Agent Spotlight: Jenny Bent

This week's Agent Spotlight features Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency.
Status: As of 9/13/2024, Jenny has reopened to submissions. 
About: “Jenny Bent represents literary and commercial adult, young adult, and nonfiction in the areas of self-help and lifestyle. 
“After graduating from Cambridge University, I worked at several New York agencies before founding the Bent Agency in 2009. In the course of my career, I have represented a great many New York Times-bestselling authors, a list which includes Stephanie Garber, AG Howard, Gary John Bishop, Lori Nelson Spielman, Goldy Moldavsky, Tiffany D. Jackson, Dhonielle Clayton, Yangsze Choo, Lynn Weingarten, Lynsay Sands, Lori Wilde, and Julia London.
"I’m currently looking for literary and commercial fiction and young adult fiction as well as select non-fiction in the areas of self-help and lifestyle. My client list is diverse and I welcome submissions from BIPOC authors.” (From the agency website)
About the Agency:
“We strive to provide the gold standard of representation by championing the individual needs and potential of our clients and agents. We are committed to inclusive practices and value the creativity, innovation, and richness of diversity. We do not discriminate or tolerate biases of any kind regarding race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, age, disability, nationality, or citizenship status. We are dedicated to fostering and creating a space for creativity and inspiration that enriches the lives of our agents, clients, and communities.
“With offices in New York and London, the Bent Agency represents authors of books for every reader, including dozens of award-winners and New York Times and Sunday Times (UK) bestsellers. Our list is broad, including commercial and literary fiction and non-fiction, as well as books and graphic novels for children and young adults. We pride ourselves on our collaborative approach to advocating for every client.” (From the agency website)
Web Presence:
The Bent Agency website.

Publishers Marketplace. 

Query Tracker. 

Agent Query.
Twitter.
What She's Looking For:
Genres/Specialties:
"In adult fiction, I’m looking for high concept, upmarket women’s fiction; grounded fantasy; speculative fiction and horror (I particularly love a good scary ghost story, along the lines of writing by Simone St. James and Jennifer McMahon); and domestic suspense, but the bar is very high in suspense right now so it has to be an extremely creative concept. I also rep some romance and rom-com, but no other genre fiction: I’m not a good choice for high fantasy, cozy mystery, or sci-fi.

In young adult fiction, I’m pretty open to genre — I love fantasy, rom-coms, suspense, contemporary, almost anything except for sci-fi. I do notice that my YA taste does tend to skew towards older readers, more in a crossover direction.

In general, I tend to prefer plot-driven books to character-driven ones and pacing is very important to me. I also love novels — for adults or young adults — that have an element of magic or fantasy to them or that take me into a world that is new to me, whether real or imaginary. And while I love books to be dark and weird in terms of content, I find that I am more drawn to traditional, rather than experimental, methods of structure and storytelling. Finally, I am not the right fit for books with overtly political or extremely complicated plotlines." (From the agency website)
What She Isn't Looking For:
Science Fiction, Poetry, Picture Books, Middle Grade, Comix, Graphic Novels, Erotica, Gay/Lesbian Literature, Western, True Crime, Textbooks/Academic Books, Serious History or Biography, Political Science/Policy, Business, Reference, Investment, Professional, Sports, Puzzles, Games, Arts, Cinema, Photography, Crafts, Hobbies, DIY, Health, Diet, Mind, Body, Spirit, Music, Musicals, Nature, Ecology, Politics, Current affairs, Science, Technology, Technical, How-to, Travel, World Cultures, Dramatic Works. 
Editorial Agent?
Yes.
Quotables:
“This sounds trite, but you cannot give up and you cannot stop believing in yourself. So many incredibly successful writers spent years and years trying to break into this business and you should take inspiration from how hard they worked and how they never stopped trying. That, and brush up on online promotion—increasingly it is essential for publishing success, both for published and unpublished authors.” (Link)
Clients:
There is a list of agency clients on the website.
Ms. Bent’s clients include: Stephanie Garber, AG Howard, Gary John Bishop, Lori Nelson Spielman, Goldy Moldavsky, Tiffany D. Jackson, Dhonielle Clayton, Yangsze Choo, Lynn Weingarten, Lynsay Sands, Lori Wilde, and Julia London, among many others.
Query Methods:
E-mail: Yes (only).
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify): 
"Review our agents’ pages and decide which of us you’d like to query. Please do not simultaneously query our agents; submit your work to only one of us. If that agent passes, feel free to contact another. See the Bent Agency website complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.

"Email your chosen agent using the address indicated on their page, or their QueryManager link if indicated. Tell them briefly who you are and what your book is about. Include the title of your project in the subject line of your email. Then paste the first ten pages of your book in the body of your email (not as an attachment, please)." 

Response Times:
The agency has a stated response time (or goal, rather) of responding to queries within a month. If you do not receive a response within that time, resend your query and indicate you are resending or feel free to query another agent. 
What's the Buzz?
Jenny Bent is a highly respected agent with an established list of successful clients, including many New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors.  Her clients seem very happy with her representation, and despite her full list Ms. Bent is always looking for brilliant new talent.
Worth Your Time:
Interviews:

Agent Interview at Duotrope (09/2022).

Podcast with SCBWI (12/2021).

Podcast with Inside Writing (7/2020).

Podcast with 88 Cups of Tea (05/2018).

LitChat Interview: Jenny Bent, The Bent Agency at LitStack (01/2017).

Podcast with Jessica Lahey (10/2016).
Literary Agent Jenny Bent on Foreign Rights and Comp Titles (3/2016)
Q&A With Jenny Bent (6/2015).
Agent Jenny Bent Wish List (04/2014).
Query Questions with Jenny Bent at Michelle4Laughs (01/2014).
7 Questions for: Literary Agent Jenny Bent at Middle Grade Ninja (01/2013).
Around the Web:
Contact:
Please see the Bent Agency website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 12/31/2022. 

Agent Contacted for Review? Yes.
Last Reviewed By Agent? 2/4/2023.
***
Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.

HOW I GOT MY AGENT -or- ESCAPING THE TRAP OF NOT SUBMITTING

Today I'm excited to welcome Stasia Ward Kehoe who is giving us advice on how to avoid falling into the trap of not submitting. I so needed to hear her advice!

