Agents

Ch-ch-ch-Changes

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 31, 2013

by Tamela Hancock Murray

railway

More questions!

How are the revolutionary changes in the publishing industry affecting your effectiveness as an agent?

I believe literary agents are needed more than ever because the landscape has become increasingly bumpy for writers. For example, we have been working with publishing house contracts regarding digital issues, how they affect the definition of out-of-print and how authors will be compensated for digital rights. Clauses that might have generated yawns five years ago, today are scrutinized and reworked with new technology and formats in mind. These are not simple issues and having a skilled literary agent negotiating your contract is critical. In addition we have clients at the forefront in digital-first publishing, with contracts from Zondervan, Cook and Tyndale, to name three. This model is being heavily scrutinized on both sides of the table.

Where do you see these changes taking you in your personal career, and in the careers of those whom you represent?

I anticipate new opportunities for publishers, authors, and agents as we move forward to be sure our readers are able to obtain quality content in whatever format they wish to read. Authors will need to know more about marketing their own books effectively and work with their publishers to maximize opportunities for both print as well as e-book formats. For instance, I perused the catalog of my local library this past week in search of a certain title released by a traditional publisher. This book is available on the market in both print and e-book. However, the library only carries this particular book in e-book format at present. This means the next time I work with that publisher I will ask about this situation and see if there is way we can help influence the publisher’s sales efforts. I expect more of the same in the coming months and years. Every day has a new challenge. We are prepared to face each and every one!

Your turn:

What changes in publishing concern you the most?

What changes do you find most exciting?

Do you see the role of your agent changing in any way?

Taking Your Questions

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 24, 2013

In my ongoing quest to address the needs of our blog readers, I am answering more questions authors have posed in the comments section of past blogs.

What publishers do you generally work with, and with which ones do you have the closest working relationship, or usually contact first? Which ones do you avoid? And why?

What I think you really want to know is, "If I sign with you, where will I …

Category: Agents, Book Business, Get Published, Marketing, TamelaTag: Agents, publishers

Questions About Editors, Countries, and Awards

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 17, 2013

This blog is a continuation of my question-and-answer session in response to queries posted on a recent post.

1) Would you be able to get access to briefs from editors on what they are looking for and suggest to the author if there are any mutually interesting topics or genres?

Yes. Between the three of us, our agency has 81 years in publishing experience. During this time, we have forged …

Category: Agents, Awards, Conferences, Get Published, TamelaTag: Agents, Awards, Editors

Answers from the Mountaintop

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 10, 2013

(Or, from my desk in Virginia, where I am fueled by bold, rich coffee)

Before Christmas, when I posted about having a serious talk with your agent, a couple of you asked more questions. I really appreciate you! Over the next few weeks, I'll provide my perspective on various questions. I want my posts to be a source of good, helpful information, so feel free to make more queries in the …

Category: Agents, Book Business, Get Published, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Agents, Get Published

Serious Talk with Your Potential Agent

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 13, 2012

What are some of the things you should ask when an agent has called to offer you representation? Here goes, in no particular order:

1) Would you go over your contract terms with me? Even though you will be reading the agency contract before signing, this is your chance to learn the main points you can expect to see. Ask questions now. After you review the contract, don't be afraid to ask for …

Category: Agents, Book Business, Contracts, Get Published, TamelaTag: Agents, Book Business, Get Published

Agents and Proposals: What to Expect

By Karen Ballon November 28, 2012

Last week I left you with a question: How do editors/agents get through all the proposals they receive. For me, as an editor and now as an agent, the answer was to hire someone to be my first-pass reader. In my case, this person is someone I’ve worked with now for over fifteen years. She knows me and my tastes well, and, as an avid reader and a skilled writer herself, she knows quality writing. …

Category: Agency, Book Proposals, Get Published, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Agents, book proposals

Why Don’t Agents/Editors Give You More Guidance?

By Karen Ballon November 21, 2012

Proposals are hard work. C’mon, be honest. All the research and writing and preparation that goes into them? Admit it, that sometimes feels like you’re being punished for wanting to write a book. And then, when you’ve poured your heart and time and effort into making that dreaded proposal as perfect as you can, what happens? You send it to the agent or editor, and wait.

And wait. And wait. And …

Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Get Published, KarenTag: Agents, book proposals, Editors, Get Published

Juggling Agent Interest

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 8, 2012

Whether you have been sending queries simultaneously through email, the Post Office, or by pitching at conferences, you may be among the select few authors who garners interest from more than one agent. Congratulations! While interest from more than one publishing professional doesn't guarantee a contract, the consensus is that you have a strong proposal and a good shot at success. For the sake of …

Category: Agency, Agents, Book Business, Get Published, TamelaTag: Agents, Get Published

Choosing and Courting Your First Choice Agent

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 1, 2012

You've done your homework, including:

visiting agency web sites
talking to author friends about their agents
interacting casually with agents on social media
reading agents' blogs
attending writers conferences as your time and budget allow

This is part of the process in helping you choose the agent you most feel you want to work with.

When deciding, think about:

agency's …

Category: Agents, Get Published, TamelaTag: Agents, Get Published