her destiny. It's very effective first scene, and introduces us to all the major players right off, without bogging us down or confusing us with too many characters.

Brownie Points: Brownie Point number one needs to go to the twist. I'm not giving the twist away. But those of you who have read it, know what I'm talking about. I loved it! And didn't see it coming. Brownie Point number two goes to sarcasm. I love sarcasm. Especially witty sarcasm, and this book had it in spades.

Recommendation: This is a really great YA Urban Fantasy with a little romance and a great twist, plus it has it's own great world, rules, and magical twists you get to learn along with the main character. And you don't have to be sad at the end of book one because it's a series!

Would I represent it? I'm definitely looking for Urban Fantasy, but it has to be extremely unique (like this one) because the market is tough right now. Also, I'm looking for Adult Urban Fantasy, and The Mortal Instruments series is a good example of well written Urban Fantasy that both YA and Adults should read and emulate.

Happy reading!

The Middle Pile

2011-06-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Let's imagine that all manuscripts fall into three piles.

The largest pile is the stuff agents have no qualms about rejecting. These are the queries, partials, fulls that are obviously not ready for publication. They have issues for many reasons: writing isn't at marketable quality, plot is flat or overcomplicated or unoriginal, cannot connect with the characters, voice isn't unique, grammar shows the ms hasn't seen an edit.

The smallest pile is the stuff agents sign, the stuff editors gobble up, the thins you see on bookstore shelves and on the best seller list. As many books as there seem to be out there in print, this pile compared to the first pile, is tiny. This is the stuff I lose sleep over when I come across it in the slush pile.

things in the small pile make me happy

It's the third pile that is the most difficult. Some manuscripts come to us and they are not horrible, but nor do they stand above the rest with a blinking neon sign that reads AWESOME (like plain pasta noodles, pretty good, but won't wow your taste buds, could do with some spicing up). Your writing is good, voice is relatable, dialogue is natural, plot is probably unique, grammar is tight.

So why is your manuscript getting rejected if it falls into the third pile? It might be that you haven't found the right agent for it. Many times, it's a matter of finding the one agent who will work with you on the ms to bring from pile three to the land of AWESOME.

But, that might never happen. So you're looking at another revision. Sadly, agents cannot give feedback on everything they read (it'll happen, but not often). If you have racked up a few rejections on your partial or full, write down all the advice the agents did give you. Hopefully this is enough to let you know where to head next. If you've gotten no feedback (perhaps they gave you hope like "good writing," or "unique plot," or "amazing characters") then it might be time to ask for help.

Help comes in many forms. Critique groups are invaluable, especially when you find a great one (yes, there are bad and good critique groups). Look online if you can't find a local one to connect with. Contests many times have an editing prize. Even the first page or first five pages will significantly help your writing. The majority of conferences will have a book doctor on staff or manuscript critiques with agents and editors--do it. You'll get a good price to meet with the editor and you'll make a good connection with them (especially if they like your work). Pay an editor to edit and give professional feedback--shop around a lot when in the market for an editor. Get someone with many years experience in your genre. Many agencies have started a manuscript editing/consulting/critiquing line to their business to help writers get out of the slush pile--they will be some of the best editors you'll ever get.

The biggest thing to remember when you're in this third elusive pile: don't despair. You're doing something right. But writing is hard work--and nothing worth doing is ever easy. So keep working at it. The beauty of being in a business like this is that everyone here is here because they love it--you have support and the resources. Put them, and your passion, to good use.

Happy writing!

Chuckanut Drive Writer's Conference

2011-06-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

This weekend I'll be at Chuckanut Drive Writers Conference up in my old stomping grounds, Bellingham, WA.

If you're in the area, please stop by and say hi!

Remember to brush up on your pitching. If you haven't read it, go to my post about speed pitching.

There are lots of other great resources online.

What are your favorite sites for tips (from pitching, to networking, to dressing, to basic behavior) for conferences? Please share them in the comments!

Happy pitching!

I got an offer! ...Now what?

