September Issue, Volume 17
A Focus On: Andrew Pyper
Q&A with a best-selling Canadian Author
by Donna Marrin
Photo by Existing Light
Tell us about your most recent book, The Killing Circle. The Killing Circle is a thriller…about writing. Or at least, about wanting to write. This was my challenge: to make the writing “process” a terrifying place. Which — as anyone who has tried bashing out a novel knows — it is.
How do you really feel about writing circles? I’ve never been a part of one myself, though many others have told me they’ve found the collective support essential.
Where do you find your ideas? Ideas are compiled over time and come from everywhere. If I’m lucky, something coheres 247 of those ideas into something larger, which, in turn, may be a novel.
At what point in your life were you hit with the “writing bolt?” Even before I could read or write, I loved to tell stories. My “writing bolt” hit me at an age prior to the life I can remember.
Can you remember the first story you ever wrote? Germany vs. The World, a bloody, tragic, likely-Sam Peckinpah-inspired war story. I still have it somewhere.
What prompted you to write your first book, Lost Girls? I’d been writing short stories in a serious way through my twenties and I wanted to try something in a longer form. But this interest was abstract until I met up with the story of Lost Girls, which was a marriage of my satirical take of the law from law school, growing up in a small town and my interest in writing a contemporary ghost story with psychological veracity.
How long did it take you to get your first book published? I was very lucky. Kiss Me, my first book of stories, was asked-after by a publisher before I knew I was building toward a collection. How did this happen? Steven Heighton, a novelist and then-editor of a literary journal, had noticed my work and recommended me. In many ways, it still works this way. Someone of good judgment notices you and tells someone else that someone good is out there. No secret handshakes, no “schmoozing.” Just work coming to others’ attention.
The idea you’ve been nurturing is ready to go. Describe your writing process. One year mulling and outlining. Eight months writing. Another year editing. The longer I write, the less time I actually spend at the keyboard and the more time I spend planning and, afterwards, tinkering.
How much research is usually involved before you begin to write? Depends on the story. The Wildfire Season required me to become an instant expert on forest fires and bears, among other things. I spent two summers in the Yukon researching that novel. But The Killing Circle required little research at all, as it is set in Toronto, in my neighbourhood, and in my world.
How long does it usually take you to write a book, from concept to finished manuscript? Three years, give or take.
The most challenging part of the writing process is… Finding a story that not only interests you, but one you can marry.
What do you love most about being a writer? The independence.
Lessons you’ve learned along the way… Never submit anything until it is in the absolute best shape you can make it. Despite what anyone might say about “knowing it’s a first draft,” there are no second chances.
Do you have a favourite writing resource? Picking up a book I love and reading random pages from the middle. Inspires me every time.
Who do you admire and why? I admire people who achieve success on merit.
What’s on your own bookshelf right now? I’m a juror for the Writer’s Trust Fiction Prize. I have about 160 books on my bookshelf!
What is your advice to aspiring authors? Read.
What’s up next for Andrew Pyper? Another novel…and about three other projects in the TV/movie world that I never thought would go forward, but now look like they might.
ANDREW PYPER was born in Stratford, Ontario. The Killing Circle, Andrew’s fourth and latest novel, is a national bestseller in Canada, and has been published in the U.K. and U.S., with translation rights have been sold worldwide. Kiss Me, a collection of short stories, was published to acclaim in 1996. His first novel, Lost Girls, was a national bestseller in Canada and a Globe and Mail Notable Book selection in 1999 as well as a Notable Book selection in the New York Times Book Review (2000) and the London Evening Standard (2000). The novel won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel and is an Otto Penzler pick on Amazon.com. Andrew’s second novel, The Trade Mission was selected by The Toronto Star as one of the Ten Best Books of the Year. Andrew’s third novel, The Wildfire Season, was a Globe and Mail Best Book of the Year. The Wildfire Season, Lost Girls and The Killing Circle are all being adapted to film. Pyper lives in Toronto with his family.
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August Issue, Volume 16
A Focus On: Kate Epstein
Q&A with a Literary Agent
by Donna Marrin
Tell us about your agency. I founded Epstein Literary Agency in 2005, and it’s just me and sometimes an intern. I started out doing nonfiction for adults, having learned the ins and outs at small publisher Adams Media, and now I’m doing fiction for young adults as well. I love the work and I love working with authors.
