After the Book Deal- Months 9-6

A while back I decided to do a blog series called After the Book Deal. These posts are meant to help writers navigate through the process of what to do after you get the book offer. If you're like me, you've been focusing on your craft of writing, but now it's so much more.

Here's the first post: After the Book Deal- The First Three Months

So what's next?

Brand Yourself

I know we are all creative people, but you need to think about these questions before you go any further:

1. Who do you want the world to see you as?
2. What is important to you?
3. What are you hoping to accomplish through your writing?
4. How do you want to reach your fans and to what extent?

Once you've made those decisions, you're ready for the next step.

SWAG

Having swag can help promote your book in advance and provide ways to 'thank' those who supported your book by tweeting or blogging about your book.

• Marissa Meyer has great ideas here.
• For tattoos, I used this site.
• For bookmarks and bookplates, I used this site.
• For magnets and business cards, check out Vista Print because if you pay attention you can get great things for free from them.

Create an Author Facebook Page

Check out Nathan Bransford's post here. He has a blow by blow instructions on how to do it.

You'll need to decide if you should make up a page based on your book's title or on your author's name.

Check out my author Facebook page for ideas here.

Set Up a Website

There are a host of great web designers out there. I choose Biondo Studies because she's professional, her work is clean with excellent quality and she worked with me through the entire process. Here's my website.

Some things to consider when setting up your site:

1. This site should represent you and who you are.
2. Make sure it's easy to navigate and readers are able to find out where to order your book easily.
3. Create reasons why readers will want to go to your site. Do you offer something that is unique? Is your blog connected to your site.
4. Your site shouldn't be stagnant. It should constantly be changing and improving, always drawing readers to come to it.

Social Media

Pinterest, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter. Make sure you have a reason for whatever social media you are using. If you don't have a reason, don't use that media source.

How about you, are there any other recommendations you have?

Christina Farley's debut YA, GILDED, releases spring 2014 by Skyscape Amazon Children's Publishing. She is represented by Jeff Ourvan of the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency, LLC. She blogs and vlogs about writing and traveling, and is often found procrastinating on Twitter.

Dear Readers,

I ran out to get the newspaper yesterday and found a package on my doorstep. I’m not sure how it got there - my dogs have poor manners when it comes to someone walking up to our house. (Ax murderer, UPS guy - eh? It’s all the same to them. Bark! Bark! Bark!) 

I wasn’t expecting anything so I eagerly scooped it up and brought inside. It was from my new publisher, Holiday House - a book on the house’s first sixty-five year history. Tucked inside, there was a dated, handwritten note:

Dear Carmella,

Welcome to Holiday House - and thank you for being a part of this story.

It was signed John Briggs.*

Wow. How cool was that?

I guess I never really thought about myself as being a part of something bigger, part of someone else’s story and history. It was a neat feeling and an unexpected surprise. **

Later in the afternoon, I got to thinking about it. You know, if we write for children and teens aren’t we ALL part of something special and bigger than ourselves? Most of us will never make the New York Times Best Sellers list or win an award. Shoot. Some of us may never be published. (Or be published again.) But that’s okay. We’ve got one of the greatest callings in the world. To inspired, teach, reach, comfort, delight, and challenge young readers. 

So in case no one has told you this lately, thank you for being part of the story. Thank you for writing the books and poems and songs and for illustrating those stories that help make the world better and brighter. 

Best,

Carmella 

* He’s the current owner and president of Holiday House.

** I don’t mean to in any way suggest that my other publishers haven’t been awesome. Because they totally have. They show me love in different ways and I thoroughly enjoy being a part of their stories, too.  

Asking Santa for an Agent? - by Christina Farley

Happy Holidays everyone! Have you written your list to Santa? One thing you might have on your list is: "Bring me an agent, Santa."

The other day, we MiGs were chatting about agents and offers and revisions and all that good stuff. After our chat, I thought how helpful it would be to put together all of our thoughts and ideas on what to do when you get that "call" from an agent.

So I made up this vlog that goes over each step of the process, some questions you might ask during the phone call and why you should ask those questions. I hope you find this helpful.



Anything else you would add to this list?

Christina Farley's debut YA, GILDED, releases fall 2013 by Amazon Children's Publishing (formally known as Marshall Cavendish). She is represented by Jeff Ourvan of the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency, LLC. She blogs and vlogs about writing and traveling, and is often found procrastinating on Twitter.

