Search found 54 matches

by airball
August 6th, 2012, 11:35 am
Forum: Social Media and Book Promotion
Topic: Do you have a new blog post?
Replies: 2655
Views: 818693

Re: Do you have a new blog post?

I just posted an annotated version of my query letter. Your mileage may vary, but it's a damn sight more successful than my book!

Have a gander if you like: http://bloodygoodread.blogspot.com/2012 ... agent.html

Sam
by airball
March 21st, 2012, 10:49 pm
Forum: Social Media and Book Promotion
Topic: Do you have a new blog post?
Replies: 2655
Views: 818693

Re: Do you have a new blog post?

These aren't mine, but there are a couple of good ones for the historical fiction fans out there. Nancy Bilyeau blogs about arch-villain Thomas Cranmer... and finds a measure of sympathy. http://bloodygoodread.blogspot.com/ And Susanna Calkins makes the case that while blogging is a lousy way to sel...
by airball
October 18th, 2011, 10:55 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Where do characters come from?
Replies: 14
Views: 6085

Re: Where do characters come from?

I write historical mysteries with the intent of both entertaining the reader and exploring a historical issue. When I conceive of my characters, they not only have to contribute to the plot, but also advance my historical agenda as well. (For example, my protagonist is a midwife, and I use her to ta...
by airball
September 19th, 2011, 5:22 pm
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: So, this whole waiting thing is the WORST, right?
Replies: 12
Views: 7946

Re: So, this whole waiting thing is the WORST, right?

No, it's not the worst. The worst (so far) comes after you find an agent, and you book is with acquisitions editors, especially if one of of them is huge. Dollar signs with lots of zeroes dance before you, you'll shop for islands in the Caribbean, you'll stare at email until your eyes actually bleed...
by airball
August 12th, 2011, 10:56 am
Forum: Social Media and Book Promotion
Topic: Purchasing your own domain name?
Replies: 18
Views: 9371

Re: Purchasing your own domain name?

I went through http://www.bluehost.com/ to get my domain name and host my website. Go Daddy is the big name, but probably not the best one out there. I'd also give a shout out to this website http://www.timothywebdesign.com/ , which has some amazing (and free) resources for folks just getting starte...
by airball
August 12th, 2011, 10:45 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Title Confusion
Replies: 20
Views: 6604

Re: Title Confusion

Hi Old House, I'm actually going through this right now. My editor wants to name my book The Midwife's Tale: A Mystery , largely because the fact that my protagonist is a midwife is my book's hook. (Yes, you will be able to read it on a nook.) This gives me pause because there are two books out ther...
by airball
August 8th, 2011, 3:46 pm
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: Rejection Stats
Replies: 227
Views: 149140

Re: Rejection Stats

OMG, Airball! That's freakin' awesome! I was wondering how everything panned out for you. If only you could send some of your luck my way... Thanks! It was both the fastest and most excruciating month ever. Once the blog gets a bit more traction I'll write up the details, but my agent wants me to h...
by airball
August 1st, 2011, 7:55 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: First draft vs. published work
Replies: 11
Views: 4455

Re: First draft vs. published work

I think it's going to be different depending on the author's experience, personality, and writing style, to name just a few factors. There are some authors (who've been at it a while!) who can bang out something pretty good in no time at all. For mere mortals, it takes a ton of hard work. I've alway...
by airball
August 1st, 2011, 7:45 am
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: Rejection Stats
Replies: 227
Views: 149140

Re: Rejection Stats

Final Numbers are in:

Queries: 22
Requests for more: 8
Rejections: 9
No response: The rest

Offers of representation: 2!

Book now under contract with St. Martin's, due out in 2012.

Good luck everyone!
by airball
July 31st, 2011, 8:39 pm
Forum: Social Media and Book Promotion
Topic: Your Social Media Presence - Share!
Replies: 21
Views: 11488

Re: Your Social Media Presence - Share!

Excellent idea! I just landed a two-book contract from St. Martin's, launched a website and a blog, so this is great timing. Blog: Actually, I'm co-writing this with Nancy Bilyeau, who also writes historical fiction. Her book The Crown is due out in January from Simon & Schuster. Anyway, the blo...
by airball
June 3rd, 2011, 3:20 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: THE ENEMY WITHIN (Historical Fiction): New Version - Page 3
Replies: 41
Views: 15601

Re: New Query: THE ENEMY WITHIN (Historical Fiction)

Our of curiosity, how are you going to handle slavery and her support for the Confederacy? (Obviously this goes well beyond the query, but but I teach at a Uni here in the south, and there are some beliefs about the war that are...historically challenged would be the kindest way of putting it. (&quo...
by airball
May 31st, 2011, 1:29 pm
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: (Humor) 10 Things You Shouldn’t Say to an Agent
Replies: 23
Views: 16104

Re: (Humor) 10 Things You Shouldn’t Say to an Agent

10. I have a feeling Oprah will invite me on to her show. *Time sensitive joke.*
by airball
May 31st, 2011, 1:27 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: current event fiction--new frontier?
Replies: 5
Views: 4451

Re: current event fiction--new frontier?

Polymath makes some really fascinating points, so please allow me to build upon them. I would raise a couple of questions, some merely practical. One problem is that the genre would be limited to short stories. While you're right that Kindle etc. have shortened production time, for many authors, tha...
by airball
May 28th, 2011, 5:48 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: Happily Sometime After --YA Fantasy
Replies: 9
Views: 3766

Re: Happily Sometime After --YA Fantasy

Hi Kenpochick, This sounds like a great read, but overall I came a way a bit confused. The thing that raised the most questions is the mood of the query vs. the mood of the book. The tone of the query is light and even funny at times, but the subject matter (killing your brother, weaponized magic, a...