CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: An editor from a renowned publisher just told me that she is looking for middle-grade sci-fi chapter books for boys! If you have one, submit it to me at marisa@lperkinsagency.com -- send a query letter, a full synopsis and your first chapter.
Please keep in mind that a middle-grade manuscript should be at 50,000 word count. Please submit only if your work is complete... and proofread, proofread, proofread. It must be impeccable and ready to be seen by the publishers.
I look forward to reading your work.
Thanks for reading!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Children's Books on the iPad
I've been told that the iPad is rocking the children's book world. In fact, the
best selling category of iPad apps is, by far, children's books! As an author, you need to be part of this. You need to be creating content for the iPad and you need to make your current books, not only available on audio, but iPad-compatible.
My client Debra Gersh Hernandez, author of "Sneaky Snackers" (art by Eric McDicken...soon to be in book stores near everyone), has been saying this all along. And I agree. I think that he iPad and similar technologies are not just a fad. They are the new modus operandai. I other words, they are here to stay. This technology will continue to develop and envelop us to a point of no return.
I already see it with my three year old twins. They love my iPhone. In fact, don't be surprised if you call me and one of them answers! My boys not only play with it, but know how to answer the phone, take pictures and flip the screen to find other applications of interest such as the "Light Saver". They team up, one with my iPhone and the other one with Louis' and they have pretend battles with the Star Wars music playing for effect as they swish and clonk each other and fall to the floor in mock agony. Yes, they are little terrors... but technologically inclined non the less.
They are not alone, however. Children now a days are subjected to all of this technology at an early age, and so it becomes like second nature to them. A friend that has a teenage son asked her why they still make kids use paper and pen to write with in school when clearly it is a skill that he will never use! She was so flabbergasted that she posted this on twitter.
The point is that as writers and members of the publishing industry we need to be aware of the medium in which we will be offering our work. This isn't a job solely for the publisher any longer. The high demand for the availability of our books in multimedia mediums has trickled down to us.
So be ready... and get iPadding!
...All this talk about the iPad and technology makes one wonder where will it all lead. With the iPad, applications, e-books, MP3s and audio books, what will happen to our good old fashion books? Will we still use paper 50 years from now? Or will books become obsolete?... I will leave that thought with you to ponder further.
Thanks for reading!
best selling category of iPad apps is, by far, children's books! As an author, you need to be part of this. You need to be creating content for the iPad and you need to make your current books, not only available on audio, but iPad-compatible.
My client Debra Gersh Hernandez, author of "Sneaky Snackers" (art by Eric McDicken...soon to be in book stores near everyone), has been saying this all along. And I agree. I think that he iPad and similar technologies are not just a fad. They are the new modus operandai. I other words, they are here to stay. This technology will continue to develop and envelop us to a point of no return.
I already see it with my three year old twins. They love my iPhone. In fact, don't be surprised if you call me and one of them answers! My boys not only play with it, but know how to answer the phone, take pictures and flip the screen to find other applications of interest such as the "Light Saver". They team up, one with my iPhone and the other one with Louis' and they have pretend battles with the Star Wars music playing for effect as they swish and clonk each other and fall to the floor in mock agony. Yes, they are little terrors... but technologically inclined non the less.
They are not alone, however. Children now a days are subjected to all of this technology at an early age, and so it becomes like second nature to them. A friend that has a teenage son asked her why they still make kids use paper and pen to write with in school when clearly it is a skill that he will never use! She was so flabbergasted that she posted this on twitter.
The point is that as writers and members of the publishing industry we need to be aware of the medium in which we will be offering our work. This isn't a job solely for the publisher any longer. The high demand for the availability of our books in multimedia mediums has trickled down to us.
So be ready... and get iPadding!
...All this talk about the iPad and technology makes one wonder where will it all lead. With the iPad, applications, e-books, MP3s and audio books, what will happen to our good old fashion books? Will we still use paper 50 years from now? Or will books become obsolete?... I will leave that thought with you to ponder further.
Thanks for reading!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Making the Right First Impression: Don't Screw up your Query Letter
Query letters are the author's foot in the door. The introduction, the first impression, and often the only chance a writer gets with an agent. So needless to say, the quality and the completeness of the query is quite important. Most authors know this, and accordingly do extensive research and put a lot of work into drafting a letter that is as perfect as they can muster. And so they should, because they will often not get a second chance to make a good first impression.
Yet, in spite of the importance of saying and including the right information to portray oneself in the best possible light, many authors fall pitifully short of meeting the basic requirements for a successful query. I personally think that there is no reason whatsoever for this to be the case. Or should I say...there is no excuse for it.
