Publishing Pulse 5/22/09

QT Carnival News:

Our carnival celebrating the second anniversary of QueryTracker.net is well underway! There's only one more day to be entered an extra time for the free custom designed website! Click here for more details.

Purple Prose contest is still open until midnight on Monday, May 25.

Anagram Anarchy went live yesterday and will run until next Wednesday, May 27.

Don't forget to nominate your favorite agent for the high honor of King or Queen! Suzette is taking entries through email. Check the sidebar for her email address.

Every contest entry you submit earns you a chance to win the free custom designed website. But that's not all. Every contest also has it's own set of prizes. And darn good ones, if I do say so myself.

First Place: critique of your query letter by a literary agent! That's right. You read that sentence correctly. Four agents have generously donated their time to read YOUR query should you win one of the individual contests.

So without further ado, I give you:

Jim McCarthy interned for DGLM while studying urban design at New York University. Upon graduating, Jim realized he would much rather continue working with books than make the jump (as he had originally intended) to the field of city planning.

As an avid fiction reader, his interests encompass both literary and commercial, adult and young adult works. He is particularly interested in women's fiction, underrepresented voice, mysteries, romance, paranormal fiction, and anything unusual or unexpected. In addition to fiction he is also interested in narrative nonfiction, humor, memoir, paranormal nonfiction, and anything related to architecture, planning, or real estate.

Check out his QT profile here. Mr. McCarthy will be critting the query letter for the winner of an exciting contest coming up next week so stay tuned!

Lindsay Davis moved to Writers House after beginning her publishing career in the Harcourt Children's Marketing Department. She's been lucky to apprentice with Steven Malk in the West Coast office, where she's had the opportunity to work with some of the very best authors and artists in the industry. She's now building her own list and she's actively seeking picture book, middle grade, and young adult manuscripts. She's always been passionate about children's and young adult literature, and, as an agent, she's eager to help bring fresh voices, characters and stories to a new generation of readers.

She is particularly drawn to mysteries, fantasy, historical fiction, magical realism, adventure, and books with humor--light or dark or both. Growing up, she loved (and still loves) stories by Roald Dahl, Madeleine L'Engle, Katherine Paterson, E. L. Konigsburg, Lois Lowry, Beverly Cleary, and Judith Viorst.

Check out her QT profile here. Ms. Davis will be critting the query letter for the winner of an exciting contest coming up next week so stay tuned!

Kae Tienstra founded KT Public Relations and Literary Services in January 1993. The firm specializes in publicity and marketing campaigns for book and magazine publishers, authors, and other businesses. KT Public Relations handles all phases of publicity and marketing for its clients, including creation of press and promotional materials, media relations, media coaching, general publicity, online publicity, special events and public relations consultation.

Before founding KT Public Relations, Kae served as publicity director for Rodale, Inc. and was responsible for securing trade and consumer publicity for 40 to 50 new book titles each year. In addition, she was interim director of corporate communications for three years and was responsible for corporate public relations as well as numerous magazine publicity projects. She is married to Jon Tienstra who is a partner in KT Public Relations. Jon and Kae are the parents of three grown children and live in Fogelsville, PA. Kae is a frequent public speaker delivers seminars and workshops on publicity.

Check out their QT profile here. Mr. Tienstra will be critting the query letter for the winner of the Purple Prose contest. Ms. Tienstra will be critting the query letter for the winner of the Anagram Anarchy contest. Both of these contests are still open, so be sure to enter for a chance to win!

Agent and Publishing News:

Chasya Milgrom at Dystel and Goderich was recently promoted from assistant to agent. Read more here.







Why one agent says no: Holly Root on why she passes on projects (not queries).

Moonrat explains how authors get paid. Check it out!

Nathan Bransford lays out when it's okay to requery. Jessica Faust weighs in too. And on the same day! Maybe something in the water? Hmm...

Caren Johnson talks about writers on the web. Good information for anyone with a blog or website.

Chicken Soup for the Soul is currently accepting stories. Click to find out what they're looking for. Entries are due the end of May for some topics, and the end of June for others.

50 banned books that everyone should read. Just for fun!

And the summer conference season is almost upon us! Who's lucky enough go be going to one? I can't wait to see the great advice on the agent blogs as they attend conferences and share their insight.

Have a great week!