tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post6518835840700031182..comments2024-03-26T07:24:43.732+00:00Comments on Words&Pictures: Ask an Agent - with Gemma Cooper and Molly Ker Hawn, from the Bent AgencyCandy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-32345253939248080262013-07-03T13:03:34.182+01:002013-07-03T13:03:34.182+01:00'Editors at the recent rights fairs were all t...'Editors at the recent rights fairs were all talking about wanting contemporary fiction – books based in current reality.'<br /><br />I can't tell you how encouraging this is! Even though I haven't started querying yet, I've been worrying for the past few years I'd never get published because I despise all things vampire, and don't write either fantasy or dystopian. It's great to get a hint that there may be better scope for something different in the future. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-68569734172184774572013-05-21T19:27:16.327+01:002013-05-21T19:27:16.327+01:00Sorry for delay Candy! I LOVE historical fiction a...Sorry for delay Candy! I LOVE historical fiction and you have mentioned two of my recent favourites. If it's an interesting enough time period with a great story and great voice, then I would sign a non-anglo historical as I feel I could get publisher interest. Voice is harder with historical as you want to get it authentic to the time period, but also relatable to readers. To me that is the biggest problem I see in submissions for historical, rather than the setting. Gemma Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08614433692914150518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-27662409839550026912013-05-17T14:41:16.000+01:002013-05-17T14:41:16.000+01:00What are the chances of historical fiction from no...What are the chances of historical fiction from non-anglo histories after the success of Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace and Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys?<br />Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-55712983659652378842013-05-13T15:56:17.439+01:002013-05-13T15:56:17.439+01:00Something unique. Warm Bodies was a fun concept an...Something unique. Warm Bodies was a fun concept and done well - but obviously we've had that now. It's impossible to say what the different thing should be (and I know this is frustrating to hear - but if I knew it, I'd have my clients writing it!) But just something that offers a new spin on an old idea, or doesn't follow the well worn path of 'normal girl falling for paranormal boy with another boy who also loves her' triangle. <br /><br />I will say write what you love and don't chase trends. If you are trying too hard to write the next big thing, it will show. Remember, writing should be fun!Gemma Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08614433692914150518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-1803221953764567542013-05-12T16:22:02.366+01:002013-05-12T16:22:02.366+01:00How different is really different? Warm bodies?How different is really different? Warm bodies?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-47108105417756764862013-05-10T19:53:22.604+01:002013-05-10T19:53:22.604+01:00Hi,
Paranormal romance is a tough sell, I'm af...Hi,<br />Paranormal romance is a tough sell, I'm afraid. Readers still really like it, but it's hard to get publishers interested unless it offers something really different from what's already available. <br />So be different!<br />GemmaGemma Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08614433692914150518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-20908455370933854252013-05-10T19:49:19.329+01:002013-05-10T19:49:19.329+01:00All this chat has made me crave a re-watch of Spac...All this chat has made me crave a re-watch of Spaceballs and Galaxy Quest. Roll on spoof weekend!Gemma Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08614433692914150518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-19943684642424932722013-05-10T18:43:39.329+01:002013-05-10T18:43:39.329+01:00I'd read it :-)I'd read it :-)George Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12231075417385235147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-38722570676941973752013-05-10T18:42:11.657+01:002013-05-10T18:42:11.657+01:00Gemma, that's awesome! I'll have a manuscr...Gemma, that's awesome! I'll have a manuscript for you by Thursday ;-)Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-73333517169405012472013-05-09T19:37:17.060+01:002013-05-09T19:37:17.060+01:00So no dystopian...I get that! What about paranorm...So no dystopian...I get that! What about paranormal romance? Is that dead too?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-5910407563851316752013-05-08T19:56:44.678+01:002013-05-08T19:56:44.678+01:00I dunno - how about a spoof? I'll start you of...I dunno - how about a spoof? I'll start you off: 'The precious ring needs to be returned to the Starship Battlestar, and only martial arts expert Dogness and her starcrossed lover Peter can control the ancient Dwagon crafts, fly to the ship and kill President Sauronny. Can they succeed, while also falling in love and being filmed for 'The Only Way Is YA' <br />:-)Gemma Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08614433692914150518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-30507850628549088452013-05-08T15:31:59.351+01:002013-05-08T15:31:59.351+01:00Some wonderful insights, thank you both!Some wonderful insights, thank you both!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871239587214383387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-14436692013890496172013-05-08T12:01:07.924+01:002013-05-08T12:01:07.924+01:00Thank you so much, Gemma and Molly! It's great...Thank you so much, Gemma and Molly! It's great to get insight from those on the inside! :)Katrina Charmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10193849010874536097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-23667961046684077782013-05-08T11:05:39.242+01:002013-05-08T11:05:39.242+01:00Alas, my YA dystopian sci-fi meets high fantasy ro...Alas, my YA dystopian sci-fi meets high fantasy romance <i>The Dwagons of My Heart</i> may be doomed to failure ;-)Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-69688054630778514092013-05-08T10:32:17.188+01:002013-05-08T10:32:17.188+01:00This is so useful. I know it's not advisable ...This is so useful. I know it's not advisable to 'write to the market' as it's always changing, but it's great to have this sort of insight into where publishers' heads are right now and how agents have to feed into that. Great to hear you're forgiving of the odd tyop too.<br /> *doh*M Louise Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13165271083632185438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-12681324119242937202013-05-08T08:55:51.273+01:002013-05-08T08:55:51.273+01:00This is so interesting - thank you both for your i...This is so interesting - thank you both for your insight and honesty.Kathryn Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16439670363289229014noreply@blogger.com