I've been off to Florida, then Peru now off to Texas. How are you doing? Traveling at all?
:) Sheri

She is the fire that lit me up iniatialy (sp).
Loved Queenpin--btw thanks so much for your good wishes, particulary your prediction! It's funny Jack--because I don't really have a female protaganist. there's a woman there--but she's a product of 1950's conventions--it's pretty old fashioned in its way--but different too. anyway thanks so much, Jack!

Hi Jack! oops better not yell that out on a plane, or I might get arrested!
just wanted to say hi. good, good luck with your book!
all the best,
p.s. I'm still plugging--but the final draft approaches finally!

Atta boy. Read the backs of paperbacks in the supermarket and drug store. Those people can write a pitch! I learned the hardway. I am responsible for the back copy on my books, and the first one was pretty lame. Too long, too many modifiers. I watched potential reader after reader read the back and then put the book down. On this second one, I worked very hard on it, and used some lines from the book. It's working much better.

Jack,
I've started on an elevator pitch, a two paragraph synopsis, a one page synopsis and a five page synopsis and I plan to work on them all until I am happy with them. I may post them for critique when I finish.
Thanks again for the help.
Tom

Jack,
Thank you for the advice. That actually looks like something I can do.

Again, con muchas gracias.

Tom

It must be! It's so forceful. No mistaking K for any other sound (unlike P,B, and D, for example). Now that I'm aware of it, I can't stop paying attention. But I"m going to try. (I helped write and edit a phonics program and got tuned in to hearing sounds.) But readers like the sound too and that scene certainly caught my attention.

Hi Jack
Thought you might want to know I mentioned you on my guest blog on Bookbitch: http://bookbitch.blogspot.com.

You're not a stereotype, you're a powerful type. And so are your characters. I love all those names.

Wow. Your own story is a testament to perserverance. You are better than me. I don't have 30 years in me to wait. Lawd, have mercy. SMH

Thank you for your insight. I will give it some more thought, as I am a great networker being that I am outgoing and extremely communicative I know I would have fun at any convention as I always do.

My major problem with them, however, is they are a huge investment in time and even more money and the payoff is like you said, different for everyone. I mean, how many would I have to pay for before I grab an agent? 1, 5, 20? That's a lot of money and there is no guarantee.

You are right, publishing is a business and my business but I am not in the fiscal position to jet off chasing agents who don't even have the decency to respond to a personalized query letter with a personalized rejection. And my experience with recruiters in this arena is that they are even more selective when staring you in the face than when hitting the reply button. But I will give it more thought and definitely appreciate your advice.

I hope my reluctance on this subject doesn't hinder future communication. =) Thanks again.

The total story and what I didn't write was during the preceding chapters she kept emailing me saying she couldn't believe this or that.

In her first read, she read from the prologue to chapter 7 straight away. In all, she read the entire manuscript, on a computer in three sessions: prologue to 7, 7-21 and then the rest. The little feedback I did receive from the one agent who did a full read mentioned the pacing worked for her.

Initially, I did make a mistake and took too long getting to the story. A mistake all new writers make, I understand. Now that I have reworked it, I am satisified it gets the reader to the crux in a hurry.

The jury is still out for me with these conventions, until I hear enough people say they got what they paid for.

What have you gotten out of these conventions/conferences?

Thanks for the tips. =)

Thought you might get a kick out of my blog, The Power of Jack.

Al Zuckerman was my agent. He's semi-retired now.
Yes, just a matter of time. Good thing I plan to live to 103.

I went the opposite way, sending everything out, ready or not, to agents, editors, and producers. Eventually, I landed the president of Writers House as my agent, who called me one day and said, "Michelle at HarperCollins loves your manuscript, I'll have an offer for you next week." And it still didn't happen.
I had a another similar occurrence last year.
But I have first chapters, full manuscripts, and foreign rights all out there now, being considered. Never give up.

Okay, you win. I've only spent 18 years and have 5 unsold book manuscripts and 5 unsold screenplays. (But I'm still waiting for the call . . )
Congratulations! With writing, it's perseverance, perseverance, perseverance.

Yes, they had your cover. I'd be happy to forward the newsletter to you if you'd like to see it. Erm, as long as I can find an email addy to send it to, lol!

Hey Jack, saw your book as one of the four featured this week in the Shelf Awareness newsletter. Cool!

Hey, Jack, I can just see you in untucked Hawaiian shirt, cigar, and Santa hat. Mele Kalikimaka! It's hot and sunny here in Florida and I confess I do miss a cold snap in the air and some frost on the trees around this time of year-- but just briefly. See you in Denver, which will be more than enough cold for me.