Kimberley Cameron & Associates

The Inevitable Sh*t Agents and Editors Say

2012-02-16T14:19:00.000-08:00

One of our readers turned me on to this video, put together by two NY agents and an editor. It's a classic.

KILLING THE MESSENGER Book Events in SF Bay Area

2012-02-07T13:04:00.000-08:00

Thomas Peele, author of KILLING THE MESSENGER: A STORY OF RADICAL FAITH, RACISM'S BACKLASH, AND THE ASSASSINATION OF A JOURNALIST (Crown), will be in the San Francisco Bay Area for book signings and Q&As about his recently released book.

New York Times bestselling author Nina Burleigh writes:

"Killing the Messenger is a crackling work of nonfiction, impossible to put down. Like Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven, Thomas Peele unpacks a tale of extremism and evil..."

Thursday, February 9th (7:00 p.m.)

Oakland, CA

Diesel Bookstore

5433 College Avenue

Oakland, CA 94618

Monday, February 13th (5:30 p.m.)

Berkeley, CA

Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism

121 North Gate Hall, Library

Berkeley, CA 94720

Friday, February 17th (7:00 p.m.)

San Francisco, CA

Books Inc., Opera Plaza

601 Van Ness

San Francisco, CA 94107

Saturday, February 18th (7:00 p.m.)

Corte Madera, CA

Book Passage

51 Tamal Vista

Corte Madera, CA 94925

The Chocolate Series Continues

2012-02-02T13:58:00.000-08:00

Kimberley made another two-book deal for Laura Florand, author of THE CHOCOLATE THIEF and BLAME IT ON PARIS, to continue the chocolate series, to Alicia Condon at Kensington for publication in 2013. The two books for publication are titled THE CHOCOLATE REBEL and THE CHOCOLATE KING.

Congratulations, Laura and Kimberley!

Jay Parini Reviews ALIVE INSIDE THE WRECK by Joe Woodward

2012-02-02T13:46:00.000-08:00

Jay Parini reviewed Joe Woodward's ALIVE INSIDE THE WRECK: A BIOGRAPHY OF NATHANAEL WEST for Literary Review magazine's February issue. The article is titled "California Nightmares."

Parini says, "This is a remarkably good and succinct biography, well worth reading. It adds considerably to our understanding of West, taking on the fabled machinery of Hollywood itself, which often seems more of a troubled state of mind than an actual place or industry."

To read Parini's full review, click here.

Kelli Stanley Nominated for The Golden Nugget Award

2012-02-02T11:59:00.000-08:00

Kelli Stanley's book CITY OF SECRETS (Minotaur) has been nominated for The Golden Nugget Award for the "Best Mystery Novel Set in California."

Kelli is in the company of Sue Grafton and Michael Connelly in the category, with winners for all categories to be announced at the 2012 Left Coast Crime Conference, which is being held in Sacramento, CA, March 29th through April 1st.

Best of luck, Kelli, for yet another nomination. May that "best of luck" morph into award-winning congratulations! You sure deserve it.

Nick Krieger Receives Stonewall Book Award

2012-02-02T11:43:00.000-08:00

Nick Krieger was recognized with a 2012 Stonewall Book Award by the American Library Association (ALA) for his book NINA HERE NOR THERE: MY JOURNEY BEYOND GENDER.

According to the ALA press release, "The Stonewall Book Awards are given annually to English-language works of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience."

We offer a big congratulations to Nick Krieger for this significant award!

To read the full release, click here.

Royal Pains: Sick Rich

2012-02-02T11:28:00.000-08:00

Entertainment Writer Joe Meyers reviewed D.P. Lyle's book ROYAL PAINS: SICK RICH in his blog article "Royal Pains: A Winter Escape to the Hamptons." Lyle was contracted to write the ROYAL PAINS book tie-in series for the TV show Royal Pains.

To read Meyers' review of the book and show, click here.

Tim Hemlin's THE WASTELANDERS

2012-01-18T14:26:00.000-08:00

I love this cover of Tim Hemlin's book THE WASTELANDERS and had to post it. Although my grandmother was not a big fan of ravens, I am.

Tim's book was released by Cool Well Press this month and is available now as an e-book through Kindle.

Kimberley said it took her about three years to sell Tim's book, which just shows her dedication to projects she believes in.

Here is a summary of THE WASTELANDERS:

"When water is scarce, a drop is more precious than gold.

America is controlled by a corporate oligarchy known as the Water Cartel and warrior-priest Joey Hawke finds himself trapped between a mysterious geneticist amassing a clone army and a group of political fanatics convinced that a dead president will rise from his tomb to lead them to salvation.

Caught outside his spiritual haven when the Cartel moves against the Wastelanders, Joey is aided by Bear, an enigmatic weapons runner, a lovesick Scrapwoman, and Bernie Hawke, his estranged father. But against the Cartel’s military strength, led by the power hungry Rex Fielder, Joey’s only hope may be Si-Ting, a young woman with prescient abilities––a woman who not only holds the key to his heart but also to an American conspiracy to crown its future with the withered laurels of the past."

Doug Lyle Review on Women In Crime Ink

2012-01-18T14:09:00.000-08:00

Doug Lyle's MORE FORENSICS AND FICTION: CRIME WRITERS' MORBIDLY CURIOUS QUESTIONS EXPERTLY ANSWERED was reviewed on Women In Crime Ink, a blog of "thoughts on crime and media issues from women criminal justice professionals and authors."

Doug Lyle's book will be released by Medallion Press in April 2012.

To read the review of MORE FORENSICS AND FICTION, click here.

D.P. Lyle On Blog Talk Radio

2012-01-18T13:00:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, January 19th at 1 p.m. PST, Doug Lyle will be interviewed on Blog Talk Radio. For a link to the interview, click here. The call in number for the interview is: 949-270-5955.

ALIVE INSIDE THE WRECK Launch Party

2012-01-05T09:59:00.000-08:00

A launch party for Joe Woodward's book ALIVE INSIDE THE WRECK: A BIOGRAPHY OF NATHANAEL WEST was held at the LA Press Club in collaboration with O/R Books recently.

The crowd was welcomed by Diana Ljungaeus, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Press Club, and Joe was then introduced by Boris Dralyuk, Noir Editor at the Los Angeles Review of Books (LARB).

Also at the event were Evan Kindley, Managing Editor (LARB); Julie Cline, Senior Non-Fiction Editor (LARB); Stephanie Swengel, Vice President of Production, Fox Animation Studios, and many others.

