Interview with Literary Agent Pooja Menon of Kimberley Cameron & Associates

It's time for another interview! 

Today I’m interviewing the lovely literary agent Pooja Menon of Kimberley Cameron & Associates. She earned her BA from Nottingham Trent University in England, and an M.F.A from The Otis School of Art & Design in Los Angeles. For more information about her, you can visit her page on the company website, or follow her on Twitter at @FriscoDreamer, or read her blog at http://eatlovewritelive.wordpress.com/ (Link)

1. How did you become an agent, and when did you start building your own client list?

    To be really honest, three years ago, I wasn't even aware that you needed an agent to submit your work. I was doing my M.F.A in Los Angeles, and my research into the publishing process introduced me to the profession. When I moved to San Francisco last year, I began applying for internships at a few Indie publishing companies around the area. I was always more interested in the creative process of writing, or helping writers to shape their work, I think my headspace was more into getting an editorial internship. Then one day, I came across Kimberley's Agency website. I absolutely loved the look and feel of the agency, so I decided to apply on a whim. I think my stars were aligned well, because I got a call from Elizabeth (Kracht) a week later, and after an informal interview, I got the internship. 

Once I began learning on the job, I realized that being an agent meant I could wear many hats. Not only would I be helping writers to polish/edit their work, I would also be selling their work to the right publishing houses. There was a double challenge here! A harmonious melding of creation and business, if you will. That appealed to me a lot. After almost a year of interning, Kimberley offered me the opportunity to work for her as an Agent. I took it without hesitation. With regards to my client list, I began building my list over the last three months, and already have a small number of great writers on my roster. I would like to keep a small list, because I tend to be a hands-on agent. Being a hands-on agent to too many clients can get a little overwhelming. Also, there are two things that matter to me when taking on a client. One, I absolutely need to love the book. Two, the writer and I need to have a connection. I'm happy to say that this has been the case for all the clients on my list.

2. From your agency’s webpage we know you represent fiction (literary, historical, commercial, and high-end women's fiction), fantasy with layered plots and good world-building, young adult fiction, and some non-fiction books, such as adventure and travel memoirs, journalism & human-interest stories, and self-help books. What aren’t you getting enough of? And what are the fiction genres you definitely wouldn't represent?

    Funnily enough, in terms of adult fiction, I haven't been getting that many multi-cultural projects. Writers like Jhumpa Lahiri, Isabel Allende, Adiche Chimamanda, Ben Okri, Gabriel Garcia, Paulo Coelho, Khalid Hosseini, Lisa See, Orhan Pamuk, etc (I could go on)- have blown me away, time and again, with their stories. Their prose has been a joy to read, and for the days when I'm reading their books, I'm not myself. This would also include multi-cultural historical projects. In terms of YA, I would like to get more projects in the following genres: contemporary, historical, mystery, and psychological thrillers with an edge. I'm also looking for great non-fiction in both Adult and YA categories. In terms of what I do not represent. I do not represent Middle-Grade (which is not a genre, but I've been getting plenty of submissions from this category), nor do I represent epic science-fiction. Apart from that, I don't really like to limit myself. If it's great (not good) writing, I'll be stoked.

3.  Could you tell us about your agency and your role as a literary agent there?

     Well, we're a small boutique agency based out of Tiburon. There are four of us, each with our own subjective tastes, which is wonderful because writers have a great selection of agents to choose from. The Senior Agent, as well as founder of the agency, Kimberley (Cameron) has been in the book business for more than 20 years. So, not only has she built a solid reputation in publishing circles, she's also seen the industry change and grow over the years. It is this experience of hers that makes me very fortunate to be under her wing. She's a wonderful mix of the world of publishing as it once was, and the world it is evolving into today. Working with her, not only do I get to hear about the 'good old days', but I also get sound advice from someone who has weathered every storm that has hit the industry in the past decade or so. Truly, she's been a great teacher. As an agent working for KC&A, I have free reign to choose my own projects/clients. And although we work independently, which is how all agents work, my colleagues and I discuss each other's work frequently, and give suggestions as and when needed. As Kimberley says, her door is always open (we don't have separate offices, but you know what I mean). :)

4.  Are you an editorial agent? If so, what are your strengths? Do you like to focus more on the overarching elements of a manuscript, or do you prefer the line-by-line edits, or both? What part of the editorial process with your clients do you like the most?

