Issue #09
September, 2005
Dear Romance Student,
As I write this month’s newsletter, my heart
goes out to the people of the Gulf Coast, the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
Who would have thought such a tragedy could occur? Thousands of lives will
have to be rebuilt. Please take action. Give what you can to the many charities
that have sprung up. Supplies and funds are desperately needed. If money
is short, give of yourself in whatever capacity you can.
On a personal – and much more positive note – I completed one of my Harlequin
novels, tentatively titled Flamingo Place, and got it to my editor
over the Labor Day Weekend. I’ve been asked to submit a proposal for the
sequel, so I’ll be working on that as well.
Meanwhile, I am busy writing my Harlequin action-adventure novel, due
in October. The setting is Tibet. My heroine is an art restoration specialist,
and my hero is an infrared technologist who is also a recent Buddhist convert.
As you can well imagine, I am deep into research ... and papers are strewn
all over my kitchen table.
With fall only an eye-blink away and winter on the horizon, you should
be working on something yourself. Are you remembering to write every day?
This business is about discipline and persistence. It’s about not giving
up. It’s about keeping your focus and it’s about honing your craft.
The old adage practice makes perfect applies to book writing. Rejections
are simply preludes to acceptances. They are opportunities for you to make
your book the best it can be.
Romantically Yours,
Marcia
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Below, you will find an article written by Linda Conrad - the novelist
we interviewed for this edition of Romantically Yours. One of the first
things any aspiring novelist needs to know is how to pitch your novel when
opportunity presents itself. Linda tells you how to do it right!
Master Pitching
The fine art of getting your prose published
Bummer!
You’ve spent many months (or years) getting your novel finished,
only to discover the hard work has just begun. Now, you must find and
convince a publisher that your manuscript is worth putting into print.
Huh?
Yes.
The facts about publishing are, even though you are the one in a thousand
who actually manages to complete a manuscript, your novel still may
never have a chance to appear on the shelves.
First, an editor from
a publishing company has to actually read your work, agree that it
fits with her company’s guidelines, and then offer you a contract for
it. But editors are some of the busiest professionals around – and
many refuse to accept unsolicited manuscripts. Mailing them a copy
of your book only means they probably will return it unread. So ...
what do you do?
You have to learn to be a salesperson, selling your own work.
We in the industry call it pitching your book.
Pitching a book in the romance industry
means you may be selling either in person or on paper. And you may
be selling to either an editor or an agent, or both.
If you are pitching on paper, it’s called a Query Letter.
There’s been lots written on the subject of how best to write a Query.
I simply advise that a Query Letter should be in business language
and should never be longer than one single-spaced typewritten page.
Pitching in person is the subject of this article. We are lucky in the
romance writing world in that we have a myriad of opportunities to attend
local conferences and workshops where publishers send their editors,
specifically looking for new authors. If you see that the editor or agent
you would like to target will be attending a nearby conference, find
out if the conference will be offering appointments. Most do. Get your
name on the list early.
I know you are thinking that you are not a salesperson,
so how will you ever convince anyone to buy your book. But that is just
the point. You will never convince anyone to publish your book. Your wonderful
book will do the convincing for you.
Your job during a pitch is to convince an
agent or editor to read your
manuscript. That’s all. The only thing you want to accomplish during
an appointment is for the editor to say the magic words: Send me your
manuscript.
I recently attended a conference where unpublished authors
were discouraged when they learned their appointments with a certain editor
were going to be held in a group. They knew by the time allotted for the
entire group that they would never get a chance to tell their individual
stories to the editor. Actually, they were lucky. The editor was exhausted.
She came in, introduced herself, and then told everyone to send her their
outlines and the first three chapters. No one had to talk at all. They
automatically got what they came for.
A little advice for pitching in person: Prepare in advance. You do not
want to stand out in the editor’s or agent’s mind as the one who was
unprepared and rambled on.
Take some time before the conference to write down a few succinct sentences
about your book on a note card. Everyone is nervous, and no editor would
mind if you read a couple of lines on the book’s premise rather than droned
on and on from memory.
Try to narrow your book’s plot down to one or two
lines. Sounds impossible? Pick up a Sunday newspaper, TV listing, or the
TV Guide magazine. There you will see how it can be done for shows and
movies. Do it for your own book. You will probably only have five minutes
at an editor appointment – and being able to tell her the set-up for your
story in two lines will be invaluable.
Here is one I’ve used: It’s a short contemporary featuring
an amnesiac undercover agent hero turned cowboy on a Texas ranch with a
hidden baby.
Short, but makes the point.
When the big day comes, how do you start? With
a smile.
I am constantly
amazed at how long editors and agents will remember a face from an appointment
that may have happened years earlier. And whose faces do you think they
remember the most? The smiling ones.