Were you a ‘bookworm’ as a child? Very much so. As a child I had a book in front of me any time I was allowed—meaning, walking down the hall at home, while brushing my teeth, while doing household chores. Sometimes I did my homework by alternating it with reading. I did that just because to me anytime I could be reading I wanted to, and nothing engaged me as well as books did. Now that I have a busy job and a family, I do it because those snatched bits are the best way to patch together the reading life I so desire.
How did you choose your career as a literary agent? I loved being an editor, but I wanted a new challenge. I always had a broad loyalty to authors that was somewhat problematic in an editor and makes me highly suited to agenting.
How many submissions will you review in a typical week? It varies. I probably receive about 100, but I get through them in fits and starts.
Describe your ideal query. Queries are very hard to write—at least, so I gather from reading them! They have to be professional; it’s vital not to try to make them stand out with a strange form. My favorites have energy and humor. My ideal query betrays a thorough review of my website.
What ruffles your feathers? I don’t like being called Mrs., which I find not only sexist but also inaccurate, in my case, as Epstein is my father’s name, not my husband’s. (Kate on the other hand is fine.) I hate estimates of how much money I will make, or claims to bestseller potential. I hate when people re-send their queries a few weeks later. And I really hate sour grapes messages.
When a manuscript lands on your desk, what do you look for? In fiction, plot is my first priority. Character. Good writing. Make me want to keep reading.
You’ve discovered a masterpiece. What’s your next step? Offer representation! I provide a 3-page contract and I have an author’s manual of frequently asked questions that’s 14 pages long. It’s optional reading, but I think most people find it interesting and helpful.
My manuscript is complete and I’m ready to seek representation. What should my next steps be? Research agents. I like Jeff Herman’s guide and take his questions very seriously. Another way to research agents is see who’s been acknowledged in your favorite books. Then read our websites.
Must an author query one agent at a time, or are multiple submissions acceptable? Multiple submissions are advisable.
What should a writer look for in an agent? Everyone has different needs. Of course, the first thing to look for is legitimacy: an ethical agent doesn’t ask for money up front, or any money, except as a percentage of sales. Enthusiasm, someone you trust, someone you like working with. Someone who’s available and responsive.
I’ve self-published a book. How likely is it that a publisher will later be interested in mass-producing it? Most self-published books are not publishable by a trade house. It really depends on sales; you need to be able to argue that your self-publication, instead of satisfying every sales opportunity there was, whetted appetites it didn’t fill and indicates that a publisher would find more hungry consumers seeking your book.
Is it realistic to say that a good writer can eventually generate a decent full-time living writing novels, or does that only come with the territory of ‘bestselling’ status? That’s very rare.
What do you enjoy most about your career? I love most everything about it: falling in love with a project, editing proposals and manuscripts, going out with projects I believe in, negotiating deals and contracts, helping an author figure out how best to partner with a publisher, but most of all I love working with authors. Like many (but not most) agents or editors I used to write myself; I don’t miss it because as an agent I get to do all the fun stuff, without having to face an empty page or promote myself and my work (much). I’d rather ask for something for a client than for myself; it’s easier to do it for someone else. Authors HAVE to put themselves forward. Most of the time, I put my authors forward.
How do you think advances in technology will affect the future of traditional book publishing? As the barriers to entry decline, the importance of traditional book publishing will only increase. I’m bullish on e-books in many ways. I hope that some of the advantages of electronic—e-enhancements, portability—will increase book sales overall. I hope that dedicated e-readers are temporary and that electronic books for smartphones (or whatever we come to call the device we carry that does email, Internet, and phone) are going to become easy to read and ubiquitous. However, I’m concerned about price points and author royalties. I’d really like to see more experimentation with price point—not just the final price but in how prices might be structured. The cost of e-readers is hard to support if books aren’t seriously discounted; why not structure that discounting differently? Why not price by the chapter? Practical nonfiction books might be very suited to purchase of selected chapters. E-books should be able to make more things possible.
What’s on your own bookshelf right now? I hope you mean nightstand, because we could be here all day with the bookshelf—and that’s true even though I tend to let go of books, knowing I hardly ever re-read anymore. I just did a trip to New York to meet with editors and was lucky enough to score some exciting new books and galleys—I am J by Cris Beam, The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler, This Girl isn’t Shy, She’s Spectacular by Nina Beck, Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan, Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly, and some others. I’m also reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows because it’s the pick this year for Michigania U of Michigan Alumni Family Camp, which is where I’ll be for a week in August. Like a lot of people, part of me is only waiting for Suzanne Collins’ third book about Katniss. When will this stupid summer be over so I can get to Mockingjay?
