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BookEnds, LLC, is an innovative and energetic literary agency. We represent a diversity of authors, from spirituality, self-help and business writers to mystery, romance and literary novelists. BookEnds works with authors and publishers to produce the books we all want to see on our shelves.
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In 2006 I had the idea to start a blog. Not a lot of thought went into this idea other than the fact that blogs were the hot new medium for marketing and it could help not only build our agency but our clients as well. At the same time I was cutting back on my conference speaking schedule and missed the interaction with authors and the ability to teach what I know. The blog seemed the perfect way to continue this.
It's been five years and a terrific ride, but after much thought and deliberation I've decided that it's time to say good-bye to the blog (obviously my work with BookEnds and the agency will continue). And while I can't promise I'll stay away forever (watch for the occasional blog post to pop up) I also can't promise those posts will pop up.
It doesn't seem like blogs have as much "power" as they used to, especially with the ease and speed of sources like Twitter and Facebook. Most important, however, I don't have the passion for the blog that I once did. While I will surely miss hearing from the authors I've learned so much from, I think I will find other ways to interact.
The blog and all posts will remain up indefinitely for those who are still learning or want to refer to previous posts and you can always fine all of the BookEnds agents on Twitter if you have questions or want to know what we're up to.
I can't thank you enough for all I've learned from you. Because of feedback and comments I've grown as an agent and changed a number of BookEnds policies. Because of you I've stayed connected with the writers and, hopefully, gained a better understanding of what this business is like from your end.
I'm going to miss the blog and all of you. I feel like I should have something grand and profound to say, but all I can come up with is a slight bow, a wave, and a heartfelt thank-you for joining me in this journey.
Jessica
We've heard so often the complaint that publishers never take risks, that agents never take risks, and of course there are some who will say those are the reasons we're seeing the "downfall of publishing" today. I don't necessarily believe that. I think given how many new authors are published each year and how many of those succeed as well as how many fail shows that publishers take risks every day. Every book is a risk, whether it's a debut or not. No matter how much experience we all have we're never quite sure what's going to grab the attention of the reader.
That being said, recently when I heard that lament it made me think back to a publisher I once worked for, and by publisher I mean the individual, not the company. This particular publisher was a dreamer and a believer in all the good ways. The publisher loved the business and was enthusiastic about all the things about it, especially the books. One of the things this publisher charged was that each editor was allowed to buy one "book of the heart" each year. What that meant was that even if everyone in-house had doubts about whether the book would sell or could sell, the editor was given the ability to make a modest go of it, meaning the editor couldn't spend a million dollars for a book no one thought the house could do justice, but the editor could take a chance on something everyone else felt a little on the fence about.
For a young editor like me this was a really exciting opportunity, and while I never was able to buy my "book of the heart" before the publisher went another way, I held that feeling of excitement and carry it with me as an agent today.
I can't begin to tell you how often I've offered representation to an author for a book that I honestly thought would be a challenge to sell, but one I was excited about. And before all of my clients get worried, upon making the offer I've always been up front with the author about my belief that the book might be a long shot, but one that I thought was worth the risk. Some have sold, others have not, but either way I've never regretted taking the chance.
One caveat to all of this is that, as a writer, if you have an agent or publisher taking a chance on your book you still want to make sure it's a place that has some knowledge of where they're taking the chance to. In other words, you probably don't want me to take a chance on your illustrated children's book since that's so outside of my knowledge base that it just wouldn't be a smart move. I wouldn't even begin to know where to sell it to. You probably wouldn't want a business publisher taking a chance on your romance novel. Again, do they have the sales force available to even talk to the right buyers?
Jessica
There's been a lot of discussion in small business circles about whether or not interns need to be paid for the work they are doing. The concern is that companies are "hiring" unpaid interns to do work that should be done by paid assistants. That an unpaid internship should be a learning experience. And I agree. I agree with much of what's being said. What I have concerns about, however, is what's defined as "learning."
When one gets a job in publishing you usually start out as an assistant of some kind, whether an agent assistant, an editorial assistant, publicity, etc. As an assistant you aren't expected to know the ins and outs of publishing, although some knowledge can be to your credit, but you are expected to do a whole bunch of menial tasks. As an editorial assistant I was in charge of all the filing. Lots and lots of filing, and my boss didn't check the files. It was my job to find a paper for her whenever she needed it, and quickly. I was also in charge of the Science Fiction library, which meant lugging boxes of books in and out of a small windowless room every month to stack, sort and rearrange, to make sure we had enough copies of each author and to find the space for them on the ever-crowded shelves. I spent a great deal of time faxing, collecting faxes, making photocopies, fixing the copy machine and sometimes, yes sometimes, I had to do things like run out for a cup of coffee or clean out the disgusting office refrigerator. Was it glamorous? No. Was it a job I loved? Absolutely. I also got to read and edit yet-to-be published books, meet famous authors, get autographed books for Christmas presents, and I got to read and discover new authors. It was my dream job, or would be once I jumped through the hoops.
These are exactly the kinds of jobs (minus running for coffee and cleaning out the fridge) I ask both my assistant and my interns to do. Because what I've sadly discovered is that learning how to file is something that a lot of interns need. I'm amazed at the number of people who have come through the BookEnds doors who don't seem to have a basic grasp of how to file or how to fax (or figure out for themselves how to fax) or even how to mail a package. I wonder if doing these tasks would be considered learning, because in my mind they should be.
I remember Kim telling me once about her own internship at Berkley and how one of her tasks was cleaning out and reorganizing all of the files of a huge NYT bestselling author. She said she loved it. She got to read revision letters and contracts and correspondence between the author and her editor. She learned a ton about the process of publishing. And that's something I've noticed with my interns. Filing is a huge part of this job and some of them will pull up a chair and spend the day filing and reading the files and papers and, yes, learning. Others just seem to chuck the files in any folder (and yes, this has caused us many a headache) and not bothered to use the experience to learn.
Another job I often give the interns is reading. We ask the interns to do a great deal of reading and write readers reports, and I think all of us make an effort to give feedback on the reports and show the intern how to write a stronger and better report (something they'll need to do when applying for any editorial job). What they do with that is up to them. They can learn from the feedback we give them or ignore it. Again, I'm amazed by how many ignore it.
I also ask interns to review contracts for me. These are typically contracts I've already reviewed and negotiated, but now I want a second set of eyes to compare it to the one I negotiated and make sure every "i" is dotted, "t" is crossed, and comma is in its place. Let's face it, for any of you who have ever read a publishing contract, there is a lot of "stuff" in that stack of papers, and yet I'm amazed by how few interns have ever asked me questions about the contract, even when I ask if they have any questions. Isn't this a huge opportunity to learn?
An
Those of you who follow us on Twitter have probably seen the news already. All BookEnds agents have new email addresses that should be used for future submissions and queries.
All changes have been made accordingly to our website Submissions and About Us pages. And, in addition to telling you about our email addresses, we thought we'd use this opportunity to let you know what we're looking for these days.
Jessica
Jessica Faust
JFsubmissions@bookends-inc.com
Jessica is currently accepting queries via referral only. There is an office rumor that she might open for a month or so at a time later in the year. If that occurs she'll be looking for cozy mysteries, contemporary romance, historical romance, steampunk (romance and otherwise), and a very limited amount of paranormal romance. She's also looking for women's fiction. In nonfiction Jessica is looking for business books only.
