Query.Sign.Submit. with Suzie Townsend

Suzie Townsend Literary Agent

Suzie represents Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult. See query guidelines here.

You’ll receive an auto-response when you send your query and she responds to all queries within two weeks.

 

To connect with and learn more about Suzie . . .

New Leaf Literary
Blog
Twitter

literary agent and author Now for Suzie’s insight on querying, signing with an agent, and going on submission!

QUERY

Do you always read a query all the way through? If not, what would make you stop reading?

Nope. I read the first few lines and get the gist of the concept. If it grabs me, I read a little more. If I’m still interested, I skip down to the pages and start them. Usually within the first couple paragraphs of the pages, I know if I want to read more. If I do, I request.

How do you tackle your inbox? Do you go in order or jump around?

For my queries I sit down when I have a block of time (usually at the end of the week) and I power through them. I start with the first email and go all the way through to the end.

Do you ever offer a Revise & Resubmit? When would you do so?

Yes. If I think the writing has a lot of potential but something in the manuscript needs work, I’ll give some notes and encourage the author to revise and resubmit. If the characters and the voice are really compelling but the plot and/or worldbuilding needs work, I’ll offer notes. It’s all about how much I love what’s there and how confident I am that the manuscript can be fixed.

Most Revise & Resubmits don’t turn into offers, though. Too many authors turn them around too quickly or go for a quick fix in the notes rather than trying to apply them through the manuscript. Some don’t ever resubmit too.

SIGN

Once a writer has signed with you, what’s the next step?

Usually the first step is edits. Before I sign a client, I let them know what my editorial vision for the project is—so they know what they’re getting into. Depending on the project, revisions can take a week or two or it can take several months. Once the manuscript is ready, we go on submission.

How do you put together a list of editors to send to?

A lot of times when I’m reading a manuscript, editors who might be the right fit for it come to mind. By the time I sign the author, I usually have a long list of possible editors in my head. I narrow it down by checking up their recent acquisitions or meeting up with them for drinks or lunch while the author is revising.

Should a writer share previous contact with editors with you? For example, from conferences or workshops.

Yes, definitely. Those editors might not be the right fit for any given reason, but it’s always important information for me to know.

SUBMIT

Can a client make suggestions or share a wish list when it comes to editors/imprints to submit to?

Sure, they can, but it’s really important for my authors to trust me. If they don’t, we’re not the right fit.

If an author knows an editor well, has worked with someone in the past, loves the books and feel of a specific imprint, or perhaps met someone through a workshop, then yes, it’s good to have a discussion. But there’s a chance that the editor or imprint isn’t the right fit for the project.

Do you forward editor feedback to writers?

Yes, in most cases. A couple times I’ve had authors decide they’d rather not see the specific passes and in those cases I hold onto them and tell the author when we’re ready for the next step—either an offer or more revisions.

At what point might you suggest making more revisions?

If we get a number of passes with similar feedback or if the first round of revisions closes out, then I reread the manuscript and suggest revisions—or talk to the writer about their next project. There’s a chance that it might be the concept instead of the writing. If that’s the case we focus on something new.

What kind of feedback or response do you hope for after sending a manuscript to an editor? A book deal, of course, but what kind of feedback is a good sign?

What do you suggest a writer does while out on submission?

Write more. I usually suggest to work on a new project rather than a sequel.

Is it okay for a client to check in if there hasn’t been any news in a while?

Yes. I love hearing from my clients. I hope I keep them pretty updated. I try—I even send a lot of “I don’t have any new news, but I’m just saying hi” emails. My suggestion to authors would be to do the same. Check in and say hi. Update your agent on what you’re doing. The truth is, if there hasn’t been any news from your agent it’s because they don’t have any for you. That doesn’t mean they haven’t thought about you though. If it’s me, I’ll enjoy the conversation and probably throw in an update too.

Thanks so much, Suzie!

Want more?

See other Query. Sign. Submit. interviews
Read inspiring stories of writers getting agents
Find out about agent-judged contests

Posted July, 2013 – Always check for current info and guidelines.