Who do you admire and why? Harriet Tubman is my greatest idol. She was so courageous, so concerned for others. My kids’ teachers tend to get my admiration—they handle so much, and can do so much.
Your best advice for aspiring novelists? Read a LOT, as much as you can. Try not to read things you hate and let it stimulate the brain damage of, how did SHE get a publisher and I can’t? Read books you love and figure out what makes them work. Try not to let trends get to you too much—just write what you love. Get a critique group. I’m grateful for all you do.
KATE EPSTEIN represents nonfiction for adults, and fiction and nonfiction for young people, ages 8-18. She lives and works near Boston, Massachusetts.
July Issue, Volume 15
A Focus On: Rick Mofina
Q&A with a best-selling Canadian author
by Donna Marrin
Tell us about your latest book, The Panic Zone. The Panic Zone concerns the story of Emma Lane, an anguished mother from Wyoming who refuses to believe her baby died in a tragic car crash. Jack Gannon, a relentless wire service reporter from New York, joins her in the hunt for a perfect killer whose trail leads around the world in a race against time. The Panic Zone is the second book in the Jack Gannon series. Thriller fans met Gannon in the first book in the series, Vengeance Road, when it was released in 2009. The prestigious International Thriller Writers (ITW) has named Vengeance Road a finalist for a 2010 Thriller Award in the category of Best Paperback Original.
Where do you find your ideas? I draw on my times as a reporter and my experiences as a human being; I observe the world around me, always thinking, wondering, “What if?” When I’m stuck, I make things up.
At what point in your life were you hit with the ‘writing bolt?’ My urge to write reaches back to my earliest years when my mother read bedtime stories to me. She drew me into worlds that were sketched by the writer’s words and brought to life in my imagination. This was wild magic. It had captivated me with such intensity that I was compelled to craft my own fiction based on the real things I’d observed. Like how my mother smiled when my father came home and handed me his big lunch bucket, with one cookie left in it for me. Or the way his hands were creased with fine threads of dried concrete as he unlaced his heavy work boots.
I observed the world I was in, then created fictional worlds based on what I saw. Eventually, my parents bought me a typewriter and one thing led to another which led to the sale of my first short story for $60.00 to a magazine in New Jersey. My father stared at that check for a long time, trying to make sense of what had transpired.
At age 15, I was a professional writer. Or so it seemed.
There was a lot to come; high school, university, marriage, a family and a career as a news reporter, which laid the foundation for me to become the author of several thrillers.
What prompted you to write your first book, If Angels Fall? I was inspired by a real-life incident. If Angels Fall, begins with a toddler being abducted from his inattentive father while they are riding San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit System, known as BART. Years ago, I was working as rookie summer cub reporter at The Toronto Star when a tragedy hit the city. A child who vanished under chilling circumstances was later found murdered. Fear gripped the city and the story screamed from page one of Toronto’s major papers. In that climate, I was riding Toronto’s subway when I saw a father and his toddler. Dad was hidden behind the newspaper he was reading, one that happened to be blaring the latest on the tragedy. His little boy was toddling up and down the full length of the subway car aisle. The father was oblivious. The train would stop. Doors would open. Waves of commuters would rush in and out, even bumping the toddler. Doors would close. The train rumbled to the next station. The father had no idea what was happening as the scene was repeated at the next station. Then the next. Then the next. As I witnessed this, I became a little angry at the father for not watching his kid. Then I grew a bit fearful as my imagination went into overdrive. If I were a crazy person, I could easily have abducted that boy without his father noticing until it was too late. That moment haunted me until years later, when I fashioned it into the opening of, If Angels Fall, the book which introduces my ongoing series characters, San Francisco reporter, Tom Reed and SFPD Homicide Inspector, Walt Sydowski.
How long did it take you to get it published? Professionally speaking, I was 15 when I first got paid for my writing, that was in 1972. My first novel was published in 2000.
The idea you’ve been nurturing is ready to go. Describe your writing process. Once I have an idea, I give it a lot of thought to ensure it really grabs me. I get up at four a.m. to make notes, and continue making notes on the bus commute to my day job. I turn those notes into draft pages on weekends, writing from five or six a.m. until mid-afternoon. When I travel, I work on my laptop in hotels, airports, on planes. The key is ritual, routine and discipline. Journalism taught me the discipline.