Kim Lionetti
KLsubmissions@bookends-inc.com
Kim is currently closed to submissions. Please check the Submissions page of the BookEnds website periodically for an announcement about when she's open to queries again.
Jessica Alvarez
JAsubmissions@bookends-inc.com
Not too much has changed in what I’m looking for since this post in September. I still have a fairly narrow focus—romance, women’s fiction, and female-focused erotica—but I’ve decided to add cozy mysteries to the mix. In terms of romance, I’m looking for all types of adult romance (in other words, not YA). I had some success in 2011 with historical and inspirational romance, and would like plenty more of those, but I’d like to see contemporaries and books with high sensuality too. With my editorial background at Harlequin, I am open to category romance submissions. I will warn you now that I have been very tough on my romantic suspense and paranormal submissions. I’m still looking for books in both areas, but they have to be phenomenal to keep my attention. Please note that I’m not looking for fantasy, sci-fi, YA, novellas, or nonfiction.
Lauren Ruth
submissions@bookends-inc.com
In fiction, Lauren is looking for: romance—all genres; literary fiction; commercial fiction, especially up-market urban fantasy with romantic elements; middle-grade—all subgenres; young adult—all subgenres; mystery, with a strong focus on cozies; women's fiction on the literary side; and smart chick lit, a la The Devil Wears Prada. On the nonfiction side, she's looking for memoir, parenting and family, relationships, food and lifestyle, business, popular science, popular culture, and popular psychology.
Websites for published authors are becoming more and more important, not just for your readers but for the future of your career. I can't tell you how many times I go to an author's website to check out not just the author's books and career but for quotes and reviews. Which is why it's important to keep your site updated as much as possible. If you have a section for reviews but nothing is there, it looks like you've gotten no good reviews.
I know how hard it is to keep up a website, I know that there are plenty of things I've missed when I don't update enough, which is why, over time, I've simply removed those sections from my site. If you find you can't blog regularly or haven't blogged in months, then simply take down your blog. I think it looks better not to have one than to have a neglected one. The same holds true of reviews. If you can't remember to get in there once a month and update those sections, then simply remove them.
Jessica
I've just had a disappointing experience. I'd joined a big writers' network in my state, hoping to find some community but also because they offer a critiquing service. "The Network’s roster of critiquers is selected in accordance with the highest standards of excellence, including publication requirements and extensive mentoring and editing experience."
Yeah.
Well, I chose my critiquer and also began following her on Facebook. (She has an author's page.) Hours before I was going to send the manuscript to the administrator, who would then forward the Word doc. on to the critiquer, I needed a break from reading my novel for the 77th time and went on Facebook. A post from my chosen critiquer just happened to pop into my news feed: New ms for me to critique coming from the ... Writer's Network. Oh boy. My favorite job.
about an hour ago · Like · [Comment]
I did not hit "Like." That's my ms she's complaining about! Now, I know a lot of this work is f@#%ing tiresome. I'm not a professional writer, but I've taken a LOT of classes and reading bad writing is painful. But, then again, I SIGNED up for the class. If the woman, a published author, a teacher (for Gawd's sakes) doesn't want to participate in the critiquing service, why in blazes is she doing it? Why is this industry filled with so many damn bitter people? And I've read plenty of agents' and writers' blogs to know it to be true. (Not Bookends, of course.)
I guess my question, after the whinefest, is how does an unpublished author find someone to edit or critique their manuscript who will approach it with the best intentions, not already pissed off that they HAVE to read another novice's manuscript? How do we find someone who can help us improve? Who will not make us feel as though we're some stray dog showing up at the backdoor, begging for scraps.
I could sign up for another class, but, for one thing, I want my entire novel read, not just the first thirty pages. Also, I'd rather have a one-on-one with someone with skills, not, this time, participate in a big class.
I think this is one of the big problems with social networking. We all think every Tweet could be or is about us and we all read Tweets, blogs, statuses, etc., with our own anxieties in place. In other words, I can't even begin to tell you how many times a blog I've written has been misinterpreted by someone who came to it with their own experience and interpreted what I said in their own way, and in a way I never intended.
I'm sure everyone will have their own impression, but I did not read this in the same way you did. I read this as the status from someone who is enthusiastic about the critique she's about to be doing. I didn't see it as complaining at all.
I suppose it's easy to say that this industry is filled with bitter people, but I guess that also depends on how you see things. When I read the blogs, websites, Tweets and statuses of my colleagues I mostly see enthusiasm and excitement. Of course I'm in the mix too so I know that often the complaints aren't necessarily bitterness, just something to talk about since, honestly, most of us feel that about 80% of our actual day can't be talked about. I can't Tweet when I'm in the middle of contract negotiations. I can't Tweet about the specifics of phone calls I'm having daily with authors and editors, I can't Tweet about the painful revisions I just sent back to a client, etc. I think, based on the comments I see on my own blog, there's bitterness everywhere and, trust me, I know, it's easy for the negative to overpower the positive, but when I take a step back and really look at what people are saying I'll quickly realize that most people are happy and positive.
If you don't feel the person critiquing your book did a good job you can certainly look for someone new, and I suspect the best way to do that is to ask others who they've used or to form a group of your own. Honestly, I think some of the best learning experiences
If you sign with a literary agent and have no success placing your novel over the course of a year, what are your options after the official contract runs out? Can you search for a different agent and try again after some serious re-writes and editing? Is self-publishing worth considering? Is it time to give up, even if you believe the novel has potential?
Well, that depends on the contract. We don't have a contract that automatically expires so I'm not sure I'm the best one to answer this question. Our contract, in all jest, is for the rest of your life. What I mean by that is while we have a very easy termination clause, we hope to take on a client for a career and we don't want to be limited by time, either on our behalf or yours.
So I guess what I would ask you is what does that contract say. Does the expiration date mean automatic cancellation or does the expiration date only mean that you are now allowed to terminate? Once a contract is terminated, however that happens, you are allowed to do whatever you want. You are allowed to search for another agent, self-publish, or even quit and do something different. You know, you are also allowed to take a new project to your agent and continue with that. Many of my clients were signed with one project and first sold with another. Just because you sign with a project doesn't mean that's the one you're going to sell. Signing that contract should be a commitment on both sides to venture forth and build a career together, not just sell a book.
What I would say is that if the book has already been around, and a year has passed, I would hope that you have something new and fresh to take back to your old agent or to new agents. It never does a writer any good to spend a career focusing on just one book.
Jessica
I am revising the draft of my first novel, and part of it takes place in a school setting, where can see different inscriptions/quotes above doors and in various other places. These quotes are from works by well-known science fiction writers like Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov (such as "Violence is the last refuse of the incompetent" from Asimov's Foundation series). I am curious whether or not I need to approach these writers' estates and ask permission to use them, or if that falls under a caveat in copyright law.
Quotes are probably okay, but don't quote me on that. Whenever you use any material from other sources--quotes, song lyrics, poems, etc.--it is your responsibility as the author to obtain permission for use in whatever format the book will be published. That means use in print, ebook, possible audio, in the U.S. and probably around the world. It is also your responsibility to pay for those permissions should any fees be required.