Walk right in, smile,
and introduce yourself. Another good idea I’ve learned along the way is
to make up a few business cards before you show up at the conference. They
are fairly easy to do yourself with a computer and a set of ready-to-make
cards. Just your name, address, and telephone number are sufficient. On
the back, in big bold letters, print the title of the book you will be
pitching.
Okay, so how should the appointment really go?
After you have smiled, introduced yourself, and given her your card, say
something like: I’m very nervous. But I have written a 55,000 word short
contemporary novel that would be perfect for your line. May I tell you
the premise?
Right off the bat, you
have: 1) placed the editor on your side (everyone feels sympathy with being
nervous) and 2) established yourself as someone who knows what type of
books the editor may be looking for - and shown that you have done your
homework by reading the line and matching your novel to their guidelines.
Advice on pitching in person: Dress as conservatively
as your wardrobe will allow (no jeans, shorts, or costumes). Be cordial
and enthusiastic, but never interrupt or presume the editor or agent wants
to speak to you outside of the appointment itself. Do not get so nervous
that you forget to listen to what she is saying.
Remember, the whole point of the
appointment is for the editor or agent to say, “Send me your manuscript
(or proposal).” Unfortunately, I have seen people so bent on telling their
whole story (which is not appropriate for these appointments) that they
totally miss the fact that, within two minutes, they got what they came
for. Once you hear the magic words, stop talking, say “thank-you,” and
leave. The over-worked editor or agent will thank you for it and remember
you kindly when reading your book.
One final
thing: Editors and agents complain that most of the time when they have
asked to see a manuscript in an appointment setting, the writers
never send it to them. Really! Don’t waste your opportunity. Have
your work ready to send out before the appointment, and then be sure
to mail it with the words REQUESTED MATERIAL on the front of the envelope.
Good
luck! And I’ll look forward to reading your book when it hits the stands!
HAPPENINGS:
September 23 - 25, 2005
Writing Mystery/Suspense Retreat – Kiss of Death Mystery/Suspense Chapter
AmeriSuites Hotel, San Antonio, TX
Joanne Pence, Joanna Novins, Michel Scott, Maggie Lawson, others.
bkroon@hickorytech.net
September 28 - October 1, 2005
Women’s Fiction Festival in Matera, Italy – Chicklit Writers of the World
UNESCO World Heritage Site, Matera, Italy
All genres welcome. Editors, Agents, Booksellers. Booksigning.
www.womensfictionfestival.com
September 30 - October 2, 2005
24th Annual Moonlight & Magnolias: Romance Southern Style – Georgia
Romance Writers (Home of the Maggie Awards)
Westin Atlanta North, Perimeter, GA
Hear Lisa Gardner speak. Workshops, Agent Editor appts, Book Fair, signing.
Literacy raffle.
FMI contact Pam Mantovani – www.georgiaromancewriters.org
October 1, 2005
Kiss and Tell: Love, Sex and Writing – Maryland Romance Writers
The Women’s Club of Catonsvile, 10 St. Timothy’s Lane, Cantonsville, MD
One-day conference. Speakers Jamie Denton, Susan Gable, Holly Jacobs.
Fee: $40 - $50
Announcement of winners of 2005 Reveal Your Inner Vixen contest, continental
breakfast and lunch included.
FMI www.marylandromancewriters.org or lisajoy419@msn.com
October 1, 2005
Lone Star Writer’s Conference – Northwest Houston RWA
Hilton Garden Inn, Willowchase TX
Alice Orr will present Get Published Now. FMI
Carla Williard www.nwhrwa.freeservers.com
October 7 - 8, 2005
Put Your Heart in a Book – New Jersey Romance Writers (One not to miss
– this is where I got started.)
Woodbridge Sheraton, Iselin, NJ
Hear Mary Jo Putney, Lisa Kleypas, Christine Feehan, Christina Skye, Susan
Meier. Workshops, appts, PAN retreat. Book Fair and signing.
FMI contact Lena Pinto www.NJRomanceWriters.com
October 14 - 16, 2005
2005 Cimarron Dreamin’ Conference,
Hilton, Southern Hills, 7902 S. Lewis Ave. Tulsa, OK
Workshop Speakers:
Jennifer Blake: Plotting Made Simple
Susan Andersen: Q&A on everything you wanted to know about
publishing
Robin Lee Hatcher: Creativity
Linda Castillo: Writing Romantic Suspense and Character Profiling
Agent and Editor Appointments:
Miriam Kriss, Irene Goodman Agency
Michelle Grajkowski, Three Seas Literary Agency
Caitlin Alexander, Bantam Dell
Victoria Curran, Harlequin
http://www.rwi-rwa.com/conference.htm
Now it’s time to meet Waldenbooks’ best seller, Linda Conrad. Until recently,
Linda was on our Writing for Love & Money Board of Directors. She is
still an active participant, submitting articles and willingly providing
input in the Writing for Love & Money program. Below, this ex-stockbroker
and certified financial planner tells you why she left a lucrative business
to write romances from the heart – something she does quite well, I might
add.
