Akitada at Cambridge University

[I. J. Parker]

What do you know, a fan -- who is also a professor and of Chinese ancestry -- writes to let me know how much she enjoys the series. She writes from Cambridge University, and I express my gratified surprise, having been told by my agent that the British just aren't showing any interest in the series. Not at all, my wonderful new fan tells me. There is a whole group of Cambridge professors who await each installment eagerly, and the local bookstore, Heffers, plans to do a special promotion.

Who would have thought?

Well, years ago, I would have thought. I'm an anglophile from way back and have always read more British authors than anything else. My agent's analysis of British reaction was a crushing blow to me. I always thought my style was more English than American, much to the dismay of my copy editors. My background, after all, was European. But alas, it didn't matter. The Brits just didn't care.

So this was not only a really wonderful exchange with a reader, but I now have a bit of hope that the UK may not be lost to me after all.

[I. J. Parker]

I'm always touched by the good wishes of people on this site. The caliber and the character of my fellow members is one of th reasons that this is my main site to hang out. Thank you.
B.R., I just had a chat with my agent. They (it's a whole firm working for me) have really been very good and have worked very hard to promote my books, especially overseas. I'm grateful to them. Occasionally, there's a glitch -- as with one of my recent novels, a rather literary effort which went off to 3 romance publishers, forsooth!, and may not get sold -- but on the whole I'm extremely lucky. Many of my problems stem from the fact that my U.S. sales figures are not really strong enough to convince publishers to take a chance. Any new author is better off than I am in that respect.

[B.R.Stateham]

Maybe it's time to change agents.

[Dana King]

Great news. Not only does it show the UK is out there and reading your books, but you're clearly getting a knowledgeable and potentially Influential audience.

Congratulations.

[D.R. MacMaster]

Congrats on the connect with the fans overseas. Try to push them to spread the word on your books. It couldn't hurt.