Have I Really Been Blogging for Five Years?

Apparently, the answer is yes (and I have the archives to prove it). In some ways, it feels like it hasn't been that long, but in other ways, it does. Blogging was the thing for a new writer to do back in 2009, and now it's kind of...not. Also, Lady was a screaming infant back when I first started, and now she's in kindergarten. It's funny how time speeds up when we're not paying attention and slows down when we are.

Clicking back through these archives, it's interesting to see what's the same and what's different. I'm still recommending books (though not quite as often as I used to). The first book I ever recommended was Jamie Ford's HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET, which went on to become an international best-seller, so I guess I got that one right:) And my ongoing agent series--"Interview with an Agent," "Agent-Author Chat," and "An Agent's Inbox"--are still hanging around (though, here again, I'll be the first to admit that I'm not posting new installments nearly as often as I used to).

Unfortunately, I'm no longer massacring the art of French cooking (though I still think that's the best series name I've ever come up with). And I no longer post query updates, either, partly because I'm no longer querying, but also because the deeper you dive into this industry, the less you're at liberty to share.

That transparency is one of the things I really miss about the old days, actually. I also miss the writer I used to be. It's not that I don't feel like I've gotten better, because I do (and objectively speaking, I'm pretty sure I have), but for some reason, I found it easier to believe in myself when I was the only one who did. Maybe the years of rejection--and those don't end once you sell a manuscript, by the way--finally took their toll, or maybe it just goes to show that no amount of success will ever make us feel good enough. We have to find that for ourselves.

So where do we go from here? Well, next week, I'll be hosting a blog birthday giveaway that will probably include a few partial critiques from yours truly and maybe some other goodies (if I'm feeling really crazy). Also, we have another round of "An Agent's Inbox" coming up (which will be judged by Melissa Jeglinski of The Knight Agency--yay!), so keep an eye out for that contest alert (which will go up next Friday). In other words, it sounds like it will mostly be business as usual around here, but I couldn't let this month go by without at least ACKNOWLEDGING that it's the blog's fifth birthday. I'm sure you understand:)

And the Winner of GRIM CRUSH Is...

Jenilyn Collings!

Congratulations, Jeni! Please e-mail me at kvandolzer(at)gmail(dot)com so we can figure out how to get your e-copy of GRIM CRUSH to you.

The Beta Reader Browse, 2014 Edition

It's been forever since I hosted one of these meet-and-greets, so consider this my catch-up post. I know there are several dedicated websites that help writers find new beta readers/critique partners, but since I found ALL of my critique partners on a blog, I can't help but think that the old-fashioned way might still be useful:)

If you're looking for a beta reader/critique partner, leave a comment on this post with the following information:

1. The genre of your manuscript
2. A few sentences about it
3. What you're looking for in a beta reader/critique partner (e.g., a conceptual critique of your full manuscript, a line edit of your first three chapters, or whatever)
4. Your e-mail address

Happy meeting-and-greeting! (And don't miss the giveaway for S.L. Bynum's GRIM CRUSH!)

From "An Agent's Inbox" to Publication

When S.L. Bynum entered GRIM CRUSH in one of the very first rounds of "An Agent's Inbox," The Agent said that her writing was great but that the concept wasn't for her. Luckily, Crescent Moon Press thought the concept was for them. GRIM CRUSH debuted last month, and Ms. Bynum is here to fill us in on her path to publication. I'm also hosting a giveaway for a copy of the e-book, so don't miss those details at the bottom of the post!

The road to publication is filled with many bumps and obstacles. In my case, it was filled with SIX YEARS of that tough road.

I guess I'll start when I was eighteen, and I first decided I wanted to be a published author. Despite disapproval from family and friends, I followed my heart anyway.

I thought it would be easy, but boy, was I wrong. I wrote a few novels (some that will NEVER see the light of day) and started querying one of them way before it was ready, just because I was so desperate to get published. The rejections poured in like an avalanche. So I got feedback on what I was doing wrong, then I wrote more, better novels. And I edited them. And I did research on how to write better queries.

In 2011, I came up with a novel idea about a female grim reaper who is invisible to all humans except the Native American boy she falls in love with. And I was like, "Hm, this is a YA paranormal romance. And that's what's hot in the market right now. And mine is different, in which the female is the paranormal creature, not the hot guy." So I worked on it, and edited it based off of critiques. And I sent out queries for it. Finally, literary agents were requesting the manuscript. But still, no offers of representation.

I tried entering a few contests, like the lovely Krista Van Dolzer's An Agent's Inbox contest. I got positive feedback from agents, but now they were saying the YA market was getting too saturated with paranormal romances and grim reaper stories.

Grr.

By 2013, agents were rarely taking on any more YA paranormal romances. I thought I might have to self-publish, but before that, my last hope was trying small press publishers. I expected the same thing to happen: multiple rejections. My jaw literally dropped when I got a request for the full manuscript from Crescent Moon Press, which turned into them offering me a contract for publication!

Fast forward a year later, and my book is now available to buy. The process was much faster traditional publishing. So the moral of this story isn't just to never give up, it's about making sure you explore all possible options. When you have a dream, you should be willing to try anything to get there. If your first and most preferred method doesn't work (150 query rejections, anyone?), there are always other options. Who knows, it may turn out better than you thought.

Congratulations, Ms. Bynum, on GRIM CRUSH's release, and thank you for sharing your journey with us. Also, thank you for furnishing an e-book for our giveaway! If you'd like to enter, just tell us in the comments that you'd like to win. Contest is open internationally and closes in one week, on Monday, September 8, at 11:59 p.m. EDT (or 8:59 p.m. PDT). I'll select a random winner the next day.