Joe Woodward is a four-time finalist and two-time winner of a Los Angeles Press Club Award. His nonfiction, on some of the most reclusive, eccentric, yet talented writers of our time, including David Foster Wallace, Bret Easton Ellis, Tobias Wolff, and Hunter S. Thompson, has appeared in a variety of publications.

The NDEs of Ben Breedlove

2011-12-29T16:01:00.000-08:00

Death has always held a certain fascination for me. At the age of ten I pored over Elisabeth Kubler-Ross books on the subjects of death and reincarnation and near death experiences, or NDEs. I was sure I'd lived before, sure there was something else beyond, sure a thread existed connecting us all.

When I joined Kimberley Cameron & Associates as an associate agent, early on Kimberley passed a manuscript to me on the subject of NDEs written by a researcher/expert named Rene Jorgensen. I knew before reading that this was something I wanted to work on, be connected with.

Yesterday, I watched a video on Yahoo! posted by an inspiring 18-year-old young man by the name of Ben Breedlove just a week before he died. Ben died on December 25, 2011 of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In the video Ben talks about his three NDEs and an interesting guide (Rapper Kid Cudi) who helped him through one of his NDEs. To watch the videos, click the links below:

Video Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmlTHfVaU9o

Video Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4LSEXsvRAI

After watching the videos, I sent the links to my client, Rene Jorgensen, and encouraged him to put together a press release and video response giving people information about NDEs. To see Rene's video response to Ben Breedlove's NDEs and videos, watch the video below (the press release follows):

http://www.free-press-release.com/news-ben-breedlove-s-near-death-experiences-explained-1325194653.html

Ben's video is proof enough for me that real magic exists in this life and beyond; he was living proof. And working with Rene Jorgensen not only gives me the chance to be connected to this unwavering theme in my life--in all of our lives--but also serves as a marker and reminder to live the best life possible while still alive and to let go without fear when the time comes.

To see Rapper Kid Cudi's response to Ben's videos, click here.

For media inquiries into NDEs, please contact Rene Jorgensen at (613) 255-7543 or rene@renejorgensen.com.

eBooks For Everyone Else Conference

2011-12-03T12:21:00.000-08:00

On November 2nd, I had the opportunity to attend the Publishers Launch eBooks For Everyone Else Conference held at the Parc 55 Wyndham Hotel in San Francisco at Union Square. The conference was well attended by authors, publishers, literary agents, vendors, and others in the publishing industry committed to staying informed as the publishing climate and definition of "traditional publishing" changes.

The conference was organized in forty-five minute segments for the first half with such presenters as host Michael Cader of Publishers Marketplace (all authors should subscribe to this online publication to keep current on the "business" of writing); Mark Coker of Smashwords; Michael Tamblyn of Kobo; Kelly Gallagher of Bowker; Iris Blasi (social-media maven) of Hilsinger-Mendelson East, among many other industry heads and companies.

One of many speakers I enjoyed was Iris Blasi of Hilsinger-Mendelson East. She spoke on the importance of social media. She had great suggestions for authors, reminding them, "You are advertising the best version of yourself. Please be real, but not too real." She suggested, and I second, the importance of authors building their social-media platform. If you aren't on Facebook, Twitter and writing a blog on Blogspot or Tumblr, you should be. I also suggest taking a look at HARO (Help A Reporter Out), especially if you are an expert writing nonfiction. One author I work with has been interviewed more than 15 times in the four months she has been a member of the site! Get your name out there.

Other sites of presenters worth looking at are those such as Bowker (link above), Copyright Clearance Center, PubIt by Barnes & Noble, Vook, Book Country by Penguin, and WAE Network. I sat next to a couple of board members of the Independent Book Publishers Association, who assured me there are plenty of resources for literary agents and authors as part of a non-publisher membership they offer.

The eBooks For Everyone Else Conference was a boon for those of us who attended. It was a day packed with information. Although Kimberley doesn't see focusing the Agency as a full-service eBook publisher, she wants to make sure that we are up-to-date on the most current information and are able to present the best perspective on the publishing climate when called to do so.

Click this link to see the list of presenters as well as their presentations: http://www.publisherslaunch.com/events/launch-san-francisco/

How To Publish A Book Blog Interview

2011-11-15T11:47:00.000-08:00

Howtopublishabook.org is a book-publishing resource for authors on how to get their work published. Stacey Cochran, the website's founder, asked if I would do an interview for the website.

Below is a link to the interview:

http://howtopublishabook.org/

Kimberley in Paris

2011-11-03T09:40:00.000-07:00

After our whirlwind trip in September meeting forty-five editors in four days in New York, Kimberley scooted off to enjoy (and work from) her apartment in Paris.

The time has passed almost as quickly as the weather has changed, and Kimberley is due back in Tiburon soon. It almost seems as though she never left, thanks to iChat.

Last week she e-mailed me this lovely picture of herself standing in front of The Eiffel Tower. Her apartment is a short distance away with a view of the global icon.

We are looking forward to Kimberley's return!

Meet Our Fabulous Readers!

2011-10-12T10:43:00.000-07:00

Kimberley Cameron & Associates is lucky to have three very talented people reading for the Agency right now.

From left to right: Mallory Bass, Preston Hatfield and Alex Webb.

All three have been with the Agency for some time. Both Mallory and Alex are in the St. Mary's MFA program, and Preston is pursuing a career in publishing, soon to leave us for a job in New York.

Mallory, Alex and Preston have been instrumental in the development of projects, from helping to structure and line edit manuscripts, to coming up with pen names, manuscript titles and finding us great works of fiction.

Mallory's pet peeves: Adverbs, typos, and the words "suddenly" and "sighing."

Preston's pet peeves: Lengthy queries and using a character's full name throughout the manuscript.

Alex's pet peeves: Too many exclamation points (three per manuscript allowed) and stories about writers.

Kelli Stanley Wins the Macavity Award for CITY OF DRAGONS!

2011-10-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

Kimberley's client Kelli Stanley recently won the Macavity Award for her book CITY OF DRAGONS.

We are so proud of Kelli's accomplishment!

Here is a great photo of Kelli pictured with her mom after receiving the Sue Feder Best Historical Novel (Macavity) Award.

Autumn News...

