I know what you're thinking, "Two blogs in one day? What happened to warrant such a treat?" (If that's not what you were thinking or perhaps you substituted the word 'treat' for 'torture' then I have to ask, why are you reading this in the first place? But I digress.)
The second blog for today is because this afternoon I encountered a being that I was unaware existed; a kind, helpful literary agent!! (Insert your shocked gasps here.) Now, before I offend anyone out there, let me say that I am not stereotyping agents. I am merely admitting that many of the ones I have encountered thus far have not been willing to go above and beyond as she did. It has made me hopeful that there are others like her out there.
Her name is Katharine Sands and I contacted her in one of my seemingly endless networking attempts. Researching her online I quickly learned that her clients had amazing things to say about her, but sadly she does not represent my genre. As we shot short emails back and forth to each other I let her know that she could breath easy that I wasn't going to pressure her for representation because I knew she didn't represent YA books. She responded that she admired plucky authors (which I think translates to pain in the a*#) and then she took the time to compile a list for me of good YA agents. At the top of the list? Another agent AT HER AGENCY! (Dum, dumm, duuummmmmmm!!!)To quote a favorite wobbly-legged pirate of mine, "Thas' interesting."
I researched the agent she referred me to and like her already. In an interview she said something I deeply understand and completely respect, "write what you have to write, not what you think is going to sell." That is exactly how I feel about my novels.
So what does this all mean? What's going to happen next? Aye mateys that I can't be sayin'. We'll have to keep a weathered eye on that horizon and see where the winds be takin' us. (Sorry once I go pirate it's hard to stop.)
One thing I do know? I'm about to woo the heck out of a certain literary agent.
Author Stacey Rourke
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
WHEN WE LAST LEFT OUR HERO...
Recently I have acquired a few new followers. (Hi newbies!!) To summarize for the newcomers what they have missed I will simply say that if you want to be a writer and one of your parents DIDN'T go to finishing school with the president and CEO of Random House, be prepared for a rough journey to publication. Yep, that about sums it up!
Lately I have been spending a great deal of time on the "business" aspects of this quest into the literary world. Networking, editing to make book one more marketable, researching new contacts, blah, blah, blah. As I have nothing to show for these efforts yet the situation has been comparable to beating my head against a wall. Yes, I know if I want to get published it's mandatory but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Or that I shouldn't be brutally honest when I say on the fun scale it's right up there with a red hot poker in the eye. Truthfully if this was all there was to the business of books I would want no part of it.
But it's not.
Every author, every publisher, every editor, they are all in this industry for the love and admiration of the written word and the stories that can take our imaginations soaring to worlds that we never thought to imagine. I was reminded of this as I sat down to begin editing book two. I hadn't looked at my first draft since I finished it. Now that I have, my passion and enthusiasm for it has been refreshed. I honestly cannot wait to share it with all of you. THE CONDUIT sets the stage, but in EMBRACE OF THE CALL the "fun" begins. I am very proud of it and it reminded me that this is what I am working for, to share my stories with all of you. I'll jump through the hoops I have to for publication, but my real enjoyment and passion is creating stories that will make my readers laugh, cry or just stare in slack jawed astonishment. If I can accomplish that I have done my job and it will make all the hoop jumping worthwhile.
Lately I have been spending a great deal of time on the "business" aspects of this quest into the literary world. Networking, editing to make book one more marketable, researching new contacts, blah, blah, blah. As I have nothing to show for these efforts yet the situation has been comparable to beating my head against a wall. Yes, I know if I want to get published it's mandatory but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Or that I shouldn't be brutally honest when I say on the fun scale it's right up there with a red hot poker in the eye. Truthfully if this was all there was to the business of books I would want no part of it.
But it's not.
Every author, every publisher, every editor, they are all in this industry for the love and admiration of the written word and the stories that can take our imaginations soaring to worlds that we never thought to imagine. I was reminded of this as I sat down to begin editing book two. I hadn't looked at my first draft since I finished it. Now that I have, my passion and enthusiasm for it has been refreshed. I honestly cannot wait to share it with all of you. THE CONDUIT sets the stage, but in EMBRACE OF THE CALL the "fun" begins. I am very proud of it and it reminded me that this is what I am working for, to share my stories with all of you. I'll jump through the hoops I have to for publication, but my real enjoyment and passion is creating stories that will make my readers laugh, cry or just stare in slack jawed astonishment. If I can accomplish that I have done my job and it will make all the hoop jumping worthwhile.
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