Ten Tips for Write On Con - Online Writing Conference

Whether you’re a Write On Con veteran or this will be your first time there, head on over and check it out! It’s a FREE online writing conference and it’s AMAZING. Seriously, go look at the list of speakers.

To get the most out of the conference . . .

1.  Sign up for the newsletter and the forums. You should do this before the conference even begins. You can even start posting in the forums ahead of time.

2. There are threads to post your query and first 250 words. (You can also post the first 5 pages.) This is a great chance to get feedback on your work.  If you choose to, you can edit based on comments and get additional feedback on the new versions.

3.  If you put up both a query and the first 250 words, make sure they link to each other so people can find them easily. (Of course, include the synopsis or first 5 pages if you do those too.) Because, let’s face it, when you read a great query, you want to read more!

Here’s how-

Once you have both posts up, copy the urls and paste them on Notepad or in Word. Go back and edit your posts and add something at the bottom like, “Read the first 250 words here” with a link to the post.

4.  You can add links in your signature and you should. That means people can find all of your work, whether it’s your own post or when you comment on someone else’s. You can also add your title and pitch if you’d like. Here’s a sample signature line. All of them should be links.

MG Query ~ MG First 250 ~ PB Query

Website ~ Blog ~ Twitter 

Here’s how-

Go to Forum Actions, then Edit Profile. Under My Settings on the left, choose Edit Signature.  (You’ll need those urls you copied above.)  Whenever you post or make a comment, make sure you have the box checked to insert signature.

5. Comment in the forums. It’s so much fun to read everyone’s work and you get to help them out at the same time. 

Again, make sure you link to to your query, first 250 words, and website/blog/twitter handle so people can find you and return the favor.

6. Check the schedule. There are so many great things that go on on during this conference.  Seriously. There are live chats, where you can ask questions or simply lurk, pitch opportunities, and plenty of chances to learn.

It’s all still available later if you can’t be there for it, but some things are time sensitive.

7.  Don’t forget the giveaways. They always have fantastic prizes.

8.  Want to know when and where the ninja agents are lurking? (Shhh. Top secret info.) At the bottom of the forum and the sub-forums (MG, YA, etc.) it shows who is online. Look for “Ninja Agent ______.” You can also go to Quick Links and then Who’s Online?

OR Go to Community and Member List. Find the ninja agents and go to each profile page. It will tell you their current activity, including what they’re doing at that moment. If you choose find all posts, you can see where they’ve commented.

9.  Take a few notes. This is a great opportunity to get that personal first line when you send out your query letter. Look for those tidbits from agents during chats and forum posts and let them know you learned a lot from them at Write On Con! It’s also a great way to help you find agents that might be interested in your work.

10.  Have fun! 

Sign up for my email feed to be notified when the Who and Where are You at Write On Con? post goes up so you can connect with other writers.

You’ll find me over there as myidea, so come say hello. :)

**Stop by the Who and Where Are You at Write On Con post to leave your username for others to find you!**

Query.Sign.Submit. with Bethany Crandell

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Bethany is a Young Adult author and her debut novel, Summer on the Short Bus releases April 1, 2014 from Running Press Teens! She is represented by Rachael Dugas of Talcott Notch Literary Services.

 

To connect with and learn more about Bethany . . .

Website
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads

QSS banner black Now for Bethany’s insight on querying, signing with an agent, and going on submission!

QUERY

What advice would you give to querying writers?

Don’t worry about other people’s stats. There will always be someone who gets signed by dream agent after one query (yes, we hate that person), but that’s not the norm. The norm is slogging it out in the trenches while you wait for your turn. And you will get that chance, so long as you don’t give up. It may take a week/month/year but this is your journey, and it will play out the way it’s supposed to.

What resources and websites did you use when querying?

Query Tracker.

How did you keep track of your queries?

Again, Query Tracker. Patrick and the rest of the crew at QT have made it easy to track your queries, commiserate/celebrate with other authors, and get the most up-to-date information on agents. With all the tools made available to you, free of charge!, there’s really no excuse not to manage your submission process.