You not only hold down a full-time job, but are also raising a family, yet you’ve been able to write eleven, very successful novels to-date. How are you able to do it? My wife and family are extraordinarily accommodating. Our kids grew up knowing dad was always in the office at the keyboard, coming up for air when reality demands it. Other than that, staying faithful to the writing routine. It is the only way to meet deadlines.
How much research do you need to do before you begin to write? It all depends; I draw on so many things. My own experiences, I may chat with somebody about technical things, read a few books, check things out online. And it never stops. I’ll be researching while I am writing. It all depends on what I need, or think I need. However, nothing trumps the story and the characters; research is really for the stage, the setting and the props.
How long does it usually take you to write a book, from concept to finished manuscript? Nine to ten months.
You’ve completed your manuscript. Now what? I sleep in until six a.m. for a couple of weeks until I start the next one.
The most challenging part of the writing process is… Writing the first draft. It’s like drilling through rock for me. It’s hard work, but I get through it and usually enjoy it when progress is evident.
What do you love most about being a writer? Reader reaction. I’ve had a lot of nice comments, like “you kept me up all night” and “you need to write more books faster.” But one that stands out came in the form of a lovely, handwritten letter from a woman in Indiana. Seems she was on vacation in the west and bought my first book, If Angels Fall, in a used book bin for 25 cents. After reading it, she liked it so much, she cut me a personal check for the full cover price of $7.00, which she’d attached to her letter. She told me I’d earned it. I was blown away. I thanked her. And yes, I cashed the check, but I’ve kept a photocopy that I intend to frame some day.
Yeah, it’s the feedback from new readers who have just discovered you. It’s very rewarding when someone takes the time to write you a kind note, telling you how much they enjoyed your book; that never gets old. Hanging out with other writer friends at conferences is fun, too.
Lessons you’ve learned along the way… Never give up. Even if you don’t think you know what you’re doing as a writer, never give up.
Do you have a favourite writing resource? I have a small notebook, a tablet, if you will. It’s about the size of a Kindle. I use it for writing notes in longhand. I actually do my plotting and chapter building with that tablet. It goes with me when I’m on my commute and in airplanes and is often at my bedside.
Who or what inspires you? Publishing contracts give me the inspiration to get going on a book and meet a deadline–that legal language about when the author will submit a completed manuscript is very inspirational.
What is on your own bookshelf right now? Joseph Conrad, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dostoevsky and old, worn copies from the 1970s of Writer magazine out of Boston–I still consult them for advice.
If you could give one piece of advice to beginning writers, what would it be? Just an overall message or two: The only guarantee that you will fail is if you give up. The only thing impeding you stares back at you in the mirror. Don’t make excuses for not writing–create sentences. Do your homework, read, study the industry, be realistic and ask yourself the following: Are you a writer? Or, do you want ‘to be’ a writer? Real writers reading this will understand the difference. And, as Stephen King, said, “Do not come to this lightly.” Oh yes, don’t quit your day job.
What’s up next for Rick Mofina? I’ve just written my 12th novel, which will be released in the early part of 2011. It is titled In Desperation and will be the third book in the Jack Gannon series. I expect to do more in the series and possibly another stand-alone.
Note: Look for Rick Mofina’s just-launched book, The Panic Zone, in all bookstores!