     I am an editorial agent, but I do not take on huge developmental projects. As agents, this would mean working with an author on revamping the most basic aspects of her story- premise, characters, arcs, climax moments, etc. If a writer hasn't thought this out well enough, even if her final vision for the story is great, I will have to turn her down. If it's a project I really like, where the writer has been doing her best (working on draft after draft, using original ideas, submitting her writing for critiques), then I will give her/him revision notes and ask her/him to resubmit. However, if I read a project that I love, with a premise that is spectacular, and a story that has been well-written, but is still in need of edits, then, not only will I sign her on, but I will also roll up my sleeves and get into structural as well as line-by-line edits with gusto. In terms of what I enjoy the most about the editing process with my clients, that would be the process of brainstorming, trading ideas back and forth and having them think of different ideas that are much better suited for their story. As an agent, I'm here to give my authors' a reader's perspective, and to bring up discrepancies and questions that need to be dealt with. Who better than they know the inner worlds of their stories? 

5.  You say that the best way to query you is: “Please send email queries to pooja [at] kimberleycameron.com. Include a one-page synopsis and the first 50 pages in word attachments. I will get in touch with you for extra pages or a hardcopy. In the case of nonfiction, please submit a well-crafted proposal and the first three chapters of your work in similar format.” Is there anything you’d like to add? Are you a no-answer-means-no kind of agent? And, Nowadays, how long (approximately) do you take to read a query and then a full? 

     That's a good question. My advice to authors would be to spend some time crafting their query letters. I receive a lot of queries that are so long and exhaustive to read-expounding on the plot of their story, and how the author thinks his or her story is different and unique, and how so-and-so person from here said it is riveting. To be honest, unless that person happens to be some well-known writer or editor who has shown an interest in your manuscript, it does not make much of a difference. Instead, focus on giving us a line or two about why you chose us specifically, a summary of the word count, category, and genre your book falls under, as well as a short, interesting pitch for your novel. The last paragraph should contain your credentials, and you should end it with a positive note. That is more than enough.

To be honest, I do my best to reply to each and every query that comes into my inbox. But that sometimes takes time. Which brings me to the second half of your question. The amount of time I take to read and respond to a query depends on the amount of queries in my inbox. If it's a slow week, then my response time will be much faster. But if I'm doing client work and haven't had a chance to get to my inbox, then it can take up to month or two.  

6. Where do hope to be in five years from now?

     Five years from now, I would like to be in a Barnes & Noble, sipping on an Iced Mocha, perusing the shelves containing all of my clients’ manuscripts, and seeing them sailing off the shelves towards the checking counter. I would like to see people picking up my client's books in a nervous frenzy. Most of all, I would like to see my client's getting the recognition they deserve.  

7. Is there anything you’d like to say that hasn't been mentioned in this interview?

    Actually, there is one piece of advice I would like to give. Recently, I sent a rejection letter and got a very depressed email from the author. She had been trying to get an agent for the past two years, with no luck. Suffice to say, that was a difficult email for me to read. My two cents to writers would be this: I know the publishing industry is a tough one to break into. I am also aware of how frustrating it can be to meet one closed door after another. But here is what everyone should know. All the great writers out there have had to face the same challenges before they got their big break. Instead of accepting defeat and giving up on your dream, focus on the bigger picture. You're writing not to get published. You're writing because you love the act of doing so, and you cannot imagine doing anything else. Sometimes it may not be your first book that gets an agent or gets published. Sometimes it may not even be your second book. It could be your fifth. But do not be disheartened. Keep forging forward. If one book has failed to get noticed, do not get bogged down, move on to the next project. Research on what the market is already saturated with, then do not touch that concept with a ten-foot pole. Unless you have a totally different angle, that is. Participate in critique groups were people are not afraid to give you honest feedback. Do your bit, and one day, you'll be paid back ten-fold.

