Over the years I’ve amassed a veritable treasure trove of e-query responses from literary agents, and
I’ve saved them because I thought one day they might come in handy. Now I’ve finally decided to do
something with the behemoth that has become my email inbox—publish it on the web so you guys can
benefit from what I have. What do I have? One superbly written query letters for a YA humor novel by
an unknown, for the most part unpublished, author, and actual correspondences from literary agents
regarding these unsolicited queries. I’ve left the agent responses untouched. Some prove that the
agents didn’t read the manuscript at all (one agent even addressed me as “Mr. Schneider”), while
others shed light on the time and consideration that some agents put into their work. I guess what I’m
trying to prove through this is that agents are human; there are good agents and bad agents, some
answer slowly, others are fast, and they often make embarrassing typos along with the best of us—bet
they would have proofread their stuff if they knew it was going to be posted for all the world to see,
huh?
I’ve saved them because I thought one day they might come in handy. Now I’ve finally decided to do
something with the behemoth that has become my email inbox—publish it on the web so you guys can
benefit from what I have. What do I have? One superbly written query letters for a YA humor novel by
an unknown, for the most part unpublished, author, and actual correspondences from literary agents
regarding these unsolicited queries. I’ve left the agent responses untouched. Some prove that the
agents didn’t read the manuscript at all (one agent even addressed me as “Mr. Schneider”), while
others shed light on the time and consideration that some agents put into their work. I guess what I’m
trying to prove through this is that agents are human; there are good agents and bad agents, some
answer slowly, others are fast, and they often make embarrassing typos along with the best of us—bet
they would have proofread their stuff if they knew it was going to be posted for all the world to see,
huh?
Everyone Who's Anyone is a great site run by a great guy, Gerard Jones, but sometimes information for
people who write adult trade novels just won't cut it for the rest of us. I queried agents who typically
represent YA fiction (or whose information, in Writers Market, the Jeff Herman guide, Preditors and
Editors, and other sources inform the public that they represent YA fiction). This website chronicles
one writer’s attempt to be taken seriously, read, represented, and published. I’ve had numerous
requests for partials, exclusives, and fulls, and plenty of form rejections as well as personal letters of
regret. They’re all here, and, if you look really well, you’ll even find the correspondence between my
literary agent and myself, from query to contract. Updated recently are the correspondences with my
agent, including our search for a publisher, from editing to book deal with Random House's Delacorte
Press. It’s all here, every word.
Note: these are only responses to my e-queries, not to all the queries I’ve ever sent. Since I’m posting
this on the Internet, I thought typing up snail-mail correspondences would be futile (and boring).
people who write adult trade novels just won't cut it for the rest of us. I queried agents who typically
represent YA fiction (or whose information, in Writers Market, the Jeff Herman guide, Preditors and
Editors, and other sources inform the public that they represent YA fiction). This website chronicles
one writer’s attempt to be taken seriously, read, represented, and published. I’ve had numerous
requests for partials, exclusives, and fulls, and plenty of form rejections as well as personal letters of
regret. They’re all here, and, if you look really well, you’ll even find the correspondence between my
literary agent and myself, from query to contract. Updated recently are the correspondences with my
agent, including our search for a publisher, from editing to book deal with Random House's Delacorte
Press. It’s all here, every word.
Note: these are only responses to my e-queries, not to all the queries I’ve ever sent. Since I’m posting
this on the Internet, I thought typing up snail-mail correspondences would be futile (and boring).