Meet Our Agents- Jeff Ourvan of Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency, LLC

Series posts so far: Intro - Andrea Cascardi (Transatlantic) - Ginger Knowlton (Curtis Brown) - Marie Lamba of Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency

Today Christina Farley's agent, Jeff Ourvan of the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency, LLC., will be sharing with us. He is currently shopping Christina's young adult novel, GILDED.

Agency Website
Publisher's Marketplace
Author Website

MiGs: Why did you become an agent?

Jeff: I’ve had a diverse career as an attorney, a communications consultant and a writer/editor and believed that working as a literary agent would be the perfect way to merge these various skills.


MiGs: What made you pick your very first client?

Jeff: He wrote I book that I would have bought and read.  Also his work, which was nonfiction, told an important and unique story about Middle Eastern culture and politics, and I felt it was potentially marketable.


MiGs: Of the most recent 100 queries you received from writers, how many did you accept as clients? (rough guess)

Jeff: Less than one.  Perhaps one out of the last 200.


MiGs: What is an ideal client?

Jeff: An author who writes well (of course), who knows his or her market, who’s open to editorial criticism, who responds quickly, who is generally polite, and who fully shares in the endeavor to sell his or her work.

MiGs: What is one piece of typical writing advice you think should go out the window?

Jeff: In general, any sort of advice that presumes to apply to all writers is suspect.  Everyone is different, everyone has a different style and approach.  One thing I used to hear a lot that definitely isn’t true is that you have to write everyday in order to be a good writer.  I think it’s more important to live a courageous and interesting life everyday in order to be a good writer.


MiGs: Do you read the query letter first or the sample pages?

Jeff: Always the query.  I don’t even get to the sample pages if the query hasn’t grabbed me.  And sometimes I don’t finish the query if the first paragraph hasn’t already intrigued me.



MiGs: What is one common misconception that inexperienced writers tend to have about agents?

Jeff: Hmm.  That we’re all handsome and glamorous?  I guess a misconception that I sometimes run into is that I ought to be able to tell a writer precisely what sort of book, or genre, will be the next big thing.  The truth is that publishing anything is a challenge right now.  Writers should write what they want to write, what’s in their hearts.



MiGs: What is something people might not know about you?

Jeff: I’ve been to all 50 states!



MiGs: What’s on your wish list?
 
Jeff: Thrillers, mysteries, nonfiction sports, nonfiction in general, literary YA.


Check out Jeff's newly released book: HOW TO COACH YOUTH BASEBALL SO EVERY KID WINS

Meet Our Agents- Marie Lamba of Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency

Posted in this series so far: Intro - Andrea Cascardi (Transatlantic) - Ginger Knowlton (Curtis Brown)

Today Carmella Van Vleet's agent, Marie Lamba of the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency, will be sharing with us. She is currently shopping Carmella's middle grade novel, ELIZA BING IS (NOT) A BIG FAT QUITTER.

Agency Website
Twitter
Author's Website

MiGs: Why did you become an agent?

Marie: Because my own agent, Jennifer DeChiara asked me to!  It sounds goofy, but it's true.  I'd never considered it before that moment.  Jennifer and I had been working together for years, so she saw my marketing and editing and writing and professional experience first-hand, and felt these would be real strengths agenting-wise. I've always trusted Jennifer's opinions, and she saw what I hadn't -- that being an agent was a natural step for me. I've found this new role to be a great fit.  Plus I've got a strong "mom" instinct, so I very much want to take care of my clients and see them soar.   

MiGs: What made you pick your very first client? 

Marie: My very first client is Carmella Van Vleet!!!  I'd been reading queries and submissions for many months, but when I finished reading Carmella's ELIZA BING IS (NOT) A BIG FAT QUITTER, I literally jumped to my feet with one consuming thought: I have to have her as a client.  Her middle grade novel, which is about an ADHD girl who must prove to others (and herself) that she's no quitter, made me laugh even as it touched me deeply.  I couldn't help but fall in love with Eliza, the spunky heroine who often speaks before she thinks, but is also so deserving of friends.  

MiGs: Of the most recent 100 queries you received from writers, how many did you accept as clients? (rough guess)

Marie: Of the most recent 100, the answer is zero.  Of all the queries I've ever read? I'd say a fraction of a percent (but then again, math is not exactly my strong suit). By now I've read thousands of queries, and I have taken on 3 clients. 