When it comes to queries, no author should get it wrong. There are simply too many resources out there and, as one would suspect, there is never a shortage of information on the internet. Any blog, article, interview, report, posting by an agent will usually provide enough information on what should be included in a query and how it should be organized and drafted. Many of their pages, even published authors' Webpages include samples. (Go to Nicolas Spark's Website. His website is probably one of the best. He includes all sorts of advice and resources. In fact I often tell my authors to set up their pages in a similar way. Mr. Sparks has some terrific samples of his own queries on the site. I think that they are some of the best that I've seen.) There are also, of course, a number of very helpful books as well. See Lori Perkins' "The Insider's Guide to Getting A Literary Agent" and "Guide to Query Letters" by Burt Thomas.
What do I look for in a query? Its simple. Your letter should tell me about your novel. It should give a brief summary of the plot, the genre, and the word count. You should tell me why the novel is so special that your target market will want to purchase it. If your novel resembles another novel, or a mixture of novels or movies, let me know. Then you should tell me about yourself. Include any information that is relevant to selling your book such as your training, awards, other works you've written, and anything that you've published.
Also, just as important as the substance, is the format of your letter. Your letter should not only be well written, but it should be neat and easy to read. Use one font, no italics, no bolding. Use a typical letter format. That includes a header, paragraphs and your signature (you'd be surprised at how many people exclude their e-signature). Don't cut and paste things from other sources because that often makes the letter choppy and difficult to read. No literary agent has the time to spend twice the amount of time on a letter trying to figure out what you're saying...and most wont.
One of my major peeves is when a letter starts by talking about a character as if we were in the middle of a conversation. No letter should start by saying, "She was hot, it was a balmy southern summer day...." Some sample letters out there actually condone this. Please don't do it.
The letter is just that, a letter, and so it should flow as such. Don't miss your chance to show a prospective agent that you can write, organize, promote, and be a good professional.
Good luck!
Yet, in spite of the importance of saying and including the right information to portray oneself in the best possible light, many authors fall pitifully short of meeting the basic requirements for a successful query. I personally think that there is no reason whatsoever for this to be the case. Or should I say...there is no excuse for it.
When it comes to queries, no author should get it wrong. There are simply too many resources out there and, as one would suspect, there is never a shortage of information on the internet. Any blog, article, interview, report, posting by an agent will usually provide enough information on what should be included in a query and how it should be organized and drafted. Many of their pages, even published authors' Webpages include samples. (Go to Nicolas Spark's Website. His website is probably one of the best. He includes all sorts of advice and resources. In fact I often tell my authors to set up their pages in a similar way. Mr. Sparks has some terrific samples of his own queries on the site. I think that they are some of the best that I've seen.) There are also, of course, a number of very helpful books as well. See Lori Perkins' "The Insider's Guide to Getting A Literary Agent" and "Guide to Query Letters" by Burt Thomas.
What do I look for in a query? Its simple. Your letter should tell me about your novel. It should give a brief summary of the plot, the genre, and the word count. You should tell me why the novel is so special that your target market will want to purchase it. If your novel resembles another novel, or a mixture of novels or movies, let me know. Then you should tell me about yourself. Include any information that is relevant to selling your book such as your training, awards, other works you've written, and anything that you've published.
Also, just as important as the substance, is the format of your letter. Your letter should not only be well written, but it should be neat and easy to read. Use one font, no italics, no bolding. Use a typical letter format. That includes a header, paragraphs and your signature (you'd be surprised at how many people exclude their e-signature). Don't cut and paste things from other sources because that often makes the letter choppy and difficult to read. No literary agent has the time to spend twice the amount of time on a letter trying to figure out what you're saying...and most wont.
One of my major peeves is when a letter starts by talking about a character as if we were in the middle of a conversation. No letter should start by saying, "She was hot, it was a balmy southern summer day...." Some sample letters out there actually condone this. Please don't do it.
The letter is just that, a letter, and so it should flow as such. Don't miss your chance to show a prospective agent that you can write, organize, promote, and be a good professional.
Good luck!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
The Nature of the Beast
Hey guys, thanks for your comments. I'm sure that none of you are on the boat alone. The waiting time in this industry is a killer. I get it, but its the nature of the beast and its inevitable. There is just so much reading to be done. It really does take a lot of time and work for all involved. Its funny that authors think, 'cool I'm done writing my book' and they think that the hard part is over. When in fact the writing is the fun part. After that finding the right agent can be grueling and disappointing. Many authors take years to find the right agent and some end up giving up. The good part is that after you find an agent, the agent then takes all the rejection for you. :) But the fun soon returns when you get a publisher and you start selling books. Granted it takes a while for your book to be available to the public, but getting there is gratifying and when the sales start racking up there is no feeling to match it!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Call for Submissions in YA
Quick note to tell everyone out there that I am seeking YA Vampire and Angels submissions. An Editor friend at a reputable NYC Publishing house has specifically asked me to find them a great Young Adult Vampire or Fallen Angel novel. So if you have one, send it in now!
