Susan, it occurs to me that when a friend did some freelance resume work in the early nineties (economy suckage almost as bad as now), she went to the local universities/colleges and posted her card up in the student lounges. Got a huge influx of seniors jangling her phone.
On the meme (because I've been holding my breath for about three months and am trying to clear my lungs), I got the following email (as a cc - it was written to my agent) this morning. Famous Flower of Serving Men is the projected second book in the series, of which Weaver is book number one. My editor, Ruth Cavin, has had this for three months - she's 83 years old, her husband has been ill, she's been busy as hell arranging BEA, etc, and I rationally know all this.
But finally, I got this. I think it's an offer to make an offer, but I'm damned if I'm not blinking, and going, huh?
I have read FFoSM and like it very much. I really want to buy it, but I feel that the series is so unusual that I should get some other reactions. It would be a while before the advance galleys go out, but I am going to have a couple of people in the house read it and give me an opinion. I think FFoSM could be pruned down a bit, but even if Deborah agrees, it's a minor matter; the book is fine. Meanwhile, Tom (Dunne) is in England, and when he comes back and gets used to American money again I will talk to him about when and how much to offer.
I hope this is OK with you and Deborah.
So, WTF? She likes it but it's unusual? Everything she's ever bought from me is unusual; this series, at least, is a real live series, with familiar characters and the consonant theme.
I think this is good. Any opinions on whether I ought to be worried or pleased would be welcomed.
She likes it, but she isn't going to commit to buying it until she gets buy-in from the rest of the house. She's saying that she doesn't know yet whether there's a market for the series, as opposed to a market for the first book.
Betsy, that was my first thought but that last sentence made me wonder if it wasn't a question instead of wondering how to present it.
I mean, we're talking about a genre that has mysteries being solved by cats. Ghosts and music shouldn't be a problem. And FFoSM is much more mystery crossover than the first one.
Goddamnit, I want Jenn to call me back. Besides, we need to catch up on Buffy.
I read it the same way Betsy did, FWIW. I think I'd be simultaneously pleased and worried. (I know, I know. I'm a big help.)
What I decided to do about the resume service issue is present my concerns to the career counselor as follows: "I'd like to do this, and I think it'd be a great way to bring in extra income. However, my novel always comes first. I'm worried that a resume service, as I've seen them marketed, wouldn't balance well with that goal. Is there a way for me to control the pace of growth and my workflow? If not, we need to come up with something else."
Because what I'd really like is to do about ten resumes per month. That would be enough to bring in some extra income. And I want to have some control over my deadlines--even if it's, "The first I can get this to you is four days from now. If you need it sooner, I can refer you to some services with a larger staff." Then if that went well, I could start thinking about increasing my marketing push enough to be able to quit my day job.
And I want to have some control over my deadlines--even if it's, "The first I can get this to you is four days from now. If you need it sooner, I can refer you to some services with a larger staff."
That's very good thinking, and allows you to control the flow.
Victor, that's a kickass article! So, some ghostwriter can't name Maya Angelou? Was he alive in 1992? Because I seem to recall she wrote and read a poem at Clinton's first inaugural....
Rock ON, Victor. Great response. Did you send a copy of that to Newsweek?
Rock ON, Victor. Great response. Did you send a copy of that to Newsweek?
Thanks. No, I haven't yet--although with the combination of my propensity for pissing people off and having friends at most large periodicals (Including Newsweek), I often hear reactions pretty quick. Glad people liked.
Yay, Victor.
Also, Rita Dove is a poet, who 1. Has been on TV. 2. Is alive.(And I must admit I don't keep up with poetry either, but intend to buy 100 poets against the war...to start with.)
