From: [name deleted]
To: ShereeBee
Dear Ms. Bykofsky:
I just discovered AOL's Writer Bulletin Boards and your column is most helpful for both new and established writers. Thanks.
I wonder if you would care to give me your opinion on the following problem. I am represented by an excellent agent who sold my book proposal to [Publisher] very quickly. During my query for agents phase, she was prompt, professional and had a good reputation for solid non-fiction sales. I have been quite happy with her and I actually turned down two other agents to work with her.
Now that she has sold the book, [Publisher] has told her that it will be 4-6 weeks until the contract will be prepared and perhaps ten weeks for the first half of the advance. In order to finish the book by [Publisher's] deadline, I must take a leave of absence from my law practice to finish the book. I am concerned that I am making this commitment without any contract other than my agent's assurances that the deal is in place. I have let my agent know these concerns, and she is understanding but tells me that the deal is 99.9% sure and that I must be patient with publishers.
Is it unusual for a large house to take so long ? Is my agent sugarcoating something I should know about ? I'd appreciate your view at your convenience. Thanks again.
Dear B,
What your agent describes, I'm sorry to say, sounds typical. I don't want to be responsible, but if I were you, I would certainly believe her and be happy that I had found a good agent. [Publisher] can be impossible--but they're not so different from other publishers. It is always advisable, however, not to work too hard until you have the contracts signed. If that will make the deadline impossible, now might be a good time to speak up so that the deadline may be extended as long as the contract is delayed. Ask your agent about this option. Good luck.
From: BarcIntl
To: ShereeBee
Hi Sheree,
I saw you speak at this year's ASJA and remembered you had a column here, I hope you can help.
I've recently started writing a humor book. It's similar in genre to those "101 Things to Do with a Dead Cat" books, but more original (yeah, I know, everyone says that). My problem is that I don't have an illustrator and I know I'll need cartoon-type art to make the book saleable (or longer than 4 pages :)
How would I go about doing this? Could I submit my book to a publisher without the art and tell them that if they want the book, I'll resubmit it with art? Or do I need the illustrations first? And when I hire, can I just pay the person for the work or do I have to cut them in on the book's profits? (Yes, I know, I'm perpetually optimistic). If I have them do the work on spec, and promise them a piece of the profits, what's a fair percentage? Since I had the idea, did the writing and will be taking care of the business end, it seems like 50/50 would be a bit high a split...is 30% fair?
Thanks for your help!
Dear BarcIntl:
There are conflicting answers to almost every one of your questions. The possible deals are as diverse as pawprints. Sometimes the publisher supplies the art and pays for it. Sometimes the publisher supplies the art and the author pays for it. Sometimes the author supplies the art and the publisher pays for it. Sometimes the author supplies the art and the author pays for it. The amount that is paid varies from author to author, publisher to publisher, and illustrator to illustrator. Sometimes the deals are flat fees and sometimes the illustrator gets a percentage of the royalties. Whatever all parties agree is fair is fair. Sorry I can't help more!
From: Bonwritr
To: ShereeBee
Hi!
Enjoying your column immensely, and who knows - I may be one who contacts you sometime in the next six months. After eighteen years' writing experience, I'm seeing for the first time (thanks to the info you are providing in The Writer's Club forum) that an agent could free me up to do what I most love doing - WRITING!
Thanks for the encouragement, as well as practical, forthright information. You are appreciated!
You said: "I continue to recommend Jeff Herman's Insider's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents (although the name will be changing in September with the next edition to become part of Prima's Writer's Guide series)."
I checked at our local Waldensbook store, but they did not have a copy. Their records show that the new one should be out soon. Can you tell me when it will hit the shelves? Do you know what the new title will be?
Thanks, and continued success to you.
Dear Bonwritr:
Many thanks to you. I hope by now you have found the new edition. It is called the Writer's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors and Literary Agents. I do hope to hear from you again when you're ready to query me.
From: RusHoward
To: ShereeBee
I've had three novels published, and now I want to market a nonfiction book. However, my agent refuses to handle nonfiction and is concentrating on genre fiction.
I would like to send this ms. out myself, but I'm not quite sure how to handle this.
1. In the cover letter, do I state that my agent will handle all negotiations for me? (He has done this before with fiction.)
2. I'd like to send this out as a multiple submission. If I refer to my agent in the cover letter, how do I let him know about the multiple submission?
3. Should I just try to get a new agent who handles both fiction and NF?
In advance, thanks for your help.
Dear RusHoward:
I can only tell you what I would do were I the agent in question. First, I think you should pose each of these reasonable questions to your own agent. What I would do is tell my author that I don't wish to represent a particular books of his or hers and I recommend another agent to query. I always wish that the author will come back to me with the next book after this, but they are under no obligation. Remember, multiple queries are o.k., but I don't recommend multiple submissions of manuscripts. Let me know what happens.
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