As an aspiring novelist with only a few published articles and short stories, I managed, through
unsolicited email queries, to land a top New York literary agent and, within the next 18 months, sell four
books to teen imprints of Random House and Simon and Schuster. I am now a full-time writer living in
New York City.
unsolicited email queries, to land a top New York literary agent and, within the next 18 months, sell four
books to teen imprints of Random House and Simon and Schuster. I am now a full-time writer living in
New York City.
| Dear Agent, If you take your IQ and multiply by 10, that’s what you’ll score on the SAT. Friendship is more important than summer school. The guidance counselor is only good for a letter of rec, and sometimes not even that. A bad reputation is harder to overcome than a missed assignment. These are things that rising seniors Charley, Marissa, Blake, and Skylar realize during their first few weeks at the elite Hilliard Prep’s summer session. In my latest young adult novel, "Better Than Yesterday," these four protagonists come together after a student suicide and struggle to find purpose as they slip into a firm friendship. Then Blake breaks down, leaves a cryptic note, and takes off for New York City. Skylar, Charley and Marissa sacrifice their perfect transcripts when they ditch summer session to find him. Narrated by the four protagonists, "Better Than Yesterday" resembles a modern version of "The Sound and the Fury" crossed with "Less Than Zero" and "Gossip Girl." I am an eighteen-year-old publishing major at Hofstra University. Some of my other publishing credits include the “Tween Angst” advice column in the Irvine World News and a chapbook CD of short stories printed by Lady Bug Books. I am eager to work with an enthusiastic agent who has extensive knowledge of the young adult market. A full manuscript is available upon request. Thanks, Robyn Schneider |
LITERARY STUDIO
From: LtryStudio@aol.com
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2004 13:20:40 EDT
Subject: Re: author query
To:robynschneider@yahoo.com
thanks for the inquiry, robyn. unfortunately, despite the appeal of your project, i am unable to offer
representation at this time.
r. stimola
BROWNE AND MILLER
From: "Staff Assistant" <mail@browneandmiller.com>
To:"'Robyn Schneider'" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: author query
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2004 14:25:48 -0500
Dear Author:
Thank you for querying Browne & Miller Literary Associates (formerly known as Multimedia Product
Development, Inc.) about your book project.
We have carefully evaluated your materials and regrettably, your project is not a right fit for our
agency. We currently have a very full clientele and must be highly selective about the new projects
we
pursue.
Thank you again for thinking of us and please know that we wish you much success in all of your
writing and publishing endeavors.
Sincerely yours,
Browne & Miller Literary Associates
LOWENSTEIN YOST ASSOCIATES
Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 16:56:18 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
From:"elise proulx" <eproulx100@earthlink.net>
To: "Robyn Schneider" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: author query
Thanks so much for your query. Unfortunately, your work doesn’t sound right for me.
Best of luck finding an enthusiastic agent elsewhere.
Sincerely,
Elise Proulx
Lowenstein Yost Associates
HEACOCK LITERARY AGENCY, INC.
From: GraceBooks@aol.com
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 15:54:01 EDT
Subject: Re: author query
To: robynschneider@yahoo.com
Rosalie Grace Heacock Thompson, AAR
Authors' Representative
Heacock Literary Agency, Inc.
Member, Association of Authors' Representatives
Authors' Guild
507 Grand Blvd., P O Box 226
Cloudcroft, New Mexico 88317-0226
505-682-1005; e-mail GraceBooks@aol.com
website: http://members.authorsguild.net/heacocklitry/
Dear Author:
Thank you for your recent inquiry concerning representation. I am reluctantly going to pass. After
twenty-six years in the business, it is time to retire and pursue my lifelong love of painting watercolors
and oils.
You may well find another agent who will react with great enthusiasm. I suggest that you check the
Association of Authors' Representatives website http://www.aar-online.org/.
Members of this organization subscribe to a strict canon of ethics.
We send you every good wish for success with all of your writing endeavors. Persevere!
Sincerely,
Rosalie Grace Heacock Thompson
WRITERS HOUSE
From: Daniel Lazar <dlazar@WritersHouse.com>
To: Robyn Schneider
RE: query letter like whoa ;-)
Robyn,
I'd be delighted to take a look. Feel free to email the manuscript as a Word attachment. Give me a
few weeks to read, and I'll be in touch
shortly.
