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Category : Author News, Deals
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Continue Reading "An interview with novelist Les Edgerton, plus…"An interview with novelist Les Edgerton, plus…
Crime writer Les Edgerton, author of Just Like That and The Bitch, offers some good writing… have a look:
Read it and hear what he has to say. You will not agree with everything Les offers (and you may get offended at some of it), but the man can write, and is a student of words. Good stuff here for writers.
And if you’d like to learn more from the man, he’s teaching online workshops next week — find out about it here: http://stonehouseink.net/creating-great-novel-beginnings-3-classes-with-les-edgerton/
Oh… and if you type in the secret code SHUfriends (yes, it’s case sensitive), you’ll get 50% off each class. The benefits of reading my blog!
By the way, I keep getting questions about HarperCollins’ new “360” publishing program (which aims to release two new ebooks EVERY WEEK — yow). You can read the details here: http://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2012/06/harpercollins-launches-360-a-global-publishing-program-for-authors/
In a stunningly bad move, the Department of Justice has decided monopolies are now good (at least when it comes to publishing): http://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2012/05/apple-denies-justices-pricing-conspiracy-charges-says-the-government-sides-with-monopoly/
If you’re interested, here’s what the Association of Author Representatives had to say to the DOJ: http://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2735_001.pdf
And Cory Doctorow had some good insights into the role of publishers in his latest Publishers Weekly column, which you’ll find here: http://craphound.com/?p=4028
Now don’t you feel up to date?
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Continue Reading "Meet Shannon Potelicki"
Meet Shannon Potelicki
When I learned to write, I couldn’t stop. I became “The Weird Writer Girl.”
I see now that this nickname was a commentary on my tendency to spend recess writing stories instead of playing on the monkey bars. Back then? That name meant I was a superhero—saving the world one handwritten (in pink crayon) Barbie play at a time. To my little brothers, however, it meant I was a supervillain—holding them against their will to provide the voices for the boy dolls. Superhero or not, I decided that I was going to spend the rest of my life mastering the power of words.
With that resolve, I didn’t shock anyone when it came time to pick a college. I chose Taylor University’s acclaimed Professional Writing program. I graduated after earning the Jerry B. Jenkins Annual Writing Scholarship, having my byline published in a variety of magazines and newspapers, and completing an editorial internship with Focus's book publishing department.
I’ve continued to pursue a career as a writer since graduation. My projects have included ghostwriting, writing marketing and donor relations copy, and freelancing articles for online and print publications.
For the past several months, I’ve also been serving as Chip’s assistant—going through the slush pile, helping out with research, and handling other small projects. It’s been a pleasure to work with the MacGregor Literary agents, and (now that I’ve gotten the hang of things) they’ve asked me to join the team as their new International Rights Specialist.
In this new role, I’ll handle MacGregor Literary’s international deals and enable our authors to maximize their income potential. The agency has wanted to expand its involvement in the international market for awhile, and I’m excited to be giving leadership to this endeavor. As I get things going, I’ll continue to serve as Chip’s assistant and pursue my own writing
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Continue Reading "Meet Shannon Potelicki"
Meet Shannon Potelicki
When I learned to write, I couldn’t stop. I became “The Weird Writer Girl.”
I see now that this nickname was a commentary on my tendency to spend recess writing stories instead of playing on the monkey bars. Back then? That name meant I was a superhero—saving the world one handwritten (in pink crayon) Barbie play at a time. To my little brothers, however, it meant I was a supervillain—holding them against their will to provide the voices for the boy dolls. Superhero or not, I decided that I was going to spend the rest of my life mastering the power of words.
With that resolve, I didn’t shock anyone when it came time to pick a college. I chose Taylor University’s acclaimed Professional Writing program. I graduated after earning the Jerry B. Jenkins Annual Writing Scholarship, having my byline published in a variety of magazines and newspapers, and completing an editorial internship with Focus's book publishing department.
I’ve continued to pursue a career as a writer since graduation. My projects have included ghostwriting, writing marketing and donor relations copy, and freelancing articles for online and print publications.
For the past several months, I’ve also been serving as Chip’s assistant—going through the slush pile, helping out with research, and handling other small projects. It’s been a pleasure to work with the MacGregor Literary agents, and (now that I’ve gotten the hang of things) they’ve asked me to join the team as their new International Rights Specialist.