2011-06-23T00:00:00.001-07:00

Hypothetically, let's say you've gotten an offer of representation by an agent.

Firstly, congratulations!

Secondly, you're probably wondering what protocol is. As an agent, I'll give the writer 7-10 days to accept my offer. There are several reasons for this. One, I understand that other agents need to be notified (more on this later) and as a professional courtesy I want to extend them the opportunity of jumping on the great ms (or so I can later rub in their faces that I got it and they didn't--I'll get my victories where I can). Two, I want the writer to mull my offer over, do a little more research about me, and really decide if I'm the best agent for the job. If a writer decides he/she doesn't want to work with me for whatever reason, then please, reject the offer. You don't need to accept the first offer that comes around. If you think we won't work well together, (and for some reason I didn't pick up that vibe), I don't want to find out the hard way.

Okay, thirdly, you have the offer, you've popped open the champagne, and squealed to your closet friends about it. Now you have other agents with partials or full manuscripts that you haven't heard back from. Politely inform them of your offer, the title of your ms, and the date at which you need an answer by. In the subject line, put "Offer of Representation." Always catches my eye and I will usually grab your ms right then and start reading (you've been moved to the top of the slush pile because someone has already weeded you out for me). If your offering agent hasn't given you a deadline, ask for one, or ask for 7-10 days (decide which one you want) to inform other agents.

Your question now should be: which agents do I inform? The ones who currently have your partial or full ms. Not the ones who have rejected you. It's up to you whether you want to inform agents who only have your query but haven't responded yet. For those, hit the ones you like best, such as one you really, really, really want to work with. Personally, I do appreciate being informed, because there is nothing I hate more than getting excited about a query letter only to be informed that they've already been signed.

An offer from a small press works the same. In that case, you have to make a decision. Is the small press really the way you want to go? Do you still really, really want an agent? If so, you might want to forgo the small press altogether. If you just want someone to want your ms, then it's up to you whether to let the agents know and have a chance at your ms, otherwise, just rescind it.

Anne asked, should I inform an agent who has had my partial for nine months of an offer from a small press? Yes, you can. They haven't out-right rejected you, so you can inform them. However, you should decide whether you really, really want that agent (notice the difference between "really" and "really, really"). If that agent was on your list for the sake of being on your list, then maybe following up isn't worth it. If you think that agent is the cat's meow, then you have nothing to lose.

Happy writing!

Wednesday Reads: Divergent

2011-06-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

If you loved Hunger Games, you must read Divergent by Veronica Roth! Another great Dystopian. Think Harry Potter houses meets Hunger Games.

Synopsis:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

First Line: "There is one mirror in my house." It begins with Tris's life before everything changes. Establish the status quo (think Luke in Star Wars) then upset it (beginning a journey). And it's a great background for her as a character, her personality, her upbringing is a huge part of who she is mixed with who she is naturally.

Brownie Points: Tris's fear. Now, fear is a big part of the novel, because of the life Tris chooses to lead (really not giving away much), but whereas other characters must learn to overcome their fears, Tris rationalizes it away. I found myself connecting with her a lot during these moments. It's funny because her rationality doesn't necessarily make her a strong character, it's her sheer force of will that does that.

Recommendation: If you're a big fan of dystopias and think the market has been beaten to death, think again.

Would I represent it: Oh heck yes!

Happy reading!

Andrea Hurst and Associates Blog Series

2011-06-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

This summer, the agency's blog will be running a summer blog series of interviews with publishing professionals. Check out the blog often for new interviews as well as valuable information and advice.

Our first interview is with Laurie McLean, agent with Larsen-Pomada.

Happy reading!

When has an agent had my partial for too long?

2011-06-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

Wednesday Reads: Paper Towns

2011-06-15T07:51:00.000-07:00

I've already mentioned how John Green is the bomb right? Here's a picture in case you need visual representation.