8. Can you tell us why writers would be thrilled to have you as their agent?

    Because I'm absolutely fabulous, of course! (Just kidding, maybe.) :)  Jokes apart, because I am committed to my authors a 100%. This profession is not a hobby for me. It is a passion. I've always been a boring bookworm who would rather be curled up with a book than be out there streaking through town. As an agent, I am the sort who might turn into a nightmare for my authors. I might demand a lot from them in terms of perfecting their manuscript. Even though they might think it's ready to be sent out. My policy is that we cannot leave even the slightest reason for an editor to reject us. Of course, tastes are subjective, so we might be faced with rejections anyway. But if we can minimize the chances from our side, then we've done our work. I'm also the sort that has my eyes peeled out for interesting ways my authors can market their writing or their books, and I love brainstorming with my clients on future projects they have in mind. All in all, as a writer, first and foremost, I am very attuned to the challenges a writer faces. Writing is a lonely, frustrating job. I do believe this makes me connect with authors on a different level. 

Now the fast five for fun!

Guilty pleasure? Chocolates, watching cop/detective series (Castle, NCIS, Bones, The Mentalist, Elementary) despite not being much of a crime book buff, and pretending to myself that X-Men, Cat-woman, Black Widow, etc really do exist, and that I am secretly one of them-except my powers haven't kicked in, yet.

Dream vacation? This is super hard. I love traveling, and there are so many places I have yet to see. Right now, I cannot wait to visit Africa. Something about how wild and unpredictable the place and people are fascinates me.

Random and funny fact about you that we probably don’t know? I am a total fanatic about order. Which means, my books have to be aligned on the bookshelf according to height, my living-room rug & dining table have to be aligned just so, and I have an elephant memory about what goes where and where everything has been kept, which is terrible for my husband. The poor man. 

Professional food spiller or spick-and-span lady? Spick-and-span lady, I can make Monica (from FRIENDS) look like a light-weight.

What makes you laugh? Everything. I laugh fairly easily. Of course, never in inappropriate situations. 

Thank you so much for doing this interview on Love YA! 

<3

Mónica

Interview with Lena Coakley, author of WITCHLANDERS!!

So guys, please give a great applause to Lena Coakley since her book, WITHCLANDERS, hits the shelves today! I had the pleasure of reading an ARC, and I just LOVED it! That's why I asked her if she wanted to do an interview on my blog, and omg, she said, YES!! :D 

Lena was born in Milford, Connecticut and grew up on Long Island. In high school, creative writing was the only class she ever failed (nothing was ever good enough to hand in!), but, undeterred, she went on to study writing at Sarah Lawrence College. She got interested in young adult literature when she moved to Toronto, Canada, and began working for CANSCAIP, the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers, where she eventually became the Administrative Director.  She is now a full-time writer living in Toronto.  Witchlanders is her debut novel.

  

Now, a little bit about her book, which by the way got a starred review from Kirkus!

High in their mountain covens, red witches pray to the Goddess, protecting the Witchlands by throwing the bones and foretelling the future.

It’s all a fake.
At least, that’s what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes—one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people’s old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated?
But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his village and the coven, Ryder must confront the beautiful and silent witch who holds all the secrets. Everything he’s ever believed about witches, the Baen, magic and about himself will change, when he discovers that the prophecies he’s always scorned—
Are about him.
If you liked the synopsis, click on the picture to go to Amazon and buy the book! ;)

Now the INTERVIEW!

1) Could you tell us a bit of how you wrote WITCHLANDERS? (Like, did you outline first? How long did you take? How many drafts? etc.)

When I started WITCHLANDERS, I didn’t know as much about plot as I do now, so I wasn’t terribly successful at making outlines. I tried, but mostly I wrote the first draft by feeling my way along, scene by scene.  That’s the long route, I can tell you!  I outlined again at the beginning of every major revision, and every time I think I understood more about drama, about what makes a story.  WITCHLANDERS was where I learned to write.  No matter how many writing books you read, there is nothing like actually writing a novel to teach you how it’s done. 

I’m afraid to actually count how many drafts are on my computer, but I honestly think it is probably close to a hundred.  There are certainly enough cut scenes to make two other books.  That’s not an exaggeration.  I’m a big believer in cutting deep when revising.  In fact, I think the difference between a good writer who is published and a good writer who is not published is often the willingness to be ruthless during the revision process.