2011-09-26T07:55:00.000-07:00

Bonjour Tout le Monde,

This summer was brutal - New York publishing seemed to be paralyzed, but we worked hard and persevered... Liz and I made the editorial rounds in September - we had 45 meetings in four days - yes, it's true! I'm proud of her for keeping up with me :-) The good news is that publishing seems to be full steam ahead after the results that ebook sales are increasing and the industry has breathed a major sigh of relief. Editors are looking for great books and we are trying to find them. Just heard Tatiana de Rosnay speak at the American Library in Paris to a standing room only crowd - if you haven't read SARAH'S KEY - you should, and no, she's not my personal client, but I'm looking for her clone. I'm attempting to read her new tome, ROSE, en français. Do keep sending good, polished manuscripts our way and we'll do our best to get back to you in a timely fashion. We ask for your patience and if you don't hear from us after six weeks, please send a gentle "nudge" and we'll make sure we get back to you immediately. We receive about five hundred queries per week - and we take each one seriously. Happy fall to all, and keep the faith! A special congratulations to my client Kelli Stanley for winning the Macavity Award for the Sue Feder Best Historical Novel. If you also haven't read CITY OF DRAGONS, you should...

Agent Interview

2011-07-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

Lorena Hughes, co-founder of the blog Divine Secrets of the Writing Sisterhood, approached Kimberley Cameron & Associates for an interview and asked us if we'd check back on Friday, July 29th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for Q&A. We were happy and excited to participate.

To read the interview and/or participate in the Q&A, click here.

Divine Secrets of the Writing Sisterhood is a young blog dedicated to the craft of writing. Lorena said last month the website received 2,162 page views. We wish them and their author-readers much success in their literary pursuits!

Categorical Not-So-Imperative?

2011-02-10T12:32:00.000-08:00

Recently, I’ve had several prospective clients pitch me books that fall into categories I don’t represent. In response to my “I’m sorry but I don’t represent that genre,” I’m often faced with a look of disappointment or a counter-argument like, “But it’s really well-written!” or “But you said you like compelling characters and timely themes, and my book has both!” I thought it might be time to dissect the reasons why agents choose specific categories of books to represent and also why they tend to stick with them.

If you’ve read my bio on this website or at a conference I’ve attended, the categories I’ve chosen may seem random. What does a contemporary YA novel have to do with a nonfiction guide to food safety? How does a commercial thriller fit in with literary memoir? To some extent, I made these choices based on personal preference – they are the kinds of books that I am interested in reading, the kinds of books I was reading long before I became an agent. However, they are also based on business decisions.

As an advocate for my clients, I need to know the market that their books fit into and the editors who are publishing books within that market (just like agents, editors have particular categories that they publish). If I’m going to sell a historical novel, I need to (1) cultivate relationships with the editors who publish historical fiction and (2) know the historical fiction market – what’s out there and what’s coming out in the near future. Knowing the editors helps me decide who to pitch the novel to, and knowing the market helps me convince editors that the book has something new to offer to historical fiction readers.

Once a book comes out, knowing the communities that support certain categories of writing helps all of us (client, editor, and agent) find ways to promote the book most effectively. For example, mystery readers might attend a mystery conference to meet their favorite authors or follow mystery review blogs; whereas, literary fiction readers tend to give weight to reviews by prestigious publications or consider awards that the book has won. There’s a great deal of variety in the way that different kinds of books find their audiences, so agents need to know as much as possible about each category they work within to advise their client on how to reach their audience. And that’s also why – once we know an area of the market – we tend to stay there.

The good news is, if a writer hears “I’m sorry but I don’t represent that genre,” there’s no reason to take it personally. It’s better to find an agent who works on the right category than to convince one who doesn’t. Ultimately, an agent who’s tuned into the right area of the market will be able to do much more for your book!

THE NEW YEAR MARKS A TIME OF CHANGE....

2011-01-04T09:20:00.000-08:00

Dear Writers and Readers,

It is my hope that your holidays were filled with much love and hope for the future. Our industry may be uncertain, but we are all committed to the written word and how it can change lives. Transition is an inevitable part of life, and it is in this spirit that I announce that our colleague April Eberhardt will be striking out on her own.

April Eberhardt Literary will focus primarily on high-quality women's fiction, and will offer representation to authors in traditional ways, along with assistance in assessing and accessing alternative publishing channels. She can be reached at april@aprileberhardt.com. We wish her well.

Amy Burkhardt and I continue to live up to the traditions we have always felt important as agents. Nurturing writers and doing everything we can to promote their careers as the publishing industry reshapes and refines itself. IT ALWAYS HAS. I believe that books will continue to be read and treasured, along with other forms of electronic communication. We wish you the best in 2011, and know that we will be reading your work!

Warmly,

Kimberley

Tell Me About It!

2010-11-18T13:10:00.000-08:00

I just attended my final pitch event of the year, and between conferences and one-day local events, I’ve met hundreds of writers (and heard hundreds of pitches) in 2010. From this side of the desk, I can tell you that it’s a harrowing experience to sort out the pitches I heard and the flood of requested submissions that fills my inbox in the days and weeks following a conference. (And if you’re still waiting to hear from me, rest assured that you will. I’m bailing my way out!)

Sometimes, that submission that I was anxiously awaiting turns out to be exactly what the writer pitched and exactly what I’m looking for. Most often, what I receive is quite different from what I was expecting, and this can be a disappointment or a pleasant surprise.

If there’s one thing that I could share – which I’ve repeated to the numerous writers I’ve met this year – it’s that pitching your book and writing your book are two very different skills. Some writers embrace this and approach the pitch with energy and optimism. Others feel that it’s a form of torture, which we sadistic publishing industry folk enjoy putting them through. Whether you view it as fun or evil, you should think of it as necessary.

While I would never sign a client on a pitch alone, being able to pitch your work is vital for several reasons. For one, it shows that you can sell your book – to agents, to publishers, and most importantly, to readers. In the current publishing climate, where much of the publicity and promotion falls to the writer, it’s important to know that a client can promote their own book, whether it’s in front of a crowd at a book signing, in an informal chat with friends, or in a tweet to your followers. For another, being able to talk about your work successfully shows that you know your book. You’ve finished the manuscript or proposal, and you’ve done your research on the market to find out where and how it fits into the big picture.

Regardless of whether you plan to attend a conference or pitch event, you should still learn to talk about your writing. What I recommend: Start by writing a one-page synopsis (F) or overview for a proposal (NF); then write a query letter; then a paragraph; then a three- or four-sentence blurb. You should have multiple versions of the pitch for your book because you never know when you might have a ten-minute face-to-face meeting or a 30-second opportunity at the lunch buffet. If you’re prepared, you’ll be able to take advantage of those magic words: “So, tell me about your book…”

Summer Reading...