I can't tell you specifically which quotes you will need permission for and which you won't. I can't say that without knowing exact details and I'm not going to give advice here for fear I might be wrong. That being said, what I can tell you is that you don't need to get the permissions prior to submitting the material. The publisher will require all necessary permissions prior to publication, but for submissions you'll be fine.
What I can also say is when in doubt, ask. In other words, there are definitely copyright laws and then there is the protectiveness of an estate, which can be two separate things. If you have concerns it never hurts to contact the estate to ask.
Jessica
Reading your April 8, 2008, blog about narrative nonfiction, I wondered about the storyline for nonfiction, e.g. The Perfect Storm, In Cold Blood, Jon Krakauer's work, and other well-known stories.
Is there such a thing as "episodic" narrative nonfiction? Where the stories are short vignettes? So instead of one continuous long thread, a series of short threads that maybe by the end become a total memoir?
The reason I ask: I am a poet who also writes creative nonfiction, but they are not continuous chapters. They are episodes.
Well, I'm a believer that pretty much anything can be done if done well. Certainly there has been nonfiction published that's really a series of essays. Are you talking about something different from that? I think there's been a great deal of nonfiction published that's really a collection of stories that create a larger tale. If that makes sense.
Jessica
I currently have an agent who has a good reputation and has a decent track record. I have done all the background checks I can and when I signed felt I would be well represented by this person. However, through a series of situations and over a six month period with 0 submissions to publishing houses despite a great deal of talk about multiple submissions, I am beginning to believe that this business relationship is not a good match.
What I would like to know from you is, is it bad protocol to start feeling out the waters with other agents (querying) while still under contract? I don't want to do anything unethical or something that would tarnish my reputation as a new author, however I also would like to have an agent that is doing their job asap. And if it is okay to start querying while under contract, do I mention that I am under contract and looking for a more suitable agent?
First let me congratulate you on making the decision early on that this might not be the right relationship. Too often I see authors flounder with an agent who they don't feel is a good fit, but out of fear they won't find another. Taking control of your career from the beginning is a smart move.
I'm going to assume that you've talked with your agent about your concerns. Often I find that assumptions are made about what others are doing without really knowing the facts. For example, I'm constantly shopping books, talking to editors about the work my clients do, hounding publishers for money and contracts, etc., but I'm not always filling my clients in on every step I'm taking for them. For all you know, the agent could be talking you up to editors.
Okay, on to your question. Yes, it's bad protocol to shop for an agent while you're under contract. Honestly, it's a breach of contract and puts all parties, including the agents you're talking to, in a very uncomfortable position. What if your agent happens to be best friends with one of the other agents you're talking to? How does it make you look to other agents if they know you're the kind of author who might go behind their backs when unhappy? That being said, it does happen all the time. While certainly some agents will feel "protocol be damned," others might tell you to get back in touch after your relationship has been dissolved.
The smart and easy thing to do is quit the relationship and then query. After all, what if you're querying at about the same time your agent decides to start talking to editors about your book? Suddenly you're not going to have much of a project to talk to agents about since by that time it will have been shopped.
Jessica
I sent a query, synopsis and 10 pages to a popular agent who is no reply = no. Two weeks later, I received an amazingly sweet letter in which she gave compliments, made suggestions and then told me she'd already sent an email to a colleague of hers (the VP of their agency) and really thought she'd like it so would I send it to the colleague as well, with the referring agent's name in the subject header. Firstly, wow - because this was based on the 10 pages and synopsis, which I know because she referred to plot points. That was in [6-8 weeks ago]. My first assumption is that a referral will at least garner a rejection letter, even from an agency that doesn't reply if not interested. (Is this a bad assumption?) I don't intend to nudge, since it's just a query, but I also think it was awesome for the first agent to go through the trouble and would hate to not be diligent about the opportunity she sort of created. After getting writer feedback that insists I should nudge, I thought I'd better ask an agent (I trust). :)
This is really exciting. Congratulations!
According to the dates you are giving me the agent has had the material, which I assume is a full manuscript, for 6-8 weeks. At this point you're probably on the early edge of hearing back on a full submission, even if the material was requested. My suggestion is give it about 10 weeks or so (while some agents are really fast, it's not uncommon for agents to take an average of three months to respond to full submissions), and then I would send an email to check the status.
I agree that you should definitely receive a response on requested material, but I don't have insight to this agency's exact policy either.
Jessica
I'm no Twitter expert and have never claimed to be. That being said, I always have plenty of ideas about what works and doesn't work in social networking, primarily because I use it.
A lot of the people I follow on Twitter I follow because I'm a fan. Sure, I follow other industry experts and friends, but I also follow a lot of chefs (in my case). People I admire for their culinary skills. Some of my favorites are those I've gotten to "know" through various food competitions like Top Chef, Food Network or even their cookbooks or blogs. Not too long ago I was leaving Atlanta after a great conference with the Georgia Romance Writers. While waiting at the airport I Tweeted that I was leaving ATL and was bummed I didn't have the chance to visit Flip Burger and I included chef and owner Richard Blais (@RichardBlais) in my Tweet. Just a few short hours later @RichardBlais tweeted back "not as bummed as we are."
Okay, call me a fan geek, food geek, whatever, but I was on cloud 9 all day over this silly tweet. Over the fact that one of my chef heroes tweeted me back and actually seemed bummed that he wasn't able to see me. Does it matter how truly bummed he was? No. Not to a fan. When you admire and respect someone you're excited to be acknowledged by that person. And you should be. Life is too short not to get excited over the little things.
So here's my question to you writers. Are you giving your fans the little thrills that make their days, that give them reason to spend hours, heck days, talking about you? After my Tweet from Richard Blais (which by the way resulted in a number of people asking about this Flip Burger) I went to my personal Facebook to tell my friends and then I told everyone who would listen and now I'm telling all of you. That's buzz and that's the sort of thing that sells a product. It has nothing to do with the Tweets @RichardBlais himself has made, but everything about the "retweeting," so to speak. It's about the connection.
Jessica
When a publisher doesn't except "unsolicited manuscripts", does that mean they will only except an ms or query from an agent?
Below is some information I've found. Can you verify if it's true or not?
"No unsolicited manuscripts" does not mean you can't send something to these publishers. (Those who are truly closed will say something like "Not accepting submissions.") "No unsolicited" just means you must send them a one-page QUERY first. If they like your idea and feel your book is a possible fit for their list, they will reply to your letter inviting you to send your manuscript. Then, WHEE! Suddenly you're sending a solicited manuscript.
This is one of those questions that's hard to answer without more specifics, but I'll do what I can. Unsolicited manuscripts would mean specifically that you don't send any manuscript unless it's been requested. That could mean that the publisher accepts queries first and will request manuscripts, or it could mean that they don't want anything unsolicited.
Most publishers (and I say most because I suppose there are some smaller publishers that might not like working with agents) will accept submissions from agents, but even agents tend to contact editors first before simply sending off a manuscript.
If the publisher has submission guidelines on their website, but they say "no unsolicited manuscripts," then they will expect a query first. If they have no guidelines for submissions it's likely they aren't accepting unsolicited submissions of any kind, and that includes queries.
***
On a related topic, please note that Kim Lionetti has closed to all queries in an effort to catch up on submissions and any unanswered queries she's received to date. This is only temporary. Kim will be opening again once she's all caught up. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please see our submission guidelines if you'd like to submit to one of our other agents.
