Nationals, part 3

I just want to thank everyone who has stopped by to send their good wishes. I am so grateful for all the support!

Today I spent the morning learning all about publishers and their current wishlists. Not to be a tease, but I have around 10-15 pages of handwritten notes on Harlequin/Silhouette and St. Martin’s Press for anyone interested. I will be posting those soon.

In the meantime, here are some highlights from the PRO retreat (a retreat for aspiring authors who have finished at least one manuscript). These are some tips from Meg Ruley of the Jane Rotrosen Agency.
1. Don’t give up–keep persisting no matter what.
2. Don’t be afraid to requery an agency. Even if one book didn’t work for them, another one might. Many of her current clients delight in reminding Meg that she once rejected them.
3. Rejections don’t necessarily mean the book is bad. It could mean that you and the agent would not make a good match. The business is very subjective.
4. Focus on the agencies who represent the authors you enjoy reading. (**She has her own advice about this. You’re better to go with a hungry younger agent in some of the really big offices, simply because the bulk of the agency’s time is taken up by the bestselling authors.)
5. Network, network, network. 95% of their clients come from referrals.
6. Make friends with booksellers.
7. Attend regional book shows. Learn as much as you can about the industry.
8. And one more thing–learn about the agency you’re targeting. Be informed about what they do and target your submission appropriately (in other words, don’t send them science fiction if they do non-fiction).

Last, but not least, here are pictures of the eharlequin pajama party!
Here is a picture of me wearing my special pajamas. There are three teddy bears with the faces of Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Mel Gibson. The caption reads: I sleep with my teddy bears every night.

Next, here are April Alsup, Stephanie Bose, and Cynthia Reese from my eharlequin friends at SubCare.

Then there’s me and Danica Favorite, aka Dream here:

And last, here’s a group shot of some friends at the Ritz Carlton. From the left, it’s me, Suzanne McMinn, Monica Pradhan, and Kacey Pickens.