But before I share her post, I want to let you know about her debut novel, AUDITION, that's being released on October 13, 2011. I'll be interviewing Stasia in October and giving away an ARC of her book.

So you get excited like me, here's a blurb from Goodreads:

When high school junior Sara wins a coveted scholarship to study ballet, she must sacrifice everything for her new life as a professional dancer-in-training. Living in a strange city with a host family, she's deeply lonely-until she falls into the arms of Remington, a choreographer in his early twenties. At first, she loves being Rem's muse, but as she discovers a surprising passion for writing, she begins to question whether she's chosen the right path. Is Rem using her, or is it the other way around? And is dancing still her dream, or does she need something more? This debut novel in verse is as intense and romantic as it is eloquent.

Doesn't it sound awesome? So now I'm going to turn over today's post to Stasia.


My debut novel is called AUDITION. Though set in the world of dance, not publishing, “audition” defines a certain type of risk-taking shared by those in print and pointe shoes. You are putting your blood-sweat-and-tears effort out there in hopes that someone finds your work special enough to help you hone it, improve it and, ultimately, share it with the world. It’s an ulcer-inducing process.



In my years as a performer, I’d figured out how to handle winning or losing a stage role. Yet I wasn’t sure I had the emotional strength to subject my novels to similar scrutiny. So, for a long time, I was a writer-who-rarely-submitted. Are you? There are an astonishing number of us.



However, to make it from writer-of-manuscripts to agented author, you’ve gotta get out of this club. The stories of the myriad conferences I attended and MANY manuscripts I put in the drawer before I sent AUDITION out could make a novel in their own right. Now that I’ve gotten past my hurdles, I’d like to share a few tips that may help you make your escape.



1. Find beta readers. While classes or critique groups are terrific, having someone read your ms cover-to-cover provides a different kind of feedback and support to the timid submitter. For me, I really need a person to say “I read the whole thing and it doesn’t suck.”

2. Do your homework. Make a list of agents you ADORE. I used the information at Literary Rambles a lot. The “quotable” and “buzz” sections of Agent Spotlights gave me a sense of agents’ particular kinds of book passion, making me more confident that I was reaching out to the right people. The first time I read about my agent was at this site.

3. Set deadlines. There comes a point where honing that query letter is just a way to avoid the scary next step. So, write these: My query will be finished by Friday. ..My agent list will be finalized Sunday…I will query my top three agents on Tuesday—before lunch. A timeline keeps emotional obstacles out of the way.

4. Keep writing. It may be hard with those nervous fingers and (if you’re like me) the intense nausea, but do it. For non-submitters, writing is a comfort zone. Writing while on submission to agents and, later, to editors, is a way to remind yourself that the process is still there for you.

When I finally took the plunge, I received multiple offers of representation and spent an agonizing week making my choice and apologizing to all the other lovely, amazing agents whom, I realized, were as anxious as me about the whole thing. This also leads me to my final tip…



5. Dare to escape the trap of non-submitting. You will certainly learn from the experience. And you may end up very glad you sent your words out on their audition!



Good luck, buy Tums, and happy writing.



Stasia Ward Kehoe’s debut novel, AUDITION, will be published by Viking/Penguin on 10-13-11. Visit her online at her website. She’s currently in the process of revising her next novel and working up the courage to send it to her agent!

Tip Tuesday #98

Tip Tuesday is a recurring feature where blog readers send in tips for fellow writers. If you'd like to send in a tip, please e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com.

I'm out of tips this week, but I read a bit of writing instruction recently that struck me as very concrete and helpful so I do have something to share today! In Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne and Dave King (totally recommended), the authors cover two sentence constructions that are common with amateur and hack writers.

Those constructions are (using my own examples):

Tucking her hair behind her ear, she tried to explain.

As she tucked her hair behind her ear, she tried to explain.

Browne and King go on to explain that as and -ing constructions such as these are grammatically correct but weaken writing by taking what could be a direct action ("She tucked her hair behind her ear") and making it a dependent clause and therefore somewhat inconsequential.

They also note that as and -ing constructions usually create two simultaneous actions and can lead to "physical impossibilities." Such as, "Running into the house, she changed the baby's diaper." We mean the character is running into the house to quickly change the baby's diaper, but the sentence suggests she's doing both at the same time. And I don't know about you, but I don't know anyone quite that talented.

If you have Self-Editing for Fiction Writers or plan to buy it, this info is found in chapter 11, "Sophistication," on pages 193-194.

Happy Writing and Editing!

AMY HOLDER INTERVIEW AND BOOK GIVEAWAY

First I'm going to announce the winner of NIGHTSHADE. The winner is:

BARBARA WATSON!

Congrats! E-mail me your addresses so I can send you your book.Today I’m so excited to be interviewing Amy Holder. Her book, THE LIPSTICK LAWS,
was released April 4th.

Here's a description from Goodreads:

At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is the queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life with a snap of perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her. For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. April is so unpopular, kids don't even know she exists. But one lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity. But Britney's friendship comes with a high price tag. How much is April willing to pay?

Hi Amy. Thanks so much for joining us.
Thanks so much for having me here!

1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you became a writer.

I’m a huge animal lover who also loves the creative arts, laughing, and chocolate. I’m originally from upstate New York (close to the setting of THE LIPSTICK LAWS), but I currently reside in the Philadelphia area with my verbally challenged sidekicks (pets).
I've always loved to write from the time I can remember, however I didn't decide to pursue it professionally until after working in a different field following college. I soon realized that I wanted a career that wouldn't feel like work because I love it so much. Although writing can be hard work at times, I adore every second of it and am thankful to be able call myself a writer.

2. How cool that you're getting to do what you love. You did a brilliant job of weaving your theme of The Lipstick Laws into your plot. I’m not kidding everyone, it’s perfectly tied in. How did you think of these laws and plot them into your story?


Thank you very much! I came up with the Lipstick Laws within the story by brainstorming every ridiculously shallow thing I could think of regarding superficial popularity climbing. I narrowed my list down to seven categories to create the laws that the girls follow. I should add that I would never be able to follow any of the laws I thought up...I'd be a Lipstick Lawbreaker in 2.5 seconds if so!