Marcia King-Gamble
Director of Member Services and Editor, Writing for Love & Money
A Taste of Paradise – July 2005
INTERVIEW WITH LINDA CONRAD
RY: Linda, I have always been fascinated by your previous
career. I mean ... here you were a high-powered stockbroker who made a
radical change, venturing into the land of romance. What was it about romance
that captured your heart?
LC: I am a Virgo – September 13th – and the label “practical
romantic” fits me perfectly. I love reading, and now writing, stories that
either tug on the heartstrings or make you laugh and cry at the same time.
Where better to find those wonderful novels than in romance? When I really
understood that you can also find good mystery and suspense stories in
the romance field, I was sold.
RY: It wasn’t that long ago that you penned your first
book. What was it ... only three years? And now, here you are with 12 books
under your belt and an impressive series that you’ve been signed to. Can
you tell us what inspired you to write your first book – and a little about
it?
LC: The first book I sold was not the first book I wrote.
I first wrote a combination mystery/suspense romance that is still residing
under my bed. Someday, I may drag it out and revamp it. But so far, I have
too many others on my plate. In some ways, I hate to admit what inspired
me to write the first book I sold ... but we’re all friends here. About
five years ago, I read an article by the then editor of Silhouette Desire.
She listed the “hooks” that she felt were necessary for authors to use
in order to become published in the Desire line. Up until then, I hadn’t
even considered writing the short, hotter novels. But something about what
she said hit me just right and I decided to give it a try. I had already
come to the conclusion that I was bound to find some way of getting published.
When I set my mind like that – watch out! Next, I read every Desire I could
get my hands on (about 50). Then I came up with a plot that contained as
many of the Desire hooks as I could cram in. It became my “amnesiac cowboy/undercover
agent with a hidden baby” book. Wrote it in about four months, sold it,
and it became THE COWBOY’S BABY SURPRISE, my first book.
RY: And now you’ve signed a contract for a second series.
I was particularly drawn to the title, “The Gypsy Inheritance.” It’s seductive
and mysterious. How did you come up with the concept? Tell us about the
story that was released this month.
LC: “The Gypsy Inheritance” is a Silhouette Desire trilogy,
out in August, September, and October 2005. In each book, we meet a mysterious
gypsy who gives magic inheritances to three heroes. The magic is supposed
to allow each of these men to get past their own problems and discover
true love. The gift in the August book, SEDUCTION BY THE BOOK, is
an antique book of Grimm’s fairytales, which is perfect for a reclusive
rich man who seems like a lost prince to the heroine. The gift in
the September book, REFLECTED PLEASURES, is a golden mirror. This Texan
hero sees things only in black and white, and the magic mirror helps him
see the truth in the plain assistant he hires. The gift in the October
book, A SCANDALOUS MELODY, is a jeweled egg with a secret twist. It turns
out to be a perfect inheritance for a hero who believes he has been betrayed
and is hesitant to hear the truth. In the third book, we also find out
why the gypsy has been directed to hand out these inheritances.
I’m not sure where my ideas come from, but each of these stories was based
on a theme that interested me, and gypsy magic seemed like a great way
to link them together.
RY: You’ve established a loyal fan base, and you are
a Waldenbooks best-selling author for is it the fourth year in a row. What
does being a Waldenbooks best-seller mean?
LC: A lot of people apparently buy and enjoy my books,
and I am extremely grateful that they do. Writers need validation that
what they are writing is striking a chord with readers. But what else does
it mean? Maybe bigger royalty checks.
RY: It must feel good knowing that you have fans just
waiting for your next book to be released. Given that category books have
a six-week shelf life, how do you promote to get the word out?
LC: Promotion is difficult in category because of the
short shelf life. That is one of the reasons I prefer to write mini-series
(usually trilogies) rather than one single-category novel. That way, I
can spread my promotion efforts over three books. I make up bookmarks for
all three, and then send out as many as I can to booksellers all over the
country. For three books, I can also afford to do a small number of print
ads in magazines. And, finally, there is my website and monthly newsletter,
where I post excerpts and contests and other fun stuff related to my current
releases. I feel the Internet is a great way to advertise romance novels
in general, and I usually do interviews and chats to help promote my books
on various romance reader websites.
RY: When it comes to career planning, you’re the best.
You carefully planned your career and even the line you wanted to write
for. Can you share your thought process with our budding novelists?
LC: Coming from such a business-oriented background,
I approached my new career with the same sort of marketing concepts as
I had learned in building an investment business.
First: Know the market you want to reach. What are people reading – and
can you give them something similar but fresh?