If querying was a long time ago for you, what do you remember most?

It seems like all literary agents work on the same calendar—a calendar the rest of the world doesn’t have access to. They all agree that one day every month will be designated as REJECTION DAY. It’s a mind-boggling phenomenon (no doubt orchestrated by the government *shifty eyes*) but you can go for 45 days without hearing a peep from an agent, and then one day you’ll get bombarded with 27 rejections all within a one hour time block. I used to think all the agents I queried were on the same teleconference cackling about me and my manuscript—“Let’s do it at 1:30 Eastern time, okay? We all hit the send button on our standard rejection email at the same time…” but it turns out it was the whole government-inspired, calendaring thing. Who knew…

What do you wish you’d known back when you were in the query trenches?

Querying is much like the first few weeks at home with a newborn baby. You wish you had a nanny to cover for you at night, or at least change a few diapers, but looking back you realize that you earned major mommy points during those sleepless hours. Querying isn’t fun, folks, but it is a rite of passage. Your skin will grow rhinoceros thick and your commitment will be tested, but you will get through it—and you’ll get a gold star at the end to show for it.

SIGN

Did you sign as a client of a career agent or on a book-by-book basis?

A career agent. When the personal stakes are this high, I cannot imagine signing with someone who wasn’t in it with me for the long haul.

Do you have input on the pitch to editors or does your agent take care of that?

My agent handles the pitching, but yes—she runs the initial query by me so I can have an idea what we’re putting out there. Also, she does this because it’s as important to have a bit of my voice in the pitch. A little tweak here or there can make all the difference, and potential editors should have a glimpse of what makes your voice unique from their first introduction to you.

Do you send sample chapters to your agent or do you wait until the manuscript is finished?

I wait until the MS is finished. I find that sharing incomplete work with people other than my crit partner can slow me down based on their feedback. It’s important for me to carve out the meat of the story before I start sharing and seeking input.

SUBMIT

Do you make suggestions or share a wish list when it comes to which editors/imprints to submit to?

Absolutely! My agent is a busy lady, and while I know she’s always on the hunt for a good home for my kids, I’ve got lots of drive to get my book babies adopted, too. If I find an interesting article, PM announcement, whatever, I’ll forward it her way.

What is a typical first round like once a writer goes on submission?

The first round of submissions is a lot like going to Disneyland.

When you first get there, it’s awesome…even magical. There’s no shortage of exciting things to do, see, eat... it truly is the happiest place on earth. Then you fast forward to about…two in the afternoon. That’s when you realize you just stood in line for three hours for a thirty second ride, dropped $9 on a slice of frozen pizza and that your kids are officially the most annoying creatures on the planet.

Going on submission is exciting, but it can also be a long, frustrating process. Don’t get me wrong, it’s worth it (I have an annual pass to Disneyland, guys) but for most writers it’s not a free pass to the front of the line. It’ll be another test of your patience and commitment to this process.

What do you suggest a writer does while out on submission?

Write! It’s really easy to lose your sanity while you wait, so create some new characters and keep yourself busy telling their story. Then, after the book sells and you dive into the editorial process, you’ll be excited to get reacquainted with the old gang, and beefing up their story will feel fresh and fun.

Can you check in with your agent if there hasn’t been any news in a while?

You bet. Rachael was great about keeping me informed as things happened, but because I’m neurotic I couldn’t go more than a couple of weeks without touching base with her. Even if it was just to hear her say, “Sorry, nothing to report,” it made me, and the voices in my head, feel a lot better.

Thanks for joining us, Bethany! And for entertaining us. ;)

Want more?

*See other Query. Sign. Submit. interviews.*
*Read inspiring stories of writers getting agents*
*Find out about agent-judged contests.*

How to Make a Blog Badge

Tools for Writers

Blog badges (or buttons) are those little squares you see on the side of blogs that take you to other wonderful blogs and websites. You can use them to share a great site, promote your own, advertise contests & blog features, or spread the word about your book.

MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA  I write for apples

Now you want one, don’t you? Well, today I’m going to teach you how to make a button. First, let’s learn how to grab other buttons to put on your blog. Yes, of course you can go grab my blog badge. It’s over there to the right. The one with the html code below. See it? You can use it for this first lesson.

(Instructions are for Blogger. See adjustments for Wordpress at the bottom of post.)

To grab a button:

  • copy the html code from under the button you want
  • open your Blogger account and choose "layout"
  • click "add a gadget"
  • choose "html" and you'll get a blank box
  • paste the code you’ve copied in the box
  • click save

That's it! The new button should be on your blog.

To make your own button:

  • to make your own button, you'll need a photo program like Paint.net
  • a standard square button size is 125 x 125, so when you open a new document, set the canvas size to 125 x 125 pixels
  • put your images and text on the button
  • save as a gif (jpeg is generally used for photos, but will also work & some sites will ask for it specifically)
  • save your image on a website like www.photobucket.com
To put your own "grab our button" on your blog:
  • go to the “Grab My Button” code generator and copy the code (This makes it so easy!)
  • open your Blogger account and choose "layout"
  • click "add a gadget"
  • choose "html" and you'll get a blank box
  • paste the code you copied into the box
  • click save
To adjust for Wordpress . . . 

Go to your widget page (under design), and select a "text" widget, click edit, paste it in (with your own info), and save. *I don’t use Wordpress, so if this has changed, please comment below. Thanks.

We’d love to see your handiwork! If you grab our button or put up one of your own, leave your site name and url in the comments. :)

**Spam comments will be deleted immediately.**

Query. Sign. Submit. with Victoria Marini

Victoria represents . . .

Adult, Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Non-fiction. See guidelines here.

You should get an auto response when you query Victoria and yes, she responds to all queries. Check here for her query status update.

To connect with and learn more about Victoria . . .

Gelfman Schneider Literary Agency
Website
Blog
Twitter 

QSS banner black Now for Victoria’s insight on querying, signing with an agent, and going on submission!

QUERY

How do you tackle your inbox? Do you go in order or jump around?

I go from the last received to the most recently received, and I only jump around if A.) I receive notice that another agent has offered or that there’s some other time-sensitive issue regarding the manuscript submission or B.) There’s something in your subject line that I find extra-special. Sometimes, it’s that one of my clients has referred you, sometimes it’s a query that seems like something I’ve been longing for (see pirate book below). Sometimes, it’s something quite off. For example, I recently ended up accepting a query I’d gotten just 3 days before, because I noticed the title was the title of a song that I love, but that not many other people I know are familiar with.

Do you ever offer a Revise & Resubmit? When would you do so?

I do, yes. I do this when I think the premise and the writing are excellent, but when there are plot holes, thematic issues or other structural things that I believe are fix-able, I offer an R&R. Additionally, I’ll only offer when I feel confident that I can identify, articulate and fix the issues in a manuscript. I’ve - sadly - had to turn down many things that I knew just needed a bit of work, but I didn’t know what to do exactly.

What would you love to find in the slush pile?

A Pirate book, a YA psychological thriller, YA suspense, Literary Suspense a la Laura Lippman, Alison Gaylin, Gillian Flynn, or Tana French. I am and forever will be obsessed with IN THE WOODS

SIGN

Do you sign a client as a career agent or on a book-by-book basis?

Career agent, certainly. Sometimes I sign people when I don’t know if I can sell their first book, but I’m sure I could sell their second based on their talent.

How do you put together a list of editors to send to?

It’s generally from meetings, lunches, word of mouth, and previous submissions etc. that I make my list. Relationships and taste tend to inform my submission lists.

Should a writer share previous contact with editors with you? For example, from conferences or workshops.

I think this depends on your time and relationship with that editor. If you had an editor at a workshop or conference take a sincere interest in you and your work, yes, absolutely. If you did a three minute pitch session, probably not. Either way, you can mention it, but remember your agent has picked specific editors for a reason so don’t always expect other contacts you had previously to be accommodated, especially if they were fleeting.