Jessica
I'm writing on YA fantasy novel (for want of a loose description) and I'm wondering about the use of profanity and drinking in a YA novel.
While swearing is not a massive part of the story there is the odd bit of what would be described in a movie as 'low level' language and I also have a fairly major party scene (it all goes wrong).
My initial instinct is to write what I want to write and worry about censoring it later as at this stage I'm part way my first draft especially as I hate reading YA where the characters say 'oh drat' or the equivalent. What are your thoughts on teens drinking and swearing?
Back in another lifetime I edited YA. I loved it and wanted to do more, but quickly became frustrated with what was popular at the time and what I was limited to doing based on what was supposedly selling. Now, keep in mind I was not working at a YA house and I imagine if I was I might have had a different experience, but still, what I was seeing published were not YA novels I would have ever been interesting in reading. In my opinion, they talked down to the reader, were written to appease adults, and didn't at all reflect the real life of teens.
Thank goodness times have changed.
The reason, in my mind, YA works so well today and has become so popular is that we are no longer afraid of adults. We are actually writing and publishing books that truly speak to kids. There is drinking, swearing, sex, abuse, love, hate, and bullies. We are no longer just writing about jocks and cheerleaders, but also about geeks and freaks and the one in between who is easily forgotten. Today we are writing about real kids and the real worlds they inhabit (sometimes).
I think your frame of mind on this is perfect. Write what you want to write and keep it real. When you've finished the book, read and edit and make sure that it sounds real. That the words your characters are using are fitting to the situation and to them. If there needs to be drinking and swearing, leave it in there. If it seems gratuitous, take it out. But don't take it out because you're afraid of what an editor or agent might think. Take it out only because it no longer suits the book (if that's the case).
Jessica
I am in the process of finishing my first book. I believe the title I have chosen is a real eye-catcher but I'm concerned it may be too dark. My book is nonfiction or should I try to come up with something softer. I don't want the title to scare people off.
This question actually came as a comment to the previous blog post I did of the same title, but since I thought it was an important question, I thought it deserved its own post.
If there's one thing I've learned in life it's that you should go with your gut. In other words, if you're questioning something about your book, your plot, your title, your submission plan, your characters, whatever it is, you're probably right. If there's a niggling feeling that something isn't working, it's probably not working. It's amazing to me how often I'll give revision suggestions to a client and the client will turn around to say that she had the same concerns, but wasn't sure how to fix it. Hopefully at that point we've figured out how to make the fix.
It's hard to know if your title works without knowing anything about the book or specifics about the title; however, if you think it's too dark and doesn't properly represent the tone and voice of the book, no matter how eye-catching, the title probably isn't working.
Jessica
Grab a cup of coffee or tea and curl up on the couch because it's time to find out the dirt on your blind date with a book.
I was really excited about this idea and even more excited to see the unique list of books everyone came up with.
Up to the point of the blind book date I had been reading a lot of romance and women's fiction. Previous titles on my just-read list included Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Madeiros, and Every Last One by Anna Quindlen (all of which I'd recommend, by the way). So when I first met my date and discovered that it was The Temple of My Familiar by Alice Walker, I was excited. Not only was this something very different from what I had been reading (which is what I'd hoped for in this exercise), but I had also never read Alice Walker.
There's no doubt this book is very different from what I had been reading, and while I can certainly agree with the many who will say Alice Walker is an amazing writer, I have to confess that I just didn't love this book. In fact, I didn't finish the book. I gave myself permission long ago to not finish books I'm not enjoying. Life is too short and there are too many books I will enjoy to force myself to finish something, and while I didn't find this painful it was ultimately not my cup of tea. I suppose someone is going to say that it's not a romance and that's why I didn't enjoy it. I don't think that's the case. I think I'm savvy enough to recognize when I'm not liking something because it's not in the genre I'm in the mood to read vs. when I'm not liking something because I'm not connecting with it, and in this case I just didn't connect.
Will I read something from Alice Walker again? Probably not, but never say never.
Was I happy to have tried? Thrilled that I was given the opportunity to experience this iconic author.
Did this open up new reading possibilities for me? I'm not sure. It's not really classified as a genre and therefore not something I've never experienced (like a SF book for someone who has never read SF, for example), but it also didn't close any doors.
Would I participate in something like this again? Absolutely. My to-be-read list has grown exponentially thanks to the suggestions on the blog.
Now it's your turn. What book did you read (or attempt to read) and how was the experience for you?
Jessica
Do you automatically reject a query if the author does not have a college degree?
No. I don't know of any agency who would. Unless you're an expert writing nonfiction on a subject that would require a degree of some sort, I don't care if you've never been to school.
Is "mainstream literary fiction" an appropriate term/genre to describe a novel in a query letter? I'm getting ready to submit a book that doesn't fit easily into either category. Bret Easton Ellis would be an example of an author that writes this type of fiction.
Yes, mainstream literary fiction is fine.
Do you work with authors from other countries?
Absolutely! We don't care where you're from, only that you've written a good book. We have authors from all over the world.
I have two nonfiction books published (under my married name) and am now working on a novel. I may be taking back my maiden name in the future and am wondering if pursuing publication using a different last name will affect the career I hope I can have as a novelist.
Since nonfiction and fiction are two different markets, it shouldn't matter at all which name you publish under. Of course, there's always an "it depends," in this case based on what kind of nonfiction you wrote (memoir, for example) or how successful your nonfiction was, but ultimately writing under two different names should be fine.
When an agent requests pages, are they referring to the physical pages in a word document, or is the referring to 250-word pages?
I assume you mean page count. These days I think you can go by the word count in your Word document. However, if you feel more comfortable with the 250-word per page count, go with that. Honestly, it doesn't make that much of a difference to the agent. If you mean how many actual pages, the agent will look at the number on the bottom of the Word document, so go with that.
Jessica
Thanks to all of your contributions, Workshop Wednesday has been a success. We're going to continue on with it for as long as we have entries and the energy to comment on them. If you haven't yet submitted but are still interested, don't be afraid to participate as per the guidelines in our original post.
For anyone wanting to comment, we ask that you comment in a polite and respectful manner, and we ask that you be as constructive as possible. If you can be useful to the brave souls who submitted their query and comment on the query, that's great. Please keep any anonymous tirades on publishing or other snarky comments to yourself. This is and should remain an open and safe forum for people to put themselves and their queries out there so that everyone can learn. I'm leaving comments open and open to anonymous posters, as I always have; don't make me feel the need to change that policy.
And for those who have never "met" Query Shark, get over there and do that. She's the originator of the query critique, the queen, if you will.
Dear Ms. Faust:
Thank you for the opportunity to submit to the BookEnds Literary Agency query workshop. Don’t Mess with Mick is a completed Romantic Suspense of 75,000 words.
This is a great opening. Succinct and respectful.
Amateur photographer, Rachel Copeland, is in trouble. An early morning wildlife shoot at the deserted Salton Sea, soon becomes a shoot-em-up. And she is the one being fired at. Held at gunpoint, and her male attacker demanding her camera, she fights back and escapes.
Newly transferred detective, Michael Delaney, is on surveillance at the sea. Rumors have circulated that a Mexican Kingpin and his brother, who evaded capture when their drug compound was toppled by a U.S. DEA agent, are out for revenge. It’s Michael’s assignment to find them before they can identify the agent who has turned civilian and resides in one of the California desert cities.