Best,
DL
Sent: Wed 8/18/2004 2:00 AM
To: Daniel Lazar
Cc:
Subject: RE: query letter like whoa :-)
Hi Daniel,
Here's the manuscript! Sometimes the word docs come out with screwy format when switching from a
Mac to a PC, so I switched the formatting to PC for ya (my luck you're on a Mac and I wasted a good
five minutes I could have spent watching Big Brother Bazillion. Yeah, right :P). Anyhow, I hope you
have fun reading this, and I look forward to hearing back from you in a couple of weeks.
-Robyn
Subject:RE: query letter like whoa :-)
From:"Daniel Lazar" <dlazar@WritersHouse.com>
To:"Robyn Schneider" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Robyn,
I really like the premise and structure of this story, and the confidence of your voice. I have to admit,
though, despite the fact that you're obviously a fantastic writer -- it's amazing that you're only 18! --
I'm just not falling in love with these characters. Perhaps they seem to introspective and snarky at
first... I don't feel compelled enough with each personally to keep following them on the journey
they're headed on.
Hopefully another agent will feel differently, but for now I'll step aside. Best of luck to you.
SCOTT TREIMEL NY
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 11:21:38 -0400
To: "Robyn Schneider" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
From: "Scott Treimel" <st.ny@verizon.net>
Subject: Submission Policy (was Re: author query)
S©ott Treimel NY sells and administers intellectual property rights-- print, electronic, foreign,
dramatic, film, composition, broadcast, merchandise, promotion-- for children's book creators. On
average, 3,000 unsolicited submissions arrive yearly, necessitating our strict adherence to these
policies.
• submissions are to be sent via post.
• text submissions must be in standard manuscript form: double spaced type in a standard size
font.
• no multiple submissions or queries are considered. our period of exclusivity is 90 days from
our receipt.
• submissions received without an s.a.s.e. are recycled upon receipt.
• complete picture book texts may be submitted, but no more than two.
• picture book dummies and/or thumbnail storyboards may be submitted only if the author is
also the illustrator. a manuscript must be included separately as well.
• complete chapter books of 60 or fewer pages may be submitted.
• queries are required for manuscripts of 60 or more pages: include a story synopsis with
attention to character development and two sample chapters.
• no film scripts are considered.
• do not telephone before submitting work.
• no toy projects are considered.
Founded 1995
Associate of Authors Representatives
The Authors Guild
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
--
S©ott Treimel NY
434 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10003-6918
SCOVIL CHICHAK GALEN LITERARY AGENCY, INC
From: "Russell Galen" <russellgalen@scglit.com>
To:"'Robyn Schneider'" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: author query
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 11:29:15 -0400
Dear Ms. Schneider,
We'd be interested in reading this manuscript. Please send it at your earliest convenience.
Best wishes,
Russell Galen
Scovil Chichak Galen Literary Agency, Inc.
381 Park Avenue South, Suite 1020
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-679-8686
Fax: 646-349-1868
www.scglit.com
From:
"Russell Galen" <russellgalen@scglit.com>
To:'Robyn Schneider'" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: author query
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2004 11:37:12 -0400
Dear Ms. Schneider,
I enjoyed reading this, but I'm afraid I'm going to pass. It's amazingly polished, professional, and
readable, and I read it through to the end--something I almost never do. You have genuine talent
and it seems to me that you literally can't fail to have a career as a writer. But this book, for all its
qualities, seemed slight to me. That's a code-word we use in the publishing industry that simply
means the book didn't have a big enough impact. In the end it's just a funny little slice-of-life episode
in the life of some fairly ordinary kids. It reads like a television movie more than a novel. From a novel
we expect more, we expect deeper, we expect edgier, we expect more out of the ordinary. Particularly
for a first novel trying to break into a crowded field, it's not enough merely to be entertaining and fun
to read. You have be different from everyone else; you have to have a voice and subject matter that
is uniquely yours. I didn't see that here; I saw material that was essentially
familiar. And I saw emotional relationships that were handled in a quick, funny, essentially shallow
way, which again is very entertaining, but not enough to get you in.
Best wishes,
Russell Galen
Scovil Chichak Galen Literary Agency, Inc.