RICK MOFINA was a summer student rookie reporter at The Toronto Star, before embarking on a career in journalism that spanned three decades and several newsrooms. His freelance crime stories have appeared around the world in such publications as The New York Times, Reader’s Digest, Marie Claire, The South China Morning Post magazine and The Moscow Times. He’s also written for the UK’s Sunday Telegraph. His reporting has put him face-to-face with murderers on death row in Montana and Texas. He covered a horrific serial killing case in California, an armored car heist in Las Vegas, the murders of police officers in Alberta, flown over Los Angeles with the LAPD, and gone on patrol with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police near the Arctic. He has reported from the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East. His first published novel, If Angels Fall, introduced San Francisco Star crime reporter Tom Reed and San Francisco Homicide Inspector Walt Sydowski. It was a Best First Novel finalist for an Arthur Ellis Award from the Crime Writers of Canada. His second Reed-Sydowski book is Cold Fear. With that book, Quill & Quire said Rick, “positions himself high in the suspense genre saddle.” It was followed by Blood Of Others, which #1 New York Times bestselling author James Patterson praised as, “tense, realistic, and scary in all the right places.” The Ottawa Citizen described Rick as “a writer clearly destined for literary stardom,” while Penthouse said he was, “one of the leading thriller writers of the day.” The Globe & Mail said Rick was becoming “one of Canada’s favourite crime writers.” Blood Of Others won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel in 2003. No Way Back, the fourth Reed-Sydowski book, was released in 2003 and praised by Michael Connelly as being, “My kind of novel–a tough, taut thriller.” It was followed in 2004 by, Be Mine, the fifth in the series. Dean Koontz said, Rick was writing, “A fine series of thrillers to which Be Mine is a great addition: swiftly paced, entertaining, with authentic details of police procedure.” After five books–and movie options on If Angels Fall and Cold Fear, which have since expired, the Reed-Sydowski series went on hiatus and Rick launched a new series featuring Jason Wade, a rookie crime reporter based in Seattle. For that book, he drew upon his own experiences at The Toronto Star and later, The Calgary Herald. The series debuted in the summer of 2005, with, The Dying Hour, which climbed to #7 on Canada’s bestseller list (Quill & Quire) and hit #1 among Wal-mart Canada’s bestsellers. Sandra Brown, an acclaimed international best-selling author, told Rick that she loved The Dying Hour. “It starts scary and ends scary.” The second book in the Jason Wade series is Every Fear, which features a story that “Pushes crackling suspense to the breaking point and beyond,” according to New York Times bestselling author, Kay Hooper. Rick’s third Jason Wade book is A Perfect Grave, which New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen called, “A lightning-paced thriller with lean, tense writing.” Rick followed A Perfect Grave with his first standalone book, the global thriller, Six Seconds. For that book, Rick drew heavily on his international assignments as a newspaper reporter and his time as a wire service reporter. Six Seconds became a bestseller in the U.S., the UK and Canada, and has drawn praise from around the world. It will soon be published in 12 countries and 7 languages, including German, Danish, Finnish and Polish. After Six Seconds, Rick launched a new series featuring crime reporter Jack Gannon, who is introduced in Vengeance Road. Jack Gannon will return in mid-2010 with the release of The Panic Zone. The popularity of Rick’s stories continues to grow. Throughout the United Kingdom and across Australia and New Zealand and other parts of the world, readers are being introduced first-hand to the Jason Wade ‘trilogy’ with release of The Dying Hour, Every Fear, and A Perfect Grave in those parts of the world. In Norway, where all of Rick’s books are bestsellers, his Norwegian publisher is planning to re-introduce the first two books of the Tom Reed-Walt Sydowski series, If Angels Fall and Cold Fear, in a combined special edition. Rick is currently writing more books. As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, the International Thriller Writers, the International Crime Writers Association, the Crime Writers Association and Crime Writers of Canada, Rick, continues to be a featured panelist at mystery conferences across the United States and Canada. He enjoys receiving reader feedback, which has come from all around the world, including readers in Australia, Hong Kong, Korea, Norway, Iceland, South Africa, Brazil, Bermuda, the United States and of course, Canada. Rick updates diehard fans who want the latest news on his work by subscribing to his informal newsletter. Rick is currently based in Ottawa, where he lives with his wife and their two children and works as a communications advisor. Learn more about Rick Mofina at his website: http://www.rickmofina.com/
May/June Issue, Volume 13/14
A Focus On: Sandy Lu
Q&A with a literary agent
by Donna Marrin
What led you to a career as a literary agent?
I have always loved books for as long as I can remember, and the idea of discovering unknown talent and bringing their work to print is just a dream come true.
Describe a day in the life.
I usually start the day by checking my email and returning the important messages first. Then I spend some time reading that day’s publishing news and related blogs, such as Publishers Marketplace and GalleyCat. Then it’s out to lunch with an editor or in office with my colleagues, where we discuss our books and brainstorm. After lunch is the time I either send out new submissions or check on the status of current submissions with editors. Then at the end of the day, I usually return non-urgent messages. After work, I either attend readings, publishing gatherings or the theater, or I might go to a bookstore and check out what is new on the shelves. If I don’t have any event to attend, then I may stay and answer queries for an hour or two. After dinner and on the weekend is the time I read requested submissions. And before bed, if I am not too tired, I like to read a published book, which to me is research as well as personal enjoyment.
How many submissions will you review in a typical week?