This is what, the fourth book of his I've read? I didn't want to put it down. He has it all. Unique plots. Voice. Exceptional and exceptionally odd and geeky characters. I can't decide which is my favorite, Paper Towns, or Looking for Alaska. Of course, topping them all, my all time John Green favorite is Will Grayson, Will Grayson, co-written with David Levithan. (And don't forget to check out John Green's vlogs and whatever else he has coming up.)

Synopsis:

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life–dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge–he follows.

After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues–and they’re for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees of the girl he thought he knew.

First Line: "The way I figure it, everyone gets a miracle." This is from the prologue which, by the way, is a great example of a really good prologue. And the first line from the first chapter, quiet but telling: "The longest day of my life began tardily."

Brownie Points: Q's interactions with his equally nerdy friends. They often have conversations making fun of each other that just go on and on and on and I'm laughing at every single line.

Recommendation: Everyone who likes YA should be required to read at least one, if not all, of John Green's books.

Would I represent it? The idea of representing someone like John Green... there are no words. I might throw a party for myself... that would never, ever end.

Happy reading!

Questions for the Agent: Queries and Partials

2011-06-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

Obviously, if it's the wrong genre for me, it's gonna be a no.
Also, if you don't address me by my name (spelled correctly), it's probably going to be a no. If you don't use my name, I'm going to assume you didn't personalize the query and you sent it to twenty agents at the same time (if you do, for the love of all that's holy, hide the bccs).
Writer shows he/she does not understand basics of grammar and/or spelling (I'll overlook obvious mistakes, even I can't catch every error; I can usually tell the difference between "Whoops didn't catch that" and "I think this is how this goes but I'm just going to guess")
Not always an instant deal breaker, however, using cliches aren't going to get you far. "Fateful night" is one that gets under my saddle and chaffs.

Insta-nos for partials:

Unnatural dialogue.
Excess of backstory.
Cliche characters and/or situations and/or phrases. Ex: beautiful girl is so tragically misunderstood at school and that all changes when the mysterious new boy at school pays attention to only her.
Writer shows he/she does not understand basics of grammar and/or spelling (I'll overlook obvious mistakes, even I can't catch every error; I can usually tell the difference between "Whoops didn't catch that" and "I think this is how this goes but I'm just going to guess"--this goes for query letters too)
Writer shows he/she does not understand how to set a scene and/or plot. Ex: something I look for is length of sections and chapters. If the first chapter has sections or scenes a few paragraphs to a page or two long, it's probably because the writer doesn't know how to lengthen a scene and gives us what we need to understand the story or character.

Not so obvious insta-nos on partials:

Lack of voice. If I cannot connect with the character, and if I can't empathize with him/her, I won't care about what happens.
Unnecessary or excessive use of slang or bad language (this may or may not be subjective, because I understand some books use this as a device--I usually don't like those books). There is a fine line between voice and excessiveness.
A prologue that is excessively long or I don't think is necessary; I'll try to skip ahead to the first chapter to give it a fair chance, but your prologue should be just as well written as the rest and if I'm in a hurry or super slammed with partials, I won't get that far.

Would I take an elevator pitch knowing the writer needs a month or more to actually query?

Yes. You're showing initiative by showing up the the conference (class, bathroom, wherever you may be) instead of waiting to research until after you've finished writing. Please don't send me something unfinished. You get one chance, use it wisely. I've heard of agents getting manuscripts from people they met at a conference two years prior. Agents understand that conferences are packed with a lot of info, info that probably makes you think "I need to revise that in my ms". Please, go use what you've learned, then get back to us.

Any more questions that go in this category of queries and partials?

Happy writing!

Wednesday Reads: Anna and the French Kiss

2011-06-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

Why did it take me so long to get to this book?! I absolutely loved it. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.

Synopsis:

Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all . . . including a serious girlfriend.
But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Stephanie Perkins keeps the romantic tension crackling and the attraction high in a debut guaranteed to make toes tingle and hearts melt.