MiGs: What is an ideal client? 

Marie: I point directly at Carmella!  Carmella is professional, takes her writing seriously, listens to criticism well but politely sticks to her guns when a crit deviates from her creative intent. She's not afraid to ask me questions, but doesn't email me unnecessarily.  And she's thinking about her writing in terms of her career. Carmella also has a decent online presence, and knows how to communicate appropriately with readers. Plus she's a lot of fun to work with. She's the complete package!


I'm happy that so far I have all ideal clients. But what would be a less than ideal client?Someone who is nasty, unprofessional, unreasonably demanding, or a diva who doesn't understand that writing is not just an art but a business as well. I've seen flashes of these qualities in queries, and I immediately turn them down.  As an agent, you are in a relationship with a writer for years and years.  Who wants to represent someone that's difficult?

MiGs: What is one piece of typical writing advice you think should go out the window? 

Marie: Write what you know.  Really?  I think it's more important to write with credibility.  If you are writing beyond your knowledge, then study up and make it something you "know."  That's a key part of creativity.  

MiGs: Do you read the query letter first or the sample pages? 

Marie: Definitely the query.  If there is something that's an amazing turnoff right there, such as a novel's point of view I find offensive, or an author's obvious attitude problem, or a blatant inability to use the English language, I go no further and it's a reject for me.  
 

MiGs: What is one common misconception that inexperienced writers tend to have 

about agents? 

Marie: Some think we are scary, unapproachable and powerful beings!  I run into this at writer's conferences and get a kick out of sidling up to nervous writers just to set them at their ease. Before you know it, we're talking like two human beings.  

Another newbie misconception? That we agents should respond to their queries right away. I've had writers send me emails wondering why I hadn't read and responded to their full manuscript yet.  After all, it's been 2 weeks!  If they could only see my inbox.  On fulls I think I'm up to reading my mid-December submissions now.  

Oh, here's just one more (see? I told you I was terrible at math): that agents will give them lots of tips and suggestions and hold their hands throughout the querying process. Just because I'm polite in my rejection doesn't mean a writer should write me 3-4 times after that asking how they should change their query, or if I'll re-read their changed first paragraph, or if I'll tell them what they should write this year so that it'll fit my needs (I got this one from a new writer just this morning). Sigh.

MiGs: What is something people might not know about you? 

Marie: That in college I studied not only writing but fine art. I'd planned on being a writer/illustrator. The closest I've gotten to this goal is drawing the cover illustration for my latest YA novel DRAWN. 
 

MiGs:  What’s on your wish list? 

Marie: Something fresh and unusual that doesn't simply echo what's already popular.  Do this with a voice that grabs me, and you'll really be cooking.

Thanks for having me here!

Check out Marie's latest book, DRAWN, a young adult paranormal.

Meet Our Agents- Ginger Knowlton of Curtis Brown Ltd.

Posted in this series so far: Intro - Andrea Cascardi (Transatlantic)


Today, Debbie Ridpath Ohi's agent, Ginger Knowlton of Curtis Brown Ltd, will be sharing with us. Ginger just finished negotiating two book contracts with Simon and Schuster Books For Young Readers for Debbie. Read about it here! Debbie's picture book, I'M BORED (written by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Debbie) comes out this September and you can find out how it was created in the I'm Bored Scrapbook Journal.

Agency Website | Ginger's bio
Publisher's Marketplace
On Twitter: @gknowlton58 at @CurtisBrownLtd



MiGs: How many clients do you feel comfortable balancing?

Ginger: Such a question! I could say—that depends on the day and the time of day and the month and the time of month and the year and the time of year. Or I could say—all of mine. So that’s what I’ll say.



MiGs:  Do you think publishers will be increasing their lists or decreasing them this year?

Ginger: Are we talking about children’s books or all kinds of books? For children’s books, I imagine that there will be a bit of an increase, simply because more and more publishers are seeing how healthy the children’s book field is, and they’re jumping on the bandwagon.



MiGs:  What made you pick your very first client?

Ginger: I was working as Marilyn Marlow’s assistant at the time and we thought it might be good for me to start my agent career by representing illustrators, since Marilyn had so many picture book writers, and we were in the midst of a picture book boom at the time (in the late 80s). Laurel Molk and I have worked together since 1988, I think, and she is about to sign contracts to illustrate a graphic novel for First Second and a picture book for Holt.