About 300 to 400 queries, 15 to 20 requested partials and one requested full manuscript. If I have more requested submissions to read that week, I might not get to my queries.
Describe your ideal query.
My ideal query is professional and to the point from a writer with a fresh idea who knows how to grab my attention without overdoing it. It is even better if the writer has a unique voice, a clear idea about where the book stands in the current marketplace, great writing credits or platform and a good understanding of how the publishing process works.
What ruffles your feathers?
Writers who do not do their research before querying and therefore send me queries on genres I do not represent, who address me by the wrong name or do not address me at all, who send me a mass query letter with other agents’ email addresses listed, who send me a query letter as an attachment or a link, who pitch me multiple books at a time or pitch me one book at a time every week because they have a dozen unpublished novels in their drawer, who call me to pitch their books, who query every agent at our agency for the same book, who check on the status of their submissions before the timeline I specified, who clearly ignore my submission guidelines, who want to send me a revised version of a manuscript currently under consideration or already turned down, and who ask me to suggest other agents to send their queries to after I reject their work.
Do you ever consider accepting a book before the author has completed it?
For non-fiction, this is pretty standard, unless it is a memoir. For fiction, I will only do it if the writing is exceptional or I have a special connection with it.
How can an “as yet unpublished” author rise to the top of your review pile?
Great query letter, great idea and great writing.
When a manuscript lands on your desk, what do you look for?
I read the synopsis to see if the writer knows exactly what the book is about and then I read the first few pages to see if the writer can actually write. Often, I get a wonderful query letter and the actual manuscript disappoints. Many writers with journalistic backgrounds can write a good query letter and kickass synopsis, but the novel itself falls flat. It is the other way around for other writers, who know how to draw the reader in right away with their first paragraph, but are at a loss when asked to summarize their book.
You’ve stumbled upon a masterpiece. What’s your next step?
First, I will give it to one of my colleagues to read right away to make sure I am not hallucinating (it happens sometimes when you read so many submissions for long hours). When my opinion is confirmed, I will contact the writer and offer my representation, of course.
Any inspiring “new discovery” stories?
I recently made a three-book-deal for an urban fantasy series that I loved as soon as I finished reading it. I gave it to a fellow agent to read for a second opinion and she thought it was just okay and that I should pass. I offered my representation anyway, because I liked it that much. And it turns out I was right!
What process should an author follow when seeking an agent?
First, finish your book. Then edit it, again and again, until you are sure it is in the best possible shape. Then do your research to find out how to write a great query letter and which agents to query.
Are self-published books ever considered?
Not unless the author has a strong, proven sales record to entice a legitimate publisher.
Must an author query one agent at a time, or are multiple submissions acceptable?
I have no problem with multiple submissions. In fact, I expect it. Just do not send your queries to more than one agent at the same agency. That is called double-dipping and is really frowned upon when agents do it to editors at the same publishing house as well. It quickly gets you blacklisted.
Once a publisher has purchased an author’s work, how does the payment system work?
It depends on the publishing contract, but usually half of the advance is paid at the time of contract signing and the other half is due upon submission and acceptance of the manuscript. The payment will be sent to the agent, who will deposit the check and wait till it clears, keep the 15% commission due and then send a check out to the author for the remaining amount.
What are typical commissions paid to agents for English language rights, dramatic rights, translation with a sub-agent, etc.?
The industry standard is 15% commission. When a sub-agent is involved, it is usually 20% (10% for each agent).
Is it common practice for the author to pay an agent for expenses such as photocopying and courier services?
Yes, but unless it is a really big amount, most agencies will write it off as a cost of doing business. This is not especially relevant since nowadays, everything can be sent electronically.
What do you enjoy most about your career?
Discovering new talent. Talking books with other industry professionals.
With the burgeoning popularity of electronic publishing, how do you see the future of traditional book publishing?
Traditional publishers need to follow the trend and update their operations to accommodate it quickly, or face losing market share. There is always a need for content, no matter how the format changes. Electronic publishing will actually bring in new readers, such as frequent long-distance travelers who cannot haul too many print books around, and the younger generations, to whom reading may not have been considered a preferred pastime before. It also will help keep all books in circulation for perpetuity and nothing will ever really go out of print again. Moreover, I don’t think print books will ever disappear. To many book lovers, there is still no substitute for the scent and touch of those freshly printed pages.
What’s on your personal bookshelf right now?
Oh gosh, I have thousands of books. The last count was over 2,500 and that’s just the English ones. Mostly I read general fiction, historical fiction, mystery, thriller, narrative non-fiction and cookbooks.
