Tuesday, May 18, 2010

I Should Have Been an Agent

I'd probably suck at negotiating contracts, but I sure can pick a winning manuscript!

My friend Tara wrote a manuscript last year called The Monstore. "It's a winner!" I said immediately. "It's cute and clever and high concept." She was excited, but when she didn't get into the Rutgers conference with it, she started to have doubts. "Maybe it isn't that good after all?" she said. "TRUST ME, it will sell," I told her. And it did! Last week, her newly acquired agent, Ammi-Joan Paquette, sold it to Simon and Schuster. Look for it in the Summer of 2012!

My friend Tiffany (who I sometimes refer to as T or S or F) wrote a picture book called Ollie and Claire. This story is essentially The Pina Colada Song for kids. I love it so much that I may have to have another kid just so that I have someone to read it to every day! "I have NO DOUBT it will sell," I told her. She subbed it out to editors and agents. Everyone loved the concept, but some had issues with the execution. "Don't change a thing. The execution is brilliant!" I insisted. Well, Tamra Tuller at Philomel agreed! She fell in love with it and will be releasing it in the Spring of 2013.

What's my point? I don't have one. No, actually, I guess my point is... if you have a PB manuscript and you want to know if its got a good chance of selling, just send it to me.

But only if you can handle the truth.

15 comments:

MeganRebekah said...

I would LOVE to be an agent. I wish I had known they existed back in high school and college, I would've planned my career track a little differently :)

Shannon O'Donnell said...

I think you're brilliant! When I write another PB, you can bet you'll be reading it! :-)

Amy Allgeyer Cook said...

Pina Colada song? You mean that one that goes, 'If you like Pina Coladas, walking in the rain...'? Interesting ... for the picture book crowd?

I disagree about you not having a point. *I* think your point is that just because someone gets a rejection does NOT mean the manuscript is crap or even that it needs to be changed. I think (all too often) we start ripping up our books for every little comment which can make for a nest of mess. Plots stop holding together, threads that wove from beginning to end get cut in the middle. I think your point is that we should have more confidence in our abilities and give our stories a chance before tearing them asunder.

(I'm so jazzed I got to use 'asunder'.) :)

Paul Michael Murphy said...

What's a great premise? When you say a book is basically the Pina Colada song for kids and I go "Shit. Now why didn't I think of that?"

Anonymous said...

Congrats to your friends. How exciting for both of them.

Kelly H-Y said...

Holy cow ... you're good! Maybe I should send mine to you ... you've got quite a track record!!!

storyqueen said...

Hmmmm...finishin up something soon...maybe I'll send it to you for a look see when I do.

Believe me, I can handle the truth.
(I've had it handed to me many times before, along with my butt.)

Shelley

lisa and laura said...

Hmmm...so what do you know about snarky YA?

Tiffany Strelitz Haber said...

Thanks for the shout out, hon!
To add to your credits, you also had a good feeling about "The Onster" which I was convinced would never see the light of day! Here's my prediction: you are about to have a very full inbox with manuscripts waiting/hoping to receive the Corey gold star!

Hardygirl said...

Yay for all those picture book sales!!!

sf

Heidi Willis said...

I like the sounds of your truth. :)

I so wish I could write PB. They are so amazing and creative and fun. I always say I write adult fiction because I'm not inventive enough to write YA or kids books. :)

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

It sounds like you are a lucky charm for your friends...Congrat's to Tiffany and Tara.

I love it when good things happen to people I know. :)

Kim said...

That's fantastic! Congrats to both of your friends.

One of these days I'm going to send you a MS. I signed up for a PB class. We'll see how it goes.

Anonymous said...

I'll say it again. YOU WERE RIGHT!!!

Hopefully you're also right about the other manuscript we're trying to sell right now.

I like saying YOU WERE RIGHT! I'd love to say it some more!

Pam Calvert said...

Really? You want me to send you a pb ms????

When I get a good one, I'll send!!! :-D