I'm not surprised. I mean, when I read WITCHLANDERS, I could tell all the dedication you had put into it :)
2) How many novels have you written?

In my experience, authors often have one to three “trunk novels,” novels that they wrote before their first published book, but that are now languishing in a trunk because they didn’t really work.  (I have it on good authority that one of my favorite authors, Kelley Armstrong, has a dystopian trunk novel hidden away somewhere.  I would PAY to see that!)

If a published author doesn’t have trunk novels, it means that their first novel probably took at least six years because, while they didn’t really know what they were doing, they just couldn’t give up on that first project.  I’m in that category.  WITCHLANDERS was the first novel I completed, but it took me ten years to finish.

I honestly don’t think that one method is better than the other.  In fact, sometimes putting a novel aside and starting another one is absolutely the thing to do.  Aspiring authors can get very burned out revising and revising that first project.  It’s devastating to come to terms with the fact that, after all that work, it might not be the book that is going to get them published, but sometimes it just isn’t.  Of course, if anyone had told me that with WITCHLANDERS I wouldn’t have listened.  I was a dog with a bone!  So any aspiring authors reading this will have to decide if they want to do what I say or do what I did!

That's an inspiring answer!

3) Was it with WITCHLANDERS that you landed your agent?

Yes.  Landing my agent, Steven Malk of Writers House, was probably the best thing that ever happened to me.  He did two years of exclusive revisions with me on WITCHLANDERS before offering me a contract.  I am still in awe of his patience.  That first-time-authors-don’t-know-what-they’re-doing thing?  He totally got that.  I was literally making progress by writing a scene and throwing it out, writing a scene and throwing it out.  I was afraid he’d retire or forget who I was before I finished! I have wonderful beta readers, but his critiques took the book to a whole new level. 

4) How long did it take to get the book deal since you started writing seriously?

It depends on what you mean by writing seriously.  Writing WITCHLANDERS wasn’t just where I learned to write, it was where I learned to be a writer.  Ten years ago when this book began, I had a lot of trouble getting to my desk—I had a lot of resistance.  It must have taken me at least three years to figure out how to have the discipline to be productive.  I’m going to say ten years, but learning to write seriously was a gradual process.

I'm so glad you never gave up! 

 

Now a couple of questions just for fun.
- Guilty pleasure? (That has nothing to do with books.)

Oh, I adore going out to lunch, and I do it far too often.  I don’t need to go with friends, either; I’m perfectly happy to sit in a restaurant by myself. Ummm.  I’m actually doing it right now as I right this!

- Can you tell us something fun about you that we probably don't know?

When I was in High School, I sang in a backup choir for Barry Manilo.  I even got to sing at Radio City Music Hall!
That's lovely!

Thanks so much!! I'm really excited about this interview! <3

Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Monica!!!



PS: I'll post the winners (from the contest with agent Vickie Motter) this week.

Interview with Agent Lauren Ruth of BookEnds, LLC

Today I bring another interview with a literary agent! I hope you enjoy this one ;)

Her name is Lauren Ruth and she's a new agent at BookEnds. LLC.

Lauren Ruth started her publishing career as an intern at Simon & Schuster's Touchstone/Fireside imprint while earning her B.A. in English language and literature from Pace University. Shortly thereafter, she completed her second internship at BookEnds, where she fell in love with the literary agency side of the publishing industry. In February 2011, she officially joined BookEnds. She will soon have her master's degree in book publishing. In fiction, Lauren is looking for literary fiction, romance, women's fiction, chick lit, young adult, middle grade, mystery, historical fiction, and steampunk. On the nonfiction side, she's looking for memoir, parenting and family, relationships, food and lifestyle, business, popular science, popular culture, and popular psychology.

Lauren blogs at www.slushpiletales.wordpress.com. 

And you can also find her on Twitter!

1. How did you become an agent, and when did you start building your own client list?

I always wanted to be a book editor. When I took an internship at a literary agency at the last minute, I thought I was just getting a taste of the other side of the industry. And then I fell in love with agenting and any desire to wind up in a big corporate publishing house went out the window. I always say the difference between an agent's job and an editor's job it that an agent knows her audience very, very well because that audience--the editors at publishing houses--will actually tell us in plain words what they're looking for. But an editor's audience, essentially, is composed of readers who don't know what they want until they see it. I'm a new agent, so I've only been building my list this year. 