Hearing gunfire, Michael gives chase. He apprehends the guy only to find an angry, but very sexy, redheaded woman. She tells him she was shot at, had her camera stolen, was subjected to a harrowing highway chase (by him), and she is grieving the recent disappearance of Grandpa Henry, a wildlife photographer and her only living relative.
The above paragraphs read like a synopsis of the beginning of your manuscript. We don’t need to know exactly what happens, play by play. Instead, we want to know who the characters are, what their conflict is, what is standing in their way and how they might get around it. We need the larger scope of your story.
Michael learns Henry’s isolated cabin is at the edge of the Salton Sea, and that he has a dark room. He’s convinced that photographs might hold a clue to the whereabouts of Henry, and the Saurez brothers. Rachel is sure that Henry is not dead, and Michael begins to believe her. While they uncover clues, and their mutual attraction grows, someone is waiting for them to produce what he needs, and then he has a plan of his own: to extinguish them both.
This last paragraph comes the closest to telling me the gist of the story, but it should be expanded to the size of the whole query and should absorb pieces of (but not all) of the paragraphs above it. The skeleton of the story here is that two people need to find the same guy—Grandpa Henry—for different reasons and they come together to make that happen. But we don’t learn this information until the last paragraph and by that point, you seem to be wrapping up.
I am a member of RWA and the Los Angeles chapter, LARA, and have attended many of your panels at the national RWA conference, and also enjoy your daily blog. Should you wish to read more of Don’t Mess with Mick, it is completed.
Sincerely,
[r
I think on a number of agent blogs you've read how much an acknowledgment or a dedication to an agent in a client's book can mean to an agent. I never get tired of reading them and I never feel anything less than humbled that the author would consider me when writing this most public of thank-yous. But today I'm feeling a very special appreciation for all of my clients. I don't have a book in which to acknowledge them, but I do have this blog.
Each day my clients make me better at what I do. They provide me with information on the industry, hot topics among authors, and information that I can use to become better at what I do.
They humble me with their combined and individual talents. I'm continually amazed by the ideas they come up with, the skill it takes to write a book, and the perseverance each of them has to succeed and excel in this industry.
I'm thankful to know them both professionally and personally. I'm thankful for the support they give me in my job and I'm thankful that they are willing to listen to my ideas and sometimes take them without laughing.
So while I won't list you all by name, you know who you are. Published or unpublished I appreciate every single one of you. Skol!
Jessica
I love my agent. I think she's fabulous, and I never want her to doubt for an instant that I think she's fabulous.
Are there "rules" governing gifts from the writer to the agent? I figure it's okay to send cookies just 'cuz, but what about a gift when the agent sells your manuscript? Is it okay to send flowers? A bottle of the agent's favorite wine? (I've recently found out you can have anything delivered in Manhattan.)
For the record, my agent has never asked me for anything other than a splendid manuscript.
You sound like a sweet and fabulous client, and what I love most about this post is that I don't often get questions from readers telling me they love their agent. Yay for you and yay for your agent. It sounds like you're a good match.
There are no "rules" when it comes to giving gifts to your agent. Of course no agent expects gifts (editors don't either) and certainly they aren't required, but sometimes we just like giving gifts to show our appreciation and some of us are just natural gift givers.
When it comes to giving gifts I think it's about the giving and not the gift. If you want specific ideas, though, get to know your agent a little and see what she likes or just think about what you see from Tweets and blogs. For most agents, anyway, you can never go wrong with food or booze. I think any of the thoughts you have on what you send your agent will be touching and greatly appreciated. Heck, I'll tear up over a thank-you email from a client. Sometimes that's the best gift I can get.
Jessica
All of the talk lately about whether "no means no" is an appropriate response for agents to give to query letters had me thinking about my own rejection letters over the years. I agree with Janet Reid when she says that a response is not only important, but pretty easy. It's something we've always done at BookEnds--responded to all queries and submissions--and something I think we all agree is important and plan to continue to do.
That being said, it's amazing how things have changed in the past 12 years and how much my queries, submissions, and responses have changed. When we first opened the agency we were hungry agents looking for great authors. Everything in those days (2001) was done by snail mail, so we had an open policy to unsolicited partials. That meant that without even getting a request you could snail mail us a copy of your query/cover letter, the first three chapters of your book, and a synopsis. Man, you should have seen the piles of mail. More often than not it took multiple armloads just to get from the mailbox to our desks. That was every day.
At that time, because we were hungry, I somewhat personalized every rejection. I had several forms, sure, but I actually took the time to type into each letter the name and address of each person I was rejecting. I'd love to know how much time that took me each week.
Over time, within probably 3 to 5 years, we were getting busier and busier, actually tending to our clients, because we actually had clients. So instead of the personalized rejection, we started to go the way of the "Dear Author" form. Away went the address and name and instead we had a stack of letters printed out that we could just stick into envelopes and send off. This was for unsolicited material. For solicited proposals we were still writing in the names and addresses.
And then email really took hold, at least for submissions. Agents became less afraid of being inundated with queries in their email inbox and opened to email submissions. We were right there with the rest. By this time we had done away with the unsolicited partials and were accepting queries only via email and we came up with a very clever way to reply to those queries. That magical signature line. Most email programs allow you to have multiple signatures to choose from. Maybe you have your business standard and another for personal use. Well, we have somewhere around 10. I have my standard signature that goes on the bottom of all email, and then I have the "letter" signatures or the form rejection signatures. I have one that says I'm closed to queries, one that requests material, one that rejects material, one I can easily modify to make more personal, and those that give some specific information (like the book is too short or too much like a magazine article).
I've found it's never hard to pop on that signature and hit send, and hopefully it allows me to keep networking with authors and helps them to keep thinking of me.
Jessica
Thanks to all of your contributions, Workshop Wednesday has been a success. We're going to continue on with it for as long as we have entries and the energy to comment on them. If you haven't yet submitted but are still interested, don't be afraid to participate as per the guidelines in our original post.
For anyone wanting to comment, we ask that you comment in a polite and respectful manner, and we ask that you be as constructive as possible. If you can be useful to the brave souls who submitted their query and comment on the query, that's great. Please keep any anonymous tirades on publishing or other snarky comments to yourself. This is and should remain an open and safe forum for people to put themselves and their queries out there so that everyone can learn. I'm leaving comments open and open to anonymous posters, as I always have; don't make me feel the need to change that policy.
And for those who have never "met" Query Shark, get over there and do that. She's the originator of the query critique, the queen, if you will.
Dear Ms Faust
Every 100 years there comes upon this planet a writer whose work enlightens that generation and those that will follow. Until that person arrives you'll have to make do with me.
While I did chuckle a bit at your opening line I wonder if the self-defeating tone might hurt you in the end? It didn't bother me, but I'm not sure other agents wouldn't have a different reaction.
Mae Clarke is a nineteen year old girl who's been alive for six months after being created in a test tube having been brought up by robots and an insane non-scientist. Her mother, Carla Neill, is on the starship Dravid (currently patrolling the Colonial side of the Zone), trying to avoid everyone and who everyone tries to avoid. Her father, Alan Radford, is passing the rest of his life on early twenty-first century Earth hoping that he won't be kidnapped and sent into the future again.
I'm having some trouble following this. Your first sentence was one I had to read twice and I guess the introduction, this entire paragraph, doesn't grab me. Nothing about this feels particularly riveting or different.