At what point would a client share new story ideas with you?

whenever they have them. It doesn’t mean I can submit them right away, but I’m pretty “come as you are”

SUBMIT

Can a client make suggestions or share a wish list when it comes to editors/imprints to submit to?

A client could do this, but it wouldn’t necessarily mean I’d listen. Generally, the odds are better that I’ve been in touch with the right editors for a project more recently than anyone else.

Do you forward editor feedback to writers?

Yes, unless the client asks otherwise.

At what point might you suggest making more revisions?

If editors are coming back with consistent, solid feedback saying they would be open to considering revisions, I’d go back to the author and make a round 2 plan of attack.

What do you suggest a writer does while out on submission?

DO NOT BLOG ABOUT THE SPECIFICS. There’s definitely something to be said for posting about the “waiting game” and the glacial pace of publishing, but using specific information can get you in trouble. For example, let’s say I’m on a round 2 of submissions after large revisions. I send it to Editor X, who then googles you, only to discover - as your blog says - that this manuscript has been on submission for months. Editor X then immediately has information that leads to a negative conclusion: something must be wrong with it or they must be a last resort.

Thanks for joining us, Victoria!

See other Query. Sign. Submit. interviews
Read inspiring stories of writers getting agents
Find out about agent-judged contests

Posted July, 2013 – Always check for current info and guidelines.

Query. Sign. Submit. with Kate Karyus Quinn

Kate’s debut young adult novel, ANOTHER LITTLE PIECE is now available from HarperTeen! She is represented by Alexandra Machinist of Janklow & Nesbit Associates.

To connect with and learn more about Kate . . .

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Goodreads

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Get ANOTHER LITTLE PIECE at Amazon or Barnes & Noble, or find it at a store near you through Indie Bound.

 





QSS banner black Now for Kate’s insight on querying, signing with an agent, and going on submission!

QUERY

What advice would you give to querying writers?

At my undergrad university there were tons of stop signs across the campus. Driving from one short end to the other, you’d sometimes stop as many as five or six times. It was a little silly. So, we began to refer to these stops signs as “stoptional”, meaning that if the way was clear we slowed a bit, but otherwise rolled right on through them.

The reason I mention this, is that I feel that when querying it is a good idea to put up as many stops signs along the way between finishing the first draft of your manuscript and pressing send on your query letters. And when you come to these stop signs, I encourage you to come to a full stop. Hopefully, this will give you a chance to ask yourself important questions such as:

Is this the best draft of the manuscript that I can possibly send? Has it been through crit partners? Have I revised enough? Have I given myself space between drafts to be able to see the strengths and weaknesses clearly?

All these same questions should be applied to the query letter as well. Write it and rewrite it the same way you did the manuscript. Have other people look at it. Make it as strong as possible. This is your first introduction you want to make sure your skirt isn’t tucked into your underwear and there’s no spinach between your teeth.

What resources and websites did you use when querying?

The best site I used was querytracker.net

I paid the $20 a year fee to become a premium member and it was worth every cent. This site not only lets you search agents, but also keep track of who you have queried and where you are in the process for each agent. You can also pull up all different types of graphs with your querying stats. It is insanely helpful and I cannot imagine having to query without it.

I also used the querytracker forum quite a bit and met lots of other people in the query trenches. This is a great place for support and also to find some eyes to check out your query letters and probe it for weaknesses.

Did you ever have a Revise & Resubmit? What should a writer consider when deciding whether or not to take one on?

On my second (and now trunked novel) I actually did 2 R&R’s for an agent. After the second R&R she very kindly told me that the novel was still not coming together and could not offer me representation, but she encouraged me to send her my next project. A year and a half later, I did exactly that and she was the first agent to offer me representation. Although, in the end I went with a different agent, I still look back and think what a wonderful agent she was and appreciate the time she put into writing notes and rereading different drafts of that second book. I think writers should see an R&R as a sign of encouragement. For me, it helped to know that even though that book wasn’t strong enough to get me representation, I knew that I was getting close. As for whether or not to take an agent up on an R&R, I think that is up to each individual author. But my advice would be to leans towards yes, unless you really disagree with the agent’s direction for the book or if another offer for representation seems imminent.