Who do you admire and why?
There are too many people to name. In general, I admire people who know what they want to do with their lives and pursue that dream no matter what, those who are open to new experiences and do not judge others just because they may have a different point of view, those who do not take themselves seriously but treat others with respect, and those who survive life’s difficulties with grace.
Your best advice for aspiring novelists?
Never stop reading. You need to know what is already out there in the book world and where your own work stands. Hone your craft and do not stop writing. Join a writer’s critique group, take writing classes and participate in writers’ conferences. Cultivate patience, as publishing is mostly a waiting game. Develop a thick skin, as you will be rejected many, many times; and when you are, don’t take it personally. As I tell all my clients, all it takes is one “yes.”
SANDY LU is an associate agent at the L. Perkins Agency. She holds BAs in psychology and sociology from Queens College, with minors in music, business and Japanese. Prior to becoming an agent, she attended the Ph.D. Program in Social and Personality Psychology at the CUNY Graduate Center and worked as a business/operations manager in the theater industry. She is fluent in spoken and written Mandarin Chinese. Sandy’s areas of study and work experience greatly inform her areas of interest in submissions. Most of all, she is looking for submissions that draw her in with a unique voice and a good yarn that will make her miss her subway stop and keep her up at night. In fiction, she is seeking submissions in the following areas: dark literary and commercial fiction, mystery, thriller, psychological horror, urban fantasy, and historical fiction. In non-fiction, she is seeking submissions in the following areas: narrative non-fiction, history, biography, memoir, science, psychology, pop culture and food writing. In particular, she is looking for historical thrillers or mysteries set in Victorian times and has recently fallen in love with steampunk. She is also actively searching for espionage fiction and non-fiction set in China between the two World Wars. To contact Sandy Lu, visit the L. Perkins Agency website at http://lperkinsagency.com/
April Issue, Volume 12
A Focus On: Marina Cohen
Q&A with a children’s author
by Donna Marrin
At what point in your life were you hit with the “writing bolt?”
I’ve always loved writing and went through various starts and stops in my life, but I’d have to say the big “bolt” came in the form of a New Year’s resolution when I was 35. I’d heard renowned children’s author, Eric Walters, speak while teaching in Stouffville and I remember him saying he was first published at the age of 35. I was inspired! Course, I wasn’t published until five years later…
What attracted you to writing books for children?
There is something very magical about writing for children. I think the sort of books children read help shape who they are and who they will become. Some of the most memorable books I’ve read were written for children (The Chronicles of Narnia, Charlotte’s Web, The Hobbit, Tuck Everlasting, Bridge to Terabithia, the Harry Potter series, to name a few) yet they worked on so many levels and have been enjoyed by young and old alike. It’s always been my hope to create something as everlasting and powerful.
What prompted you to write your first book?
A Mike Oldfield song began, “Follow the light that glows through your bedroom window tonight…” That line stuck in me for ten years and the plot to a children’s fantasy slowly took shape. It would become my first novel, Shadow of the Moon.
Have you written any other books since? And does the process get any easier?
After Shadow of the Moon, I wrote the sequel, Trick of the Light. After that came Ghost Ride, written with a slightly older audience in mind. I also have a new Young Adult thriller coming out with Dundurn Press in January of 2011, called Mind Gap. I’ve also written nine non-fiction books for children published by Crabtree Publishing in 2009. Does it get any easier? I’d say yes. My first novel was a learning experience. I completed the first draft and believed I had a manuscript ready for submission. It was rejected far and wide and only years later, after much re-writing and editing was it finally accepted by a publisher. I’d learned so much about writing that my first drafts have gotten better and better. The initial process is still the same, but the re-writing is getting easier.
How long does it take you to write a book, from concept to finished manuscript?
I think I have some sort of biological writing rhythm as all of my fiction manuscripts seem to take six months to complete once I begin the actual writing. I must say though, I only begin to write once the novel is practically complete in my mind. The concept swims around inside me anywhere from months to years before I sit down to write.
Your manuscript is complete. Now what?
First, you need to write the best darned query letter possible. It’s an art. Really. And the query letter is the key that opens the door. Editors are so overwhelmingly busy that if your query letter isn’t professional, they will assume your manuscript isn’t either. Show them that you understand the business, know your market and target audience and have an awesome manuscript they can’t pass on!