381 Park Avenue South, Suite 1020
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-679-8686
Fax: 646-349-1868
www.scglit.co
WALLACE LITERARY AGENCY
From: Walliter@aol.com
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 13:22:34 EDT
Subject: Re: author query
To: robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Ms. Schnieder:
Thank you for your query to the Wallace Literary Agency. While I don't generally handle young adult
fiction, your letter intrigued me and I would be interested in seeing the first 50 pages of your
manuscript if you wish to snail mail them to me.
If I love what I read, I will ask for the rest. As I will be out of the office next week on vacation, you may
have to be a little patient waiting for a response.
Best,
Cressida
Cressida Connolly
Wallace Literary Agency, Inc.
177 East 70th Street
New York, NY 10021
phone (212) 570-9090
fax (212) 772-8979
From: WLACressida@aol.com
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 16:15:04 EDT
Subject: Better Than Yesterday
To: robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Robyn Schneider:
Thank you for letting me have a look at the beginning of BETTER THAN YESTERDAY. As I think I
told you in my initial letter, I don't really handle YA, but was intrigued by your letter. Having had a
chance to read the manuscript, I can see that it really would be an easier fit for a YA line and so
you'd be best served to find an agent who knows that market, has those connections.
I wish you the best of luck and again thank you for indulging my curiosity and allowing me to read
your work.
Best,
Cressida
Cressida Connolly
Wallace Literary Agency, Inc.
177 East 70th Street
New York, NY 10021
Tel. (212) 570-9090
Date: Fri, 1 Oct 2004 15:26:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Robyn Schneider" robynschneider@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Better Than Yesterday
To: WLACressida@aol.com
Ms. Connolly,
Thank you for responding by email (I switched dorms after the first week of college and can't quite
muster up the courage to bother my old roommate by inquiring for my mail: she shaved off her
eyebrows, refused to eat, and sort of went insane). Anyhow, I'm sorry that you won't be wanting to
see the rest of the manuscript. I know you don't usually take on YA
fiction, but for some reason I was positive Andrea Seigel had mentioned you as being her agent and
well, I thought anyone who handled "Panda" could certainly hold her own with "Better Than
Yesterday." Actually, I was wondering, since you didn't have anything negative to say about my
partial (I'm assuming you liked it, so sue me), are there any agents you would
recommend for me to query who would be interested in representing my manuscript?
Curiosity killed the cat, but it asked for six more lives as a consollation prize ;-)
Robyn
From: WLACressida@aol.com
Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2004 11:57:05 EDT
Subject: Re: Better Than Yesterday
To: robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Robyn;
I had a crazy roomate freshman year of college too, certifiable. I think she was last cited pacing the
corner's the library reading room screaming about something...Anyway, you have my sympathies.
I'm afraid, however, I am woefully ignorant when it comes to other agents, particular those who are
YA-friendly. I would suggest that you keep doing what you are already doing, which is finding books
you like and consider similiar to your and querying the agent who handled them. Sorry I can't be
more helpful. Have you had a look at www.everyonewhosanyone.com? Might prove useful.
Best,
Cressida
BOOKS & SUCH LITERARY AGENCY
From:Jkgbooks2@aol.com
Date:Wed, 25 Aug 2004 13:36:36 EDT
Subject:Better Than Yesterday
To:robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Ms. Schneider,
Thank you for writing to me about Better Than Yesterday. Unfortunately, I’ve just taken on a number
of new clients and am not, therefore, in a position to add others. I do wish you the best in your
publishing venture.
Janet Kobobel Grant
Books & Such Literary Agency
"Discerning Literature"
LITERARY AND CREATIVE ARTISTS, INC.
Date:Wed, 25 Aug 2004 15:04:06 -0500
Subject: Re: author query
From: "lca9643" <lca9643@lcadc.com>
To "Robyn Schneider" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
August 25, 2004
Dear Mr. Schneider,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, we must pass on the opportunity to represent BETTER
THAN YESTERDAY. Please do not let this decision discourage you. We mold our client list from the
many submissions we receive every month, and the process is both subjective and based on the
direction of this agency.