2. What genres are you looking for right now?  Would you rather represent a commercial book like Twilight or a more literary one, like The Book Thief—or both? 

Since I'm just starting to build my client list, I'm looking very broadly for submissions. Literary fiction is the love of my life, but I rarely find something that I can sell to an editor and that I enjoy reading myself. I represent and love romance (all subgenres), women's fiction, chick lit, steampunk, historical fiction, mystery, middle-grade, YA, science fiction and fantasy. I have a special affinity for YA, which has been some of the best reading I've enjoyed since breaking into the industry. I also represent nonfiction. 

My favorite kind of book is the kind that is a commercial success but is also literary and beautiful. 

3. What type of manuscript you definitely wouldn’t represent?

 

This is a difficult question, because I give everything serious consideration. Outside of genres I don't represent at all, like poetry, short stories and screenplays, there is nothing I would definitely not represent. There's no theme or issue that would turn me off so greatly that I'd stop reading the manuscript. I will say, however, that if I can't enjoy what I'm reading, I can't sell it. Sales takes passion and enthusiasm, and if I can't generate that, I shouldn't be the agent for that book. So if I'm falling asleep reading a manuscript and I start to dread getting back to it, I'll reject it. 

4.  Could you tell us about BookEnds, LLC, and your role as a literary agent there?

BookEnds is a smaller agency that is steadily expanding, adding new genres and agents and endeavors. I'm the newest agent, but I've learned from such smart, intuitive, talented people at BookEnds, so my transition was more seamless than I believed it could be. Because we're only four agents, as a literary assistant I was able to get right in the middle of things and help out. Every day was a learning experience and my foundation is definitely more solid because of it.

5.  Are you an editorial agent and a career builder agent, too? 

I believe in building the author's career, as well as her voice and talent. Any author can become a better writer, a better social-networker or a better speaker. I work with my authors to help them become involved in their own careers beyond writing as much as they want to be. Aside from that side of things, I suppose I'm also an editorial agent because I send manuscripts back to my clients with suggested revisions all the time. I want their work to be as polished and perfect as we can get it before we send it off to editors. I brainstorm, offer advice, nit-pick (sometimes), chat and champion for my authors. I'm very passionate about my work, and I'm just as passionate about theirs. 

Now some questions about querying:

6. What’s the best way to query you?

I do not accept snail-mail queries, queries over the phone or queries to my personal email address, blog or social networking profiles. I accept them only by email to my agency address (lruth@bookends-inc.com). The word "query" must be in the subject line so my extra-aggressive spam watchdog doesn't eat it. Many, many agents do not like pasted pages at the end of queries, but I really don't mind them. Sometimes I read them, sometimes I don't. My policy is, I'm not required to read your pages until I've specifically requested them, but I might if you tack them on. 

7. Now, this is something I loved to hear from agents when I was querying. Nowadays, how long (approximately) do you take to read a query and then a full?  Are you the no-answer-means-no type of agent? 

Unfortunately, because of the influx, I reserve up to six weeks to answer a query. It usually takes me about a month to answer a query, but occasionally I need more time. I'll reserve another six to eight weeks for requested material. I think no-answer-means-no is a very inefficient way of communicating. If I were an author, I would rather open an email that just said "No" than never hear anything at all. My email server sends an automatic response to queriers just to let them know their material is sitting in my inbox waiting for me to get to it. For rejections, I try to offer a reason (or some feedback if I have any) to the author. Just a courtesy. I answer all queries, so if within six weeks of querying me, you haven't heard anything, please feel free to resubmit and let me know you submitted six weeks ago.

Last question before the fast five: 

8. Can you tell us why writers would be thrilled to have you as their agent?

I am passionate about my authors. I don't take them on if I don't whole-heartedly believe in them and their careers. I have a tough eye, and the more my inbox fills up, the tougher I seem to get. But I want my authors to succeed. I want to be there for them, to answer questions, ease concerns and explain this intricate business. 

And now for fun:

Guilty pleasure?   