All three are destined to meet (there wouldn't be a novel in it if they didn't) at least that's what Harold, the insane non-scientist obsessed with his and their destiny, thinks is their destiny. Aided, abetted and obstructed in his plans are two robots, a seven foot reptilian doctor, the commander of the Dravid and a dictatorial Dagon who is determined to resurrect her military career by breaking as many rules as she can without her rusting brick of a ship falling apart.
I like how your humor comes through. I think that's my favorite part of your query, your asides, however since I doubt you do that in the novel I'm not sure it's going to be enough to make me want to request the book. I think part of the problem with this is that you're so focused on trying to put the comedic elements into your query that I'm getting no sense of what the book is about or the story. When querying a humorous story the humor needs to come through in the showing of the story, not trying purposely to be funny.
A Stitch In Time is a Science Fiction comedy written by [redacted] (that's me) and has some vague similarities to Blonde Bombshell by Tom Holt and the Space Captain Smith Trilogy by Toby Frost.
Good comparisons.
I have had two short stories published in failed ezines, two on failed websites and two non-fiction articles for succesful magazines as well as being a regular book/film/tv reviewer for the irregularly published SFF ezine Hub. I have three teenage boys, an old car, a rented flat and act out my fantasies for the Knebworth Amateur Theatrical Society twice a year, as well as being the author of this stunning query.
i just recently signed with a publisher... on their website, it said submissions only accepted by agents etc
i ignored that and it turned out okay! (i didnt have an agent and still dont)
my question is.... ive already signed the contract with them.... should i still look into getting an agent?
It's a tricky situation because it sounds like you really don't want an agent, however it's important to note that an agent does a lot more than simply submit a work. Sure, negotiating a strong contract is a huge part of what an agent does, but so is career management and guidance. An agent will also help you understand the business and learn what you can expect from the publisher, she can answer your questions and explain things you might not understand, and she can help spot trends and see where you might fit when it comes to building a career.
I think at this point it's going to be difficult to get an agent until you're getting ready for your next contract. At this point, there's not a lot in it for the agent. You've already negotiated and signed the contract so she's coming in to help manage something she's never going to get paid for, but of course I would suggest that you consider getting an agent for your future works. There's a lot an agent can and will do for you, and submitting to the publisher is the least of it.
Jessica
When an author is considering Bookends LLC, should the disparity between levels of experience between the agents play a major part, or can she trust that even a new agent at your agency will have the support and expertise of the other more experienced agents behind her? Is it all right to query the new acquiring agents even if you have already queried other agents at Bookends LLC, since that agent was not available to query (or have the query referred to them) at the time of the original query?
As someone who, at one time, was just starting out, either as an editorial assistant or a new agent, I'm a strong believer in "new blood." In fact, even today I seek out smart new assistants to submit to. They are hungry, they have time on their hands, and they are excited to work with new authors and promote those new authors to the people who make the decisions. The same holds true of new agents. They are excited to build a list, hungry to add new authors to their list and, if I can be so bold as to speak for the "new" people at BookEnds, incredibly smart.
I think there's no doubt that experience can play a role in how an agent operates, but so can an agent's personality. When selecting an agent at any agency I think it's more important to look at how that agent works and how well you communicate. A new agent at any agency has the backing of the agency's name and the experience of the other agents to rely on. We work very closely at BookEnds. We discuss proposals, manuscripts, submission strategies, editors, authors, and even revision suggestions with each other. I have a ton of faith in the people I work with and each of them has their own set of strengths. It's amazing how the opinion of one, and the experiences of one, can help all of us.
When sending out your submission to any agent I wouldn't discount the new or the younger agents. In fact, I would look at them first. They are the people who have the time to take chances and are looking to grow a list. Agents who have been around for a long time tend to be pickier because they can be. They don't have as much time to take a rough project and spend time working to build on the potential they see. And yes, they will always have the support of the others within the agency.
And yes, feel free to query other agents within the agency even if you've already queried someone. The worst that can happen is a pass.
Jessica
What would happen if the author, after due time with one of the new agents, felt one of the other agents would be a better fit? Do authors ever move to a different agent at the same agency?
This question actually came as part of another question, but it's something I've often wondered about myself so I thought it deserved its own post. If you like the agency you're with, but over time maybe you or your agent has changed directions, would it make sense to request that you be transferred to a new agent within the agency. I guess it depends on the agency and how that agency operates, but I think it's a very reasonable request. After all, we've made the request on behalf of our authors that they switch editors within a publishing house, so why couldn't you ask the same of your agency?
We've never done this at BookEnds, unless of course an agent has left, but I know I'd be willing to do it if the author felt it was best for her. First of all, why would I want the agency to lose good talent, and secondly, I wouldn't necessarily see it as a slight against the agent. What if you've decided that you want to write mysteries instead of romance and the agent you're working with said that she has no real interest in mystery, but another within the agency does? Wouldn't it make sense for you to switch if that other agent would have you? I think it's worth asking.
Jessica
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Wow, I'll definitely miss the daily posts - this was one of the first blogs I started reading. So much great info. Thanks for all the years!
You will be sorely missed. Thank you, though. I've followed your posts and advice for years. Best wishes!
Blogging on a schedule is definitely a challenge, and I've really been thankful for all of your super informative posts to date.
Thank you for sharing your expertise (I refer people all the time to check out your posts on formatting, submissions, queires, partials etc...) and while I won't expect anything, I do hope we hear from you once in a while.
I'm sorry to see you go. Your blog is one of the first writing related sites I stumbled upon when I first lifted the pen. Thanks for the great ride.
Jessica, thanks for what you have done here. This body of work will help many for years to come.
A heartfelt thank you for all the informative posts over the years. I learned so many things here.
:( Awh, but your posts are always so good! Well, thanks for being with us while you were, and good luck with the journey beyond the blog! :)
Good luck! I'll miss your posts; most everything you've posted has been of value to me as a developing writer, and I always looked forward to seeing what you had to say. Thanks for everything you've done, and know that your posts will be missed. Sometimes it's just hard to fit in the extra time for blogging! Completely understand your need to put the time elsewhere, especially if it's become an obligation instead of a reward. So good luck on what comes next. :)
I know I haven't commented in a long time, but I'll miss seeing your posts every morning. Thanks for everything you've done here and everything you do in your work. =o)
I'm so sorry to see you go! I don't comment much but am a regular reader, and this blog is in the "favorites" folder of my RSS reader. You have helped many writers here, even those outside the genres you represent. Thank you.
Thanks so much for all the help you've given us all. I'll keep referring to your blog when I need to, though ^^ good luck in the future, and thanks once again!
I'll miss the advice and information. You will be missed. Thank you for al the years of great advice.
Bummer. Your insights will be sorely missed. I am forever grateful to all agents and publishers past and present who have shared their wisdom with us writers via blogs, so thank you.
Guess it's a good excuse for me to go back and re-read the archives!
And I'm still keeping you on my Google Reader :)
Your blog is the first one I check every day and I will miss your posts. I hope that occasional blog will come up, because I'll be reading it!
Jessica, Sorry to see your blog go. Thanks for the good advice you've offered. Best wishes.
Oh my goodness. This feels so very sad!