There are several things to be reported on the home front. First and foremost, I would like to thank all of those wonderful writers out there that have queried me thus far. There are so many of you talented authors that I can barely keep up. If you have not heard back from me, please be patient. I will get to your query and I will respond one way or another. It takes a while but I carefully review each and everyone of them. If I requested your manuscript, you will get a confirmation letter of receipt within a week or so and again, please give me plenty of time to read it. I will write to you, or call you and tell you exactly what I think...good or bad. Just hang in there.
If you have not sent me your query yet, please feel free to send it. Sooner or later I will get to everyone's and if you're the next best seller, I want to represent you! All agents are busy. Some of us have more experience than others, but there are benefits and drawbacks to both. I'm not going to spell those out here...perhaps in another post. But don't dismiss anyone who you think may be a good fit for you in personality and interest. If they like and get your work give them a shot.
Go to my Facebook page or follow me on twitter for events, up dates, and conferences.
There are several things to be reported on the home front. First and foremost, I would like to thank all of those wonderful writers out there that have queried me thus far. There are so many of you talented authors that I can barely keep up. If you have not heard back from me, please be patient. I will get to your query and I will respond one way or another. It takes a while but I carefully review each and everyone of them. If I requested your manuscript, you will get a confirmation letter of receipt within a week or so and again, please give me plenty of time to read it. I will write to you, or call you and tell you exactly what I think...good or bad. Just hang in there.
If you have not sent me your query yet, please feel free to send it. Sooner or later I will get to everyone's and if you're the next best seller, I want to represent you! All agents are busy. Some of us have more experience than others, but there are benefits and drawbacks to both. I'm not going to spell those out here...perhaps in another post. But don't dismiss anyone who you think may be a good fit for you in personality and interest. If they like and get your work give them a shot.
Go to my Facebook page or follow me on twitter for events, up dates, and conferences.
Publishing Cocktail Party Event May 4rth at 6:60
#NXNY presents ... The 2nd official PCP in NYC, A Publishing Cocktail Party on Tuesday May 4th, 2010, 6:30pm @The Village Pourhouse UWS http://villagepourhouse.com/
Yes, my friends, it is happening again. This time, as the hosts for the month of May, we (Louise Fury and Lori Perkins of the L. Perkins Literary Agency) are moving the party north…all the way up to W108th Street. But don’t fret; we will make your trip to the nosebleed section of Manhattan worth your while.
We have used our negotiating skills to score a cab tab. Yep, that’s right! If you take a cab to this event (the proof is in the receipt), the bartender will match your proven cab fare in the form of a bar tab. No more excuses not to travel uptown.
But that’s not all… (An agent’s job is never done). If you get there on time, that’s 6:30 p.m., happy hour will be in full swing until 7 p.m. That means 30 minutes of 2 for 1 margaritas, Absolut cocktails, Pyrat Rum and cokes or Cruzan Mojitos.
But what happens at 7 p.m.? Well, there’s a Facebook special with half- price appetizers from 7 p.m. onward. $3 Bud light drafts and $3 Bud Light Draft + shot. You can become a Facebook Fan at the venue that evening. And finally, for those that want some cheese factor—I know of at least one of you—I hear there is even karaoke.
Now, email this invitation to everyone (only the fun ones) in the publishing industry in NYC and tell them why they have to be there.
Go to http://nxny.eventbrite.com/ to register for the event and then spread the word by sharing clicking the social networking buttons.
What is #NXNY? A group of dynamic publishing professionals living and/or working in New York City and surrounding areas, who get together to share war stories and drink cocktails (preferably with umbrellas in them.) (The cocktails, not the publishing people.)
Yes, my friends, it is happening again. This time, as the hosts for the month of May, we (Louise Fury and Lori Perkins of the L. Perkins Literary Agency) are moving the party north…all the way up to W108th Street. But don’t fret; we will make your trip to the nosebleed section of Manhattan worth your while.
We have used our negotiating skills to score a cab tab. Yep, that’s right! If you take a cab to this event (the proof is in the receipt), the bartender will match your proven cab fare in the form of a bar tab. No more excuses not to travel uptown.