SIGN

Did you sign as a client of a career agent or on a book-by-book basis?

The contracts with my agent are book-by-book, but when I signed with her it was with the expectation that we would be working together for a long time.

Once a writer has signed with an agent, what’s the next step?

The day I called my agent to tell her that I was choosing her, we laughed, we cheered, and then she asked if I had a minute to take some notes on a few revisions she wanted me to work on before we went on sub. I immediately started scribbling. They were pretty minor revisions and I was able to knock them out over the weekend so that the next week we could go out on submission.

Do you have input on the pitch to editors or does your agent take care of that?

No, my agent took care of all of that, which was really quite a relief. She also didn’t share any news with me until an offer came in. Luckily, this was only a week of waiting, or else I might have been bugging her for some news (even the bad variety) just so I could know something.

SUBMIT

Do you make suggestions or share a wish list when it comes to which editors/imprints to submit to?

I honestly had no idea how many different imprints existed when I first went out on sub, so this may be an area where it paid off to be ignorant.

What is the next step if an editor shows interest?

I actually had offers from two different editors, so my agent set up a phone call with the first editor. We really hit it off on the phone and made me really want that editor to be the one that I would be working with. I was incredibly lucky that in the end, the editor I loved also had the better offer.

What do you suggest a writer does while out on submission?

Um, well I was on submission for a pretty short amount of time, but pretty soon I will probably be going on sub again for my next book and I would not be surprised if it took a little longer (although, obviously, I hope that it won’t). I think the best thing you can do, is use the same several methods as getting through the query process, which for me was obsess a little and try to write as much as possible in between the obsessing.

Thanks so much, Kate!

Want more?

*See other Query. Sign. Submit. interviews.*
*Read inspiring stories of writers getting agents*
*Find out about agent-judged contests.*

Query. Sign. Submit. with Sarah LaPolla

Sarah-Bradford-Lit-photo

Sarah represents YA and Adult fiction. Please see her bio on the Bradford Literary website for specific genres and interests.

Sarah responds to all queries. (See details in answer below.)





To connect with and learn more about Sarah . . .

Bradford Literary Agency
Glass Cases Blog
Twitter

QSS banner black Now for Sarah’s insight on querying, signing with an agent, and going on submission!

QUERY

Do you always read a query all the way through? If not, what would make you stop reading?

I do if it’s in a genre I represent. There are times when all I need to read is “In my erotica novel...” or “I have written a children’s picture book.” Same with any sort of nonfiction or poetry. I don’t represent every genre and what I do represent is clearly stated online. If an author isn’t sure, then I always encourage them to take a shot. For example, if their book is within a subgenre of something I represent (i.e. space opera as a sub-genre of science fiction), then they should still query. But if it’s obvious I don’t represent a genre like romance, they should know not to send me a romance novel.

How do you tackle your inbox? Do you go in order or jump around?

Emails from clients and editors come first. Then, when I go into my query folder, I arrange them by date and read the oldest ones first. I read everything in the order it arrives and respond to everything with at least a form rejection. The only queries I don’t respond to at all are when more than one agent is copied on the email or they are not addressed to me.

Is it okay for a writer to nudge concerning queries or partial/full requests?

When I request material, I give a time frame for when I’ll respond. My response time on queries is rarely over two weeks. It’s usually less than one. So, I get annoyed when people follow up on queries. My response time is not that long! If other agents don’t give specific response times, I’d advise against following up before three months. We read a lot and queries are not our first priority. Our clients are.

Do you ever offer a Revise & Resubmit? When would you do so?

I offer R&Rs quite often, actually. I’m a big revision person and I will rarely sign a new client without first asking for an R&R. Revision is a different skill than writing, but it’s just as important. I need to know if a writer is able to take notes, know how to apply them effectively to their manuscript, and be able to work collaboratively with their future editor (because my revision notes are nothing compared to the specifics an editor will get into). If they can’t revise, it will be a very short working relationship.