First Line: "Here is everything I know about France: Madeline and Amalie and Moulin Rouge." She goes on to list more things she knows about France, which is pretty hilarious actually (and is actually more than I knew about France). But what I love is that her rant is headed by three movies. Anna loves movies. She wants to be a movie critique when she grows up (unique choice of profession) and you can see this in her voice. But her voice doesn't only consist of movies references. There is a lot to Anna and you fall in love with her as easily as every other character.

Beefs: Not an actual complaint but I felt compelled to mention it. Etienne St. Clair isn't your usual "OMG he is soooo hot" type of boy. He's imperfect, he has abandonment issues, and he's short. I usually prefer my hot male characters to be tall (tall, dark, and handsome; cliche, I know). But I love St. Clair despite his lack of height.

Chocolate Eclair Points: Perkins reveals France to us slowly, in bite-sized increments (and tasty mouthfuls of food I can't eat) that's easy to swallow. More points go to the friends, the family, and school. All unique and wonderfully well done.

Recommendation: You mean you haven't read it yet?! Shame on you! I'm super excited for her next book, Lola and the Boy Next Door to come out in fall 2011.

Would I represent it? In a heartbeat.

Happy reading!

Questions for the Agent: Personal Preferences

2011-06-06T16:26:00.000-07:00

From when I was gone, I asked you, the lovely reader, to ask me questions and/or suggestions for future blog posts. I'm back. I'm (mostly) caught up with work. And now I'm answering your questions in segments. And asking for more questions. Here's the time to find out all you can about the agent (remember most everything is subjective and does not apply to all agents).

Boy POV MCs:

I'm for it. One of my favorite authors of boy POVs of all time is John Green. Of course, I don't expect you to be John Green-- let me correct that: please don't strive to be John Green (his awesomeness is so great I cannot refer to him simply as John or Green). What makes John Green John Green is his personal style and voice and plot. If you emulate him exactly, you won't be unique (he came first so he'll still stand alone at the top and you'll be cast lower). Find your own style and voice and hooks. Remember that boy POVs are less in demand than girl POVs because, sadly, the majority of teen readers are girls (and all readers in general actually). That said, plot accordingly. You probably don't want to write a YA romance from the POV of a boy. And an action/adventure written solely for a boy audience probably won't sell.

Dystopians:

What? Where? Can I have it?
I love dystopians. They are less in demand than they were right after Hunger Games came out, but people are still reading and buying. But don't forget about other genres that haven't been explored as widely. And you can mix genres as well.

Have I read Jellicoe Road?

Thanks for the suggestion! It's in my TBR pile right now. Have any others for me to read?

Would I represent an international writer?

Sure. The same parameters apply to non-international writers: namely, I have to love it. So worry about that first.

How to query LGBT lit:

Cast your net as wide as you can go. Unless an agent specifically isn't looking for it, go ahead and query them (if it meets their other guidelines--for example, I say I'm not looking for Time Travel, so if you have a LGBT time travel, don't query me--that said, I'm personally not looking for LGBT). The thing is, as agents, we understand that we might fall in love with the project even if we've been quoted by saying we didn't like a sub-genre. I'm not a huge fan of ghost stories and guess what? Yup, I signed one. It's about voice and craft.

Any more questions having to do with my personal preferences? This can be genres or how I like things submitted or something general about the business.

Happy writing!

Wednesday Reads: Rival

2011-06-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer, besides its gorgeous cover, was a fantastic read. This is an example of multiple POV done excellently. What's more, is that the two character POV we see are two girls, but never once was I confused as to who was talking. Also, the consistent theme and references to music gives the rivalry theme a new twist.

Synopsis:

Brooke
I don't like Kathryn Pease. I could pretend everything's fine between us. I could be nice to her face, then trash her behind her back. But I think it's better to be honest. I don't like Kathryn, and I'm not afraid to admit it.
Kathryn
I saw a commercial where singers used their voices to shatter glass, but the whole thing is pretty much a myth. The human voice isn't that strong.
Human hatred is. Anybody who doubts that should feel the hate waves coming off of Brooke Dempsey. But I don't shatter; I'm not made of glass. Anyway, the parts that break aren't on the outside.
Brooke and Kathryn used to be best friends . . . until the night when Brooke ruthlessly turned on Kathryn in front of everyone. Suddenly Kathryn was an outcast and Brooke was Queen B. Now, as they prepare to face off one last time, each girl must come to terms with the fact that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had.