3. Did you always know that The Lipstick Laws was your title? And who came up with the pitch on your bookmarks—some laws are better off broken? They both fit your story so well.

I actually started off with a different working title because the whole plot wasn't fully formed as I began writing the story. The first part of the story that came to me was April's voice (the narrator and main character) and her many quirks. One of those quirks is her addiction to bra-stuffing... so my original working title was Confessions of a Bra-Stuffer. As I continued to write, brainstorm, and put April into what-if scenarios, the whole plot began to evolve more... and the actual "Lipstick Laws" came to life. I immediately changed the title at that point, as I knew the Lipstick Laws were going to be a main focus of the story.

As for the pitch on the bookmarks...*raises hand and points to self* I came up with that as well...mainly because I don't think anyone should ever follow these laws. They are definitely better off broken! Unless, of course, your dream is to become a superficial robot. In that case, these laws may come in handy.

4. I'm glad you switched the title because it's so perfect for your story. April’s problems—having no friends and getting the chance to be popular but at a cost—are issues many teens can relate to. I read that one of your struggles was creating April as a likeable person but realistically one who could make bad choices to be friends with Britney. How did you balance those two parts of her and what did you learn from that struggle?

Balancing April's likability and flaws was definitely the trickiest part of writing this book. It's something that my editor (Julia Richardson) and I focused on through the beginning stages of the editorial process. I knew April had to have some personality flaws in order to be susceptible to following Britney. However, I had to make her likable enough to entice the reader to root for her.

Thankfully, my editor was very helpful in pointing out the areas of the story that she felt I needed to tone down April's flaws and unfavorable behavior, or boost up her compassion and other likable qualities. This was very helpful, and it made me really appreciate her unbiased editorial eye. In turn, that was one thing I learned through the process: trust my editor and know that she has the best interest of me, my characters and the story in mind.


5. That's great advice to listen to your editor's advice. Okay, I read in a blog interview about your amazing road to publication and getting your agent Sarah Davies. Please tell us about it. It’s such a wonderful story.

Thank you! I'm still so grateful and a little shocked about how everything has fallen into place for me. My publishing route was a bit unconventional compared to many other published writers. I found my agent after already getting a publishing deal. Upon finishing the manuscript draft of THE LIPSTICK LAWS, I planned to query agents...but decided to delay the querying process to submit directly to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt after making a networking connection who was able to get my manuscript out of the slush pile. I crossed my fingers but didn't hold my breath because I never imagined anything would come from the submission. I was ecstatic several weeks later when I found out that HMH wanted to publish my book! Things moved so quickly after this, I didn't have time to query agents so I hired a literary attorney to help me with my book contract instead.

It wasn't until I received adaptation interest from a Hollywood producer a couple months before my publication date that I decided to query agents. I knew at this point that I was out of my league to be flying solo, and I needed to find an agent who knows the publishing business and could help guide my career. I researched angents extensively and was very impressed with Sarah Davies of Greenhouse Literary Agency. She’s been working in the publishing field for 20+ years, she has fabulous international connections, her clients speak very highly of her, and she’s a great person with a fantastic sense of humor (which is very important to me). I was thrilled to accept representation from her and my film agent Jerry Kalajian (whom she introduced me to).


6. Guys, isn't that an amazing story to publication? And wait, there's more. Tell us how your book came to be optioned for TV and what’s happening with that now? What role will you play if it gets developed into a TV series?

Several months before my book was published, I received an inquiry of interest through my publisher from a successful producer (Teri Weinberg). I had retained my film/TV rights when negotiating my book deal, so my publisher put me in direct touch with her assistant. I found out that Teri had come across my book info online and was interested in reviewing an advance copy. I sent an ARC to her immediately, trying to refrain from completely freaking out. Naturally, I was pretty excited about the possibility, but again, I didn't hold my breath for anything to happen from it. About a month before my book was released, she emailed me saying that she'd like to option my rights. I was beyond thrilled... especially because I'm a big fan of Teri's work (she's the exec producer of The Office, Ugly Betty, and The Tudors)!

There are many steps that would have to happen before a TV series based on my book would be produced, and many books that are optioned never make it that far. It's a long process with a lot of different variables. At this point, a pitch package is being put together to be able to pitch a possible series idea to networks. If (fingers crossed) it does get picked up by a network and make it to the production stage, I'm not sure how involved I'd be in the whole process or what role I'd play. Some producers like authors to be more involved than others. Either way, I'll just be extremely excited regardless of my level of involvement.

7. In preparing for your interview in mid-June, I searched for other interviews. You did over 15 since March. How were those set up and how effective were they as marketing tools? Are there any other successful marketing tools that you’d recommend?

Wow! 15? I think I lost count after five. I never realized just how large, friendly, interested and supportive the book blogging community is until I secured my book deal and started a blog of my own. Since then, I've been lucky to make connections with a bunch of awesome book bloggers and other writers. Many of my interviews were set up through those connections, and others have been initiated through people asking me out of the blue.

I think interviews are a wonderful way to reach a broad audience whom I may not have had the opportunity to talk to otherwise. The one drawback from doing so many interviews is that it takes away from creative writing time. I think a healthy balance is needed if a writer wants to stay sane...and write more books.

Other than creating marketing materials, having an online presence, doing in-person events, and accumulating a fan base by writing more books, I also think joining writing groups is a wonderful marketing (and networking) tool that I'd wholly recommend to any writer. Not only is it important for writers to have confidants who understand their trials and tribulations, having a set of writing friends to help get the word out about your book(s) helps increase marketability.


8. Yeah, balancing marketing and writing is hard. What are you working on now?

I've been working on another humorous YA manuscript...and I've also been brainstorming a sequel to THE LIPSTICK LAWS, so hopefully both will be published at some point.

Good luck Amy. You can find Amy at her website and her blog.
Thank you so much for your wonderful interview, Natalie! Good luck with your blog and writing!

I’m giving away one SIGNED copy of THE LIPSTICK LAWS. To enter the contest, all you need to do is be a follower (just click the follow button if you’re not a follower) and leave a comment by midnight on July 30th. I’ll announce the winner on August 1st.