2010-08-12T11:53:00.000-07:00

This summer has been a busy one for Kimberley Cameron & Associates, as you can see from our last blog, by Amy Burkhardt. I'm off to the Book Passage Travel and Food Conference today - besides attending conferences, we are reading, reading, reading as you are sending us lots of good material. We are confident that the book publishing industry will continue to prosper, as reading devices develop in new ways to make books more accessible. New deals are being made everyday, as you can read on Publisher's Marketplace, and we are confident that we will be selling your work for many, many years to come. We thank you for your patience, for your polite and professional emails, and hope everyday to find that voice that astonishes us. Keep it coming!

Warmly,

Kimberley

Presenters and Pitchfests and Panels, Oh my!

2010-04-22T18:16:00.000-07:00

Those of you following me on Twitter (@AmyKCA…bear with me, I’m a newbie to the Twittersphere) may already know, but I’m packing my bags for Albuquerque this weekend to attend a writers conference co-sponsored by Southwest Writers and UNM Continuing Education. I’ve also recently returned from Houston, where I attended the Houston Writers Guild Conference, and I’m just getting warmed up…

From now through October, I’ll be spending my weekends in places as far afield as Orlando (Florida Writers Association Conference) and as close to home as Corte Madera (Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference). I’ll be appearing at one or more conferences each month from April through October, and my fellow agents at Kimberley Cameron & Associates will be doing the same. Why do we do it?

Yes, conferences can be overwhelming for agents. Picture yourself walking into a room of 100+ people, almost all of whom want five minutes of your time, and you can probably understand how that “AGENT” name tag feels like a target on your chest! It’s also true that we sometimes huddle together and scurry down the halls between sessions, fearing that if we break from the pack we may never be heard from again. And sure, it’s difficult to think straight after we’ve spent hours of back-to-back ten-minute appointments tracking all manner of plot twists and turns – from the unexpected to the totally bizarre.

But I have to admit that I find conferences to be a welcome change of pace in what can be a very quiet job. Now that we communicate with clients and editors mostly through email, a busy day at the office can be a silent one, and the opportunity to meet potential clients face-to-face and to talk about writing is downright refreshing. Unlike email, conferences are a great way to connect with writers and have a dialogue about their work. It’s also a great place to meet other agents and editors and to hear what kinds of books they are working on or looking for. (We also do that on whirlwind trips to New York… Kimberley and April just wrapped one up last week!)

If you’re planning to attend a conference sometime soon, here are some do’s and don’ts about approaching agents:

Do be brave and introduce yourself. We don’t bite.

Don’t be nervous. We’re just people…who want to talk about your book.

Do pitch us your book. That’s what we’re there for, and we expect it!

Don’t apologize for doing so. No need to open with, “I’m sorry, you must be so tired of hearing this…” We signed up to come to the conference, and (again) we expect it.

Do ask questions about the industry, the process, what we look for in a client, etc.. That’s what you’re there for!

Don’t assume that there is only one right answer. Agents often have different opinions, methods, and advice.

Do be polite and respectful. A potential client’s demeanor can determine whether I want to work with him or her...and whether I want to present them to an editor or send them off on a book tour.

Don’t follow us into the bathroom to pitch/ask questions. The bathroom is a safe zone. (I’ve never personally experienced this, but I know agents who have!)

Do be professional. We are professionals, and you should be too!

So, if you want to meet us, come to one of the following conferences in 2010. Either Kimberley, April, or I will be there. And we’ll be ready to talk about your book.

Fisherman’s Wharf Writers Conference (San Francisco, CA)

Backspace Writers Conference (New York City)

Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference (Homer, AK)

Whidbey Island Writers Conference (Whidbey Island, WA)

Aspen Summer Words (Aspen, CO)

Antioch Writers’ Workshop (Yellow Springs, OH)

Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference (Corte Madera, CA)

Pacific Northwest Writers Association Conference (Seattle, WA)

Mendocino Coast Writers Conference (Fort Bragg, CA)

Willamette Writers Conference (Portland, OR)

Book Passage Travel, Food, & Photography Conference (Corte Madera, CA)

Killer Nashville (Nashville, TN)

East of Eden Writers Conference (Salinas, CA)

Bouchercon By the Bay (San Francisco, CA)

SEAK Fiction Writing for Physicians Conference (Hyannis, MA)

Florida Writers Association Conference (Lake Mary, FL)

SPRING IS IN THE AIR...

2010-03-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

The many changes that are occurring in our industry such as the Kindle, iPad and the struggles regarding electronic rights reminds me to adjust and adapt – it’s both thrilling and frightening at the same time. There will ALWAYS be a need for content, in whatever form books may take, and the literary agent will still be the steadfast defender of the written word. I’ve said before that this is a noble profession. We largely do not get paid for the work and hours we labor, and the marketplace is more selective than ever, so we have to be utterly convinced that the books we choose to represent will be ones others will want to read. A respected agent I know, Loretta Barrett, says it best: “They can tell me no, but they can’t tell me I’m wrong.”

The redesigning of the book should not threaten us – refining how we read as technology moves forward provides limitless creative opportunities to transmit knowledge and information, both for pleasure and education. Flexibility is the key to transformation. I welcome this new season, knowing that I am always open to new ideas. Please send us your best work, and don’t be discouraged by rejection – the books we represent are rejected, too. It’s part of the process. Believe in yourself and your writing, and may 2010 be your very best year yet. I’m looking forward to Paris in the spring! More anon,

Kimberley

Changes in the New Year

2010-01-02T10:29:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to All!

On New Year's Eve I watched the ball drop in Times Square from an entirely new perspective. No, I wasn’t courageous enough to brave the crowds and the cold and actually go to Times Square, but I counted down the seconds to 2010 in a New York apartment, surrounded by new friends. Through a cloudy winter sky, I saw hints of fireworks going off over Central Park and I realized that this was my city, that I was happy here, and that here was now home.

I remembered that at this time last year, I was spending a quiet New Year’s Eve at my parents’ home in Wisconsin, filled with excitement and anxiety about my upcoming move to New York. I had packed up the last six years of my life in SF before the holidays, and after the New Year I would hit the road again, striking out for the Big Apple.

It was exactly one year ago today that I arrived in New York. I didn’t know what to expect. I hoped that I would make friends. I hoped that I would expand my business. I hoped that I wouldn’t be considered a social pariah for wearing my beloved hiking boots and Patagonia parka on 5^th Avenue.

