My latest book, NORTHWARD HO! is the story of Terpsichore Johnson, one of the kids swept up in President Roosevelt’s plan to take families off relief and relocate them in Alaska as self-sufficient farmers. I typed ‘The End’ in January. Next step was finding an agent. Here’s my progress:
Write a one-sentence hook, a one-paragraph summary, and one-page synopsis of the book so I’ll be ready to tell people about it. (done)
Go through notes of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conferences to identify agents who like middle grade historical fiction--or at least are open to something besides dystopian society, dysfunctional family, steampunk, fantasy, contemporary problems, and paranormal novels. I often enjoy reading in those genres, but it’s not what I write.
(done)
Read the acknowledgements pages of books that are similar in feel to NORTHWARD HO! If the author has an agent (and nowadays, most everyone but me does) the agent is usually thanked. (done)
Ask writing friends, especially those who write similar books, if they like their agents. (done)
Compile a list of possibilities. (done)
Google the possibles. What does each agent say she likes? Do she represent authors I admire?
How does each agent like to be contacted? (Snail mail or email? Query only or Query and sample? Filling in their on-line form?) What is their contact information? Are they open to new clients?) (done)
Look up each agent in query tracker (Querytracker.com) Verify contact and submission information and note the typical response time to a query, a partial, or full submission? (done)
(This is to remind myself not to expect responses quickly.)
Write query letters, personalizing each by mentioning any connection, such as having heard her at a conference or representing an author I know or admire. Include samples, synopsis, or whatever else that agent wants with the initial contact. (done - at least for my first, top six choices.)
Wait. Typical response time on a query is one to three months. Then, if the agent is interested, she will ask for a chapter, or three chapters, or fifty pages. Wait. Then, if the agent likes the sample, she will ask to see the whole manuscript. Wait. I’ve read writers who eventually sign with an agent queried over a year before. As Charlie Brown would say, “Aaugh!”
Receive email from one of the agents who liked the beginning and requested a full; she’s leaving her firm and not accepting clients now. Say “Aaugh!” again.
So what am I doing while I wait? That is, besides checking email and phone messages hourly, re-organizing the linen closet, and eating far too many Wheat Thins? Look for a pattern for a 1930‘s dress. Find sheet music for the song the 20th-century Alaska pioneers sang. Talk my sisters into making a recording of the song. Start researching the next book, which will probably be set in the San Juan Islands, home of my writing woodshed.
Meanwhile, I’m also still promoting my first book, THE YEAR WE WERE FAMOUS. Earlier this week, over one hundred people attended my show and tell in Port Ludow, Washington. I came in 1896 bicycle costume with satchel of realia and a display panel of newspaper clippings, photographs, and period postcards that inspired chapters of the book. Lovely group!
Upcoming Events
April 19-21, 2013 - SCBWI Washington Annual Conference
Taking Fiction Master Class on Revision; participating in Published Attendee Showcase; hearing presentations from a couple of the agents I queried.
Redmond Marriott Town Center
7401 164th Ave. NE, Redmond, WA 98052
May 11, 2013 - Gina Krog Lodge, Daughters of Norway, 11:00 a.m.
Program on THE YEAR WE WERE FAMOUS
St. Andrews Lutheran Church
2650 148th Ave. SE, Bellevue, WA 98007
May 17-18 - Presenter, NW Christian Writers Renewal
10:45 a.m. - 12 Noon: Writing Historical Fiction, with THE YEAR WE WERE FAMOUS
Overlake Christian Church
9900 Willows Road NE
Redmond, WA 98052
September 15, 2013, Thea Foss Lodge, Daughters of Norway program speaker 1:00 p.m.
THE YEAR WE WERE FAMOUS
Chimicum Tri-Area Community Center
10 West Valley Road, Chimacum, WA 98325