Reading, of course. I never get to read outside of work. A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD has been sitting on the arm of my favorite reading chair for months with a bookmark stuck somewhere near the first page.

Dream vacation?

Morocco. This is the most exotic place I can think of, and the one that is as different from boring ol' New Jersey as it gets.

Random fact about you that we probably don’t know?  

During the week, I eat precisely the same low-fat, low-sugar, low-calorie, low-taste food in exactly the same quantities, to maintain my weight. I'm a freak about it. I would never spontaneously get McDonalds for lunch. Then, from Saturday night to Sunday night, I go totally wild and allow myself anything I want in any quantity. Cheeseburgers and pizza and Chinese. Cake and cookies and candy galore! Thing is, I usually get through half a cheeseburger and some fries and go, "Ugh! I'm sooo full." Darn.

Professional food spiller or spick-and-span lady?

I like things clean, organized and in place. I'm definitely a neat-freak. 

I read on your blog that you have a two-year-old son. And that you like to make him laugh? How? Inquiring mommy minds want to know. ;)

Henry laughs all day long. He even laughs at me when he's in time-out. (At least he does his two minutes). But he has this belly laugh when something's really funny. He throws his head back with abandon and actually slaps his knee and points his chubby little finger. It's hilarious. I"m always trying to make it happen. My favorite way is surprise him with the absurd. Just this morning, I put his shoes on his hands instead of his feet. We showed up to daycare like that. 

Thank you so much for doing this interview on Love YA! 

<3

Monica

Do Dashes and Ellipses Make You Stutter?

So I just finished reading a published book, and no, I won’t say which one was it, and I found a GREAT amount of m dashes (—) and ellipses...  especially in dialogue, through the whole novel.

So it kind of read like this (I'm exaggerating, of course):

“What do you mean? Could it actually—”

“I mean—yeah, it could happen.”

“Oh right. So I think—I think that… wait. Did you see that?”

I had the impression everyone was stammering while they spoke. And seriously? Sometimes I didn’t even have a clue about what the characters were going to say because the writer interrupted the dialogue plenty of times.  And the flow—the flow—was… was terrible for me.  

 

So I guess that I’m just saying that I prefer when the dialogue “sings” till the end (most of the time), and we aren’t left wondering what the hell the character was going to say. 

Okay, so maybe that was just a pet peeve of mine. What do you think? 

PS:  A lovely thirteen-year-old writer interviewed me for her blog--if you want to check it out, go here. ;)

Interview With Cyndi Tefft + Ebook Giveaway

Today I bring you, guys, and interview with my Twitter friend, Cyndi Tefft, whose ebook, BETWEEN, has been released today! And she'll give away one digital copy of her YA novel to one of you! To participate, just leave a comment and an email to contact you in case you win.

Cyndi Tefft lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest where the weather is overcast and rainy, much like the Highlands of Scotland. So she was right at home when she got the chance to visit Eilean Donan Castle in May 2010.

A self-proclaimed Scot freak, she loved every bit about the trip to Scotland: the people, the kilts, the accents, the fish & chips, the haggis...well okay, not the haggis.

1- Can you tell us a little bit about your book?

Between is a young adult paranormal romance about a modern American girl who dies in a car accident and the 18th century Scottish Highlander who comes to take her to heaven. Here’s the blurb from the cover:

It just figures that the love of Lindsey Water's life isn't alive at all, but the grim reaper, complete with a dimpled smile and Scottish accent.
After transporting souls to heaven for the last 300 years, Aiden MacRae has all but given up on finding the one whose love will redeem him and allow him entry through the pearly gates.
Torn between her growing attraction to Aiden and heaven's siren song, Lindsey must learn the hard way whether love really can transcend all boundaries.

Sounds fun!

2- How did you get the idea for this book?

I was watching a video with Stephenie Meyer where she was talking about being a stay-at-home mom who had a dream and wrote it down. She made it sound simple and I wondered if I might be able to do the same. Having been through it now, I can tell you that writing a book is not simple, but it is something that you can do if you set your mind to it.

About that same time, I was reading Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series and completely fell in love with Scotland and the history of the nation. I wanted a Scottish hero of my own, so I wrote one!