Well, 2 out of 3. Turns out that when armed with a small medicine cabinet’s worth of blister prevention materials, I’m quite capable of walking long distances in heels. Who knew?

Looking back on the past year, I am astonished at how my life has changed. I have loved living in Manhattan, exploring the city, increasing my contacts and building new friendships, so many of which are with people I have met in publishing, people who I did not yet know this time last year.

I am especially grateful to my colleagues at Kimberley Cameron & Associates for having encouraged and supported me. Kimberley, April and Amy are three of the loveliest, most talented women I know. When I proposed opening a satellite office a few thousand miles away, they listened, considered, and told me we’d find a way to make it work. Their openness and their faith in me enabled me to take this chance, for which I will always be thankful.

The ringing in of the New Year seems a natural time to usher in change. And once again I find myself anticipating a new chapter. As of January, 4^th, I will be joining the Jean V. Naggar Agency. As I continue to put down roots in NYC, I look forward to being a part of such a well-respected New York agency. However, it is with sadness that I part with Kimberley Cameron & Associates. It has been a wonderful six years with the company, and I look forward to watching it continue to grow and flourish.

I wish everyone good health, success, and creativity in 2010. And of course, happy writing!

Elizabeth

Publishing-Speak 101

2009-12-04T17:31:00.000-08:00

As a new agent (Amy here), I’ve been attending a lot of conferences this year, and I’ve had the opportunity to present at many of them. I really enjoy presenting to writers, for obvious reasons. I know we have a lot in common, and as audiences go, they tend to go easy on me. (I’m sure this has nothing to do with the fact that most are looking for an agent or will be someday.)

One thing that can derail these presentations, however, is publishing-speak. There’s nothing worse than finding that my carefully planned talk was only semi-intelligible. So I thought it might be helpful to make a list of some oft-confused terms and their basic definitions (as far as editors and agents are concerned). Here goes…

Novel – This one should be easy, right? By common definition, a novel is a book-length work of fiction. I have heard certain nonfiction works referred to as “nonfiction novels” (i.e. Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood), but this would most likely be referred to as “narrative nonfiction” (see “Narrative”) in our current publishing market. The primary take-away here: There is no need to classify a book as a “fictional novel.” If you say novel, we assume fiction.

Narrative (as in “Narrative Nonfiction”) – Does it tell a story? “Narrative” as a noun is a story or account of events, thus “narrative nonfiction” is a nonfiction book that tells a story. The most obvious example of this is memoir, but narrative nonfiction can be about events in history, science, or any number of topics. It just needs a strong story driving the book.

Prescriptive (as in “Prescriptive Nonfiction”) – This is “how-to” or “advice” nonfiction. Any book that gives information or directions to guide the reader can be described as prescriptive. You can also think of it as any nonfiction book that does not tell a story.

Upmarket – This is a term used to describe fiction that is meant for a commercial audience, but is a little smarter or more sophisticated in its use of language, character, or plot. It’s difficult to say what exactly is “upmarket” because often those boundaries are set subjectively. As Elizabeth Evans likes to say, it is the sweet spot between commercial fiction and literary fiction. Think Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones. I’ve also heard a colleague offer Audrey Niffeneger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife as an example.

Synopsis – Typically, a synopsis pertains to a fiction submission. Nonfiction submissions should include proposals, not synopses (see “Proposal”). A synopsis is a 1-2 page(s) summary of the events of a story. That’s right, 1-2 pages, not 10. It is a general overview of the main conflict and how it is resolved, and it helps the reader see the arc of the characters and plot. It should reveal the ending or (if you insist on keeping the end a surprise) 95% of the story.

Proposal – Proposals are for narrative and prescriptive nonfiction submissions, and they function as the selling piece of a nonfiction book project. There are entire guides on how to draft a book proposal, and we can’t include all that information here. In brief, a proposal includes an overview of the book, information about the author and his or her platform (see “Platform”), an analysis of the market for the book and the book’s current competition, plans for publicity and promotion, and sample chapters of the book.

Platform – The platform is the marketing ability of the writer. It includes the education, training, and professional or personal experience that qualifies you to write your book. It also includes the ways you have built an audience or can connect to an audience through your writing (i.e. Do you have a blog? Are you part of a writers’ organization? Have you been published in relevant publications?). It is absolutely necessary for nonfiction writers to have a platform. It isn’t necessary for fiction writers to have one, but it helps. A platform helps convince an agent or editor that people will buy your book.

Exclusive – In publishing-speak, exclusive is a noun. As in, “I’d like to ask you for an ‘exclusive’ on your manuscript.” If an agent asks a writer for an exclusive, what they want is an exclusive look at the manuscript for a set period of time. An agent can ask for an exclusive for two weeks, a month, etc., and if the writer agrees to it, the writer cannot send the manuscript to any other agent that requests it during the agreed-upon time period. If you’ve already sent the full manuscript to one agent, you can’t give another agent an exclusive. If the agent with the exclusive passes, you can send it around again. The exclusive is a necessary tool for an agent because it guarantees that if we devote our time and editorial attention to a manuscript, it will still be available for representation.

That's not a comprehensive list, but it's a start. I'll post again with some more terms soon. In the meantime, I hope that helps the publishing world feel a little less foreign!

2009-10-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

Literary Paris

by Kimberley Cameron

Kimberley Cameron & Associates

The photo you see to your left is one I took today with my iPhone through a window of one of the many Anciennes Livres (bookstores) that line the streets of Paris. It's refreshing to see the reverence one finds for the written word - viewing this antique printing press is one of the many pleasures from which I profit, living in this stimulating and delightful city. People are reading everywhere. The buses are full and no one is idle - they are reading newspapers, books, journals, or writing on their laptops and notebooks. Haven't spotted a Kindle yet. The covers of the books are subtle - just the title of the book, usually in black and white, that entice one to pay attention to the content. No ostentatious book covers in these windows. Book signings abound, and I've been to several in the month that I've been here. Venues such as The American Library, The Village Voice, Shakespeare & CO, and yes, even The San Francisco Book Company are but a few that host and promote authors and support the expat literary community. There are also numerous writing groups in Paris. It is an ideal city in which to write, as the atmosphere is thick with the ghosts of ancient scribes. I'm having lunch on Sunday at La Closerie des Lilas, opened in 1847. The voices of Rimbaud, Jean-Paul Sartre. Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Henry Miller, etc. are but a few the authors that echo within. Paris is a city of dreams... And, oui, I'm reading manuscripts like crazy while I'm here, looking for that new voice.

