Today, I’ve decided on a very subjective exploration about what makes me give a novel an unflinching thumbs up. This is not a blog that represents anyone’s taste but mine. Purely personal. I’m guessing there wouldn’t be another literary agent …
historical fiction
How to Avoid the Historical Fiction Wall-Banger
Let’s talk about what makes an historical novel a wall-banger. That’s what author Elizabeth Chadwick calls the kind of book that annoys the reader enough to chuck it at the wall in disgust. Medieval mysteries have been my dessert reading …
What to Write Next?
Blogger: Michelle Ule
Sitting in for the traveling Wendy Lawton
I’ve spent most of the last week in a flu delirium haunted by a nagging question, “what to write next?”
As I floated in and out of consciousness, heroines whose …
Genre Loyalty
Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Over the last two years we’ve been hearing editors say that they’re cutting back on historical fiction. It’s become increasingly difficult to sell new historicals. Those authors who’ve already made a place for themselves and who’ve amassed …
The Excitement (and Commitment) of Novel Research
Blogger: Michelle Ule, substituting for Rachelle Gardner who is on the road today
(Note: Some readers will think all the Books & Such Agents are fanning out across America to clean house as per the April 1 post. Joke! The …
The Inside Track: Commercial Appeal
Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Location: Books & Such Central Valley Office, CA
You thought I was going to say that in order to get my attention you need to write an outstanding book, didn’t you?
That almost goes without saying but …
Friday Free-for-All
Blogger: Michelle Ule
Location: Books & Such Main Office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
I stood behind a young woman at the library on Wednesday and laughed when I realized she juggled at least a dozen “Dear America” series books and four
…On Pet Peeves and Historical Fiction
Blogger: Michelle Ule
Location: Books & Such Main Office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
I flipped a coin as I filled out my application to UCLA. Heads I’d major in English; tails it would be history.
Heads won. I read poetry and …
On Writing Historical Fiction
Blogger: Michelle Ule
Location: Books & Such Main Office, Contemporary Santa Rosa, Calif.
They say if you want to learn about political life in the past, read a history book. If you want to learn about social customs, read historical …
Mid-course Writerly Slump
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Location: Books & Such Main Office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
As I mentioned yesterday, the course of a writing career doesn’t always run smoothly, and knowing how to ride the waves is a contribution an agent can …