3- Are you nervous/excited that your book is out now and that everyone can read it? How does it feel?

I vacillate between excited and anxious. I know there will be people who don’t really care for it (there always are), but I am hopeful that many people will really like the book. So I focus on that positive thought to drown out the negative voices in my head!

4- I have some friends who want to self publish.  What would you tell them about your experience that will help them decide which path to take?

I originally wrote the novel just to see if I could, not to get it published and certainly not with any visions of money or fame. It wasn't until I was most of the way finished with the first draft and talking with friends about the book that the question of publication came up. I knew nothing about it and spent over a year researching, querying agents, making revisions, etc... I got caught up in the rollercoaster that is publication and it sucked the joy out of writing. So I decided that self-publication was the better route for me. It allows me to get the book out to readers who enjoy this type of story, while preserving the joy and creativity of writing for me.

Going the independent route is not for the faint of heart, though. There is no one to come along side you and tell you how it should be done. On the other hand, indie authors have control over covers, fonts, marketing and such that traditionally published authors do not. One is not better than the other (in my opinion), and I think that sentiment will become more widespread as time goes on.

Thanks for your insight!

5- Can you tell us something fun about yourself that we probably don’t know?

I love to play ping pong (and some might even say I’m not half bad)! At my last job, I played every day at lunch with people who routinely wiped the floor with me. That just spurred me on, since I have an over-developed competitive spirit. This video is one of my favorites!

You’re right, that was a great video! Thanks for sharing.

Here are some ways to connect with Cyndi:

www.cynditefft.com

www.facebook.com/AuthorCyndiTefft

www.goodreads.com/cynditefft

www.twitter.com/cynditefft

www.shelfari.com/cynditefft

Thanks for having me on the blog. I had a great time!

Thanks for coming, Cyndi. I also had a great time! ;)

Winner and MY FIRST Interview! :)

So who takes Losing Faith home???


ALICIA!!!!
BRAVO, Alicia! :)
Email coming soon!




Aaaand I'm proud to tell you that the lovely Deana Barnhart interviewed me on her blog--and it was my very first interview!! To check it out, go here.  Hope you enjoy!

<3
Monica

Interview with Agent Kathleen Rushall of Waterside Productions

So today I bring you, guys, another interview with an agent! And I’m really happy to say that my last interview generated at least three requests, since these people met the last agent through Love YA.  Woot!  (I could do this every day, you know?)

Our guest today is Kathleen Rushall! *applauds*

Kathleen is pioneering the children’s and young adult literature list at Waterside Productions, Inc. She looks forward to garnering fresh voices, strong narratives, and whimsical tales in all areas of young adult literature.

UPDATE: Kathleen recently joined the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. And she still is looking for YA, MG, and select picture books!

 1. How did you become an agent, and when did you start building your own client list?

 First of all – thank you so much for offering to interview me for Love YA. I’m so excited to appear here, where YA fans unite!

I began building my own client list this year, but becoming an agent feels like it’s been a lifelong progression. I’ve always had a passion for young adult literature and wanted to work with books. Basically, I knew I needed a career that would justify lurking in the teen section of Barnes & Noble at any age! My interest in YA literature led me to SDSU’s outstanding children’s literature program, where I earned my master’s in English with a specialization in children’s literature. 

While I was in the program for the MA, I interned at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency, which whet my appetite and introduced me to the world of publishing. My experience with Waterside Productions has given me a stellar introduction to the world of nonfiction books, and has also allowed me to stick with my passion for YA and MG.  So, I’m going to be representing both. I will be focusing on YA, MG and select picture books and nonfiction titles.

And I’m so happy to have you here, on Love YA, too! Thanks so much for doing this!

2. What genres are you looking for right now?  Would you rather represent a commercial book like Twilight or a more literary one, like The Book Thief—or both?