We hope you will soon find an agent with whom you can establish a productive relationship. Thank
you for contacting Literary and Creative Artists.
We wish you the best of luck in all your endeavors.
Sincerely,
Antonio Oppi
Literary and Creative Artists, Inc.
WORD SERVE LITERARY
From: "Greg Johnson" <greg@wordserveliterary.com>
To: "'Robyn Schneider'" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: author query
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 12:41:20 -0600
Robyn:
This sounds great, but I don't have an "extensive knowledge" base in the general trade in YA. Best of
luck to you.
Greg
SUSAN SCHULMAN, A LITERARY AGENCY
From: Schulman@aol.com
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 14:28:41 EDT
Subject: Re: author query
To: robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Robyn, Thank you for your query telling me about your new novel. I represent Brent Hartinger
and his GEOGRAPHY CLUB. Your group of friends sounds equally interesting and entertaining and
thought provoking. Please send the ms. to Susan Schulman
A Literary Agency
454 West 44th St.
New York, N.Y. l0036
and include your query and this reply. Susan Schulman
From: Schulman@aol.com
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 12:01:54 EDT
Subject: Manuscript
To:robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Robyn Schneider, Our reader Emily Rhea read your manuscript and would like to know more
about you and your writing career, your goals and expectations. She recommended it to me.
Schulman
Mon, 18 Oct 2004 10:13:37 -0700 (PDT)
From:"Robyn Schneider" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Manuscript
To: Schulman@aol.com
Dear Susan Schulman,
Attached is the requested author and marketing info;it is the word document marked “For Susan
Schulman.” The JPEG is a picture of me. Thanks for expressing interest in me and my work. I’ll
hope to hear good news from you soon.
Best,
Robyn Schneider
From: Schulman@aol.com
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 13:38:00 EDT
Subject: Re: Manuscript
To: robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Robyn Schneider,
I read BETTER THAN YESTERDAY last night and was not disappointed. Emily's recommendation
was right on target. Your misadventures of rich teenagers at a prestigious Connecticut boarding
school hit home. I'm familiar with the scene, Taft, Hotchkiss, Gunnery, Loomis Chaffee, could all work
as backdrops for this novel. You have an uncanny ear for dialogue and a wicked sense of humor,
making this one of those joyously frothy page turners that one cannot put down. At least I couldn't--I
read it in one sitting. I was enjoying myself the whole time. This manuscript reads very m uch like the
GOSSIP GIRL series, but I personally think it is better and smarter. Underlying your candy surface is
a profound understanding of the coming of age genre, and the characters' conversations are
peppered with literary references to satisfy more sophisticated readers. I didn't see a false step in
this one.
Coincidentally, I represent Louis Sachar to whom you refer in your letter of this morning and he
would be thrilled to know you have been compared to him, and, I have two daughters, l8 and 22.
I "get" your writing, I think this novel can be sold well to a traditional house, and, I think I can sell it
well. Not only have a sold Louis Sachar's work including HOLES to Disney (the sequel has just been
delivered) but also Brent Hartinger's work, and new writers like Alfred Martino, just sold to Houghton
Mifflin--the novel is entitled PINNED and it reveals the problems in high school wrestling. I also
represent THE FLAME TREE, Ann Cameron, and one you really should look at Barry Yourgrau and
his NASTY BOOK, forthcoming from HarperCollins.
I think we might be a match. Shall we arrange to meet? Would you be free the afternoon (after 3) on
the 26th? Susan Schulman
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 22:27:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Robyn Schneider" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Manuscript
To: Schulman@aol.com
Susan,
Thank you for your wonderful email--you made my day. I'm pleased that you "get" my writing, as it
really is the main thing I am looking for in an agent. I'd love to work with you to sell this book, and I
can hardly wait until the 26th to meet you. You pick the time and the place, and I'll be there.
