With the publication of my first book looming, more and more I get questions from other writers who are starting to navigate the publishing waterways. They have a mistaken notion that I have some secrets or know what I’m doing. One of the most common questions I hear is: “Where did you get your agent?” Why WalMart of course – the aisle near office supplies. No – don’t be foolish,…
Debut fiction author, about to be published, seeks literary representation after ending it with current literary agent. Must be willing to discuss possible story ideas, be open to light editing or comments. Similar philosophy on writing, publishing, and marketing preferred. Has time for me. Laughs at my jokes (I promise to laugh at yours!). Firm but flexible. Responds promptly. Current list should be impressive but manageable, with a view that…
A few weeks back, I gushed about my agent, so this week, I’m going off topic. I just received a copy of my German cover from Rowohlt Verlag. Now several things hit me right off. First, the title: Das Madchen im Wald, which apparently means “The Girl in the Woods” (for all of my mastery of the German language, it could mean anything!). I do like it: simple, evocative of fairy…
I have a confession to make: I am a cheapskate. I shop in thrift stores. Our family car has 210,000 miles. When something breaks I fix it (or learn to live without it) rather than running out and buying a new one. If there is something I need, it goes on a list and I try to wait a least a month before buying it, and usually, in that time…
I love this week’s topic. My first book- In the Stars– is about a woman who fakes psychic abilities in an effort to get her ex boyfriend back. As any writer will tell you one of the best things about writing is finding things to do to procrastinate doing the actual writing. As a result, I spent a lot of time avoiding writing by researching psychics, talking to people who…
One summer when I was a small kid our library held a reading program. In an effort to encourage wee readers they created a “treasure map” and for each book read you received a sticker. If you filled in the entire map you earned a gift certificate for McDonalds. Nothing like artery clogging food to inspire you to feed your mind.
All right, all right. I’m going to ‘fess up here. As a writer and author on the brink of publication, I am constantly lamenting to anyone who will listen about how I don’t have enough time to write. If only I had more time to write, my second novel would be done! If only I had more time to write, my agent would see that I’m not a slacker, but…