Kimberley in Paris, 30 Octobre, 2009

From Bouchercon with Love (with guest blogger Rebecca Cantrell)

2009-10-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

I (Elizabeth) often tell writers and agent friends that the mystery community is one of the most fun, supportive groups around. It's one of the reasons I choose to rep the genre. To say it's a lively bunch is a serious understatement. Past experiences at the Book Passage Mystery Conference in Corte Madera, CA and Thrillerfest in NYC have taught me to expect some wild nights and pack my Advil for the next morning. This is an incredibly welcoming group, with legendary, award-winning writers embracing newcomers, everyone offering advice and enthusiasm. I enjoy their company immensely.

The Bouchercon World Mystery Convention took place in Indianapolis earlier this month and I asked my mystery client Rebecca Cantrell (author of the A Trace of Smoke and other forthcoming titles in the Hannah Vogel series) to report from the front lines.

Books!

I love readers. I grew up in a family of readers, but once I entered school I discovered that most of my classmates did not yearn to sneak away and read during recess. They wanted to play soccer or Frisbee or jump rope. I was aghast, but muddled through, convinced that I was the last reader left in the world.

Then I grew up, wrote books, and discovered conferences, most recently Bouchercon. Unlike my elementary school, Bouchercon is full of people who love to read. Everyone read under their covers at night, everyone knows fictional characters that are more influential than real ones, and everyone wants to talk about their favorite books.

Where else can you have a passionate discussion about the merits of cover art before you even order lunch? (Sorry about that, Dan) Or last thing before you stumble off to bed? (You know who you are, David Liss and Reece Hirsch) Books matter and their covers matter too. And not just to me.

Where else can you have a serious discussion on the effects of war on characters in crime fiction to a standing room only crowd when the lunch hour is barely over? (Thanks, Suzanne Arruda, Charles Todd, James Benn, and Martin Limon, fellow panelmates).

Where else could I meet my delightful editor, Kristin Sevick, and fellow Tor authors, including the charming Loren Estelmann, Tony-the-man-who-knows-literally-everyone-Hays (I should have introduced him to Kelli-the-woman-who-knows-everyone-Stanley) and have a fascinating conversation with Mitchell Graham about fencing and the silver medalist at the 1936 Berlin Olympics (Helene Mayer, also the only Jewish athlete competing for Germany, someone whom Mitchell had actually met in person).

I signed countless books (OK, it was 88), and talked to writers and readers until the wee hours. All of this helped get me through the six hour time difference. Getting up at 2:30 in the morning my time to get over to the book bazaar required iron discipline and old-fashioned caffeine. It was worth it when I got there to see folks lined up, anxious for a chance to get free books. Books, books, books!

It was like coming home.

Aloha,

Rebecca Cantrell - www.rebeccacantrell.com

"A Trace of Smoke"

Forge Books May 2009

Change is in the Air...

2009-10-07T17:22:00.000-07:00

It’s officially fall now and change is in the air. As you may have noticed, we at Reece Halsey have been brewing up some changes of our own that we’re excited to share with you...

We’re pleased to announce that Reece Halsey North, Reece Halsey New York, and Reece Halsey Paris have become one entity, under the new name of Kimberley Cameron & Associates. Though we’ve all been proud to carry on the legacy of Reece and Dorris Halsey and the legendary authors they represented under the Reece Halsey moniker, we feel our current team is poised for a new identity.

To go along with this transition, we are happy to welcome you to our new e-home at www.kimberleycameron.com. We are all very excited to show a fresh face to the industry, and we look forward to working with you under our new banner.

To quote the late John F. Kennedy: “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”

Very Superstitious...

2009-09-16T21:00:00.000-07:00

...the writing's on the wall?

Elizabeth here, pondering the many superstitions us agents have about when we should or should not submit projects to editors.

Have you ever heard an agent say she doesn't submit in August? Or on Fridays? Or during leap year? We all have our strategies about when to send our material in the hope that our projects reach an editor's hands when he/she is most receptive...and ready to buy!

Theories abound on when this optimal moment might be. Some agents are of the opinion that when a project is ready, it should go out immediately. Ex. You finish revisions Friday morning - I'm pitching it Friday afternoon. 4th of July, Schmorth of July, that editor would much rather read my client's book than go to the beach. Christmas morning, I'm sending it! Well, maybe not Christmas morning, but Boxing Day seems acceptable. The list goes on.

Other agents might take a seasonal approach. There are slow seasons and busy seasons in publishing. Slow seasons usually occur during holidays, when the publishing pros take vacations and it's more difficult to assemble the necessary teams to approve acquisitions. This is why fewer deals go through in the summer than during other times of year.

The busiest seasons are just after these holidays. Sometimes September feels as though an imaginary whistle has blown, recess has ended and class is back in session. Editors and agents are in their chairs ready to roar with a flurry of pitching and buying proceeding. If an agent has a big splashy project she might send it right after Labor Day, confident that it will stand out amidst the others. Or, an agent might decide to wait a few weeks to let the madness subside and give editors a chance to breathe and regroup.

Still other agents use mental cunning to inhabit an editor's mind and predict his/her reading rituals. For example, Betty Bookbuyer at Random House is a Wiccan and Tuesday is Solstice. She'll probably take the day off and I don't want to hit her Wednesday morning when she's playing catch-up... Trying to make an educated guess about an editor's reading habits can sometimes feel a little like tracking the mating ritual of an elusive snow leopard.

Ok, I exaggerate, but we all have our special methods. My point is that a lot of thought can go into deciding when to send a particular project, and it's important for a writer to trust his/her agent to determine when a project is ready.

Yesterday, I was informed by an agent friend that, once again, Mercury is in retrograde. Now, is it just me, or does it seem like Mercury is always in retrograde? For those of you who are unfamiliar with this phenomenon, it's an astrological condition that makes our lives just a little bit miserable (you know, for fun) for a few weeks while the planet Mercury screws around and foils all our decent, hard-working attempts at communication and progress. It's a time of miscommunication - the phone goes on the fritz, emails bounce back, your computer crashes. Things go wrong.

Being a salt-of-the-earth Midwestern gal, I was not previously aware of this condition until I moved to California and a client informed me I was not to submit her project until Mercury left retrograde. Mmm, right. Sure. Okay. Huh? The outcome of that conversation is a story for another day, but nevertheless this whole mercury in retrograde seed is now lodged squarely in my head.