-Robyn
p.s. I have initiated the first name only/familiar address. You may declare my initiation void at any
time by simply addressing your future emails to "Robyn Schneider" instead of "Robyn.' :-)
In a message dated 10/22/2004 12:32:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time, robynschneider@yahoo.com
writes:
Susan,
I haven't yet heard from you regarding a meeting place and a time for Tuesday the 26th. If you could
get back to me before Monday with this it would be much
appreciated, as next week is MIDTERMS (yuck) and I need to set definite times for study groups. :-)
Thanks.
-Robyn
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 10:08:01 EDT
Subject:Re: Manuscript and meeting
To:robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Robyn,
Any time between 3-5 good for you? Also is X street between X and X convenient?
(I didn’t include the correspondences with contact information and addresses between
this email and the meeting)
Dear Robyn,
It was a pleasure to meet you and to learn more about you personally and to know you as a writer.
Your stories about Hofstra are horrifying.Your stories about high school, early projects, anthologies,
teaching courses and taking senior level courses are fun. I would like to be informed about your
transfer situation. If I can do anything to help you get moved to a new school please let me know. Of
course selling the novel will move you up the food chain in any admissions office.
I've printed out the two manuscripts and will be reading them this weekend, responding next week.
I've contacted two editors, waiting to hear back from either or both and get the manuscript into
editing please confirm that your earlier publishing contract does not contain an option clause. We
also include your mailing address and phone numbers.
From: "Robyn Schneider" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Literary Representation
To: Schulman@aol.com
Hello Susan,
I'm still smiling from our meeting. You don't know how incredible it was to take a break from my horrid
Hofstra midterms (aced another once today) and go galavanting off to NYC for book stuff. It made
everything that's gone on over the past two months seem like a bad dream that's about to end.
Don't worry, though, I'm formulating a humorous novel out of this college experience yet ;-) and I'll
keep you informed of my transfer application status. So far the only looming transfer business is my
SAT test next weekend--egad!
There's no option clause, don't worry! The publishing contract, which I have in front of me, states
the publishing rights as:
"Author agrees to grant publisher exclusive worldwide English language rights to publish and sell the
work in:
readable (text) digital format (electronic download,
disk, CD/CD-ROM, E-book reader or similar media of
presentation, EXCLUDING motion
picture/television/video/DVD rights),
print on demand trade paperback,
traditional print run trade paperback,
hard cover book,
audiocassette, audio-CD or other audio format,
large print, hard cover format.
All rights in the Work not specifically granted to Publisher in this agreement are reserved by the
Author...NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL OBLIGATE AUTHOR TO SUBMIT ANY ADDITIONAL,
UNRELATED WORKS TO PUBLISHER."
My contact information:
XXXXX
XXX
X
-Robyn
In a message dated 11/9/2004 12:00:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, robynschneider@yahoo.com
writes:
Susan,
Just wondering if you'd heard anything back from the copy editors, and also if you got a chance to
read the manuscripts I sent. For some reason I have a horrible suspicion I may have sent you a
slightly unedited version of Drama Writer, but I am not sure about this. Then again, I'm not sure
about a lot of things, like which college I'm going to next year, what "http" stands for in an internet
address, or where my Mac lipglass is. Anyhow, I finally got my hands on a copy of my chapbook (it's
only 20 pages of short stories) and dropped it in the mail for you today. I'm sorry it took so long; I'd
given out all of my author copies and had to steal one back from this kid in the dorm.
He was using it as a Budweiser coaster.
-Robyn
p.s. the SAT went swimmingly well. I get my score back in 10 days.
In a message dated 12/8/2004 11:56:42 PM Eastern Standard Time, robynschneider@yahoo.com
writes:
Dear Susan,
I have yet to receive the rewrites from Sally. Do you know what's going on?
Also, I was wondering what your decision was on publication for my diary book, DRAMA WRITER.
Tigress Press swears they're still up for a 2005 release, but
they've given me the option of terminating the contract now to find a larger publisher, if I so choose.
