Interview With Mary On Book Country

The wonderful writing community, Book Country, asked me to answer a few questions for their authors on everything from manuscript advice to social media to self-publishing. Read the interview here.

Follow Mary on Twitter @Mary_C_Moore

Find her online marycmoore.com and kimberleycameron.com/mary-moore

And this photo, taken from my computer, because she thinks she's a cat, and I'm trying to work...

Amy and Mary Will Be Taking Pitches At PNWA

If you're looking for a writers conference to attend, PNWA in Seattle is a great one. They offer four days packed with informational panels as well as two days of agent/editor pitching.

Both Amy and myself will be attending and taking pitches, so come say hello if you are there!

Amy Cloughley enjoys literary and upmarket fiction of all types in addition to commercial—including well-researched historical and well-told women's fiction. She also loves a page-turning mystery or suspense with sharp wit and unexpected twists and turns. She has a soft spot for distinctive, strong, contemporary characters set in small towns. Amy always looks for an unexpected story arc, a suitable pace, and a compelling protagonist. She is interested in narrative nonfiction when the plot and characters are immersed in a culture, lifestyle, discipline, or industry. She will also consider a travel or adventure memoir.

Mary C. Moore is primarily seeking adult fantasy and science fiction, historical, romance and literary with hints of magical realism or surrealism. She will also consider YA science fiction and fantasy.

Taking Pitches At SFWC This Friday!

I and my esteemed colleague, Amy Cloughley, will be taking pitches during the Agent Speed Dating sessions at the 2015 San Francisco Writers Conference. 

I have gotten a few questions whether I am taking pitches even though it states that I am closed to submissions on the KC&A website. 

Although my current schedule does not allow the time for unsolicited queries via email, otherwise known as the slushpile, I am always looking for new clients, albeit at a slower pace. Thus conferences are one of the few places I do take pitches. (I also make requests via #PitMad, a wonderful resource for writers, and I consider Writers Digest Bootcamp participants.) I hope to someday soon to be open to a slushpile, but for now those are the places I take submissions. 

If you are attending SFWC, I am most actively seeking adult science fiction and fantasy. I also will consider literary/upmarket fiction with magical realism or a surrealistic bent, romance, historical, and speculative YA. I am not interested in non-fiction (memoir included), mystery, or women's lit. 

Amy, on the other hand, enjoys literary and upmarket fiction of all types in addition to commercial—including well-researched historical and well-told women's fiction. She also loves a page-turning mystery or suspense with sharp wit and unexpected twists and turns. She has a soft spot for distinctive, strong, contemporary characters set in small towns. She is also interested in narrative nonfiction when the plot and characters are immersed in a culture, lifestyle, discipline, or industry and will  consider a travel or adventure memoir.

She is not currently focusing on military/government thrillers, fantasy, or YA projects. 

So if you have a project that fits one or both of us, stop by and give us your pitch!

Looking forward to seeing you there. 

@AmyCloughley

@Mary_C_Moore

Rejection and Publishing

Rejection, it's a word all writers loathe and fear. I myself have been rejected as an author by zines, agents, editors, workshops, and readings. It's a difficult road, and I feel for the thousands of writers that pass through our slushpile everyday. It's hard not to take each rejection like an arrow to the heart and I've seen writers who have become bitter, angry, sad, and then broadcast it online. They vent their frustration, believing they have been wronged, calling publishers, editors, agents alike nasty names and blaming them personally for the rejections.

One of the most important things I have learned since entering the other side of publishing is that rejection is not personal. Publishing is first and foremost, a business. The people within publishing love books (they have to, for it is rarely a lucrative career), but they are not artists per say, so they are looking at each submission with a practical eye. For example, as beautiful as your prose may be, if the book is hundreds of thousands of words long, an agent knows that a publisher will not probably not pick it up because to publish a book that large costs more money. No one is saying the writer is a bad writer for having a long book, it just means the writer probably doesn't understand the business side of publishing and is likely inexperienced.

So if you are like the average writer and wish to have a financially successful career, do your research, know the business and understand that it's similar to any other job. Your first project is your entry-level resume. You're going to have to submit it to as many places as you can, be rejected or ignored, and even if you do get hired, you won't be the CEO within the year. But if you keep honing your craft by going to school or workshops or conferences, doing online research, critical reading and practicing writing, just as you would invest in another career, your odds of success become much higher.

And you will see that rejection is just business as usual.

For more tips on writing and publishing follow Mary @Mary_C_Moore.

Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference 2014

"Learn all the clues to a successful writing career" at this year's Mystery Writers Conference scheduled for July 24 through July 27 in Corte Madera, brought to you by Book Passage, KC&A's preferred local vendor for all our books.

Aspiring writers can take classes from established authors, listen to lectures from professional publishers, and ask agents (including our own Kimberley Cameron) what they're looking for in a modern mystery novel.  The event will also feature a panel of detectives, forensic experts, and crime-scene investigators to shed some light on how to solve real life mysteries.  Check out the full list of faculty and event scheduling.

This unique opportunity is for writers of all levels interested in the mystery and/or suspense genre -- so don't miss out on all the invaluable information this year's conference has to offer and get your tickets.


Posted By Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

Elizabeth Kracht will be in Madison for the Writers' Institute this weekend.

Our own Liz will be attending the Writers' Institute Conference, in Madison this weekend. The 2014 Writers' Institute is the Midwest's premier writers' conference, filled with 3 days of education, entertainment, and writing inspiration. Say hi if you are attending. 

Follow Liz on Twitter: @ElizabethKracht

Writer's Digest Interviews Kimberley Cameron

Want to know more about what Kimberley herself is looking for? Read her interview with Writer's Digest here.

Submission Guidelines 

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Our Own Amy Cloughley Answers Questions

Want to get to know Amy C. better and what she's looking for? Read this recent interview with the Literary Mom, in which she gives advice, talks about what she's looking for, and how to submit to her.

Follow her: @AmyCloughley
Query her: submission guidelines