I must admit I'm a little unnerved about pitching projects now, while the skies are against me. Should I wait until Sept 29th when Mercury so graciously decides to exit retrograde? Or do I let em rip?

I'm inclined towards the latter. But if you need me after work hours I'll be in the Sheep's Meadow in Central Park, searching for a four-leaf clover. Just in case.

The Big Bad Book Comparison

2009-08-21T20:59:00.000-07:00

I (Amy this time) was chatting with a writer about query letters this week, and we came upon a topic that I often hear about from writers. I’m going to call it The Big Bad Book Comparison.
What I’m referring to is the oft repeated advice that – in query letters or book pitches – a writer should describe their writing by comparing it to other writers’ work that is similar in tone or sentiment. Here’s an example (one I made up):

"In my new romantic thriller, Love in the Killing Fields, Mary Mallone, Irish nurse and blighted lover, follows her lawyer-come-soldier beau onto the battlefields of WWI. The novel is Maeve Binchy meets John Grisham on the front of Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms."

Now, there are a lot of issues going on with this example, but let’s focus on the topic at hand:
The advantage of The Big Bad Book Comparison is that it can help an agent grasp the flavor of the writing or the sensibility of the story...quickly (which is helpful in our inbox-overflowing world). It can also catch the reader’s attention. What fan of Maeve Binchy wouldn’t be intrigued by a writer who professes to be Maeve 2.0? Who wouldn’t be curious to see how a new John Grisham navigates Hemingway's WWI landscape?

The disadvantage of The Big Bad Book Comparison is that it can cause confusion – even dismay – in the reader if it’s not executed well. After reading my example, do we really have any idea what this book sounds like? I mentioned Maeve Binchy, so there’s probably a love story. But didn’t I capture that by calling it “romantic”? Sure, there’s a lawyer in there. But does he do legal or military battle? Is it an occupation or an integral plot element? Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms gives us a specific picture of the landscape. But do Hemingway, Grisham, and Binchy belong in the same literary universe? Now, I mean no offense to Ms. Binchy or Mr. Grisham in saying this. My point is that all three of these writers are coming from very different places. How can we reconcile them into the same book?

So, what’s a writer to do?

Here are a few guidelines I’d like to offer. Keep in mind that they are not exhaustive and other agents might have a different view:

1. Stick with contemporary writers. If you claim to be the next Ernest Hemingway, Mark Twain, or Virginia Woolf, be prepared for your writing to go head-to-head with these literary gods. Literary greats have been venerated by generations of readers and critics, and I don’t think that any writer – no matter how talented – can stand up to that kind of notoriety. If you really must compare yourself to Salinger, then tell us what aspects of Salinger relate to your writing. (In my example, I reference “the front of Hemingway” so I am comparing his setting to mine, not his style.)

2. It’s okay if you compare yourself to a contemporary writer that I may not know. While you should try not to pick writers that are too obscure, you don’t need to limit yourself to best-selling authors alone. After all, an agent can’t know every writer that’s out there. When I come across a name I don’t know, I will either shrug and keep reading or look that writer up on the internet. If the comparison is accurate, you have nothing to lose here.

3. Intriguing combinations are helpful. Outlandish combinations are not. If you choose to make a “ ___ meets ___” comparison, an unusual combination can be intriguing. On the other hand, two writers that have nothing in common can be confusing. How would Binchy’s and Grisham’s writing or story sensibilities go together? What would that hybrid sound like? If you’re not sure, test it out on your friends. Does your comparison bring up more questions or does it clarify? If you find yourself writing “Danielle Steele meets Tom Wolfe,” STOP! This is impossible.

4. You don’t need to make a comparison at all. This is just one in a number of tools that you have to create a convincing query letter or pitch. If it’s difficult to find comparisons that work, don’t use them!

That’s just a start and it’s not exhaustive, but I hope that helps. Thanks for reading!

Amy

What Are You Looking For?

2009-07-15T20:58:00.000-07:00

Often when I attend writers conferences the first question I am asked is, “What are you looking for?” You’d think I’d have it down by now. That succinct but illuminating response that perfectly describes my tastes and hopefully reveals a little wit and personality. But I find that the answer I give varies each time, and that I’m rarely satisfied with it. New ideas I’ve never considered before fly from my mouth. For example, “I’d like a post-apocalyptic cookbook. Sort of a Paula Dean meets Bladerunner concept.” What? My God, I think, What am I looking for?

Over the years, my response to this question has varied from, “a lusty beach read,” to “meticulously researched historical fiction” to “a fast-paced international thriller” to “anything with an animal in it that makes me cry.” I’ve described myself as a lover of magical realism, a die-hard romantic, and a sports-junkie. And, to be fair, all are true. One reason I love my job is I’m able to read across several genres and learn about a breadth of diverse subjects. My projects have included mysteries, literary biographies, spirituality and self-help, and even an illustrated gift book.

I like mixing it up. It keeps my work fresh and fun, but I can understand how this might make it more difficult for writers to know which projects are right for me. I have an agent friend who is fond of saying, “How can I know what I’m looking for until I’ve seen it?” Fair enough, I think, but can’t we be any more helpful? Is it possible to give a more accurate idea of what we agents do and don’t want without being Negative Nancys?

Well, the answer might be no, but I’m going to give it a shot. Here are a few items on my current wish list:

1. Mystery novels that break free from being purely genre books by incorporating a particularly fascinating setting, or historical research, or a unique plot twist. A perfect example from my list is Rebecca Cantrell’s A Trace of Smoke. I loved the book’s setting (1931 Berlin), and was also intrigued by the heroine’s situation – that she was a crime reporter writing under a man’s pen name. I wanted to know more about her life.

2. Novels that hit that sweet spot between commercial and literary fiction. By this I mean well-crafted stories with strong plots. Beautiful prose isn’t enough. There must be a gripping story, filled with tension, emotion and suspense. Think Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife.

3. Sophisticated Young Adult Novels with the potential to cross over and attract an adult audience. I am mainly interested in contemporary settings and protagonists in the 12-16 yr age range.

4. Lively, fun nonfiction that feels edgy and current. I would love to find a strong pop culture or pop reference title. I want quirky! Of particular interest are Do It Yourself titles that might explore topics such as home brewing, urban farming, etc.

5. Serious nonfiction with a strong intellectual bent. I’m looking for authors who are experts in their field. Award-winning journalists, college professors, notable scientists… I would welcome projects with academic origins as long as they have enough accessibility and commercial appeal to attract a broad mainstream audience. Think Malcolm Gladwell or Jon Krakauer.