SIGN

Do you sign a client as a career agent or on a book-by-book basis?

I sign a writer in hopes that relationship will last their whole career. I look beyond that one sale we can make and think about how to shape their career as an author.

Should a writer share previous contact with editors with you? For example, from conferences or workshops.

Of course! Any connection is worth exploring. No agented author should submit work to an editor without first discussing it with their agent. But meeting people and making personal connections with editors can be valuable for writers the same way it’s valuable for agents.

SUBMIT

Can a client make suggestions or share a wish list when it comes to editors/imprints to submit to?

If they have a personal connection to an editor, then I’d love to hear about it. I make no guarantees I’ll definitely submit to that person though. It would always depend on who it is. For the most part, no, I do not want a client who tells me how to do my job. My submission lists are based on editors I not only have a personal relationship with, but who I know will be the right fit, professionally, for each client’s book. This can be based on who the editor is or where they work or both. Clients may really like a certain book an editor worked on, or they may follow a really funny editor on Twitter, but that does not mean they have the same knowledge of the industry or submission strategy an agent has.

At what point might you suggest making more revisions?

I like to see how many editors had the same response to a submission before suggesting a revision. If I send a book to ten editors and I receive ten different reasons why it was rejected, there’s really not a whole lot to go on. Like with agents responding to queries, editors’ tastes are subjective too. Sometimes a revision suggestion will resonate more with me or the author, so we may focus on that one editor’s notes. But, if I receive ten rejections and eight of them give me the same reason, then it’s clear that there is an issue with the manuscript worth revisiting.

What do you suggest a writer does while out on submission?

Do anything else! Working on your next novel is always a good idea. But really, just do anything to take your mind off of submission. It’s in your agent’s hands now. A writer will only drive themselves crazy if they spend their energy worrying about response times and whether an editor has read their book yet.

How much contact do you have with a client when he/she is out on submission? Do you send weekly updates or update as responses come in?

It always depends on the author. I don’t do weekly updates, because I think a lot of those updates would say “still no news.” I tell my clients up front that I’ll send responses as they come in, so they know they won’t hear from me unless there’s news. I follow up with editors periodically. If it reaches a point where months go by, then I do check in with the author just to let them know what’s going on.

A big thank you to Sarah for joining us!

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Posted July, 2013 – Always check for current info and guidelines.

THE APOLLO ACADEMY Cover Reveal & Book Trailer

THE APOLLO ACADEMY
by Kimberly P. Chase

Launches: 8.6.13

Cover Art by Cliff Nielsen

ABOUT: As the heiress to Titon Technologies, eighteen-year-old Aurora Titon can have whatever she wants—clothes, expensive gadgets, anything money can buy. All she really wants is to escape her pampered, paparazzi-prone life for the stars. Becoming the first female pilot to train as an astronaut for the Apollo Academy is exactly the chance for which she has been waiting. Everything would be perfect if it weren't for her unreciprocated crush on a fellow student, the sexy astronaut bent on making her life hell, and the fact that someone keeps trying to kill her.

Early praise for The Apollo Academy:
"I am obsessed with this book! Suspenseful, sexy, and just a great read!" -Cora Carmack, New York Times Bestselling author of LOSING IT.

“Exquisite worldbuilding, thrilling suspense, and a sexy flight instructor! Chase’s exciting debut novel is one you don’t want to miss.” - K.A.Tucker, Author of Ten Tiny Breaths and One Tiny Lie
Add The Apollo Academy to your GoodReads Shelf!

AND WE'RE ALSO REVEALING THE BOOK TRAILER! 
About the author:

Kimberly P. Chase holds a Bachelor's Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, which basically means she's kind of a geek and loves flying airplanes. Naturally, her books tend to include aviation, hot flight instructors, aviator glasses, and—let's not forget—kissing! When Kimberly's not writing or reading, she's hanging out with her husband, four-year-old son, and two dogs.



WAIT! THERE'S EVEN MORE AWESOME....AN APOLLO ACADEMY SWAG BAG IS UP FOR GRABS! ENTER BELOW:
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