MiGs: What makes an ideal client?

Ginger: I honestly think there are as many answers to that question as there are clients. Some attributes that I value are talent, honesty, trust, talent, a partnership mentality, forthrightness, talent, and faithfulness. And a sense of humor. Definitely a sense of humor helps. Did I mention talent?

MiGs: Of the most recent 100 queries you received from writers, how many did you accept as clients? (rough guess)

Ginger: Of the most recent 100, I believe the answer is 0. I am truly sorry that is the case.


MiGs:  What is one piece of typical writing advice that you think should go out the window?

Ginger: I don’t think it’s necessarily true in all cases that you should ‘write what you know’.

MiGs:  Do you read the query letter first or the sample pages?

Ginger: I tend to go right to the writing and read the query letter closely if I like the writing. But that’s not always the case.


MiGs:   What is one common misconception that inexperienced writers tend to have about agents?

Ginger: That agents will become irrelevant in this world of ebook publishing.

MiGs:   What is something people might not know about you?

Ginger: Wait. Did you get that question from the Miami conference? Let’s see — people may not know that I went to 13 different schools, including college, navy brat that I am. Really, 12, but I say 13 because of the two weeks I went to Vallejo High School as a junior before my parents moved me to St. Vincent’s.



MiGs:  What would you love to see in your query inbox right now? or What’s on your wish list?

Ginger: I want what I always want—a story that I. Can’t. Put. Down.


MiGs: Why did you become an agent?

Ginger: My dad asked me to move back east (‘to the civilized coast,’ he said) to work at Curtis Brown. My brother and sister were already working with him, and I guess he wanted to complete the kingdom. I was working with children in California, and I’ve always been an avid reader, so he thought I would be a good addition to the children’s book department.

MiGs:  What are your response times?

Ginger:  I am struggling with the email problem at the moment. I’m pretty fast when people submit to me via snail mail, but I know that’s a hassle and becoming obsolete. I do try to keep up with emailed submissions, but I need to establish a better system. (I also need more time.) I think it would help if authors put ‘query’ as the subject line. Also, if authors who query me don’t hear back within a month, please feel free to send a gentle nudge along with the original email. Please don’t send attachments unless I request it. I realize I haven’t really answered your question.

Next up: Marie Lamba of Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency

Meet Our Agents- Andrea Cascardi of Transatlantic Literary Agency

Posted in this series so far: Intro 


Today Susan Laidlaw's agent, Andrea Cascardi of the Transatlantic Literary Agency, will be sharing with us. Andrea recently sold Susan's YA, INFIDEL IN PARADISE, to Tundra Books. Look for INFIDEL IN PARADISE to be released winter 2013!

Agency Website
Publisher's Marketplace
Twitter

MiGs: Why did you become an agent?

Cascardi: I wanted to continue working with writers but had decided to leave the corporate publishing world.

MiGs: What made you pick your very first client?

Cascardi: He picked me, actually. I had been his editor at Knopf and he was the one who asked, when I left, "are you thinking about being an agent?" I said "why, would you be looking for an agent?" And that's essentially how the decision was made.


MiGs: Of the most recent 100 queries you received from writers, how many did you accept as clients? (rough guess)

Cascardi: Of the most recent 100 queries, I'd say none. I have a very full list and I get a lot of queries, so the percentage of what I take is very very small.


MiGs: What is an ideal client?

Cascardi: Someone who understands that writing is creative but publishing is a business. Not everything that is well-written gets published. And a writer has to be prepared to help find the readers nowadays.

MiGs: What is one piece of typical writing advice you think should go out the window?

Cascardi: I don't tend to read writing advice so I can't answer that one.


MiGs: Do you read the query letter first or the sample pages?

Cascardi: I read the query first. If the query intrigues me, but it's not an area I represent, I won't read the first pages. But if my interest in the query and the area dovetail, I will go right to the sample pages or ask to see the full manuscript.


MiGs: What is one common misconception that inexperienced writers tend to have about agents?

Cascardi: That getting an agent is the holy grail-- the end of the rainbow. There's a lot of work that comes after one gets an agent, so be prepared to continue to hone your craft beyond that stage.


MiGs: What is something people might not know about you?

Cascardi: I love swing dancing.


MiGs:  What's on your wish list?

