Issue #03
March, 2005
Dear Romance Student,
It is said time flies when you're having fun. And it has beenfun coming
up with ideas for each edition of Romantically Yours. We're on our third edition
already. With your feedback we'll keep getting better and better so keep those
comments coming.
Before we get to this month's interview with agent, Helen Breitwieser of Cornerstone
LiteraryAgency, (my agent by the way,) let me tell you about some
upcoming conferences penciledon my calendar.
On March 10th - March 13th, authors and readers of the Multi-cultural genre
celebrate the 10th anniversary of Slam Jam in Dallas, Texas. See www.romanceslamjam.comfor
more details. Thenlater this month, March 17th through March 19th, in
New York, join published authors at Pasic. See http://www.pasic.net/conference.htmlfor
more details.
Here's asneak peek ofsome April conferences. On April 07th through
April 9th, New Yorkhosts yet another conference for published authors. This
one's calledNovelists Inc. but better known as Ninc. This organization
vows tokeep its members connected, communicating, and well-informed while
striving to better the status of fiction writers. For more information about
Ninc's conference please go to www.ninc.com/conferences/2005_NewYork/NYC.
Finally, one of the "funnest" (and yes I know that's not a real word,
but hey, I'm an author, I can take literary license) conference's is the Romantic
Times conference April 27th through May 01st. It's in St. Louis, Missouri. Thisconference
is all about the reader and is probably the only place you can literarilyrub
elbows with your favorite authors. It's also one of the few places where your
dance partner couldbe a hunkycover model and you get tovotefor
the next Fabio. Go to www.rtconvention.comfor
more information.
And now…on with the interview! To give you some background, Helen Breitwieser
is a literary agent(beautiful too)and owner of the boutique agencyCornerstone
Literary, based in Los Angeles. She began her career at the William Morris
Agency in 1990.Helenrepresents several New York Times
bestselling authors. Her main interests are women's fiction and mystery/suspense.
She is a Barnard College graduate and was raised in Connecticut.
Romantically yours,
Marcia King-Gamble
Director of Student Services and
Editor, “Writing for Love and Money”
Interview with Helen Breitwieser
RY: Helen, can you tell us what drew you to this exciting and at times stressful
career?
HB: As a kid, I wanted to be a librarian. I actually used index cards to catalog
all my books. I loved to read and talk about my favorite authors. Then
in college I worked part-time at a law firm and found out I loved to read contracts
and parse language. I happened to read an article about literary agents and
decided it would combine those interests.
RY: Do you have to have a particular educational background or experience in
publishing to be a literary agent?
HB: I think it helps to know how to negotiate to get what you want or need
and also to have read a wide range of books and be aware of what is popular
in the marketplace.
RY: What exactly does an agent do? Can you describe your typical day?
HB: I read manuscripts in the evening and on the weekends, whether by
my own clients or prospective clients. Generally in the morning I am talking
with editors in New York, either pitching a book or discussing the editorial
content, production or marketing of a book already under contract. In the afternoon
I talk with producers and film or talent agents here in Los Angeles. Clients
live all over the country as well as overseas so those calls are throughout
the day.
RY: How many published and pre-published authors do you currently represent?
HB: Approximately 30.
RY: What has your success rate been in placing a newbie who seems promising?
HB: Around 95%.
RY: What genres do you currently represent?
HB: Women’s fiction, including mainstream, romance, chick lit and erotica. Mystery,
suspense.
RY: What are the names of some of your authors, and what was it about their
work that made them stand out?
HB: Pam Rosenthal, Marilyn Jaye Lewis, Rachel Lee, Elaine Coffman, Kayla Perrin,
Marcia King-Gamble, Carole Matthews. All these authors paint a vivid picture
with their words, and I tend to remember the stories and characters long after
reading their novels.
RY: You must get thousands of queries. Can you give us an example of the kinds
of letters that capture your interest and cause you to request a partial?
HB: We receive about 150-200 queries each week. The professional letters
get more attention, and those are more precise in describing exactly what the
story is, who the potential reader would be, and tells me something interesting
about the author in terms of her life experience.
RY: On that same note, what is it about an unpublished author’s work that would
make you want to represent them?
HB: When I read a story that makes me feel as if I am witnessing rather than
reading it, I know the author has a gift for storytelling.
RY: What advice would you give to some one who has not been published but is
shopping for an agent?
HB: Make sure the agent belongs to the AAR (the Association of Authors
Representatives—they have a website), and find out which authors the agent represents.
If you read the acknowledgments in your favorite books, you’ll notice authors
will often mention his or her agent. Publishersmarketplace.com is a terrific
place to do research. Query the agents who represent work in the genre in which
you are writing, or books that are marketed to the audience you think would
find your book appealing.
RY: Are there any particular questions you recommend the prospective client
ask an agent?
HB: If the agent offers representation, the author should ask what the agent’s
submission strategy will be, and whether she’ll pass along comments or letters
from the editors who have seen the work. Some agents don’t do this, but I think
it’s valuable for a writer to see why a publisher has passed on their work.
The author should also ask whether the agent intends to sell the world rights
to a publisher, or if she’ll carve out U.K. and/or translation rights and sell
those separately.
RY: And finally, what advice do you have for an aspiring novelist? Are there
new lines, imprints, houses that would be more willing to give a new author
a break?
HB: The best advice is to write every day, don’t give up if your first
book doesn’t get you an agent or a publisher, write a second book. There
are always new micro-publishers, new imprints at the larger publishers and junior
agents or editors looking for new talent.
COMING NEXT MONTH:
More exciting news! In April we’ll interview Sandra Kitt. Considered
the Grand Dame of the Multicultural business, Sandra was the first African American
author to write for Harlequin. In addition to lecturing, she now writes for
Onyx, Signet, Harper Collins and BET. For more about Sandra log onto www.sandrakitt.com
ABOUT ROMANTICALLY YOURS
Romantically Yours is a FREE monthly newsletter for students of American
Writers & Artists Inc.’s Romance Writing Course – “Writing for Love
and Money.”
We want to hear from you. Please send comments, news, research, or story
ideas directly to Marcia King-Gamble at romanticallyyours@awaionline.com.
American Writers & Artists Inc.
245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone (561) 278-5557
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