Visitors to the paradise on earth that is the Maldives will recognise the title above. Sadly, I'm not currently diving with manta rays, but it did seem an appropriate phrase for my state at the moment; I twisted my ankle this weekend and so am confined to my fake Uggs for the next week or so. Definitely no shoes.
And the no news part?
Ok, time to break my silence about this agent thing. And a bit more.
So there was an agent who was interested in my children's book. She emailed me, said she'd like to meet to discuss ways of developing my ideas. Hurrah! I couldn't meet her immediately because I was out of town, so put her off for a week. Then when I returned, she couldn't meet me for a couple of weeks because she was out of the country. Fine, no harm done. Then she gets back to the UK and asks if there have been any developments with anyone else (she knows that a couple of other interested parties have the manuscript). Nothing significant, I say, and does she want to make a date to meet now?
Silence.
For over a week now.
The sensible part of me says that she's been away so has no doubt a lot to catch up on. So I'm probably at the bottom of her list - that's understandable. However, there's another part of me that thinks maybe she's just not that keen. I need someone to be keen. I'll consider all manner of changes, I'll rewrite like a madwoman, but GOD I need someone to be keen. Enthusiasm is so important, don't you think?
Here's something else to thicken the plot:
I've been keeping a little secret from you all in bloggerland. I had some interest from a publisher - a big publisher - back in October. I didn't want to blog about it at the time because it seemed so huge and exciting that I thought I might jinx it. Basically, an editor rang me up and told me how much they liked my book. The stuff of dreams, seriously. This was followed by a couple of brief but friendly emails and the promise to be in touch shortly. I hadn't heard anything by early December, so I gently enquired to see what was going on. I got another friendly reply - the editor said they were so sorry to keep me hanging and were discussing my book with collegues and that they hoped to be in touch shortly. They asked if I'd had any interest from other publishers? Nothing significant, I replied.
Silence.
For 2 months.
So the sensible part of me knows that things move slowly on Planet Publisher. I've read oh so many tales of editors sitting on a book - for 6 months, a year, whatever - then suddenly leaping into action. The other part of me is thinking it's all over.
Life has been incredibly frantic the last 4 months, so I haven't exactly had enough time to pimp my wares to my best advantage. What both agent and publisher have in common is that it seems that they're not going to bite until someone else does. (Should I have told a few porky pies about how in demand the book is? Not my style.) What we all have in common is that we are all going to be in the same room next week at the launch of the anthology that my story is featured in. I know.
How do I handle this? Do I prompt them both before the event and give them a chance to put me out of my misery in private?
Or do I wait til the big night and let them dump me over Champagne and nibbles?
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8 comments:
Ooooh KayJay. HOW BLOODY ANNOYING!!!
I really feel for you.
I have to say, as I read it, that I picked up on the 'nothing significant' comment and then the silence. That can't REALLY be the reason they went quiet can it? It HAS to be coincidence. Surely.
I don't know much but what I do know is that when an editor loves a book they have to take it to the sales and marketing team to get approval to take it on (well that's what I was told by an agent anyway) and I suppose it comes down to how quickly the editor you spoke to can arrange a meeting with those guys and how quickly they can come to an agreement. I imagine it probably does take quite a long time to decide to sign a new author given how much money it will cost to print, promote, market the book etc.
And I have heard that the process can take up to six months for some authors to get an answer.
And that's what agents are supposed to be for - ringing up editors and saying "Have you reached a decision yet, we've got another publishing house interested" (whether that's true or not!) to chivvy them on and get a decision.
But your agent is being rubbish too. Aaagh! Could you possibly ring her up or drop her an email to let her know you've got a publisher interested? She might pull her finger out if she think there's 15% commission in it for her without her having to do much!
When's the anthology launch you're going to? I imagine you'll definitely get some answers when you're face to face with the agent and editor.
Anyway, I really do feel your pain and I hope you hear something soon.
OMG. I don't know how to advise, but Cally's advice seems sensible. I can't believe a professional would wait to hear someone else is interested in order to feel validated on their own instinct.
Whatever you do, I have everything crossed for you.
JJx
I'd say don't prompt further at this stage. They may get back to you before the launch. If they don't, wear something that makes you feel good, act confident and professional (even if you're a gibbering wreck on the inside - nobody need know if you don't let it show), and buttonhole each of them in person and try to find out what's going on. You could always play the 'I'm new to this part of the business, how does it work?' card if you think that would be useful in getting more information out of them. Very best of luck - it must be so tantalising to be 'so near and yet so far', but it sounds as if there's real interest in your work, and that has to be a good thing.
I really don't know what I could say to advise you, so I shall leave that up to Cally as she does so well at it, i just want to say congratulations because to have interest from both an agent and publishing house is a brilliant achievement!
No advice to offer at all, I'm afraid, as the world of publishing is all mysterious and scary to me, but just wanted to say a massive congrats on the interest ~ realy hope it all works out 7 you hear something soon! :-)
I'm afraid I can't offer any advice but congratulations for the interest and best of luck that it all works out for you, soon.
How's it all going?
Any news yet? You've been a bit quiet of late so I thought I'd pop in and say hello!
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