Submissions
Qualifications:
I only represent writers not yet published,
or those not pubbed in the last three years at a traditional publishing house.
(Yes, I am crazy. Ask Dr. Moon, my psychiatrist.) Examples of houses I consider
traditional, would be those that pay an advance of than $1,000 or more.
Queries:
Fiction: You must have a completed manuscript in order to query. Make sure I’m currently representing what you write. No exceptions, please! The list is at the bottom of the page. (I change the list periodically, and will announce changes in my newsletter.) Regular fiction needs to be at least 80,000 words. Category fiction (Harlequin) should be 50-55,000 words. Young Adult should be at least 50,000 words.
Nonfiction: You must have a properly formatted proposal in order to query. (Find a sample
proposal you can use as a template at my writers’ site: www.perilsofpublishing.com). You
must also have two completed chapters.
Note: If writers don't follow the
guidelines, I can surmise one of two things: they have no idea what the
guidelines are, because they didn't bother to come to my site to see if they
qualify to send a query; or: they came, they read,
they disregarded. (Both are as unattractive as I am when I wake up in the
morning.) Don't e-mail me with excuses. Either follow
the rules, or you get an automatic NO! (Oh, the power.)
Lead Time:
On weekdays, I should get back to you within 48 hours. Due to certain
interviews that produce more queries than normal, it could take up to 5 days.
What I’m Looking For in a Writer (other than great writing):
If any of that makes your skin crawl, then
I’m not the agent for you. If you're the kind of writer I’m looking for, you
have a better shot at representation if I meet ya,
up-close-and-personal, so, I hope to see
you at a conference. I do understand some of you have physical/mental
limitations. (I have OCDs that make Monk look like a lightweight, and bipolar
disorder. I overcome those through sheer stubbornness … and Xanax.) I have a
calendar under “Conferences” of where I’ll be. If you can’t afford a
conference, and you really wanna meet me, find a way to afford one.
An
Example of My Determination:
When I’d juuust
opened for business, my first client was up for a Golden Heart Award and begged
me to attend the RWA National Conference, but I’d promised myself I wouldn’t
use personal finances to fund my literary business. I told her I couldn’t go.
Several times. She kept at me and I decided I’d find a way to attend, because
it was imperative to her. I went; she won. How’d I raise the money? I sold my
wedding china on eBay. (Yep, even the completer sets. RWA
Nationals are freakin’ expensive, dudes!). The ladies are gasping, and the guys
are wonderin’ what the big deal is. Either way, I hope it shows my level of
commitment to my clients, whom I see as extended family. (It’s that darn
Italian-thing. Sigh.) If you have the same level of commitment to your career
as I have to my clients, we might make a great team. (See my conference page
for dates I’m booked, or ask me to speak/teach for your writers’ organization.
I like small conferences better than big ones.)
Acquisitions
List:
In all categories
below unless otherwise mentioned, I represent Secular and Inspirational Works, with
or without romance. I like fast-paced stories. I don’t like tearjerkers (I shed
enough tears bein’ a jerk in the first half of my life.),
not into “kids with cancer” stories, no plots seeping anguish and depression
(been there, done that), and I’m not into most of the “warm-and-fuzzy” kind of
plots either. (Guess I’m cold and … what’s the opposite of
fuzzy?)
Fiction - Not looking for
at this time: