New wisdom, new ventures

Last week, I attended a fabulous conference called The Muse and the Marketplace, sponsored by Boston's fantastic Grub Street, "where Boston gets writing."

It was a day of ricocheting from despair to, well, slightly less despair. The first of two purchased sessions with literary agents, to whom I'd submitted my query letter, plot synopsis and first twenty pages, was not a success. She focused mostly on my query letter, giving the book itself short shrift, because she didn't like it.

Then I attended upbeat session on self-publishing, which made it seem both doable and potentially hit-making. But I was brought low by a writer friend who assured me that "it's too much work, and no one makes any money." I rose from the depths listening to the incomparable Ann Hood explain how to edit one's own work. Inspirational and practical both.

The second agent seemed slightly more positive about my work, and also offered some useful advice.

Waiting for a session to begin, I overheard a newbie agent discussing her career change and thrust my query letter upon her...and a few days later she requested my manuscript! I'm sure she has few - or even no- other potential clients, but still....

The romance novel I'm working on with a friend is a hoot, and will compel readers to swoon, daydream, and escape from their quotidian tedium...in droves, we hope.

I'm baaack (redux)

You're asking, "Why, Andi Brown, did you lie to us? You promised you were back, posted one lousy entry, and disappeared again.

Here's why. One night, after imbibing a couple of glasses of wine, and wearing sort of highish heels, I was carrying my elderly dog down the stairs and tripped. This led to a dislocated shoulder, broken bone, and torn rotator cuff. Which led to surgery, three months of pain relieved by narcotics that I feared would lead to addiction. Sum total: three months of hell.

Fast forward. I feel great, and, except for some limited range of motion in my right shoulder, I AM NORMAL. I was lucky to have some wonderful friends and family members who helped me during my recovery/ordeal.

Writing-wise, lots happening. I've purchased critiques by two literary agents via Boston's Grub Street writer's organization. I'll meet them and get their verdicts on May 5th. Do you hear the sound of my teeth chattering?

And...I'm writing a romance novel with a friend. This is also known as whoring for money. Who couldn't use some more? It's a blast, and if nothing else, it's given us tons of laughs.

And last, I'm tweeting! Check me out.
I may reveal a surprise there in a couple of weeks!

I'm baaaack!

You thought I'd abandoned you. I was feeling that I didn't have enough to say. Then yesterday I attended a workshop on "publicizing yourself" for authors, and decided to jump back into the game. Here I am again, live on video (scroll to the end to see me actually speak).

Meanwhile,. I got my Harper Collins review - part encouraging, part moronic. Get ready for the stupid parts:

The setting of Boston... could alienate any non-US audience.

Hello, you idiot at Harper Collins UK - we have zillions more readers here than in your dinky little island nation. And I don't think a British setting hurt U.S. sales of those kids' fantasy books that were popular not too long ago. This one rates a big HUH?

But wait, there's more:

I think the story would work better with a male protagonist than a female heroine. Although it will appeal to some women, the comic style and narrative seems better suited for a male readership rather than a female audience who I think would be a difficult market for the novel.

Let me get this straight. Women don't enjoy humor, so change my funny, witty, smart heroine into a GUY???? DOUBLE HUH??

This reviewer needs a head transplant, though she did also say, The tone is light and witty and there are some truly great descriptions in the narrative which keeps the writing fresh and visual.

At her suggestion, and that of some other agents, I'm rewriting to expand the heroine's background, after which I'll send it to my beloved book doctor again before shopping it around to some agents for the LAST time.

And now, watch me live from my bedroom to yours!

Recommended Reads

While you wait for my Harper Collins editor's review, here are two terrific reads by friends of mine.

Michelle Hoover's The Quickening is a lyrically written and haunting story of life in the rural midwest during the depression. The New Yorker said, "In Hoover's debut, the quiet struggle between two Midwestern farm women has the stark simplicity of a Biblical parable....The book's lament for a lost way of life—one in which people 'looked in hope to the ground and the roots growing there more often than we looked for grace from the sky'—has a mournful beauty."

You can purchase The Quickening on Amazon.

Another friend, Amy Axelrod, has written a funny and poignant story of an unusual childhood, in which the heroine takes solace from a family in turmoil by writing letters featuring her very own fashion designs to first lady Jackie Kennedy. Though aimed primarily at a young adult audience, baby boomer women will be as captivated as I was by Your Friend in Fashion, Abby Shapiro.
Happy reading.

I won!!!!

Animal Cracker made it to the Editor's Desk on Harper Collins's Authonomy site. Number three no less! This means that some time within the next two months a real live Harper Collins editor will review the book and consider it for publication.

To be sure, publication's a long shot. Still, it's pretty gratifying to have been selected out of thousands of books.

Watch this space.

Vote for My Book Part 2

Another day, another vote!

Reminder: I'm entered into a contest sponsored by Harper Collins UK on their Authonomy website. Writers submit their work and get "backed - voted on - and rated by others on the site. The top five books get considered for publication by real live Harper Collins editors. And, ta da - out of about 5,000 authors on the site, I'm currently number 21!!!

You can vote for me by going to the site, registering, and backing and rating (six stars if you please) Animal Cracker. It's easy and might actually help me get published. Here's the link to the Authonomy website and my book.

Thanks for your support!

My Screenplay

I've made some noise about my screenplay, but now I'm not just blowing smoke - I finished it! Look for English Only in your local multiplex (or more likely art house) in a couple of years. Unfortunately, unlike the book biz, where self-publication has become a viable and inexpensive option, producing one's own movie on the cheap is less likely. So, if you know anyone in the movie biz, send 'em my way!

My comic novel Animal Cracker is still up and climbing the charts at authonomy.com. Check it out!

Have a great long weekend!