Nephele Tempest Submissions Festival

Agent Nephele Tempest of The Knight Agency is hosting the I’M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE Submissions Festival on her blog until February 14th. Here are some deets:

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I am currently accepting pitches here on the blog for any novel that falls within one of the genres I am presently seeking (list below), as long as there is some sort of romantic relationship in the book. It does not have to be the focus of the book; this does not have to be a romance novel. But most novels have a little flirting or romance in them, even if it’s not the primary subject, so this is going to include plenty of projects.

Accepted genres: Literary fiction, contemporary/mainstream fiction, women’s fiction, historical fiction, romance (including contemporary, historical, paranormal, and romantic suspense), young adult fiction (no children’s or middle grade please), steampunk, and urban fantasy.

Your book needs to be completed and ready to be sent out. This means revised and edited and in a state that makes you proud.

Note, when Nephele says “here on this blog,” she means over THERE on HER blog—not on my blog! I’m just being cordial and passing along the information.

More information can be found on Nephele’s blog, including exactly what is required and how to pitch your project.

Carina Press

In case you haven’t heard, Harlequin has opened an epublishing house called Carina Press. E-book only, no advance, high royalty (although I couldn’t find the royalty percentage on their website). Malle Vallik, who’s been with HQ forever and is a writer herself (Molly something…I can’t remember the pen name she had, but I do recall reading her first book in the now-defunct Temptation line, and it was great) is heading the venture. And guess where Angela James, formerly exec ed of Samhain is? At Carina Press, as well.

They’re taking submissions. Check out the website to learn more.

Oh, and if you’ve ever been rejected by HQ? The site says feel free to sub to Carina Press.

To quote:

Can I submit to Carina Press if Harlequin has rejected me?

Yes, you may submit a manuscript that has been rejected by any publisher, including Harlequin. There may be very good reasons why your manuscript will not fit into traditional print publisher’s program, but we have a great deal more flexibility and opportunities at Carina Press.

You know, it occurs to me, any writers who suddenly found themselves orphaned when Quartet Press went down might do well to examine this opportunity lickety-split. If Angela James liked your sub to Quartet, it might be perfect for Carina Press, too.

Over and out.

Memories of Kate

I had a post already published this morning, but just deleted it after hearing the very sad news that Kensington editor Kate Duffy has passed away. Kate played a major role in my first sale to Red Sage as Penny, because I’d initially targeted my first Secrets novella to her. As can so often happen in publishing, my manuscript went awry, shall we say. It had been over a year and I had not heard on the status. I was at an RWA conference—I can’t remember which one anymore—and just happened to mention my missing manuscript to another writer who knew what Kate looked like (I didn’t). Turned out Kate was walking our way!

The writer pretty much sidelined Kate, introduced us, and I asked about my manuscript. Kate replied quite frankly that if I hadn’t heard by now then the manuscript had likely been rejected. Later, she told me that the look on my face made her feel so guilty (this from the woman many considered intimidating). Because I asked, “But wouldn’t I have received a rejection letter?”

“Tell you what,” she said. (And, yes, I’m paraphrasing, I didn’t tape record our conversation). “I have somewhere to go after conference, but give me about three weeks and then contact me. I’ll let you know what I find out about your manuscript.”

Three weeks later, I was at home wondering when would be a good time to phone or email her when she phoned me. She couldn’t find the manu anywhere, it must have gotten lost, and could I email her another copy? I did, and she read and rejected it within 24 hours. By another phone call. But she didn’t just reject it, she told me why she was rejecting it. And she asked to see more ideas. In fact, she asked me to write up three ideas for her, and she’d choose which she wanted me to develop into a novella for submission to Brava. I did that. Meanwhile, I took her comments on the rejected novella, revised it, and sold it to Red Sage Secrets. Without Kate’s comments during that phone call, would I have sold that novella? I’ll never know.

Back to the three ideas. Kate called me back another month later saying she loved two of the three ideas, and she wanted me to write the full novella of one and then begin the second while she was considering the first. I wrote the full novella and submitted it. Time went by. A lot of time went by. A lot and a lot and a lot of time went by. 🙂

Eventually, we reconnected, but she rejected the full novella. Again, full of remorse about doing so. Very apologetic (I’d never experienced an editor apologizing to me for a rejection, and phoning me to make that rejection). So much time had passed, as can happen in publishing, between her approving the idea and looking at the full, that the idea no longer excited her enough to make a sale. But she asked to see another novella, a partial this time.

I did write that third partial novella for Kate. Time went by. A lot of time went by. A lot and a lot and a lot and a lot of time went by. Eventually, we reconnected, and she still loved the idea but wanted me to turn facets of the story upside down. So I did. Resubmitted. Time went by. A lot of time went by. Then I learned that she was ill, and I decided not to bug her.

Meanwhile, I revised the second full novella to suit Secrets, submitted it and sold it. It’s releasing in Secrets Volume 28 this December.

Kate made me laugh. She was very self-deprecating, and she had a dry wit that I identify with. That she took the time to phone me when she could have just sent me form snail-mail rejections said a lot about her character. And still does.

Goodbye, Kate. I’ll miss you. Even though I didn’t get a chance to truly work with you, I appreciate all the help you gave me. Now and always.

Angela James (and Others) on the Move

Caught the news yesterday that Angela James, previously of Samhain Publishing, is now with Quartet Press as editorial director. This is great news for Quartet (way to go, Kassia). Angela seems to rock wherever she rolls. It should be an interesting year for Quartet.

I have no idea who’s head honcho at Samhain now. Anyone know?

Last week or so, Firebrand Literary closed its doors. Several days before that, Michael Stearns, Danielle Chiotti and others formerly with Firebrand, left to form the new Upstart Crow Literary Agency. No clue what Firebrand founder Nadia Cornier’s plans are.

I’m getting dizzy.

Thursday Tidbits

Yesterday I enjoyed a “turn-around day” where I basically caught up on stuff so that today I can begin to dig into my revisions on SEX, PIs & PACKING TAPE. Thought I’d get to them way before now, but summer intruded. Also, the news I didn’t announce yesterday intruded, and I wasn’t gonna complain.

I don’t know if anyone remembers, and I’m too lazy to check back through my posts and provide a link, but awhile back we were talking about how agents could help alleviate author stress, specifically the stress created when an electronic query or submission floats off into the stratosphere and we never hear from the agent again. I mentioned email auto-responders. To me, it seems like such a simple solution. Set up the query/submission email to automatically let the writer know her/his submission or query has been received, give an estimated time frame for your response and ask that the writer not bug you during that time frame. Well, the other night, I submitted a story electronically for Penny, and, wow, how nice to receive an auto-responder in a matter of minutes. Makes me feel bad that I put a return-receipt indicator on the email. Now, this was a publisher that deals in ebooks, so manbe that’s why they’re so on the ball. But the auto-responder works so well it still makes me wonder why more agents who take email queries and submissions don’t make use of one.

Another tidbit…I went to see Julie & Julia the other night. Anyone seen it? What did you think? I loved it. Heartily recommended.