Best Friends Forever

I survived Kindergarten with little teasing, but First Grade was different. Everyone was new to me. There was a group of girls who quickly established their dominance. They had everything right, according to them, and they wasted no time making it clear to me, and to everyone else, that everything about me was wrong. I don’t remember what they said anymore, but I remember what happened next. As the in crowd walked away, confident in their victory, a blonde with sharp, blue eyes and the biggest smile walked up to me and said, “I hate them too. Let’s be friends”.

Deb, that sounds good!

I can't wait to read that and your new series.

Nice, sj.

Loving the proposal, Deb. Want book now.

Also want soundtrack for all the Haunted Ballads.

Deb, I'd just ask her what she means by high concept. I've seen it used a few ways. I've even seen it used to compare fantasy to realism (although this is the way I've seen it used least).

Here's a link, [link] but honestly, from what he says, I get even more of an impression that it's a user-defined term.

Also? SQUEE!

Deb, how exciting! And I love the synopsis for the next one in the Haunted Ballard series, it gave me chills just reading it. And I know we're all going to adore Rebecca.

sj, that kicks ass. I just hope the blonde said it loud enough for the crowd of little wannabitchbe's to hear.

Sail, no one is going to get to love Becca unless SMP offers me money. I'm not writing word one on spec, not this time. No more Deb-abuse from the grinding mill wheels of the bigass publishing house. And they know it, too.

Finding the time to work up a screenplay is going to be interesting. I still need to find out whether it might not make more sense to have BBLA's screen rights agent person just include a casual "...oh, and she's working on the screenplay, it would be ready (insert), meanwhile here's a copy of the (insert number of) book..."

Oh how very exciting, Deb! I have every confidence that you can produce a smashing screenplay.

My understanding is that High Concept just means the conceptual twist (ghosts that are linked to songs) is important. You've got that.

I love the proposal for the new one. I would totally buy that book if I cam across it browsing.

According to Laura Anne Gilman and Marlene, it's (edit: duh, Deb, reference, please: the High Concept) a hooky one-line pop culture comparison. Laura Anne suggested "Hart to Hart meets Medium", but she admits she wasn't at the top of her game yesterday; she'd had a car accident and was sucking down as much wine as she could.

Maybe "The Singing Detective crossed with The Ghost Whisperer"?

edit: Why do I suddenly feel like an extra from The Player?

I'm not writing word one on spec, not this time.

I have to say, it amazes me that they've made you do it as long as they have. Are they very by-the-books corportate about stuff? I mean, they know your voice and your style and your level of professionalism with regard to deadlines, etc. There's no earthly reason they need more than an idea to buy, and frankly, they should be signing you up for more than one at a time, too.

Nice drabble, sj!

I have to say, it amazes me that they've made you do it as long as they have. Are they very by-the-books corportate about stuff? I mean, they know your voice and your style and your level of professionalism with regard to deadlines, etc. There's no earthly reason they need more than an idea to buy, and frankly, they should be signing you up for more than one at a time, too.

They haven't made me do it - I've been doing it in self-defense. The problem is that the way they work, my worry is that they're going to pull a Cruel Sister and get back to me three months before they want the book and say, so is it ready? without ever bothering to offer on it.

I think they knew they could push Jenn around. They try that with my current representation...oh, man. Brains will leak out. NO one pushes BB around - the entire industry's been terrified of her for forty years.

If I keep doing these for them, things will change. They've already been put on notice. While my two reps were tagteaming my editor, they managed to frustrate her to the point of saying "Do you honestly think I can bring out every author on my list in paperback?"

And Marlene came right back "Do you honestly think I care about any other author on your list? I care about this one."