On Wednesday, we have a special treat for you. Stasia Ward Kehoe, whose debut book AUDITION will be released on October 13, 2011, is doing a guest post on how to get out of the trap of not submitting. I already read her post and I know you'll love it.Next Monday I'll be interviewing Stephanie Burgess and giving away a copy of her book, KAT INCORRIBIBLE.

Hope to see you next Monday!

Agent Spotlight: Amanda Lewis

Profile Removed.

Ms. Lewis is no longer with the Doe Coover Literary Agency. She appears to have left the business.

Do not query.

Tip Tuesday #97

If you didn't see the news yesterday, WriteOnCon has teamed up with The Reading Room for an awesome contest. Enter the first 500 words of a MG or YA manuscript for a chance to win $1000 and an author page on TRR site. Details here.

For Tip Tuesday this week, Phil Siegel sent in a neat tip related to word count goals. Phil blogs at A Time to Phil. This is the first time I've featured him so definitely drop by his blog for a visit when you're done here. He has some great posts on writing and publishing. Enjoy!

Tip Tuesday – Writing by the Numbers

This is primarily for plotters and people who like math and measurable goals. Writing a book is a daunting task, so I like to break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Let’s say you’re writing a young adult novel, and your goal is 60,000 words.

-There are on average 250 words on a double-spaced Microsoft Word page with standard margins and 12-point font.

-Figure out how many chapters your book will have. I’ll use 30 in this scenario.

-Total words/chapters = Words per chapter. In this case, 60,000/30 = 2000 words per chapter.

-Words per chapter/words per page = Pages per chapter. 2000/250 = 8 pages per chapter.

When I sit down to write, I don’t look at my novel as one 60,000 word behemoth, but rather a string of 2,000 word, 8-paged segments.

-Phil

Tip Tuesday is a recurring feature where blog readers send in tips for fellow writers. If you'd like to send in a tip, please e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com.

ASK THE EXPERT SERIES INTERVIEW WITH AN UPCOMING 6TH GRADER

Today I'm excited to interview Malorie, an upcoming 6th grader. She's Dustin Hansen's daughter, one of our followers. And even more awesome, IT'S HER BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday Malorie. I hope you have a fun birthday and thanks for joining us.

1.Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your school, and what you like to read.

My name is Malorie Hansen and I love to read. I’m almost in the 6th grade and my hobbies are skating, reading, playing with pets (chickens, dog, cat, turkeys, ducks, goats) and acting in plays. As you can tell, I’m a farm girl.
My favorite thing to read is adventure and fantasy books like Percy Jackson, Farworld, Goose Girl and The Frog Princess. I love The Healing Wars by Janice Hardy –the girls in the books remind me of me and my sister. I also love Shel Silverstein.

2. We share a lot of the same tastes in books. I loved the Percy Jackson series, Goose Girl, and The Healing Wars too. How do you find out about the books you read? What about new books coming out?

Mostly from my friends and family. They usually say stuff like, “Hey Malorie, have you read this book?” and then if it looks good I read it.

3. What are you reading now? What books are you waiting to be released?

Frog Princess and a book by my 5th grade teacher, Mr. Jones called Buffalo Days. It’s pretty funny and he is a great reader so it makes it more fun.
I can’t wait for Farworld 3 and book 3 of The Healing Wars – Darkfall.

4. I can't wait for Darkfall either. FYI I'm interviewing Janice Hardy and giving away an ARC of DARKFALL on October 10th so have your dad enter my contest for you. Do you buy most of your book or get them at the library? How often do you go to a bookstore?

Both – evenly. We live far away from a bookstore now – GOSH DARNIT! But my parents let me buy them on my dad’s iPad. I love reading on the iPad but I can’t take it to school.
Also, I love looking through books on Amazon and downloading sample pages. Once I got a book that looked good but there were swear words in the sample so we didn’t buy it. I like that.

5. I'm jealous. I don't have an iPad. Do you read any teen book blogs, author blogs, or author or publisher websites? Become a fan of an author on Facebook? Why?

I don’t read any blogs. I really don’t even know what they are, but I do LIKE some books and authors I like on Facebook. Shannon Hale, Janice Hardy, J. Scott Savage and Shel Silverstein. It’s cool to see what the authors have to say, but J. Scott Savage won’t tell me when his book is coming out. It’s driving me crazy!

6. That's awesome that you follow authors on Facebook. Has your teacher recommended any blogs or websites to your class or to you?

Nope.

7. Are there things your favorite authors could do that would make you more likely to visit their website, their blog, or become a fan on Facebook?

Sneak peeks about their books or deleted chapters like the deleted scenes on DVD’s. I’ve been to a couple of writer websites, but they are mostly for other writers. None of them are for kids like me so I usually just check out Amazon on the iPad for writers.

8. Those are great tips.Have any authors visited your school? Who? Is there anything you’d recommend that an author do to make their presentation more interesting to you and other kids at your school?

Yes. Brandon Mull came and he was hilarious. He read from his book and then answered a lot of questions. He was funny and he really liked us. That makes a big difference. It would be great if the authors could do a drawing or something so that kids could get a chance to win a signed copy of the book.

Thanks so much Malorie for giving us all your great advice. Have a great birthday. I hope everyone will wish Malorie a happy birthday in the comments. What do you think of her suggestions for author websites? They sound like great ideas to me.

Don't forget to enter my contest here for one copy of NIGHTSHADE. To enter the contest, all you need to do is be a follower (just click the follow button if you’re not a follower) and leave a comment by midnight on July 23^rd. I’ll announce the winner on July 25^th.

Next week I’ll be interviewing Amy Holder and giving away a copy of THE LIPSTICK LAWS. She has an amazing story about her road to publication that you won’t want to miss.

And on August 1st I'll be interviewing Stephanie Burgis and giving away a copy of KAT INCORRIGIBLE.

And I just found out that WriteOnCon has an awesome contest where you could win $1000.00 and get a chance to have your work represented by Catherine Drayton. Check out the details here.

See you next Monday!

Also...

...Tahereh (did you see her gorgeous cover?) shared this on her blog earlier in the week and since I cry myself blind whenever I watch it, I thought it worth sharing. *Hugs* to all my fellow HP fans.

