tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post7746438020562939813..comments2023-09-29T09:18:38.933-04:00Comments on Bent on Books: Ta-Dah!!! A New Series of Posts on Bent on BooksJenny Benthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744171500436166262noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-28225163167294599732011-05-20T16:27:46.282-04:002011-05-20T16:27:46.282-04:00I just got rejected by an agent who so enthused ov...I just got rejected by an agent who so enthused over my query sent on a Sunday night that Monday morning she requested the complete MS for an exclusive which, WOW, I sent immediately. Post hoc ergo propter hoc, right? After the MS had been out of circulation for three months, she rejected it, and my third grade teacher Mrs. Blather who decades ago complained I wasn’t measuring up to my potential leapt to mind. She must have been right after all, said I to my dormant left brain; I should forget about licking my wounds and take that job selling shoes. But now, thanks to your post, well, I didn’t like my left brain anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-78702961183046108162011-05-20T16:12:02.090-04:002011-05-20T16:12:02.090-04:00I just got rejected by an agent who so enthused ov...I just got rejected by an agent who so enthused over my query sent on a Sunday night that Monday morning she requested the complete MS for an exclusive which, WOW, I sent immediately. Post hoc ergo propter hoc, right? After the MS had been out of circulation for three months, she rejected it, and my third grade teacher Mrs. Blather who decades ago complained I wasn’t measuring up to my potential leapt to mind. She must have been right after all, said I to my dormant left brain; I should forget about licking my wounds and take that job selling shoes. But now, thanks to your post, well, I didn’t like my left brain anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-73463101140894689422011-05-20T14:25:55.617-04:002011-05-20T14:25:55.617-04:00I love success stories! It is like reading birth ...I love success stories! It is like reading birth stories in Ina Mae Gaskin's book when I was pregnant. There is always potential for beautiful things to happen!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-51446325047208349362011-05-20T10:52:48.103-04:002011-05-20T10:52:48.103-04:00How great! Thanks for sharing this inspiring story...How great! Thanks for sharing this inspiring story; I love hearing these journeys (especially just having signed, myself). Wow, selling w/in two weeks! You two must have some great revision magic going on. Big congrats to you both! :o)Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-68775717951691602792011-05-20T00:18:34.977-04:002011-05-20T00:18:34.977-04:00I loved reading this! So positive!I loved reading this! So positive!McKoalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01457446171624585099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-17139035962514078602011-05-19T23:05:28.924-04:002011-05-19T23:05:28.924-04:00I loved this story and I look forward to reading m...I loved this story and I look forward to reading more! Thank you for sharing!<br />Mary StallerFloridaBirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08980587554468332573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-81404717495636222652011-05-19T19:42:56.526-04:002011-05-19T19:42:56.526-04:00So good to hear from another writer who does not r...So good to hear from another writer who does not relish the schmooze side of writing. Since my first long work is a screenplay, I am in agony over the marketing end of that world. Eek. I am a novelist at heart and going to return to the literary world. Hollywood makes me a bit nuts.<br /><br />I am amazoning your book now. Best of luck on your partnership with a strong, confident agent. May you get many works out to us.Karma Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08155362831055741890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-31063841587694050092011-05-19T13:40:38.996-04:002011-05-19T13:40:38.996-04:00Thank you for sharing your journey. It's an in...Thank you for sharing your journey. It's an inspiration to us who are still in the trenches.Anita Saxenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12444339735834716979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-29226661311122022782011-05-18T22:58:48.531-04:002011-05-18T22:58:48.531-04:00The first agent I met in person was Nathan Bransfo...The first agent I met in person was Nathan Bransford. I shook his hand, nodded, smiled, said nice to meet you, and then ran as quickly as I could when he got that "well are you going to pitch to me or not" look.<br /><br />This was exciting to read Ellyn. Thanks for sharing your journey :)<br /><br />......dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-37159401491205914302011-05-18T17:30:03.268-04:002011-05-18T17:30:03.268-04:00Thanks for sharing, Ellyn. Looking forward to your...Thanks for sharing, Ellyn. Looking forward to your book. <br /><br />I was agent orphaned after the very reputable agency let go of my agent and forgot to tell me while I worked on a re-write. I was completely disheartened. <br /><br />A friend gave my ms to an indie publisher who loved it. Agentless, I went with that tiny press. My first novel, Cupcakes, Lies, and Dead Guys has now sold around 6000 copies. Not Amanda Hocking figures but not shabby, either.<br /><br />I will be looking for a 'great fit' new agent for my next ms.<br /><br />Best,Pamela DuMond, D.C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15880017372940084226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-66832829083815345342011-05-18T11:49:42.663-04:002011-05-18T11:49:42.663-04:00What a great idea for a series! Thank you, Ellyn, ...What a great idea for a series! Thank you, Ellyn, for your honesty, and thank you, Jenny, for putting this together!Krista Van Dolzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08830193414560232842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-42438310187264677212011-05-18T10:52:57.562-04:002011-05-18T10:52:57.562-04:00Thanks for sharing this Ellyn. Its really nice to ...Thanks for sharing this Ellyn. Its really nice to hear happy endings sometimes, especially when, us "not-yet-published wannabes" are learning step-by-step to learn and move on through the process. Sometimes that small injection of positive light can be exactly the motivation needed.Creative Dungeoneeringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11228743378967280448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-74099959617094532222011-05-17T20:05:35.849-04:002011-05-17T20:05:35.849-04:00Jenny always has the best blogs. :)