Second: Set your goals. I decided to write several short novels in order
to build a readership and then to move up into bigger and bigger books
in the hopes of reaching more and more readers as I go. (That may not be
a good route for everyone.)
Third: Decide how much time and effort you are willing to devote in order
to reach your goals. For instance, do you think you can write one book
a year? Two? Three or more?
Fourth: Learn how to sell yourself and your novel to the publisher who
is currently selling the kinds of books you think you can write. In this
business, we write for readers – but first, we must sell it to a publisher.
RY: Given your continued success, where do you see yourself
in the next five years?
LC: As I said, I am hoping to move into longer novels
as I go. I have recently sold a six-book idea to the editors of Silhouette
Intimate Moments. Those books are half-again as long as Desires and have
been the jumping-off stage for many a New York Times best-selling author
in the past (for instance, Nora Roberts and Sandra Brown). However, they
are still category books and will have only a one-month shelf life.
I am also currently working on a single-title type book that I hope to
find a publisher for sometime over the next year or two.
RY: I consider you the queen of online chats. Can you
describe the process to our members who may not be aware that opportunities
like this exist to meet their favorite authors?
LC: As I mentioned, there are many websites designed
particularly for romance readers. They’re places where you can go find
out about your favorite authors and their current books. Several of those
websites also host weekly online chats where readers can actually interact
in real time with authors. People are allowed to ask questions about books
and writing in general, and everyone usually has great fun. Chats are generally
scheduled for late evenings so people with day jobs can participate. Sometimes,
it’s difficult to figure out how (technically) to get into a chat and usually
you must register – but all of them are free. I have three scheduled for
this month to promote my September Gypsy Inheritance book. Check my website
for links.
RY: In terms of the writing business, if you had to do
it all over again, what would you have done differently?
LC: I had a plan and I followed my plan, so I can’t say
I would’ve done anything differently. I’ve certainly run into my share
of nightmares and setbacks, of course. But those were all things over which
I had/have no control. I wish those things could’ve gone differently, but
there was nothing I could’ve “done” to change them. It’s useless to worry
about or cry over things you cannot control. The best we can do is keep
trying to find a way around the obstacles. Being willing to change direction
and being persistent will pay off in this business.
RY: On an entirely different note, what advice would
you give to our members who are searching for agent representation? What
are some essential questions to ask?
LC: No legitimate agent charges a fee to “read” your
work. Anyone who asks for money up front should be avoided.
All literary agents should be registered with their association (AAR)
– and there are several websites that do list agents and agencies and give
their addresses.
Lastly, when you find an agent who is willing to represent you, the real
work begins. THE most important questions to ask yourself about the agent
are: Will I be able to work with this person? Does he love the way I write?
Do our personalities mesh? And will he be able to be enthusiastic when
pitching my work to editors?
An agent is essentially your employee. You will be paying his or her salary.
So you should be sure that you feel comfortable with your relationship.
RY: And, finally, what’s in the immediate future for
Linda Conrad. Inquiring minds want to know.
LC: What does “immediate” mean to you? This week, I am
waiting for a new contract and working hard on a proposal for an as-yet-unsold
single title (non-category) book.
I have the first two books of my new Silhouette Intimate Moments series
scheduled for release in April and May 2006, and they are complete.
In this business, contracts and deadlines rule. So we’ll wait and see
what happens next week.
WHO’S ACQUIRING:
Harlequin – Executive Editor Paula Eykelhoff is actively
acquiring for Epic, a brand-new 75,000-word contemporary romance series.
Guidelines are available on eHarlequin.com. Submissions should include
a detailed synopsis and 1-3 chapters.
Harlequin – Associate Senior Editor Mavis Allen is actively
acquiring for the brand-new 70,000-75,000-word African-American line. A
variety of traditional themes welcomed. Also looking for projects incorporating
the hip humor of “Girlfriends” and the cable network series “Soul Food.”
Family Dramas also welcomed.
Kensington Publishing – Seeking erotic romances for a
new line being launched in January of 2006. Submissions should be sent
to Audrey LaFehr or Hilary Sares. Various lengths considered.
Ballantine/ Ivy – Accepts manuscripts from unagented
writers. Query letter and SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) accepted.
In the query letter, please enclose a brief synopsis of your plot, setting,
and character descriptions, as well as relevant personal information. Single-title
romances only. 100,000 words. Submissions should go to Charlotte Herscher,
Signe Pike, or Daniel Mallory.
COMING NEXT MONTH:
In October, we’ll interview agent Amy Moore Benson. Amy brings to the
literary market a wealth of experience from the publishing world. Until
recently, she was a senior editor at Mira, a Harlequin imprint. She is
currently looking for talented authors to represent. You may email contact@ambliterarymanagement.com if
you are interested in representation.
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
Fax (561) 278-5929
studentservices@awaionline.com
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© 2005 American Writers & Artists Inc.