Words of Hope

(Ira Glass.  Found via Heather Petty’s tumblr.)

Agent Spotlight: Jennifer De Chiara

This week's Agent Spotlight features Jennifer De Chiara of the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency.   
Status: Open to submissions. 
About: “Jennifer De Chiara is President of The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency, which she founded in 2001. Before forming the agency, she was a literary agent with two established New York agencies, worked in the editorial departments of Simon & Schuster and Random House, and was a writing consultant for several major corporations. A New York City-based writer, she is a frequent guest judge for the WRITER’S DIGEST, WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING, and THAT FIRST LINE writing contests, among others, and is a frequent guest lecturer on publishing and the art of writing at universities and writers conferences throughout the country, which have included New York University’s Summer Publishing Institute, the Penticton, Canada Writers Conference, the San Diego State University Writers Conference, Backspace, the International Women’s Writing Guild, and the Learning Annex.” (From the agency website)
About the Agency:
“The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency is a New York City-based full-service literary agency founded in 2001 and named one of the top 25 literary agencies in the country by Writer’s Digest. The agency represents children’s literature for all ages – picture books and middle-grade and young adult novels – but also represents high-quality adult fiction and non-fiction in a wide range of genres. JDLA is proud to represent illustrators, as well as screenwriters for both television and film, including Emmy and Peabody Award-winning writers and illustrators. What sets JDLA apart from other agencies is our holistic approach to managing every aspect of an author’s career to make the most of their project's potential.” (From the agency website)
Web Presence:
Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency website.
Agency Twitter.
Agency Facebook.
AgentQuery, QueryTracker.
What She's Looking For:
"Adult Fiction: I'm passionate about literary fiction with a unique, beautiful voice, but I also enjoy commercial fiction, women's fiction (no bodice-rippers, please), chick-lit, mysteries, suspense, thrillers - in general, I'm open to manuscripts in every category. I'm a sucker for underdog and outsider stories, manuscripts about the triumph of the human spirit. I want to read manuscripts that will keep me up at night, make me feel something, change the world in some way. Even if it's a fun, commercial story, at its heart should be a wonderful protagonist from whom I can learn.
"Children's Fiction: I love all kinds of picture books - soft, quirky, funny - rhyming or non-rhyming. For middle-grade and YA fiction, I'm looking for beautiful, distinctive voices, above all, and character-driven stories. I'm open to every genre under the sun, but I'm not a huge science fiction fan.
"Non-fiction: Being a former dancer/actress, I love anything and everything Hollywood, especially celebrity bios/autobiographies. I'm always looking for beautifully written memoirs about people who have overcome incredible odds, books about the arts and performing arts, behind-the-scenes-type books, and books about popular culture. I am passionate about books that empower people to live their best lives, whether it's a great health or exercise book or a spiritual-type (think Eckhart Tolle or Deepak Chopra) book, and self-help books of all kinds. I am particularly open to books for the GLBTQ audience and, in general, any underdog/outsider stories. I'd love to see just about any well-written book on any topic; if you're in doubt, just query me." (From the agency website)
From an Interview:
“The agency represents children's literature in a variety of age ranges and genres, everything from picture books to middle-grade books to young adult books; we also represent adult fiction and nonfiction in almost every genre - literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, celebrity biographies, film and television, self-help, health, social issues and contemporary affairs, mysteries, thrillers - and much more. We also represent screenplays, TV projects.” (Link)
From an Interview:
“The agency represents all kinds of fiction, but we are most passionate about literary fiction, which I define as beautiful writing that is a pleasure to read.
A literary novel usually appeals to a more intellectual crowd; it either has a unique style or exquisite writing, or both. It's the kind of book where I find myself reading a sentence or a paragraph over and over because the language feels wonderful on my tongue; I will remember sentences that the writer has written many years later.” (Link)
What She Isn't Looking For:
Romance, Sci-Fi, Westerns, or Poetry (Link and via email)
Editorial Agent?
“I'm a very hands-on agent, and I regularly work with my authors to edit/rework their manuscripts to get them ready for submission. Sometimes a book will need a total restructuring, and sometimes it will need only minor line editing or proofreading. I love all of it!” (Link)
Quoteables:
“I love representing children's books because I love the idea of doing something that will possibly create a child's lifelong relationship with books. I can still remember the books I loved as a child, and there are books that I know influenced me to become the person I am now. It's thrilling to be a part of that. Children's books are challenging because you not only have to appeal to a child, but also to the parent buying the book. But they're also a lot of fun to work on. Most important for me is knowing that one of the books I've helped create and/or sell might put a smile on a child's face. I don't think there's anything nobler than that.” (Link)
“The secret to success in publishing is realizing that there are no secrets. Writers must be willing to work hard on their art and just as hard in learning about the business of publishing. They must be able to take constructive criticism and be willing to learn about and be responsible for their own book promotion. But, most important, they must hang on to their dreams and never give up.” (Link)
“I wish authors knew two things before they contact me: First, that it's good to dream, but you have to dream in the real world; a writer's road is often a rocky one, with a lot of potholes along the way. Second, dreams come true - every single day. DREAMS COME TRUE.” (Link)
Clients:
The agency represents over 400 clients, including "New York Times Bestselling authors" and two PEN Award winners, a Lambda Award winner, an Edgar Award winner, and a Newbery Honor winner. Selected lists of clients can be found on the agency website.
Query Methods:
E-mail: Yes (only).
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
Send a query in the body of an e-mail. No attachments. Put “query” in the subject line. "For queries regarding children's and adult fiction, please send the first twenty pages in the body of your email, along with a one-paragraph bio and a one-paragraph synopsis. For queries regarding a non-fiction book, please attach the entire proposal as a Word document (the proposal should include a sample chapter), along with a one-paragraph bio and a one-paragraph synopsis of your book in the body of your email." (From the agency website)
See the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.
Times:
Unknown.
What's the Buzz?
Jennifer De Chiara is a successful, well-established agent with a lot of great experience in the publishing industry. She’s always looking for new talent and regularly attends conferences. Follow her on Twitter @4writers for further insight and submission updates.
Worth Your Time:
Interviews:
Interview with Jennifer De Chiara at Women on Writing (2007?)
Agent Spotlight: Jennifer De Chiara at The Harvard Square Edition (Date Unknown)
Contact:
Please see the Jennifer De Chiara website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:

Last updated: 1/24/2023.
Agent Contacted For Review? Yes.
Last Reviewed By Agent: 6/30/2020.
***
Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.