All the very best! : )
I hate to see the blog end. It is one of the few that has been consistently worth following. I wish I'd interacted more now. Alas, I'll contiue to lurk on Twitter. Thanks for all the help, your intention to share your knowledge was well met in this medium!
We'll definitely miss your content, but we also understand the time it takes to blog and how that detracts from your other agency responsibilities. Thank you for all your words of wisdom in the past and hopefully we'll still hear from you occasionally.
Well, we'll miss you, but here's to good things coming your way! Hope to see you around!
OMG
You are so a part of my morning routine, so a part of my writing life. Your posts have brought me through difficult writing times and when I lost all hope in agents taking the time to read and guide me, you were there, graciously accepting to read a query and a partial when you were closed to both.
I hope you understand how important this blog has been to us. You have shown us a path, pissed us off and taught us the importance of continuing to learn.
I have never met you, never talked to you, and yet you represent me and every writer who dreams of making it. I know how difficult a daily blog is and I applaud that you have been able to do this for so long. I will miss you terribly. My mornings will never be the same without you.
So…so long, my friend, I wish you well
Hate to see this blog end. I've learned a lot. I appreciated your open and honest dialogue.
I completely understand the time drain and will continue keeping up with you and your team on Twitter.
I usually lurked, but I always learned. I'm sure I'll consult the archives from time to time, but I feel as though I've lost a treasured mentor. Thanks for all of it.
Sad! I look forward to reading you every day. You've taught me a lot and I'll miss your posts. I appreciate all you've done!
I'll miss you! Thanks for everything you've shared over the years.
I'm sad to see this... there is only so much time in the day/week to read good info, and this blog always made it into my schedule.
However, I well know that it can be a lot of extra time to maintain. Thank you for the incredibly helpful posts and insights.
I'll miss your new posts, but I completely understand. You've already contributed enough to fill several books! Hmm, do you know anyone you could talk to about getting a compilation of your posts published? ;)
Like so many of the other commenters, I'll miss this blog. Your advice is not only helpful, but well delivered. But I completely understand. Thanks for sharing while it was possible - it's been a fantastic read ^_^
I didn't comment very much but I've read this blog for quite a while. Thank you for all you've contributed with this blog! Thankfully with RSS readers (and Twitter updates) even sporadic posts (if you make them) don't have to go unnoticed as they might have previously.
I'll miss your posts. I think this has been one of the best blogs around, always informative and entertaining. I've learned so much that when I finally do get that novel published, I think it'll have to be dedicated to Jessica. :)
*checks to see if it's April 1* Nope. Oh man. You'll definitely be missed. Here's hoping for some spontaneous future posting :)
Jessica, I started reading your blog over a year ago, when you first started doing your Workshop Wednesday posts. Since then I've been a faithful reader. I have not only enjoyed your blog, but I have learned so much from it. Your tone was always positive and the information you shared was always helpful. Thank you. I'll miss this blog for sure.
SO sorry to see y'all go!
But thank you for all the great information you've provided!
I learned a lot by following you.
:)
Thanks for the memories and a tug on the ear lobe to you.
I'll miss you!
I think we're all going to miss this blog. Someone else said it, but for me, too - this was the first professional writing blog I started to follow. All of my research, critique advice, etc - spawned from links I found here. I now have a finished MS, an agent and - I feel - a lot more knowledge about the craft of writing. I don't know if any of those things would be true without having started here. Thank you so much for everything! :)
So sad!! I just started following you about half a year ago, and you've been one of my favourite blogs. Thanks so much for the long stretch of information and interesting topics. Good luck!!
Oh my god, I am heartbroken. I love your blog.
You're the calm, measured voice of reason. When you are irate about something I know it REALLY matters and I pay attention.
When you explain things, it's always in a way I wish I'd said myself.
One of the reasons I could screech, and yelp and carry on was that BookEndsLLC provided a balanced, measured, calm alternative.
Thank you for all you've done over the years.
You will be deeply missed.
I second Janet's comment above. Yours was one of the few agents blogs that I followed because you always took such a measured approach to things. Thanks for all your posts and I wish you the best of luck with everything.
I started reading your blog shortly after you began it, and it was one of the first I'd found on my writing journey. You gave me answers so I didn't look stupid, helped me hone my query, gave me the highlight of my querying life when you reviewed it, and been a constant source of information.
Thank you for the time and heart you've put in here. You will be missed.
I will certainly keep this blog in my reader feed!
Many daily bloggers I've followed these years have switched to posting weekly, or monthly, and their posts are more important to me now. It's like a visit from a long time friend instead of passing chats with a neighbor or coworker.
Thank you for all the information and inspiration. My journey has been enhanced because of contact with you.
I started reading when my husband was in Iraq - that must have been right after you started blogging.
This was one of the few blogs I've followed faithfully. It was always upbeat and informative, and I looked forward to every new post.
You say that you'll still be tweeting and using other social media, but I will definitely miss these thoughtful and thought-provoking posts.
Thank you for these years of guidance and advice.
This blog has been a great resource for me. I am sorry to see it go. Thank you for keeping it up so I can still use it for reference.
Thank you for taking the time to pass on your knowledge and know how. Your blog was my initial intro to the world of publishing as I started the steep incline on my writer's learning curve. You were an immense help.
Wow. I haven't really commented on this blog, but it has been one I read very regularly. Sorry to see it (and you) go. Thanks for all you have offered.
You will certainly be missed!
Jessica, let me add my warmest thanks to you for the years of posting and advice that turned the tide for so many of us on our journeys toward publication!
Oh so sad! You were the first writing/agent/editing blogs I started reading, and I'm always so happy when I see you pop up in my reader. I will miss your posts greatly!
Jessica, sorry to see you go. Your blog has been invaluable to me. I owe a few important turning points to it. Thank you!
I have no words...just tears in my eyes. Thank you and we will miss you. PLJ
Just imagine this in slow motion movie format:
"Nooooooooooooooooo!"
Guess I'll have to get on Twitter now....one of the things I vowed never to do......
Thank you so, so much for all of the time, dedication, and energy you've put into this over the years. Yours was the first writer resource blog that I started reading and I've been a dedicated, daily follower (and infrequent commenter) since then. I've learned so much here.
Thank you again.
PS: Is there something in the NYC air? Allison Winn Scotch just announced she's closing her "Ask Allison" blog yesterday?!
I am off work today and after commenting this morning, while bawling I might add, I have dropped in on and off just to check the comments. Nicole says it all,
“Nooooooooooooooooo!”
Seventeen o’s I know how important the accuracy of quotes; you taught me that.
Even the Shark showed up to lament.
Miss Snark, Pimp My Novel, Nathan going all-author on us, and now you, what’s a writer to do?
Write?
Thanks again. How proud you must feel that so many of the gifted, the dreamers and the pros are wishing you well.
I'm going to miss this blog and all the terrific information you've given us. It is one of the first I read everyday.
Thank you for leaving it open, as I'm a fairly new follower and haven't read all the posts yet.
Sorry to see this end. It's been one of my favorite blogs since I discovered there was such a thing. But thank you for everything you've taught me.
Jessica,
I will miss you on here. This is the only blog I actually read, every time it comes up. I appreciate all you've given me through here, the fun bits, the interesting bits, the vital bits and the ones that make me sit up and notice and change things. Sometimes in life new arrivals change things, significantly. Usually for the better as we evolve, in our prioritizations.