Great question about literary vs. commercial! The truth is that I appreciate and am looking for both commercial and literary works. The world needs each of them. While I’m open to all young adult and middle grade fiction, I’m particularly interested in historical fiction, science fiction, edgy or dark mystery, magical realism (a la Alice Hoffman), and fantasy (I’m a big fan of Tamora Pierce). I’d love to find a well researched, captivating historical fiction that effortlessly transports the reader back in time, without having the setting detract from character development and plot. Two of my favorite historical fiction authors are Jennifer Donnelly and Diana Gabaldon. Donnelly’s The Tea Rose trilogy is phenomenal in its seamless presentation of 19^th century life in London – you really feel like you are there, or that the author lived this firsthand. Gabaldon’s Outlander series does the same thing for 18^th century Scotland, and while both of these examples are adult fiction – they have elements that I want to see in a YA book.  I recently read Alexandra Monir’s Timeless and I thought that was a vivid representation of the 1920’s with a fun plot.

I like edgy books of different ranges, and I like strong voices with subtle humor. Topics of particular interest to me include reincarnation, the occult, the supernatural (not in a zombie or vampire context, more psychic, or witchy, or fey), ghosts (a scary ghost story? yes, please), and psychology. I recently read and loved Kim Harrington’s Clarity – this is a great example of tying in the occult to everyday life, and a subtle use of humor and edge. I’m also interested in multicultural or boy POV middle grade and young adult fiction.

Of all elements, I’d say I’m most drawn to character complexity and development. 

For nonfiction, I’m interested in parenting, cooking, crafts, business, alternative medicine, women’s interest, humor, pop-culture, and some how-to.

3. What type of manuscript you definitely wouldn’t represent?

I’m not interested in science, technology, nature, religion, politics, or overtly spiritual self-help.

4.  Could you tell us about Waterside Productions, Inc. and your role as a full time agent there?

Certainly! Waterside Productions has been an agency since 1982. We were the first agency to represent a For Dummies book, which took off to be the Dummies series, running a gamut of nonfiction topics. We have also worked with Eckhart Tolle, Neale Donald Walsch, Thom Hartmann, Victor Villasenor, and many other established spiritual, self-help, and business icons.

5.  Are you an editorial agent and a career builder agent, too?

Yes to both questions. Agenting is a partnership, and like any good relationship, we should have give and take. I want to be involved in the little things (from brainstorming to edits) and work toward the big things (long term career) with each of my authors. Finding new voices and helping to enhance, clarify, and present them to the world is important to me.  

 Now some questions about querying:

6. What’s the best way to query you?

The best way to query me is via email. For fiction, please send your query letter and up to 50 pages of sample material (as a Word or PDF attachment). For nonfiction, please send your query letter and an attachment of your proposal or two sample chapters (as a Word or PDF file). We have nonfiction proposal guidelines on our website, which can be found here http://www.waterside.com/agency/proposal-guide/

I can be reached at kathleen@waterside.com  

UPDATE: Stay tuned for Kathleen's new info to appear here soon: http://www.marsallyonliteraryagency.com/index.asp

7. How often does a query intrigue you enough to take a peek at the sample pages? And how often do those pages make you ask for more?

Hmmm, there isn’t really a typical answer for this. But I can say that I try to take a peek at sample pages for anything that even mildly sparks my interest.

8. Now this is something I loved to hear from agents when I was querying. Nowadays, how long (approximately) do you take to read a query and then a full?  Are you the no-answer-means-no type of agent?

Ay, again, the timing on this can really vary and can be related to outside factors, like my current workload. I try not to have queries for any longer than 4 weeks without giving an answer. And I can say that if the submission is addressed and personalized to me, I always answer.

Last question before the fast five: 

9. Can you tell us why writers would be thrilled to have you as their agent?

Because any project I offer to represent, I am thrilled to have as my author. I have the passion and, as a new agent, the time to devote to each project so that it receives the attention it deserves.

And now for fun:

Guilty pleasure?   Vampire Diaries and Gossip Girl. Also, I can’t say no to a cheese plate.

Dream vacation?  Anywhere in Ireland, Scotland, England, or Wales.

Your wish for 2011?  I really want a second dog - I love my Aussie.

Random fact about you that we probably don’t know?  I’m an astrology enthusiast!

Cookies or coffee?  After living in Seattle, coffee is the love of my life. I have cookies on the side, though.

Thank you Ms. Rushall for your answers and for your enthusiasm! And if you guys enjoyed “meeting” her, you can always follow her on Twitter (@KatRushall) to learn more about her.