Tip Tuesday #96

Tip Tuesday is a recurring feature where blog readers send in tips for fellow writers. If you'd like to send in a tip, please e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com.

I have another great tip on writer's block this week. This one was sent in by Christine Tyler (author of past tips #73 and #79) who blogs at The Writer Coaster. Please give her a visit!

Tricking Yourself out of Writer's Block:

Ever have trouble getting past BICHOK (Butt in Chair, Hands on Keyboard)? A lot of people will tell you to "just jump in," but that sometimes seems easier said than done. Here is how I get my toes in the water first.

To start, think of where you are in your story. Whether it's "in a castle" or "at the beginning?"
Then, think of who is in the scene. "Joe" or "his frozen lizard friend" will do.

This is not an exact science. Write where you are and who is there up at the top of your page to remind you.

Then, write "what?"

Decide who is asking it and have another character answer. Or have them answer it themselves if they're alone.

Write down the answer, whatever it is.

Let it be stupid-sounding. Start with dialogue, and then jot down notes of anything you see in your head. Keep it to one or two words. Write questions down as they come to mind. Write the answers if you have them. If you don't, move on and think about it later. Personally, I like to keep a lot of white-space so things don't look too cluttered. I also feel more productive because it takes up space.

I find that when I do this, I involuntarily start writing snippets of my scene until I'm writing my manuscript with a full-blown muse.

Afterward, I just skim my "notes" off the top like cream off a pitcher of milk, and keep the good stuff.

It looks a bit like this:

Outside stupid hot-pocket factory that looks like a castle for some reason

Joe, Steve, George

"What?"
"The crystal. We have to get it."
"Why don't you get it?"
"Because you're the one with the frozen lizard carcass that we need to get into the hot-pocket factory."

No really why doesn't he get it? Frozen lizard carcass?

Lizard talks.

Not frozen. Surprise!
Pink tongue. Pet fly.
Name...George? Moffit?

How do they get in?
Throw George at door.

Mahogany. Metal strip things like olden-times.
George sneaks under door.
The door creaked like the backside of Joe's Grandma after The Great Bean Picnic. Flags featuring microwaveable goodies whapped in the breeze, but the turrets were empty. Guards usually went boating on the weekend, and the weather on this particular Saturday was exceptional. Joe and Steve crept after George, his tail making silent S's in the dust...(and I'm off!)

~Christine

ANDREA CREMER INTERVIEW AND BOOK GIVEAWAY

First I’m going to announce the winners of my big Thank You giveaway. The winners are:

KRISTEN LENZ

EMILY V

GIADA

EISEN

Congrats! E-mail me your addresses so I can send you your books.

Today I’m so excited to be interviewing Andrea Cremer. Her book, NIGHTSHADE, was released in 2010 and was on the New York Bestseller List. WOLFSBANE was just released July 26, 2011. I loved the world Andrea created in NIGHTSHADE and can’t wait to read WOLFSBANE.

Here’s a blurb of NIGHTSHADE from Goodreads:

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

And a blurb of WOLFSBANE from Goodreads:

This thrilling sequel to the much-talked-about Nightshade begins just where it ended-Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer-one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack-and the man-she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

Hi Andrea. Thanks so much for joining us.

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m from a small town on the shores of Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin. I grew up roaming forests and inventing worlds full of mystery and magic. In addition to writing I’m a history professor at Macalester College and I currently live in Minnesota.

2. Calla is such a strong female character being the alpha of her pack. Yet, she has to learn to be submissive to Ren, the alpha male she’ll mate with. Then she finds a totally vulnerable side of herself when she meets Shay. And Ren is a completely alpha male yet has a gentler side when it comes to Calla. How did you nail your characters? Are there parts of you in Calla?

You never want to say that you hear voices, but when it comes to my characters I definitely hear them. My characters are unique individuals who often surprise me along the way. Ren is a great example as I discovered he had a lot more layers than I realized. Each of my characters is like that in one way or another. Calla and I have the same favorite book – Watership Down – and we both love black coffee. Otherwise I’m much more like Calla’s younger brother, Ansel who is a romantic idealist.

3. Okay, we won’t tell anyone your secret about the voices. I found the hierarchy you created in WOLFSBANE of the keepers (witches) and the guardians (wolves) who protected the keepers but who were ruled by them fascinating. How did you develop this? Is it based on any myths or totally something you imagined?

The world of Nightshade is completely imagined based on my passion for real wolves and my interest in the history of witchcraft.

4. You’ve got an awesome imagination. I read that you’ve never been to Vale, the setting of your book. And that you don’t like caves, another important place in your book. How did you create such a realistic setting not having been to where you’re writing about?

Though I haven’t been to Vail I have been to Colorado several times. Based on those experiences and lots and lots of time on Google Earth I was able to construct the world of Nightshade. Regarding caves – I’m horribly claustrophobic and am therefore terrified of caves. I channel that tension into the narrative.

5. NIGHTSHADE had a lot of plot twists and you ended in a cliffhanger which is unusual for a first book. Then it looks like the fast pace picks up again with Calla and the searchers that you only tell us a bit about in book one. Was this all plotted out before you started or did it come to you as you went?

I’m horrible at plotting, the structure stifles my writing process. I don’t write my books in chronological order but instead write scenes as they inspire me. Then I put all the pieces together to create the overarching narrative.

6. Do you have any tips from your own writing experiences about writing a trilogy?

When I start a trilogy I know the big picture of the story but it’s the details, twists and subplots that come together through the process of writing the books. I’d say you have to be sure the scope of your story is large enough to cover three books – don’t keep stretching things out simply for the sake of another book. Some stories need one book, others need six. Know your characters and your plot well enough to grasp the length you should be aiming for.

7. That’s great advice to have a sense of how many books you’ll need to tell your story. Tell us about your road to publication.

