I don't get some agents. One I follow on Twitter is SO specific about what kind of stories she likes and what she doesn't -- right now, she's "still not interested in zombies or angels" when it comes to YA.
And I get that, on a personal level, but you're supposed to be looking for AUTHORS, not books. Authors you can keep working with, who can tell a story convincingly no matter what the subject is. And if zombies and angels are selling in YA (I have no idea anymore, just saying), isn't it short-sighted to pass over those books entirely?
She's a little weird.
I haven't gotten fanmail in so long! It's wonderful.
I dealt with a lot of children's editors who didn't want to read books with animals that talk.
You know who REALLY HATES talking animals? Kids. Boy do they...no, wait, they're cool with that.
My impression is that vampires and zombies are neck and neck, so to speak, with anything supernatural right behind.
I could see that nobody wants to read *bad* talking animals, but nobody wants crappy *anything*, do they?
After all, there is no tradition of talking animals in children's literature. Oh, wait...
Sox, congratulations on the fan mail!
Thanks! It's a first.
You know who REALLY HATES talking animals? Kids. Boy do they...no, wait, they're cool with that.
ahahaha. man. that tea looks so good on my monitor.
I dealt with a lot of children's editors who didn't want to read books with animals that talk.
Editors and agents don't have exactly the same agenda, though. Both of them should be looking for authors to work with, rather than individual books, but editors are often restricted by what else is on a house's list, or what type of books they do well with historically (chains would be unlikely to buy, say, a book poetry anthology from a house that usually does celeb bios and romance).
Agents, though, should be looking for authors with talent, full stop, even if the particular story they're working on right now isn't their favorite thing ever.
Written? Kitten! is fantastic. Why yes, I am going to start using it.
Sooo, there IS a Russian edition of Gothic Charm School! My editor confirmed it, and is trying to get a couple of copies for me. Whee!