First Line: Before we get to Chapter 1, each section is headed off with a musical definition. The first one is "Dissonance: a harsh sounding of notes that produces a feeling of tension and unrest."

Beefs: The line about the human voice not being able to shatter glass threw me for a moment because I saw it actually happen on Myth Busters. But the metaphor is well used and quickly gets you into the conflict of the story (and doesn't let you go).

Brownie Points: The use of musical metaphors is done is such a way that allows anyone (music lovers or not) to understand what is going on and connect to the characters. This also plays into VOICE; it's obvious what both characters value and we see it time and time again in their inner monologues.

Recommendation: Read it!!! It's one of those books that will take you by surprise. Basically it is a teenage rivalry/high school drama sort of book, but it's done so well, and so unique, that it really doesn't feel like one.

Would I represent it? You bet.

Happy reading!

Wednesday Reads: The Sky is Everywhere

2011-05-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. Grief, true love, betrayal, self discovery. It's the latter that grabbed me and didn't let me go. That and VOICE. Page one, you connect with Lennie. You know what she's thinking, what she values, and you empathize with her.

I used this cover rather than the cover on my copy (the one with the heart) because I like it better. It's way more Lennie. But while doing the Google Image search, I came across dozens of beautiful images of covers, captions, quotes. I won't bombard your senses with them all, so if you have time (make time) Google Image search "The Sky is Everywhere."

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey.

But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.

First (few) line(s):

"Gram is worried about me. It's not just because my sister Bailey died four weeks ago, or because my mother hasn't contacted me in sixteen years, or even because suddenly all I think about is sex. She is worried about me because one of her houseplants has spots.
Gram has believed for most of my seventeen years that this particular houseplant, which is of the nondescript variety, reflects my emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. I've grown to believe it too."

You know the key players, that Lennie has a lot going on in her life, and that her life is rather quirky. It was this first page that made me want to read this book (which is way I've given them to you).

Beefs: While I completely bought the ending (it was believable and perfectly fit with the tone of the novel), I couldn't help but leave the novel with the taste of teenage romance in my mouth. Good or bad depending on your mood of course. Again, I'm not saying the ending was bad, or that it's not worth the read (it is! It is!!), but the idea of happily ever after at 17 isn't always true to life.

Brownie Points: Besides the VOICE, what I liked was the use of Wuthering Heights. Gasp! Did I just say that?! Some of you regular readers may remember my condemnation of using Wuthering Heights in other books (I actually strongly dislike it. I've read it twice and will read it again in the future, but I cannot understand the appeal. But we all have our preferences), so I hope I'm not being a hypocrite now. What's interesting about using it in this book, is that it is a constant reference throughout. It's not just a passing "my favorite book of all time!" It really is Lennie's favorite book of all time. She's read it twenty-some times and constantly refers to it when thinking about romance. I won't give the ending away, but I wholeheartedly LOVED what Lennie did to her well worn and loved copy.

Brownie Point Two: Lennie has this delightful quirk/need/compulsion to write. She writes on everything: books, napkins, trees, her shoes. But she discards things as soon as she writes on them, and it's through these that we get another glimpse into her soul. Unique and beautifully done.

Recommendation: If for nothing else, read it to see the most outstanding example of VOICE. Every character is well rounded and crafted with care.

Would I represent it? Yes, yes, yes!

Happy reading!

Wednesday Reads: The Summoning

2011-05-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong.

