Hi, Everyone. Thanks everyone for participating in the Q&A with Elana Roth. It was fun and informative. And thanks to you too, Elana!
If you missed the Q&A, you can access the “live” portion by clicking on the comments below. Click here to view the Q&A.
Thanks everyone for all your questions! I hope I was helpful, and I’m looking forward to seeing some excellent queries!
Signing off…
Elana
Thank you, Elana! This has been really great and informative. I learned some new stuff about the biz as well as how to manage my spam filter (maybe). I think just now, moments before this ends, I figured out how to “whitelist” you (you were blacklisted!!!) and you should be good to comment away forever now. Knock on wood…of course, we’re done here.
Again, thanks to Elana and all the rest of you who asked questions. Also, thanks to Eileen Cook who “introduced” me to Elana! Good luck at Firebrand and good luck to all you writers out there too!
cheers,
Joelle
Yes, very helpful. Thanks again!
Hi again, Wanda. I’d say it’s a subtle difference.A sequel is just a single follow-up title. A series is usually envisioned as several books to begin with, but can also occur accidentally if one keeps adding on books one at a time. You don’t always plan for a sequel, though you usually map out a series to begin with. Also, a series usually means 3 or more books. Helpful at all?
Is there a difference between a sequel versus a series book? I’ve always assumed that they are different in some way…perhaps in the way they are conceived?
Thank you, Elana. It’s been a pleasure to get to know you online. And thanks, Joelle!
Thanks so much for answering all these questions!
Thank you for your help, Elana. I’m still working on the mystery, but when it’s ready, I’ll be sure to send it your way!
I wish you all the best with Firebrand.
Maude – it’s hard to say about the mystery without seeing the actual pitch. You’re welcome to use our online submission system and send the query through that way for me to read. I don’t think the biblical one sounds up my alley though.
Eileen – thanks!! Do I hear correctly that you’ll be in New York soon? I’ll for sure come get an autographed book.
I would describe my historical biblical women’s novel as being more akin to Salome by Beatrice Gormley – definitely more YA in terms of writing style, and much shorter than The Red Tent (which I enjoyed).
Just popping in to say I had a chance to do some edits with Elana and I found you GREAT to work with- you’ve got that perfect balance of telling a writer what we need to know to make the story better- while still letting us think we’re the best thing on the planet.
Whoever gets you as an agent will luck out!
Hi Maude, it’s hard to say without seeing the actual pitch. You’re welcome to use our online submission system and send the query through that way for me to read.
I would best describe it as a farcical mystery – aimed at the YA to adult market. The story is written in omniscient/impartial voice (each character reveals themselves “naked” before the “lens”) and the hero is the one who (accidentally) solves the crime.
Sorry for any delays here. After the first couple of posts by Elana, my spam filter decided she was spamming me, so I’m trying to stay on top of it! It lets me approve it, it just takes me a minute or two.
I’m afraid I’m not so into historical fiction. And though admittedly I was a bible major in college, I’ve been little wary about using biblical characters in novels ever since I read Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent. Unless the concept was just outstanding, I’m afraid I’d pass on that one.
Hi Maude. Is it a children’s mystery or an adult mystery? I’m afraid I’m not much good with adult mysteries. But I love middle-grade and YA mystery. My question though is…is the hero the narrator? And by “hero” do you mean crime-solver? As long as the twist works, I’d happily consider it.
What about a historical YA story about a biblical woman?
Would you consider a quirky mystery novel with a hero who doesn’t know they’re the hero until the end?
Joelle–of course you can ask a question! I haven’t signed up for any yet. I probably won’t for a few months yet. But once I do, you’ll definitely see me on the rounds. Maybe by the fall.
Hope you don’t mind me asking a question!
Do you have any plans to go to any conferences any time soon?
Hi, Jack. I think graphic novels are around for a good while longer. Successful books are finding another life in graphic novel editions. Publishing companies are establishing imprints to specifically focus on them. My feeling is you’re in safe territory for awhile. What used to be a niche market is becoming more mainstream, which makes it pretty exciting. I don’t know if anyone really knows yet what kinds of stories will be most successful in graphic novel form yet, but now’s the time to try it out.
What’s your take on graphic novels? I’m actually interested in them, not simply “writing for the market”, but I also don’t want to spend the next year doing a graphic novel if it’s just a trend and will be hard to sell before I’m done (like vampires or adult chick lit). Or do you think it is just gathering momentum and will be around for a while?
No problem at all. Yes, it’s true that most publishers like to hire their own illustrators, so normally only a manuscript is submitted. But with the volume of picture book manuscripts out there, fewer are getting bought. My personal feeling is that I want to offer something that is truly unique and to me that means the visual aspect of the book needs to be special from the onset. So I prefer a picture book that I can already see is different because I have the art in front of me already. That said, I’m really picky–and our submission system isn’t really set up for art. So chances are I’ll only look at ones that come in through referral.
I have another question, if you have the time. Could you tell us more about submitting a picture book ms. that already comes with an illustrator attached to the project? I do both writing and illustrating and your comment made me prick up my ears because I had always heard that publishers prefer not to take the risk of both elements coming from the same person.
Hi Wanda. Well, by “believable male voice” I mean just that. Middle-grade and YA with a boy narrator–that actually feels like an real boy with real boy issues. It’s a hard thing to pull off, especially for a writer of the opposite sex. There’s been a huge trend toward girl narrators, because girls at these ages are doing most of the reading. And a male voice will still attract girl readers–but hopefully appeal to some boys who want a character they can relate to as well.
Hi, Elana. After reading your comments posted this morning, I noticed that you mentioned your interest in a “believable male voice” a couple of times. I would love for you to elaborate on that idea. Thanks!