In this new role, I’ll handle MacGregor Literary’s international deals and enable our authors to maximize their income potential. The agency has wanted to expand its involvement in the international market for awhile, and I’m excited to be giving leadership to this endeavor. As I get things going, I’ll continue to serve as Chip’s assistant and pursue my own writing
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Continue Reading "NEWSDAY TUESDAY …"
NEWSDAY TUESDAY …
A NEW SEASON, A NEW PICTURE (and more updated website pics to come soon …)
AND LOTS OF RECENT MACGREGOR LITERARY DEALS DONE :
Ginger Garrett is collaborating with celebrity stylist and life coach
Michelle Phillips on a beauty and lifestyle book titled THE BEAUTY
BLUEPRINTCheryl Moeller is creating CREATIVE AND COMPLETE COOKING WITH DUAL CROCKPOTS for Harvest House
Jay Payleitner is writing three more books for Harvest House, including 52 THINGS WIVES NEED FROM THEIR HUSBANDS
Pat Rushford is writing another title for Guidepost's HOPE HAVEN series
Wesleyan has contracted Arloa Sutter to create two follow up Bible studies for her upcoming social justice title, THE INVISIBLE
Releasing in 2011, Melanie Dobson's next title with Summerside; LOVE FINDS YOU IN AMANA, IOWA
Susy Flory and Mike Hingson are collaborating on a book for Thomas
Nelson about a blind man who, working high in the World Trade Center on
Sept 11th, was led down 70 flights of stairs to safety by his guide
dog.Mel Lawrenz, the longtime pastor at Elmbrook Church in Wisconsin, is doing a book on "spiritual leadership" with Zondervan.
Vicki Hinze's LOST INC, a suspense series about a government department
looking into unsolved cases, has been sold to Harlequin.Nicole O'Dell's THE WISHING PEARL, the first in a new YA series about
teens facing difficult life dilemmas, has been contracted with Barbour.Rachel Hauck's THE WEDDING DRESS, chroncling the history of a beautiful
wedding gown that serves a major role i the lives of four women over
100 years, has been contracted with Thomas Nelson.Leslie Gould and Mindy Starns Clark are teaming up to write THE WOMEN OF LANCASTER COUNTY with Harvest House.
Shane Stanford, author of A POSITIVE LIFE, is going to write MAKING
LIFE MATTER, which explains how the steps to leading an extraordinary
life are found in the ordinary decisions and attitudes of our
day-to-day lives. It was contracted with Abingdon, -
Continue Reading "NEWSDAY TUESDAY …"
NEWSDAY TUESDAY …
Okay, so it's nearly Wednesday. We brought our new puppy (as opposed to "old puppy?") home today, so I've been writing this between other things as well as helping with trips to the appointed piddle spot and throwing treat parties when Digby succeeds doing his business.
(Digby's the cute one on the far left.)
IN OTHER (far more relevant) NEWS:
In case you haven't heard, we've added a new agent to our rolls here at MacGregor Literary. Amanda Luedeke made her conference debut this past week with us here at the Oregon Christian Writers Conference. All signs are pointing to her potentially having signed her first author already!
Our fabulous friend and local author Hillary Manton Lodge simply couldn't take it anymore. While at the conference last week she took professional quality photos and headshots for all of us – keep your eye out soon for new photos of us all — even if I am doing "that funny thing with my head" I'm sure our new pics will help us all appear far more professional.
LIST AND REVIEW NEWS:
Gina Holmes' CROSSING OCEANS, her novel published by Tyndale, is on the August CBA bestseller list.
John Wilson, the editor of Books & Culture magazine (an online
publication of Christianity Today) gave J. Mark Bertrand's BACK ON
MURDER high marks.
http://www.booksandculture.com/articles/webexclusives/2010/august/wilson081010.htmlUPCOMING RELEASES:
Susan Meissner's next novel, LADY IN WAITING, is releasing this week
with Waterbrook. It weaves the story of a contemporary couple with that
of Lady Jane Grey, and has been very much anticipated by those who
enjoyed THE SHAPE OF MERCY and WHITE PICKET FENCES.Chad Gibbs' GOD AND FOOTBALL is releasing this week from Zondervan.
It's his look at the both faith and fanaticism with people who follow
SEC football.Keep an eye out for Serena Miller's historical Amish tale, LOVE FINDS YOU IN SUGARCREEK, OHIO.
Julie Cannon is busy
at work on her next -
Continue Reading "NEWSDAY TUESDAY …"
NEWSDAY TUESDAY …
Recently a friend said to me "it must be so cool to get paid to read
manuscripts for a living." I knew then that he really had no idea what
my job entailed. Reading manuscripts and reviewing proposals is an
important part of what I do, of course. But, honestly, it's just the
beginning of what can be a long process.For me, sometimes reading manuscripts is soothing. It reminds me that
there is always the possibility of finding something fresh, or a
potential perfect fit for an editor, or simply a gem I want to
seriously consider. Other times it's stressful because I wonder how
I'll ever find time to help with another project. But, it ebbs and
flows, and all works out in the process. Publishing is a lot of things,
but one thing it most certainly is is a process.Sometimes I think writers forget this.
For example, right now I'm working on submitting a project I've been helping an
author shape since January 2009. Yep, you read that right. 18 months of
work. Admittedly the author is a busy mom and works full-time, so it's
been a bit of an off and on process for her. But, I believe in her work
and her message, and I know when the time is right, we'll be ready. For
some authors I represent, patience (on both our parts) is the primary
speed. For others, sometimes, we have to hasten things a bit.I'd love to hear from some of you who are willing to share how long it
took you to get published. I mean from first submission to book on the
shelf. Just to give some perspective. Anyone willing?While we wait for your responses, here's a smattering of NEWS for you:
A COUPLE NEWISH BLOGS by a couple editor friends of ours we thought you'd like to check out:
Nick Harrison – Harvest House Publishers Nick
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Continue Reading "We have big news …"
We have big news …
Amanda Luedeke is joining MacGregor Literary as an agent. This is a big step for us, and we're very excited.