Ms. Nyen's Winners

Without any ado, Ms. Nyen's winners:

#3 SNOW GLOBE

#5 100 KISSES

#16 BEE STADIUM

#21 IF I PROMISE YOU THE SUN

#30 WHERE THERE IS DARK

Congratulations, winners! Ms. Nyen would like to see your first five chapters and a complete synopsis. Please e-mail me at kvandolzer(at)gmail(dot)com for instructions on how to submit your materials.

And for those of you who didn't win, you're welcome to query her directly via her submission guidelines once you've revised your entries. Though she won't be able to offer any additional feedback, she'll be happy to reconsider your queries and first three pages.

Last but certainly not least, a huge thank-you to Ms. Nyen for giving so much of her time to these critiques and a big thank-you to YOU for entering and critiquing. I appreciate your patience as well as your participation. I know I say it every time, but these contests really wouldn't work without you.

The Agent = Renee Nyen of kt literary

This month's agent, who certainly went the extra mile, was Renee Nyen of kt literary! She's an up-and-coming agent who's actively building her list, so if you'd like more information, you can find her in several places around the web:

My interview with Ms. Nyen
Ms. Nyen's Twitter feed

And here's a little more about her: "Several years in the editorial department at Random House’s Colorado division provided Renee with the opportunity to work with bestselling and debut authors alike. After leaving Random House, she came to kt literary in early 2013. She loves digging into manuscripts and helping the author shape the best story possible. Though this is great for her profession, it tends to frustrate people watching movies with her.

With a penchant for depressing hipster music and an abiding love for a good adventure story, Renee is always looking for book recommendations. Even if that means creeping on people reading in public. Which she does frequently.

She makes her home in Colorado with her husband, their young daughter, and their hygienically-challenged basset hound."

I'll announce her winners shortly...

Ready, Set, Critique!

UPDATE: I've noticed that several of the entrants have posted revisions in the comments section of their posts. It's not against the rules, so to speak, so I won't delete those comments, but please be aware that The Agent will only read and comment on the original entries. We don't want to add to his or her workload!

And we're off! Check out the entries, then leave some feedback in the comments if you feel so inclined. (ENTRANTS, PLEASE REMEMBER TO CRITIQUE AT LEAST THREE OTHER ENTRIES!) And I'm sure this goes without saying, but please keep your comments constructive (i.e., not rude or mean-spirited). If you want to think like The Agent, you might consider the question, "How much of the entry did you read, and if you didn't read it all, why did you stop?"

I'll announce The Agent's winners and prizes at the beginning of next week, but until then, have at it!

(Also, just so you're aware, I always take out profanity when I'm formatting the entries. In other words, any asterisks you see in the entries are mine, so you don't need to point them out to the entrants. I just prefer to keep things as PG-rated as possible on the blog.

Last but not least, entrants, if you find a Krista-generated error in your post, feel free to shoot me an e-mail, and I'll correct it straightaway.)

An Agent's Inbox #30

Dear Agent,

Cursed to perpetual darkness, the once-great city of Creperi teeters on the brink of ruin. Sixteen-teen-year old Jazzlyn may live among the damned, but what sets her apart also makes her a target.

Creperi’s exiles want what Jazzlyn has--immunity from the Star’s lethal rays--and they’ve figured out a way to get it. When the exiles take her boyfriend, Tristan, hostage, Jazzlyn will do anything to save him. Unfortunately, anything includes traveling to Lumen, the mountain metropolis above the black clouds, and burgling a light-stone from Lumen’s ruler. However, saving Tristan may be the worst mistake of Jazzlyn’s life. Once she makes the trade, the clouds protecting Creperi threaten to break apart. 

Someone doesn’t want her people freed from the dark. The exiles claim they know who it is and, with Jazzlyn's help, how to stop them before the sky opens up. Except in a world ravaged by darkness, secrets claim the spaces torchlight cannot reach and everyone--the exiles, and even Tristan--have something to hide. If Jazzlyn can figure out who to trust before the sky opens up, maybe Creperi has a chance. If not, her city, along with everyone she loves, will burn.

WHERE THERE IS DARK is a 62,000 word young adult fantasy. Jazzlyn’s fight to discover her purpose in a world divided may appeal to readers who’ve enjoyed character driven fantasies in the vein of Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha trilogy and the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

C.A.H.

WHERE THERE IS DARK

Mushrooms thrive in the dark, so they’re the only food that isn’t rationed. The pungent stink wafting through the house is a sure sign we’re having them for breakfast.

Again.

I blow out an exasperated breath and plod downstairs.

Mother stirs a pot of fungi ragoût that boils over the hearth’s open flames. Firelight brings out the red in her hair that’s twisted into a braid over one thin shoulder.

“Jazzlyn.” She looks up as I pause beneath the stone archway that divides the common room from the kitchen. “What took you so long?”

“I was just...” putting off the inevitable.

“Never mind. You’ll have to eat when we get back,” she says. When my face scrunches up, she sets the spoon on the counter and plants a hand on her hip. “What?”

We’re attending another birth this morning, that’s what. “Nothing.” I grab a lantern off the table. “Are you ready to go?”

She nods and we slip out the front door and into the ebony morning, where endless black clouds pulse overhead like a living, breathing thing, blocking the light out, or perhaps, sealing the darkness in. The swaying lantern casts a pale glow over rows of mortar and stone houses and their barren plots of dirt.

I scan the spaces between shadows, grasping for a sign that Father’s returned, even though logic dictates that, if he were inside the city walls, guardians would have found him by now.