Some of the ...Jenny always has the best blogs. :) <br /><br />Some of the agents I really like the most are, I feel, not the right agents for me. Our tastes are simply too dissimilar; some don't even represent my genre at all. But I can still learn something from them through their blogs and Twitter tips -- and get some great book recs in the process!Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17964273930628647763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-24605249559798122502011-05-17T19:10:09.522-04:002011-05-17T19:10:09.522-04:00Ellyn, thanks for these honest words. You write fr...Ellyn, thanks for these honest words. You write from your heart, and that's beautiful. Both of you are fortunate to have found each other. I hear it's all about the match. You underscored that for me. Am looking forward to your book.Brenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12677859136956755837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-23191316036551220932011-05-17T18:24:44.495-04:002011-05-17T18:24:44.495-04:00Kudos, Ellyn, for holding out and finding the agen...Kudos, Ellyn, for holding out and finding the agent of your heart. And I mean that. There are a thousand agents out there, and if you have some degree of talent and tenacity, you will no doubt attract the attention of a few. But even more important than finding the one you have things in common with or who is easy to talk to, is finding the one who GETS your work--the very heart of it--and knows how to help you edit and sell it. <br /><br />Congratulations on your new book! And may you and your literary soulmate share many successes in the years to come. :)Anita Grace Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01797870961916148616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-76101143011964500982011-05-17T17:10:53.341-04:002011-05-17T17:10:53.341-04:00LOVE it! Working on my own!LOVE it! Working on my own!Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01877319075380937205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-30996978493279895892011-05-17T13:44:24.714-04:002011-05-17T13:44:24.714-04:00Great post idea. Also what a great story and than...Great post idea. Also what a great story and thank you for sharing it. I am so glad you found the right agent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-10841578774497571672011-05-17T13:23:52.730-04:002011-05-17T13:23:52.730-04:00Congrats to all who have found an ally in their ag...Congrats to all who have found an ally in their agent. Me, I am without ally and as usual, in my typical stubborn fashion, have found my own way alone. My first book was published by me as a test- were the agents right? Was it unwanted? Almost six months later, almost a thousand sales later, I guess it wasn't. Better yet, I've opened a small pub house of my own, Staccato Publishing, to help some other offbeat authors who don't have an ally. To gain a friend, be one. Right?Heather Savagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978965489626420425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-89644028584535310352011-05-17T12:57:41.263-04:002011-05-17T12:57:41.263-04:00Oh, LOVE this. Terrific idea.
And the cover for t...Oh, LOVE this. Terrific idea.<br /><br />And the cover for the book is gorgeous. Congrats, on all accounts, to ye both. :)Weronika Janczukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12403751499515726981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-90554180046224176272011-05-17T12:53:48.669-04:002011-05-17T12:53:48.669-04:00Love this story. I think it resonates with all wri...Love this story. I think it resonates with all writers. Especially the burst into tears part. If we didn't put our whole souls into the books then why expect others to want to read them? But life moves in interesting ways, huh? How wonderful that things seem to be working out. <br />Thanks for the guest post Ellyn and for the great blog, Jenny.Small Town Shelly Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13535247595352753415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-10132990173268334022011-05-17T11:50:57.552-04:002011-05-17T11:50:57.552-04:00I'm glad you found the right agent, too. I'...I'm glad you found the right agent, too. I'm with you on the face-to-face aspect. If I was great at pitching/dealing with people, I wouldn't have developed a writing talent! lol<br />I hope someday to be where you are.Kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16228883934162062756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-74594040100834908882011-05-17T11:31:13.738-04:002011-05-17T11:31:13.738-04:00I'm glad you found the right agent for you, El...I'm glad you found the right agent for you, Ellyn. I'm in the same happy position with my agent, Natasha Kern. I don't know how authors manage without representation they trust. I'm such a noodle I can't advocate for myself.MiaMarlowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18027069675291646955noreply@blogger.com