Amanda is a 2006 graduate of Taylor University’s Professional Writing program, headed by Dennis E. Hensley. She's got a long background in books and words, and this is a step she's been moving toward for the past year.
Since her college graduation, Amanda has made her living as a full-time writer, freelancing for newspapers and marketing agencies as well as operating her own writing business. Her current full-time job is with a marketing group in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where she writes and assists in the marketing strategy for clients such as Vera Bradley, Peg Perego and Baekgaard. Like both Chip and Sandra, Amanda understands what it takes to make a living as a writer.
Amanda came on board with us a year ago as Chip’s assistant, and she's been going through the slush pile, helping out with research, and taking care of other odds and ends. We’ve really enjoyed her help here, but now that she’s gotten the hang of things, we’re excited to move her on to the next step – so she's becoming a literary agent.
Amanda will be working with childrens, YA, speculative, and post-college-aged fiction and nonfiction. This is great for us, because we currently don’t have "specialists" in these areas. Bringing Amanda on will help expand our knowledge of the industry and allow us to take on more authors with differing interests. She's just getting started, and will focus her time on a handful of clients as she gets her feet wet. Amanda will also be helping us with our foreign deals — an area we've been wanting to expand in order to help authors maximize their income potential.
She's going to be attending the ACFW conference with us in Indianapolis this summer, so if you write children's books (for either CBA or the general
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Continue Reading "NEWSDAY TUESDAY …"
NEWSDAY TUESDAY …
Even with me wasting brain cells trying to figure out who from Oceanic 815 might come back to life after "moving on" into into the great white light, and Chip and Patti welcoming their beautiful new granddaughter to the MacGregor clan, we've still got a bit of news to share this week…
NEW DEALS
Poppy Smith will be doing a book with Harvest House, which at this point is tentatively titled WHY CAN'T HE BE MORE LIKE ME.
Elizabeth Musser, author of THE SWAN HOUSE, has just signed to have three books release with Cook: TWO DESTINIES, TWO CROSSES, and TWO TESTAMENTS have already released in Europe, but now they're going to be available in the US.
Jim Rubart, whose novel ROOMS is getting a lot of attention, has just signed to do BOOK OF DAYS with B&H. It's the story of a professor who has lost his wife and is in search of the Book of Days referred to in Scripture — a book he hopes will reveal the secrets of life and death.
Janet Lee Barton has signed with Heartsong Presents to do I'D SOONER HAVE LOVE, the story of an Oklahoma couple, and Darlene Franklin has signed to do LOVE'S RAID with the same company.
Continuing her series of books with Guideposts, Leslie Gould has agreed to do another in the STORIES OF HOPE HAVEN series, and Susan Page Davis is adding LOVE FINDS YOU IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND to Summerside's romance series.
NEW RELEASES
Irene Hannon's IN HARM'S WAY is not only a new release, it's on the CBA Bestseller list, having made the ECPA's "Top Fifty"list of Christian books. Congratulations Irene!
Shane Stanford's A POSITIVE LIFE released with Zondervan and has been getting endorsements from the likes of John Ortberg and Leonard Sweet. Shane, a United Methodist pastor, shares his story of being HIV positive.
Charles Foster's THE SACRED JOURNEY released with Thomas Nelson. A
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Continue Reading "NEWSDAY TUESDAY …"
NEWSDAY TUESDAY …
Been on the road a lot this month, and as much as I love going to conferences, I'm glad to be back at my desk. I had a dream in the wee hours
this morning that I was in the shower, shouting packing instructions to
my husband, wondering if I'd still make my flight (to where, I wonder?)
which was due to leave in twenty minutes.I was so relieved to wake up in my own bed, I can't even tell you!
Hey, lots of stuff going on around here…
HOT STUFF:
~ Irene Hannon's Romantic Suspense, IN HARM'S WAY is now #11 on the CBA
June bestseller list.Second month in a row it's made the list, and it's currently also on ECPA Top Fifty list. Way to go, Irene!~ Lisa Samson has been invited to be the speaker at the Christy Awards
this year. It's the first time they've actually asked a CBA novelist to be
the speaker (though earlier Christy speakers include noted authors Brett Lott and Walter Wangerin). We're thrilled, of course.RADIO/TV/AND A LITTLE SHAMELESS PROMO:
~ Jenny B. Jones is going to be featured on Teen Talk Radio next week
— May 20th, hosted by Nicole O'Dell. Here's where to find it:
www.choicesradio.com It's a fun, interactive show with Nicole giving
guests a "scenario" with optional endings to discuss and vote on during
the following week.~ Theresa Flores just signed a deal with an actress who read her
book THE SLAVE ACROSS THE STREET and who is seeking a backer to co-produce
the television feature of her story. We often receive questions about
dramatic rights, and do our best to exploit opportunities on behalf of
our authors. But, it's extra exciting when an actress approaches us with
this level of enthusiasm. Pray with us, if you will, about this coming
together. Theresa's is an important message. If you'd like to take a
moment