My writing career started literally by accident. I’d always loved writing, but I never thought it was something I could do professionally. In the summer of 2008 I was in a horseback riding accident that left me with a broken foot and orders to stay off my feet for twelve weeks. With nothing to do but sit I decided to try writing a novel – a dream I’d always had but had never given myself permission to try. As soon as I began writing I fell completely in love with the process and knew I wanted to make fiction writing a full-time part of my professional life. I knew nothing about the publishing world so I did research and learned about querying and finding an agent. I signed with InkWell Management in the spring of 2009 and we sold Nightshade to Penguin that summer.

8. I fell in love with writing the same way you did. I know you work full-time as a college history professor. When you’re teaching, how do you juggle writing, teaching, and now marketing? I work full-time too and am dying to know you handle it all.

Honestly I’m still figuring it out. I love teaching and right now I’m able to maintain balance between my many lives. It probably helps that I have dogs rather than children ;)

9. Before I wrote out your interview questions, I googled you and found lots of book reviews and interviews on other blogs. How did you so successfully get the word out when you were a debut author? Are you planning to market any differently for WOLFSBANE?

My publisher, Penguin, has been hugely supportive and did an amazing job with getting word out about the book with bloggers, reviewers and through the amazing Shadow Days campaign they did featuring Shay’s life at Rowan Estate prior to his meeting Calla. I also really enjoy Twitter and blogging – to me they are just other types of writing. I love connecting with readers, it’s so much fun!

10. What are you working on now?

I have three projects going on at the moment. I’m revising a prequel to Nightshade about the origins of the Witches’ War in the Middle Ages. I’m also working on my collaborative novel THE INVISBILITY CURSE with David Levithan. And finally I’m writing a new steampunk trilogy that I’m absolutely in love with.

Good luck Andrea. You can find Andrea at her website and her blog.

I’m giving away one copy of NIGHTSHADE. To enter the contest, all you need to do is be a follower (just click the follow button if you’re not a follower) and leave a comment by midnight on July 23rd. I’ll announce the winner on July 25th. International entries are welcome.

Next week I’ll be interviewing an upcoming 6th grader who LOVES to read for my ASK THE EXPERT series. She’s Dustin Hansen’s daughter. He’s a follower and often shares tips for our Tuesday tips series. And it’s her BIRTHDAY next Monday. So be sure to stop by and wish her Happy Birthday.

On July 25th, I’ll be interviewing Amy Holder and giving away a copy of THE LIPSTICK LAWS. She has an amazing story about her road to publication that you won’t want to miss.

See you next Monday!

Agent Spotlight: Bree Ogden

This week's Agent Spotlight features Bree Ogden of D4EO Literary Agency.
Status: As of 5/20/2020, Ms. Ogden no longer is an agent at D4EO Literary Agency. On Twitter and her blog, she says she is an agent at Red Sofa Literary, but she is not listed as agent on their website. I do not believe that she is an agent anymore.
About: “Bree Ogden is the newest addition to D4EO Literary Agency, after having been an associate literary agent at Martin Literary Management for nearly 2 years representing children’s, YA, and graphic novels.
Bree graduated with her BA in Philosophy from Southern Virginia University where she served as editor-in-chief of the University’s newsmagazine. She was awarded Most Valuable Player and Editor of the Year, as well as SVU’s Pioneer Award, an honor the University awards to two students each year. She then received her MA in Journalism with an emphasis in editing and expository writing at Northeastern University where she worked on both the New England Press Association Bulletin, and also served as the features editor of the premier campus music magazine, Tastemakers Magazine.
Bree has spent many years working as a freelance journalist and currently co-operates the macabre children’s magazine Underneath the Juniper Tree where she serves as Editorial Director.” (Link)
About the Agency:
“Bob Diforio launched D4EO Literary Agency in 1989 after a long career at New American Library. Today D4EO is a full-service, four-agent literary agency representing authors of a very broad range of commercial fiction and non-fiction for children, young adults, and adults. Books represented by the agency have topped the The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and agency authors have received awards that include the Daphne de Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense and the Nero Award.
“With over 1,000 published books under contract, the agency has launched the writing careers of more than two hundred authors. The agency is based in Connecticut with associate agents in Seattle (Mandy Hubbard, Kristin Miller and Bree Ogden) and Destin, FL (Joyce Holland).” (Link)
Web Presence:
D4EO website.
D4EO PM page.
This Literary Life (blog).
Twitter.
Facebook.
AgentQuery.
What She's Looking For:
Genres / Specialties:
Middle grade, Young Adult, New Adult fiction (readership: ages 18-30), Graphic Novels, YA Nonfiction, and Art books. (Link)
From her Blog (11/9/11):
“Bree’s wish list: (don’t limit your queries to these!)
Young Adult:

• Dark (not angst-ridden)
• Realistic
• Psychological horror (with no paranormal elements)
• Hard sci fi. Meaning no fantasy, or magical realism at all
• A Dexter-ish type YA black comedy
• A Roaring Twenties historical for YA
• A manuscript written in the era of Mad Men with panache and style
• A unique and theme-driven art book” (Link)