Cascardi: Romance, humor, and thrillers! Always with a geographical setting that is as strong as any character.

Next up: Debbie's agent, Ginger Knowlton of Curtis Brown Ltd.

Meet Our Agents

It's here! Our week long of interviews from our agents! As you can guess, we at the MiGs are huge fans of these four brilliant agents. And we figured you would love to hear what they have to say about books, publishing and agenting.

Please welcome our agents: Andrea Cascardi of the Transatlantic Literary Agency, Ginger Knowlton of the Curtis Brown Agency, Marie Lamba of the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency, and Jeff Ourvan of the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency, LLC.

Here's the line-up:

Tuesday- Susan Laidlaw's agent: Andrea Cascardi of the Transatlantic Literary Agency

Andrea Cascardi has more than twenty years experience in book publishing. Beginning as an editorial assistant at Houghton Mifflin, she moved up the ranks at several major New York Publishing houses (including Scholastic, Crown/Random House and Hyperion) to become Assistant Publishing Director for Knopf and Crown Books for Young Readers before joining TLA. Among the award-winning authors and celebrities whose children’s books she edited are Faith Ringgold, Karen Hesse, Julia Alvarez, Raffi, Tim Burton, and Wendy Wasserstein. She also wrote two books for parents about choosing the best books, audio, and video for children, and reviewed children’s book for the Boston Parents’ Paper. Andrea has also taught children’s books publishing for master’s degree-level students at Pace University.


Wednesday- Debbie's agent: Ginger Knowlton of the Curtis Brown Agency

Ginger Knowlton represents authors and illustrators of children's books in all genres, as well as a few adult book authors. Her list includes Newbery Medalists, Newbery Honor and Printz Honor winners, Edgar and Lambda winners, a Sibert and Orbis Pictus winner, New York Times bestsellers, and a host of other delightful and talented clients. Ginger started working at Curtis Brown as an assistant to Marilyn Marlow, one of the first literary agents to specialize in children's books in the 1960s. Working for Marilyn was a rite of passage, affectionately referred to as Curtis Brown’s "Boot Camp." Before joining the company, Ginger worked in the field of early childhood education in Sacramento and Mendocino, California. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Authors' Representatives and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Library in her hometown in Westchester County.

Thursday- Carmella's agent: Marie Lamba of the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency

Marie Lamba joined JDLA as an Associate Agent in 2011. She is the author of the young adult novel WHAT I MEANT . . . (Random House), and her work appears in the short story anthology LIAR LIAR (Mendacity Press) and the anthology CALL ME OKAASAN: ADVENTURES IN MULTICULTURAL MOTHERING (Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing). Marie's articles appear in more than 100 publications, including national magazines such as Writer's Digest, Garden Design, and RWR. She has worked as an editor, an award-winning public relations writer, and a book publicist, has taught classes on novel writing and author promotion, and is a member of Romance Writers of America and The Liars Club.

Friday- Christina's agent: Jeff Ourvan of the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency, LLC.

Jeff Ourvan, an attorney, published author and former editor, is a literary agent with the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency. His interests are varied: he represents non-fiction works, especially memoirs, histories, biographies, international current events and sports. He also represents fiction works, particularly in the young adult, thriller and international fiction categories. Prior to his career as a literary agent, Jeff was a litigator for many years at two large New York-based corporate law firms; a communications consultant working in New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo; and an editor of Living Buddhism magazine. One of Jeff’s upcoming works, How To Coach Youth Baseball So Every Kid Wins, will be distributed by Norton in Spring 2012. Jeff is married to the novelist Jessica Jiji.

Next Week: Interviews With Our Agents From Transatlantic, Curtis Brown, Jennifer DeChiara and Jennifer Lyons

SUPER-EXCITING NEWS: Next week we're hosting interviews with our agents all week long, asking them some tough questions about the market, misconceptions, and what they are looking for in submissions and in their clients.

Here's the line-up for next week:

Mon. April 30: Mini-bios about each agent.
Tues. May 1st: Susan's agent: Andrea Cascardi of the Transatlantic Literary Agency.
Wed. May 2nd: Debbie's agent: Ginger Knowlton of Curtis Brown Ltd.
Thu. May 3rd: Carmella's agent: Marie Lamba of the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency.
Fri. May 4th: Christina's agent: Jeff Ourvan of the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency, LLC.