How long did it take you to get your first book published?
I began writing Shadow of the Moon in January, 2002 and held the published novel in my hands in April, 2007. Five long years.
Rejection letters: trash ‘em or stash ‘em?
I say stash ‘em! I have a folder of them and flip through them now and again. I’m glad I kept them. They remind me of how long and rough the road toward publication was.
How do you come up with your ideas?
I’ve always had an overactive imagination. I suppose that’s not always a good thing, but in the world of writing, it’s invaluable. I get my ideas from a word I hear, a line in a song, a suspicious-looking door, the name of a town… in other words, from just about anywhere.
The idea you’ve been nurturing is ready to go. Describe your writing process.
I need to begin with a great opening scene and hopefully, a great opening line. Once I have those I move forward. The first three or four chapters are like pulling teeth. They need to be perfect and set everything up. The next ten to fifteen chapters move quickly and then the last few are again excruciatingly slow. I never move forward until I’m happy with what I’ve written. I also never write a line unless I’ve gone back and re-read the previous chapter or two. Often, I accomplish little more than a line or a paragraph in a day. Sometimes, days go by with no writing time; then I get an hour or two and boom, I’m onto the next chapter.
How much research do you need to complete before you can begin to write your story?
I don’t write (or haven’t yet written!) historical fiction. I imagine I’d do a great deal of research prior to writing an historical fiction. The sort of research I do takes place along the way. For example, there is a lot of science in my first two fantasies. I did most of the research as I wrote. Of course non-fiction is another story. To write my two books in a Genetics series, I did tons of research. I read several books and probably close to sixty websites prior to writing.
The most challenging aspect of being a writer is…
Growing a thick enough skin to persevere in a business so full of ups and downs.
What you love most about being a writer is…
Hearing from people who read my books and enjoy my stories.
Lessons you’ve learned along the way…
Read everything you can get your hands on in the particular genre and age-group you are writing for. Know the business. Be professional. Never give up.
Tell us about your latest book and where we can buy it.
Ghost Ride is a Y/A thriller for ages 12+. It’s a ghost story set north of a fictitious Stouffville. When 14-year-old Sam McLean leaves the city to move to the northern fringe of a small town, he is less than thrilled. Desperate to make new friends, he makes the wrong ones and gets involved in crazy stunts. Then one stunt goes ghostly wrong and Sam flees the scene. As he struggles with his conscience, a haunting question remains: Who else knows the truth? If you like this sort of book, you’ll also enjoy Mind Gap (January, 2011) where I will really mess with your head! My books are available at most bookstores, as well as online via Amazon.
Who or what inspires you?
Award-winning author, Marsha Skrypuch, was a huge inspiration to me. It was only after meeting Marsha and joining her critique group that I learned enough about writing, editing and the publishing business to get my first contract. I’m also inspired by people like Eric Walters. He not only has sixty or so children’s novels published, but also finds the time to run Creation of Hope—an organization that helps children in Africa.
What would we find on your bookshelf right now?
You’d find a HUGE stack of books in line to be read! I get in trouble all the time from my husband, who wants me to clear the top of my nightstand. But each time I finish a book, another three get added to the pile. I wish I were a faster reader… Right now I’m reading Tumbleweed Skies by another award-winning Canadian children’s author, Valerie Sherrard. As you can see, I mostly read children’s and Y/A fiction, though I sneak in an adult book here and there.
What advice would you give to beginning writers?
Keep reading. Keep writing. And NEVER GIVE UP!!!
What’s up next for Marina Cohen?
I just completed a new manuscript—my first novel in first-person from a female POV and I’m currently writing a creepy, middle-grade novel. I have about ten other ideas percolating in my already cluttered brain, so I’m hoping to find some time to write them.
MARINA COHEN: In Elementary school, Marina’s favourite author was Edgar Allen Poe. She loved The Tell-Tale Heart and aspired to write similar stories. As a teenager, she read Stephen King, Anne Rice and Dean Koontz. Though her favourite genre has always been horror, she’s also a huge fantasy fan. The Chronicles of Narnia (especially, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe), The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter series are among her favourites. Marina has had several jobs, including Air Canada Sales agent at Pearson International Airport in Toronto and Lohausen Airport in Düsseldorf, Germany, where she lived for two years. Marina has been teaching for the York Region District School Board since 1995. You can visit Marina’s website at http://www.marinacohen.com/ and her blog at http://marina-cohen.blogspot.com/