And a few items on my Desperately Seeking Not to Receive This list:

1. Any fiction that could be described as “quiet.” As Cormac McCarthy proves, literary fiction can be big, loud and tough like any other genre. I’m not seeking major pyrotechnics, but I should feel drawn into a strong story within the first ten pages. No flowery prose please. Lyrical is okay, flowery is not.

2. “Misery Memoirs.” Examples of memoirs I love are Don’t Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight and Reading Lolita in Tehran.

3. Thrillers with plots based on terrorism or American politics. No hardened cops, FBI or CIA agents who team up with beautiful young protégés, please.

4. Fantasy. I’m facing the truth; it’s just not for me. Unless you’ve written something bleak and fascinating and post-apocalyptic like The Hunger Games, the Handmaid’s Tale or Never Let Me Go. In that case, I want to sign you immediately.

5. Novels from an animal’s perspective. I have one on my list that I love, and I’m not seeking any more. I do love animals though, and wouldn’t mind more nonfiction about them!

Please note that the items on this list are subject to change, and through our handy new blog I’ll try to keep everyone posted while avoiding reporting every fleeting whim (Vampires in Tudor-Stuart England). Thanks for reading and till next time!

Elizabeth

The Plunge

2009-06-17T18:25:00.000-07:00

I sat politely and listened, my eyes following the faces of my new agent friends as they weighed in with enthusiastic stories of how many hits some client’s podcast received, or of the great new project they’d discovered through Twitter. We were seated in a big round booth in a cocktail lounge in Chelsea. It was September, and I would be moving to New York just after Christmas. The young agents I sat beside would be my new friends in the city. They seemed hip, sleek and plugged in, and I was pretending I knew exactly what they were talking about. Outwardly, I appeared engaged. Inwardly, I wanted to crawl under the table with my martini and sulk.

Social media? Blogs? Tweeting?! Fine for them, I thought. Not for me. I was interested in books. The old kind – with spines and paper. What did Facebook have to do with great literature? Nothing, I scoffed. I could barely say Twitter without my lip curling in disgust – it seemed the worst kind of narcissism. Who needed to know, in 140 words or less, what I was up to at any given moment? And blogs…don’t get me started. It was bush league journalism. Not for serious readers. Serious readers spent hours pouring over the New York Times every Sunday morning as they worked off their hangovers with nine cups of coffee or bottomless mimosas. I didn’t turn to the internet for real information. I used it for email, WebMD (I feel feverish – Ebola Virus!), and to peruse the occasional online J.Crew sale.

I stirred my drink and thought about our beautiful home office in Tiburon, which I would soon be trading for a shared space in Midtown. The Tiburon office exuded old-school cool – bookcases lined with hardbound classics extending to the ceiling, a stone fireplace, and leather chairs perfect for reading. Not to mention the view of the
San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge peeking through a curtain of fog in the background. The home office reflected the dignity of a bygone era, and the prestige of some of the agency’s great clients – Faulkner, Henry Miller, Aldous Huxley. I was completely comfortable there. Actually, I was ecstatic. It was exactly the space all us English major nerds dream of landing, when we actually pop our heads above whichever Joyce or Woolf novel we’re mesmerized by, to think about the real world. As far as I was (and still am) concerned, it was
book heaven.

But I was about to leave this heaven, and the publishing world, along with the rest of the nation, was about to enter an economic downturn that would shock us from our armchairs. In the months to follow the conversation that always seemed to play softly in the background, the one about the death of publishing and books as we know them, would be turned up full force. Suddenly the topic on everyone’s lips was how to evolve and survive. The unanimous answer from every corner from the Association of Authors’ Representatives to the New York Observer was to embrace new media, in particular the e book. Running from the wings to save us like an overeager first year medical student with shock paddles was Jeff Bezos and his fancy new Kindle. I was skeptical.

I tend to be a little slow to embrace change. I’ve found that many of us book people are. We gravitate to old things, dusty shelves, stationery, lockets and pocket-watches. We wear tweed in non-ironic ways. We refer to our first dictionary the way most people talk about a cherished family pet. I challenge you to find a publishing person who doesn’t own at least one pair of argyle socks.

But there we all were, in a real disaster situation as respected editors were dropping like flies and houses like Houghton-Mifflin were announcing – gasp! an acquisitions freeze. The landscape was bleak. I, like many others, decided to sit up and step up to the 21st century. Luddites no longer, we were willing to try anything, because, after all, we cared deeply about books and we would do whatever it took to preserve them. If a chorus of industry professionals was now saying that having an active online presence would boost an author’s book sales, then golldarnit, my clients would be on the interweb by morning!

So, it is now that I screw up my courage to deliver to you this first ever blog. These days I’m an active member on Goodreads.com and Shelfari, and even dear old Twitter. I have an unhealthy obsession with my Kindle. Just yesterday I managed to use “tweet” as a verb and keep a straight face. There may be hope for me yet.

If there’s any real message I’d like to deliver from this little tale, it is that if you are a writer and you aren’t already active on these social media sites, it’s okay. Feel no shame – there’s hope for you too! If you’re feeling stubborn and resentful and thinking of crawling under your computer to stage a Twitter-boycott, gently push those feelings aside and just give it a go. As Stephenie Meyer’s editor at Little, Brown said to me recently, while shoving a copy of Twilight into my hands, “Resistance is futile!”

But if that’s not a compelling enough reason to give it a whirl, I’m here to tell you that all the social networking really does work. For better or worse, the days of reclusive authors mailing their masterpieces to New York and then retreating to their mountain cabins while the next brilliant idea gestates are over. It is an absolute
truth that the success of a book depends in large part on the willingness of its author to promote it. We have at our fingertips, and mostly for free, an unprecedented new array of options with which to promote ourselves and our material. Let’s use it. Get that cabin wired!

I found myself back at that same bar recently, with the same
wonderful agent friends. They are gems, and I am lucky to be part of such a great community. One of them pushed a stylish lock of dark hair from her forehead, arm bangles jingling, and proclaimed, “I’m excited! We’re at a pivotal moment in publishing, and I feel energized.” Goody Two-Shoes, I thought. Really? You’re excited? You know we’re not on a panel now, right? But as my envy of her wide-eyed optimism slowly disappeared along with the contents of my cocktail, I realized her attitude is absolutely right. No fear! Now is the time to be taking risks and exploring new territory. Why fight it? We just might like it.

By Elizabeth