Why now?
This morning I got an email from a friend and client, Patricia Canterbury. It was forwarded from another writer we know who had copied and commented on an article in June's 2007 Writers Digest, Postscript: Finding My Way By Laura Preble. It was about her so-called Lucky break in publishing her first novel and getting her first contract. I won't copy it here because I don't have permission. I believe I can quote under fair use and I will as follows:
"I'd attended enough workshops and read enough books to know that: (1) You never get a book deal without an agent, (2) You never get a book deal unless you've finished the book, and (3) You never get a book deal unless you already had a book deal (see numbers 1 and 2). It was a never-ending Escher-esque labyrinth of torture."
Then she goes on to disapprove all of this good advice but not before saying, "I don't usually like chick lit." Please keep this statement in mind as you read.
After meeting an editor from Penguin at a writers conference who read a novel she had written she was told call me if you ever write a romance novel. As an agent I know there some weight in that invitation. Editors might say it more at conferences than they care to, but they don't say it half-heartedly. Clearly Ms. Preble's manuscript showed some worthy skills. The editor that issued the invitation edited--wait for it---yes--chick lit!
Lo and behold, Ms. Preble said, "I awoke at 3 a.m. with an idea: chick lit for geek girls like me! I got up, went to my laptop, banged out the first scene and submitted 20 pages."
Based on those 20 pages, she was offered a two book contract. I haven't read her work and I don't doubt they were wonderful. Then she said, "Eventually, I got my proof of the book and then pushed to meet my publicist at Penguin." Later the publicist came through too, "she arranged for my book to be part of two major magazine promotions."
"Then came the editing, revising and cover approval." Yes, she had cover approval!
Okay, where do I begin? I have no idea as to what was the point of this tale. The only thing I can come up with is
Na-na-nanana.
Then I thought about it. There's something wrong here.
Here's what I wrote back to Pat:
I'd bet $20 that there is still something that's she's not telling us. Something
very important (although she might not consider it so). Like she had some nonfiction credits or her husband is a well known editor. Even if you factor in the white girl edge something doesn't fit--like a magazine campaign for an unknown!! It doesn't happen. She met her publicist?? How did she get a contract with 20 pages with no previous expereince--not buying it. And 2 books? puh-leaze!! Cover approval and she didn't even have an agent!!
A note about the white girl edge statement. I live in and love the USA, but I'm not naive enough to think my mail would look exactly the same if I was white and my writers were white. Like most African American college educated women I know, probably have more books in my house than many community libraries. And like that same group,an estimated 95% of them are by and about white Americans. We have been supporting an industry for years that is just beginning to realize we exist.
I don't have a favorite genre. I buy everything I can afford by AA authors even if I don't plan to read them--I give them as gifts. I think we all should, until AA writers can make a decent living without taking outside jobs.
And I buy what I like regardless of race. I'm reading two dark fantasies right now, but Marian Keyes and Jennifer Coburn can't write them fast enought for me (chick lit).
With mystery author,Terris McMahan Grimes, I cofounded
the Sacramento Chapter of Sisters In Crime. And I'm the author of a
series of juvenile novels. In other words, I'm all over the place. I got
my first subscription to Writers Digest when I was in elementary school.
I've been studying this industry for a very long time.
Trust me, this woman's story is not your typical tale. Come on Ms. Preble,
tell us the rest of the story.
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