Sometimes, interviewers ask when you first knew what you wanted to do in life. As a child, I remember aspiring to be a dancer because moving to music looked fun. But when I found this “magazine” I had made for my mother when I was ten, I realized my interests (aside from trying to get my mother to buy Cocoa Krispies cereal) tended toward my future reality.
In the photo, notice that the lucky old penny initially taped to the top of the page is missing. Never one to waste a penny, my mother surely took it.
On to the Ad
Do You Like Mysterys? (The misspelling is evidence that I needed a good editor.)
For each mystery ordered, send 10 cents plus one box top from Kelloggs Coco [sic] Krispies.
If you do order, you will get your mystery in November. (I wrote this in May, giving myself time to write the book. I recall figuring if she ordered two or more, I’d write faster. Writers, do you recognize yourselves here?)
Write your name and address on the back of the order form.
Check the mystery(s) you want:
__ The Mysterious Letter
__ The Strange Disappearing of Clarke David
__ Strange Footprints
__ The Letters of the Phantom
I provided my address.
As a note: (All of these stories are about Lilly ‘n’ Millie.)
I thought creating these stories would be entertaining and, hopefully, my mother would enjoy them. I was excited about the fictional Lilly and Millie.
Foreshadowing a Second Career
This ad illustrates some elements of an agent’s pitch letter.
Audience: My mother loved to read Nancy Drew mysteries. Likewise, I send proposals to editors whom I feel can offer serious consideration.
Price: Though I don’t set a contract offer goal in a pitch letter, I have figures in mind for that author when I write the letter. I can assure everyone that my price has increased, although anyone who wants to throw in a bonus box of Cocoa Krispies is welcome to do so.
Timeline: When can the author submit the manuscript?
Great titles: Make the customer eager to read the book!
Series potential: Discussing more than one book depicts a career author.
Contact information: Make sure the editor knows where to find you.
Excitement: Fans of Lilly ‘n’ Millie are sure to want to read these books!
Dreams
Do you remember when you first wanted to be a writer? What did you first write for publication? Why?