But that’s not all… (An agent’s job is never done). If you get there on time, that’s 6:30 p.m., happy hour will be in full swing until 7 p.m. That means 30 minutes of 2 for 1 margaritas, Absolut cocktails, Pyrat Rum and cokes or Cruzan Mojitos.
But what happens at 7 p.m.? Well, there’s a Facebook special with half- price appetizers from 7 p.m. onward. $3 Bud light drafts and $3 Bud Light Draft + shot. You can become a Facebook Fan at the venue that evening. And finally, for those that want some cheese factor—I know of at least one of you—I hear there is even karaoke.
Now, email this invitation to everyone (only the fun ones) in the publishing industry in NYC and tell them why they have to be there.
Go to http://nxny.eventbrite.com/ to register for the event and then spread the word by sharing clicking the social networking buttons.
What is #NXNY? A group of dynamic publishing professionals living and/or working in New York City and surrounding areas, who get together to share war stories and drink cocktails (preferably with umbrellas in them.) (The cocktails, not the publishing people.)
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Proper Introductions
This being my first entry to this blog, I’m excited to start by introducing my-self, not just because I’m being egocentric, but because by getting my name and thoughts out there, I’m hoping to be able to help writers find representation, learn about the industry and its emerging trends. In order to accomplish that, all a reader has to do is follow my blog. Who knows, a little quid pro quo can go a long way.
The short version of me is that I am an attorney, an author, and a literary agent, who not surprisingly loves to read and write. My reading tastes however are not limited to lengthy tomes of legal jargon. In fact, I am an avid reader of almost anything. If the content is useful, or there’s a good story, or if it is interesting in the way that it is written, then I do not discriminate. I know that’s a lot of qualifiers, but it’s true. An example of something I would never say I enjoy reading about is colonoscopies. Yes, you read that correctly. I’m talking about the art of conducting this intrusive test, to put it mildly, for the purpose of determining the health of one’s rectum and internal digestive organs, primarily the colon. However, I have recently read Dave Barry’s Column on the subject, and it was so well and cleverly written that in spite of the subject matter, I found my-self chuckling, agreeing, and reading it to the end. Kuddos to Dave Barry! And that is exactly what I’m talking about. Even though his was a column and not a book or novel, it’s still the perfect example. The prose and the point of view often trump the subject matter, albeit, not always.
I suppose that this may be a good time to tell everyone the type of submissions that I am currently accepting. In fiction, my passions are romance and cross genre romance; fantasy and non grotesque horror (good plot and well developed characters are the key, you will not woo me with blood and guts). I love everything vampires, especially sexy ones (who doesn’t, right?), supernatural, science fiction (hard science is awesome, but if you're a brilliant physicist make sure that there is more than a good scientific breakthrough or idea.) I also want thrillers, suspense, and quality chick lit. For anyone who is wondering what is my definition of ‘quality’... lets just say that I don't enjoy books written by wannabe socialites, or socialite has-beens, who ramble like mad people and expect to hold the reader's interest simply because they wrote the book, or because the book had a clever name. The second word in 'chick lit' stands for literature, and I expect just that. For non-fiction I like well done, helpful, and beautifully illustrated or photographed how-to books from wedding planning to bathroom remodeling. I am probably one of the few that will say that I'll consider almost anything about the legal practice and being a lawyer, from how to guides to tales about the practice; and I love a great memoir, if the journey is worth telling. I don’t think that I need to spell that one out.
Other things about me. I am easy going and formalities are inconsequential, but I do expect people to follow the basic rules and not waste my time. I work hard, and I take my job seriously. Therefore, I also expect writers to do the same. I am critical and at times may be too honest with my clients. I say it the way I see it, but I do also tell clients what they are doing right. I appreciate talent, and I’m never short on compliments. I’m sort of a hybrid between Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul. The good thing about this is that my clients always know how I really feel about their work, and it’s potential. I will not offer to represent anyone who I don’t think is marketable and has a marketable product. And if people think I’m tough, so be it. At least they will be happy when I offer to represent them.
If I haven’t scared you off yet, and you would like to submit your work for review, send me your query at marisa@lperkinsagency.com with the first two chapters of your novel. Do not send me queries without a sample of your work. It will just cause more of a delay. Please include your name and the title of your book in the subject line.
Follow me on Twitter at @mcorvisiero
Join my LinkedIn network
Become a friend on facebook
If you seek legal advice contact me at mcorvisiero@corvisierolaw.com or visit CorvisieroLaw. This blog is not intended to serve as legal advice of any kind, nor may it be construed to form a client relationship with the readers.
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