Posts Tagged: literary agent

The Best Rejection Ever

Being an aspiring author you get used to receiving rejection letters: it just comes with the job. I can not imagine being a Literary Agent is an easy job. It kind of reminds be of an endless bad American Idol audition reel where personal opinion mixed with experience and industry knowledge influence which manuscripts you say Yes or No to. The rewarding part of the job, I suspect, is finding that diamond in the rough you know with be a shining gem.

I am not sure if it is due to the Webook’s amazing Agentinbox, or the caliber of the Agent (I suspect it is both) but I submitted a query letter and sample pages expecting to wait the standard 4-6 weeks before receiving a response. Imagine my surprise when Agentinbox sends me an email indicating my submission has been updated.

I hurried to my computer, eagerly logged in and was met with a rejection letter from the Agent. Sure I was disappointed, no-one likes to receive a form-letter rejection. But like I said, it’s comes with the job. It’s nothing personal, the Agents are doing what they are paid to do.

Right about now, you may why am I writing a post about a rejection letter, and one I so boldly stated is the best rejection ever? Well, it wasn’t the response that made the rejection stand out, it was the speed of which I received it. I take care in whom I send my query letters too, and this particular agent certainly justified my choice.

So, unnamed agent, thank you for your prompt response and being such a professional that you took the time to respond quickly. To us authors, this type of professionalism speaks volumes about your character.

Next time, perhaps you will choose my manuscript. I can hope.

Popularity: 7% [?]

The Best Rejection Ever

Being an aspiring author you get used to receiving rejection letters: it just comes with the job. I can not imagine being a Literary Agent is an easy job. It kind of reminds be of an endless bad American Idol audition reel where personal opinion mixed with experience and industry knowledge influence which manuscripts you say Yes or No to. The rewarding part of the job, I suspect, is finding that diamond in the rough you know with be a shining gem.

I am not sure if it is due to the Webook’s amazing Agentinbox, or the caliber of the Agent (I suspect it is both) but I submitted a query letter and sample pages expecting to wait the standard 4-6 weeks before receiving a response. Imagine my surprise when Agentinbox sends me an email indicating my submission has been updated.

I hurried to my computer, eagerly logged in and was met with a rejection letter from the Agent. Sure I was disappointed, no-one likes to receive a form-letter rejection. But like I said, it’s comes with the job. It’s nothing personal, the Agents are doing what they are paid to do.

Right about now, you may why am I writing a post about a rejection letter, and one I so boldly stated is the best rejection ever? Well, it wasn’t the response that made the rejection stand out, it was the speed of which I received it. I take care in whom I send my query letters too, and this particular agent certainly justified my choice.

So, unnamed agent, thank you for your prompt response and being such a professional that you took the time to respond quickly. To us authors, this type of professionalism speaks volumes about your character.

Next time, perhaps you will choose my manuscript. I can hope.

Popularity: 44% [?]

The Seed of Hope seeks representation

After a little over a year working towards a publication date, my former publisher and I have decided to part ways. Although the decision was a tough one, I honestly believe it is in the best interest of my writing, and in particular The Seed of Hope. What it means however, is that I am back hitting the agent-publisher-query letter trail searching for the right home of The Talent Tree series. With a new look website, and new goals I am enthused to see where it takes me.

The great thing about writing is that you learn something everyday: your characters teach you life lessons, your edits teach you humility, and your reviewers give you hope. What’s more I have found that I have learnt so much about the business of writing: from salient points in contracts, to editorial revisions, all the way to marketing yourself, and your book. Each step along the way I have grown.

If Charlie Parker were here beside me talking about the new opportunities I see for The Seed of Hope and the rest of the books in The Talent Tree, I am sure he would open the Bag of Brakka; peer into it’s swirling colors, look up at me with his brown hair, and say, “Hope grows like a Talent Tree. Sometimes the fruit it bares bestows magic beyond your wildest imagination; other times it might be more mundane. But, without taking a bite, you will never know.”

Here’s to taking a bite!

Popularity: 6% [?]

Two Boys. Two Lives. One Hope.

Devon Grove, home to the magical talent tree, and it's incredible talent apples, is in trouble. One bite could change the fate of the world. What would you do if someone took that away from you?

This Time Hope Alone Isn’t Enough.

Almost a year has past since the fateful Talent Day. The Prophecy appears to be coming true: the weather is growing hot, the seas are rising, and ash begins to fall. Charlie, and his friends must use all their Talents to stop the Seekers.

Death. Intrigue and Old Age. Everything being a God shouldn’t be.

Being a God isn't everything Satisfaction thought it would be. True, souls are immortal, but host bodies are not. When time is on your side, you can afford to make some changes.