From a Blog Post (11/2011):
“While watching my all time favorite movie for about the 700th time, all I could think was, “Man I wish someone would query me with an idea this great.”
“The movie? Drop Dead Gorgeous. The ultimate dark comedy.
“Irreverent wit, delicious irony, awesome stereotypes, catty girls, odd jobs, laughable idols, low-life expectations, dark, twisted, absurd, small town life. Absolute perfect storm. If you have anything like this…you know what to do.” (Link)
From an Interview (01/2011):
“She is especially interested in darker plots (think Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay) and loves dystopian, unique and fresh supernatural elements. Science fiction graphic novels and graphic novels that challenge the reader to think as well as have a great visual hook, stories that are very visual in nature, and books with a philosophical hook are equally of interest. “ (Link)
From an Interview (09/2010):
“I'm looking for quite a bit...all very different from what is out in the marketplace right now. I just finished reading a series of devilish books from the Harlequin Vintage series, i.e., Kiss Your Elbow, I'll Bury My Dead, You Never Know with Women, etc. I would love--with a capital L--a manuscript with that sort of vintage noir drama but set in a modern day. Think femme fatale, film noir, dark and mysterious. Which leads to my next desire...I would love something along the lines of Mad Men. And of course I love zombies, but those are very hard to write well.
“I've never been a huge sugary romance fan, so if you are submitting a romance to me, it has got to have grit, realistic conflict, and maybe not so much of a happy ending? I also think that a faux memoir, middle grade or young adult, if done well, could be amazing. I would love to see that in my inbox. And even more so, I would LOVE a real memoir told in graphic novel form.
“And of course, I love quirky boy-centric middle grade, always! I am always and forever looking for great middle grade. It is my favorite genre to represent.” (Link)
What She Isn't Looking For:
Poetry, short stories, screenplays, paranormal, fantasy (including urban fantasy), romance (unless there is a superb dark, psychotic element), magical realism, world building. (Link)
Editorial Agent?
“It all depends on the writer. I’ve had a few clients that didn’t need anything from me other than to sell their book. I’ve had some clients that I’ve suggested significant changes to their manuscripts. I’ve had other clients that I have walked through the entire process from basic book description to book proposal to marketing plan to mock book covers. I don’t do much editing though. I would never take on a manuscript that needed significant editing. I talk to most of my clients several times a week, both phone and email. It is very important to me that my clients and I are always on the same page. I want my clients to succeed, so that means being there for them as much as they need me.” (Link-Defunct)
Clients:
Michelle L. Brown, D.M. Cunningham, JoAnna Haugen, Bharti Kirchner, Tymothy Longoria, J. David McKenney, Gregg Olsen, Rebekah Joy Plett, Ron Rutler,  Ketch Tavern, among others.
Query Methods: N/A Ms. Ogden is no longer a literary agent.

E-mail: Yes (only).
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
Paste a query and the first five pages of your MS in the body of an e-mail. No attachments.
For complete, up-to-date submission guidelines see the D4EO website.
Response Times:
Unknown.
What's the Buzz?
Bree joined the D4E0 Literary Agency in November of 2011 after nearly two years at Martin Literary Management.  She has a growing list of clients who seem to adore her and is actively seeking new talent.
You can find Ms. Ogden on Twitter, at her blog, and at conferences throughout the year.
Contact:
Please see the D4EO website or Ms. Ogden’s blog for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 5/20/2020.
Agent Contacted For Review? Yes.
Last Reviewed By Agent? 11/9/11.
***
Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.

Tip Tuesday #95

Tip Tuesday is a recurring feature where blog readers send in tips for fellow writers. If you'd like to send in a tip, please e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com.

I hope you all had a fantastic, safe 4th of July! Today's tip on the infernal internal editor comes from Cate Morgan who blogs at Infinite Monkey. Cate's apocalyptic fantasy novella Brighid's Cross will be published by Samhain Ltd. in November 2011. Such great news! Please give her a visit and consider subscribing to her blog. Enjoy!

Tip Tuesday - In Which We Beat Writer's Block.

Or, Adventures In Distracting The Infernal Editor

I don’t know about you, but my writer’s block has a name. I call it the Infernal Editor, mainly because if I’m stuck at a road block and can’t see where I need to go it’s because he’s snatched the next bit of story and run off with it, laughing a diabolical laugh. Or because he’s blocked my view like a big ol' hiney in front of a TV. Every writer has that internal voice screaming “No, go that way!” or switching the road signs in the direction of an unexpected cliff. Even as I type this, he’s bouncing up and down, going “What did you write THAT for? That’s not helpful or witty or in any way good. Hey, is that a Starbucks?”

See how he tried to lure me off track like that? The Infernal Editor is indeed a worthy foe—crafty, malicious, and determined to make us doubt ourselves and our talent. It knows your weaknesses, and exploits them mercilessly. Sometimes he even appears in the guise of logic or Writer’s Little Helper. A tricksy trickster, that one.

Fortunately, there’s more than one way to skin a Cheshire Cat.

Chain Of Events

This is where I grab a notebook and pen and run off somewhere the Infernal Editor can’t find me. Then, beginning at my last key scene or plot point, I summarize the action in short lines of action, image, or dialogue up to the point where I got stuck. It's important to do this by memory, and to leave lots of white space for notes later. If I’ve gone wrong anywhere or missed something this is where I usually find it. Don’t sweat mechanics or grammar or anything remotely technical—this is about discovery, and the point is to get rid of the little bastard, not encourage him. He’s usually so stricken by the lack of paragraphs, sentence structure and punctuation he can’t form words.

Spinning Down The Page

By the time I reach the road block a solution usually crops up, and I can continue alternating action-image-dialogue, line by line, in any order that comes natural. Writing hot, breathing deep, leaving the Infernal Editor shaking his fists impotently in my rearview mirror, all the way until the next key scene or plot point, destination in clear view. Again, this isn't about planning, but discovery.

Getting It Down

Time to put it all into the computer. Using my notebook, I can now put it all into actual words. By now my brain is so into the groove things I never initially considered pop up like jack-in-the-boxes, waving their little hands, going “Pick me, pick ME!” This is where I come up with some of my best writing, because my brain is warmed up and purring nicely. And I go with it, because the Infernal Editor is still panting to catch up. And then it’s my turn to chortle an evil little laugh. Bwa-ha-ha-haaaa.

An evil laugh can be good for the writer’s soul, as long as it’s your own.

~Cate Morgan

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

Hope you are all enjoying the holiday. I’m glad to have a much needed three day weekend. I’ll keep this brief so you can get back to your relaxing day.



I probably won’t be following many blogs this week because my in-laws are here visiting. I hope to spend a little less time on the computer.

A few reminders:

You can still enter to win DELIRIUM, DESIRES OF THE DEAD, ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS, and THE IRON QUEEN here until midnight on July 9th.

Don’t forget that on June 6th at 9:00 pm EST, WriteOnCon’s doing a live chat with Tessa Gratton, Maggie Stiefvater, and Brenna Yovanoff.

Next week I’m interviewing Andrea Cremer and giving away a copy of her book NIGHTSHADE. I loved her book and am excited that WOLFSBANE comes out on July 26th.

On July 18th I’ll be interviewing an upcoming 6th grader who loves to read. Her answers are awesome and it’s her birthday. So be sure to stop by and wish her Happy Birthday.

See you next Monday.