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CHRISTMAS IS COMING CHRISTMAS IS COMING CHRISTMAS IS COMING! Okay, I get a little bit excited about the upcoming holiday. For four weeks at the end of each year my shameless embrace of nostalgia (and eggnog) knows no bounds. We’d like to give our loyal readers a heads-up that activity at GSF will be slowing to almost nothing from the 15th of December until just after New Year’s Day. As for this week, we’ve got a big-money contest if you’re British or Irish, some agent news and what they are looking for, and a cautionary tale at the end.
We’d love to hear your feedback. Please let us know what you think in the comments and if there are certain types of information you would like to see in the Roundup. Also feel free to tweet at us (@freelancingrads) with any ideas or questions. Have a great writing week!
An agent moves, and an editor agents.
Deborah Hofmann, formerly Editor of the NYT Best Seller Lists, has joined the David Black Literary Agency as an Agent and is actively working to build her client list.
Seeking:
Fiction: Commercial and Literary
Nonfiction: Narrative; Autobiography and Memoir; Culture and the Arts; Humor; How-To; Artisanal Arts and Crafts
“Deborah welcomes first-time book authors with open arms, vision and verve.”
Deborah is accepting queries via email at dhofmann@dblackagency.com. More information about submissions may be found here.
Jennifer Goloboy, formerly of Red Sofa Literary, has joined Donald Maass Literary Agency.
Seeking:
Fiction: Science Fiction and Fantasy
Nonfiction: Popular History
“She thinks that one of the most important jobs of science fiction is to imagine a future we want to live in.”
Jennifer is accepting queries via email at query.jgoloboy@maassagency.com. Submission guidelines can be found here.
Flash fiction, and big money for flash writing. See what I did there? Cuz it's for British folks? Flash? Slang for… Just ignore me.
The NY Literary Magazine Best Short Fiction Story Contest—Submissions due December 10th (Flash Fiction Contest—Publication)
What: Up to three stories of fiction, any genre, of no more than 2,000 words. Winners receive award seals and publication.
To Submit: Contest guidelines and a submission form may be found here.
Deborah Rogers Foundation 2018 Writer’s Award—Submissions due December 13th (Work-in-progress Writing Contest—Big $$$ Award, well, £££)
Who: Writers with a work in progress living in the British Commonwealth and Ireland
What: A work in progress of 20-30,000 words, fiction or nonfiction. Winner will receive £10,000.
“An award of £10,000 will be presented to a first-time prose writer whose submission demonstrates outstanding literary talent and who would benefit from financial support to complete their work.”
To Submit: Submission via online form, here. Contest guidelines and FAQs here.
Another week for fantasy
Julie Fergusson, Agent at The North Agency
Julie wants a little bit of escapism: “Looking for dark, twisty psychological thrillers, YA fantasy and speculative lit fiction.” Source Tweet
Seeking:
Fiction: Commercial and Literary, particularly Women’s; Book Club; Dystopian; Psychological Thrillers; YA Fantasy
Nonfiction: Meh.
“She loves a detailed and fast-paced plot, centred around interesting and well-developed characters.”
How to Submit: Julie is accepting submissions at julie@thenorthlitagency.com. Submission guidelines may be found here.
Follow Julie on Twitter @Julie_Fergusson.
Ben Grange, Agent at the L. Perkins Agency
Ben’s looking for the next Chosen One fantasy based on Western European mythology. Wait, that’s not right: “Diverse (MG/YA) fantasy based on diverse mythology written by diverse authors.” Source Tweet
Seeking:
Fiction: Middle Grade and Young Adult (especially Fantasy and Science Fiction)
Nonfiction: Pop Culture
“Thanks to his time at JABberwocky, he loves epic fantasy and science fiction, and although his focus is on middle grade and young adult, he won’t say no to a great fantasy or sci-fi.”
How to Submit: Ben is accepting submissions at ben@lperkinsagency.com. See the agency’s submission policies here.
Follow Ben on Twitter @BLGrange.
Ejusdem Generis
This week, the Ahwatukee Foothills News reported about a local woman who had a terrible experience trying to publish her book with the Christian-based Tate Publishing. Judy Lokits had written a book about the biblical Song of Songs and was working with the hybrid publisher Tate, a family-owned company from Oklahoma that had been in business for over a decade. After a frustrating and repetitive process in which little progress was made and thousands of her dollars were spent, Lokits found out that the company was being sued by many other authors. She gave up on Tate, and thankfully was able to find a better relationship with a different publisher. As for Tate, in May of this year founder Richard and his son and CEO Ryan were arrested and charged with embezzlement, extortion, and racketeering. Read more on the saga here.
While the rise of self publishing has been fantastic for authors who want to get their work out regardless of any agent’s or editor’s opinion, the fact is that it’s not always easy to know which companies are respectable and which aren’t. There are more than one Manutius Press out there (read pages 238-243 if you haven’t before, and read them again if you have already, give yourself a treat – I just love Eco). Fortunately, our publishing biz superhero Jane Friedman has some advice about how to evaluate a press before you commit. Check it out here.