Synopsis:

Chloe Saunders sees dead people. Yes, like in the films. The problem is, in real life saying you see ghosts gets you a one-way ticket to the psych ward. And at 15, all Chloe wants to do is fit in at school and maybe get a boy to notice her. But when a particularly violent ghost haunts her, she gets noticed for all the wrong reasons. Her seemingly crazed behaviour earns her a trip to Lyle House, a centre for disturbed teens.
At first Chloe is determined to keep her head down. But then her room mate disappears after confessing she has a poltergeist, and some of the other patients also seem to be manifesting paranormal behaviour. Could that be a coincidence? Or is Lyle House not quite what it seems…? Chloe realizes that if she doesn’t uncover the truth, she could be destined for a lifetime in a psychiatric hospital. Or could her fate be even worse…? Can she trust her fellow students, and does she dare reveal her dark secret?

First Sentence: "Mommy forgot to warn the new babysitter about the basement." The prologue is delightfully creepy, centering around Chloe's lost memory from twelve years before. Yes, about a basement and the things that go bump in the night.

Brownie Points: When I saw that it was about some girl that could talk to ghosts, I was hesitant to pick it up. I'm not a huge fan of ghost stories. However, I realized that it wasn't about the ghosts, but about the girl. So I picked it up. (Might have helped that it took place in a home for troubled teens; the whole insane asylum aspect intrigued me.)

Brownie Point number two: Because I wouldn't be me without mentioning it. Are you guys sick of me talking about VOICE? (And putting it in caps?) The main character not only had the inner conflict of "am I crazy?" but had her own passions and ways of thinking. She wants to be a movie director when she grows up, so what is her inner monologue like? In stressful situations or in scary cramped places, she begins to "direct" in her head, which takes the world as she sees it out of reality and into a frame in which she can deal with it. And what person doesn't do that?

Recommendation: If for nothing else, the characters were really well developed. Here's a host of misfits who really are misfits, especially in their own skin. And I loved how the pretty boy who you'd think would take center stage, didn't really.

I'm definitely going to be reading more of Armstrong's books. You should too. She has unique plot and great voice.

Would I represent it? The voice was slightly too young for me, but I'd definitely take a serious look at something like it.

Happy reading!

Wednesday Reads: Under Wraps

2011-05-11T00:00:00.001-07:00

Under Wraps is the first book in The Underworld Detection Agency Chronicles by Hannah Jayne. It's an adult Urban Fantasy. You've got the usual werewolves and vampires, but also a smattering of trolls, dragons, and witches. The cover is very bad a**, but in actuality, this is more like a paranormal cozy mystery with a dark edge. The tone if very fun and the characters are hilarious. Definitely worth the read.

Synopsis:

As a human immune to magic, Sophie Lawson can help everyone from banshee to zombie transition into normal, everyday San Francisco life. With a handsome werewolf as her UDA boss and a fashionista vampire for a roommate, Sophie knows everything there is to know about the undead, the unseen, and the uncanny. Until a rash of gruesome murders has demons and mortals running for cover, and Sophie finds herself playing sidekick to detective Parker Hayes. Dodging ranging bloodsuckers, bad-tempered fairies, and love-struck trolls is one thing. But when Sophie discovers Parker isn't what he seems, she's only got one chance to figure out whom to trust. Because an evil hiding in plain sight is closing in...and about to make one wisecracking human it means to ultimate power.

First Sentence: "This was why I didn't do magic." We get plunged directly into a hilarious stand off of dragon vs vampire with Sophie smack dab in the middle, and also get immediately into her voice.

Brownie Points: World building. The demon world lives "under" the normal one and is populated with all manners of creatures with all their own personalities. Sophie is a human but she has enough Seer blood in her to make her immune to magic, which means she can see through the veils into the demon world. A great maker of good world building, is the language that comes with it. And the creatures in this world all have their own; I found it especially hilarious when Sophie's vampire roommate calls her a "breather."

Recommendation: If you love Urban Fantasy or are looking for a great, light with an edge, read, then read this. Book 2, Under Attack, comes out in November 2011.

Would I represent it? Yes! I am looking for Urban Fantasy and would love a mix of downright dark and upbeat light.

Happy reading!