When my university program is completed, I will complete this novel I promised you and hopefully we can work together on it. If not, please remember how much I've appreciated your input into this new author's life and new passion.
Kindest Regards and thanks from NZ,
Lizzi
having trouble posting with my wordpress for some reason. will put through google. Lizzi Tremayne
What Janet said. And WryWryter. And everybody. Since almost the beginning, this blog was the first I'd read every day. Miss Snark was second, and PubRants would have been right in there but for the time delay--though in those pre-Google Reader days Kristin's links were the gateway. And there were Nathan Bransford's and Colleen Lindsay's blogs when they were agents ... and others ... and now only PubRants is left ...
But, those voices are still out there -- even Miss Snark has been known to swoop in unexpectedly, and we hope you will too. Thanks for all the years of advice, analysis, insight, encouragement, and delight. I just reread your take on "The Night before Christmas" from 2006, and I'm still smiling.
Sorry to hear it, but I understand the passion for blogging fading. See you on Twitter.
This is beyond sad for me. Since stumbling on this site back in '06, it's been a faithful morning stop before sitting down to work. Coffee and bookends...
Though I understand all good things eventually come to an end, doesn't mean I won't miss it.
Thank you for all your great advice through the years, Jessica and Bookends team! You will be sorely missed.
Wow! I will really miss this blog. It was the best place I knew for submitting writing/publishing questions and receiving thoughtful and speedy answers.
Thank you for doing that for all of us.
Thank you for many years of excellent advice. Bookends blog is a major factor in how my career has developed. Your knowledge has been invaluable.
I'll miss the blog, but it's best for you to focus your attention on where you're most passionate. I, and many others, will definitely refer back to what you've built for guidance and advice!
Thank you. You've been an invaluable resource.
I'm sorry to see you go, but I understand where you're coming from. Best wishes for your agency's continued success! :)
We can hardly complain, after benefiting from years of advice and encouragement! This blog has made an immense difference in my understanding of the publishing industry, so I can't see you bow out without at least saying thanks. Thanks. :)
Best wishes!
Oh, man. I'm really going to miss you! Every time I see your blog post in my inbox, I look frwd to reading. Even the times when I am crazy busy. You ALWAYS have something good to say.
Wishing you the best and THANK YOU so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule for the last five years. We all greatly appreciate your words of wisdom and guidance.
Take care, Jess! XO
I'm sad to hear that you are saying goodbye, but I understand. I'll miss your informative and thoughtful posts.
Thanks for sharing for the past five years. It has been tremendously helpful. :)
Good looking out, Jessica. Haven't always agreed with all of your thoughts, but that's probably why I've kept reading all these years. : )
Your insights will truly be missed.
Best,
EJ
This blog has been tremendously useful--and I am sure the archives will continue to be so, though we will all miss your regular updates.
Thanks for all your work!
Thank you for all the information and insight that you have shared with us. Your honesty and fresh perspective will be greatly missed. Your blog was one of my dailies and I feel that I have learned so much from you. Best wishes to a delightful lady!!
Layla
Jessica,
First of all, you and your priceless source of information will be greatly missed. Secondly, I completely understand. I've been struggling with my own blog lately, feeling as you do that blogs don't have the power they used to. And, last, I can't thank you and Kim enough for requesting pages from me on several occasions. I love your agency and feel honored to know you feel my writing is strong and relevant.
I hope our paths cross in the future, and I wish you and all at Bookends the very best of everything!
Respectfully,
Debra (Schubert) Lazar
Thank you so much for every post and scrap of information you've shared over the last several years, Jessica.
You've helped make a difference in this author's life because of your generosity!
It will be sad to see you halt this blog (hiatus) but we all need to sit back and rethink which direction we need to be heading. Thanks for the writing!
I'm sure this blog had to be a big undertaking for you. But it was so well appreciated by all of us who struggle to figure out what is going on in the agent/editor world. Your advice has always been top notch and I know I'll miss coming over here to check in, read, and at times even leave a comment.
Will totally miss you!! :(. I've been reading your posts religiously since the launch of the BookEnds blog, most lately through my feeds. You put a face and personality to the BookEnds name. I've queried you because of the blog. I've sent the link to writer friends, and they've queried you too. I've learned about your new agents through the blog, your new clients, and I still watch out to see what you guys might be looking for in the future. It will be a hole in my morning reading. But thank you.
Sad to hear it. I really appreciated all the guidance you've provided. Thank you!
Heart broken
Another echo saying the blog will be missed, thank you for the incredible effort!
Thank you for everything you've shared! I just started reading your blog last year and it taught me a lot about the publishing market and writing. I wish you and everyone at Book Ends lots of success!
I will really miss your blog. I haven't exactly been active in the blogosphere recently (too busy with school) but your blog was the one I actually bothered reading. I've learned so much from your posts and I'll miss them, especially Workshop Wednesday. Thank you for everything!
Thank you. Your blog has been a gift and it will continue to give. I'll miss it.
Thank you all. I'm really touched by your comments. I didn't expect it. I thought yesterday was sad when I realized it was the final blog. Today feels a little sadder to me when I realize it's the first day with no post.
All my readers have made an equally big impact on me. I look forward to meeting you all in different places and of course I hope to see each and every one of you in print (or eprint).
jessica
I don't post often, but I've been a faithful reader. I'll miss all the help and wisdom the BookEnds agents have shared.
Lynn
It's 8:01 and you're not here.
It's really true.
Until next time friend.
Dear Jessica,
My heart hurts. I found your blog the year I started writing seriously (4 years ago) and credit much of my success to date to you and the information you so generously shared. So much have I learned not only about the mechanics of what I'm trying to achieve, but the industry itself.
Take your bow, dim the lights. Know that you touched every one of us.
Everyone else already said it best, so I won't repeat them.
All the best.
Sad you are leaving! But so glad you're leaving this up as a resource. Thank you!
I'm so sorry to see another great blog bite the dust, but I totally understand. I agree, blogs don't seem to be as "of the moment" as they once were. I wish you well in finding great stories to publish and hope you will post from time to time. Thanks for everything, Jessica!
I will definitely miss your blog--you're one of only two that I follow regularly. Maybe this means I'll get more writing done!
Thanks for all your insights and information about an industry that continues to change almost daily. I am SO GLAD you're my agent...and that you haven't blocked my email. Yet.
I lurk and read much more often than I comment, but I needed to comment today. Thank you so much for all you've taught me (and everyone else - but I'll just speak for me :)) over the past few years. I've leanred so much from you. It's been a pleasure reading your blog. Good luck with all you do and thanks again!
I've been a loyal reader of this blog for about a year, and though I've never commented, I had to comment today.
I've learned so much from you. You can't imagine. Thank you so much for all you've done, for me, and for so many other writers out there. You'll be sorrily missed.
Damn. This blog has been like my morning coffee for months. And to think I just quit drinking coffee! LOL!
I'll miss your posts. I haven't commented often, but I have enjoyed the interaction on this blog and have appreciated the information you've put forth. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and expertise all these years.
wow i am dorppping on number 93
Thank you for all you've done for us writers.
Thanks for all your blog entries - sorry to see you go! I learned a great deal following your posts.
Thank you for all the advice! I learned a lot from this blog!
Oh, this is sad. I check the blog 3 days a week and catch up on all the posts then. Sorry to see it go. Thank you for the time it took.