Since you seem to have a vision of my future career, I'm leaving the decision up to you: Would you
like to take on Drama Writer (the Harvard/Cheerleading diary) and try to sell it somewhere down the
road to an imprint of the house we go with for BETTER THAN YESTERDAY (Connecticut prep school
mss), or should we leave it as it is? I emailed you about this on Monday, guess you missed it in your
inbox, but I hate to leave the editor hanging for more than a few days after she offers to let me have
my rights back. Help, please!
-Robyn
In a message dated 2/2/2005 12:12:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, robynschneider@yahoo.com
writes:
Hi Susan,
Yes, I am aware of PREP and I read it recently, as well as Curtis Sittenfeld's columns in (I believe)
New York Metro, and the Gawker responses to them.First off, PREP is not being marketed as YA; It's
in the adult fiction section in bookstores.I don't think PREP can do us any harm--it's a completely
different book from BETTER THAN YESTERDAY. The protagonist is an average, unoriginal
Midwestern scholarship student at a boarding school in the 1990's. The story covers four years of
her life, and then some. It deals with being an outsider. BETTER THAN YESTERDAY is about being
a dissatisfied insider, a smart kid, one of the crowd who still doesn't have an identity. It's about being
born into a level of privilege that isn't too spectacular but still never manages to fade completely into
the background. In short, it's a novel where popularity doesn't exist. PREP is all about wanting to be
popular and pretending to fit in while resenting everyone and everything. So I think it might help us
that there's a novel out about boarding school, especially since it's as different from my story as
MEAN GIRLS is from THE BREAKFAST CLUB--both movies are in the same school setting with
essentially four main characters, but they encompass different situations, social groups, and time
periods. I'm glad for PREP--at least I'll have something else to be compared to other than TWELVE ;
-) What's your take?
Oh, and thanks for the names of the publishers. Now I have something to do this weekend--google!
-Robyn
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 16:11:31 -0800 (PST)
From: "Robyn Schneider" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Better Than Yesterday
To: Schulman@aol.com
Susan,
Thanks for the status report. I did finish PINNED and liked it a lot. Alfred was telling me how hard he
worked on it, and it showed. Sure you can send me DO OVER via email. No problem.
I'm surprised BETTER THAN YESTERDAY is being rejected by so many editors, but then again, on a
hopeful note, it only takes one editor to get the book published. OPAL may not have taken the very
young writers slot completely--I mean, didn't Alloy books use A-List and Gossip Girl to play off each
other? Similar books can generate publicity for each other.
Perhaps, if the publishers we tried at first don't work (and what ever happened with the interest you
mentioned from Random House?) Miramax books, who published BE MORE CHILL by 22 year old
Ned Vizzini, or Grove Press, who published TWELVE?
R
From: LtryStudio@aol.com
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2004 13:20:40 EDT
Subject: Re: author query
To:robynschneider@yahoo.com
thanks for the inquiry, robyn. unfortunately, despite the appeal of your project, i am unable to offer
representation at this time.
r. stimola
BROWNE AND MILLER
From: "Staff Assistant" <mail@browneandmiller.com>
To:"'Robyn Schneider'" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: author query
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2004 14:25:48 -0500
Dear Author:
Thank you for querying Browne & Miller Literary Associates (formerly known as Multimedia Product
Development, Inc.) about your book project.
We have carefully evaluated your materials and regrettably, your project is not a right fit for our
agency. We currently have a very full clientele and must be highly selective about the new projects
we
pursue.
Thank you again for thinking of us and please know that we wish you much success in all of your
writing and publishing endeavors.
Sincerely yours,
Browne & Miller Literary Associates
LOWENSTEIN YOST ASSOCIATES
Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 16:56:18 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
From:"elise proulx" <eproulx100@earthlink.net>
To: "Robyn Schneider" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: author query
Thanks so much for your query. Unfortunately, your work doesn’t sound right for me.
Best of luck finding an enthusiastic agent elsewhere.
Sincerely,
Elise Proulx
Lowenstein Yost Associates
HEACOCK LITERARY AGENCY, INC.
From: GraceBooks@aol.com
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 15:54:01 EDT
Subject: Re: author query
To: robynschneider@yahoo.com
Rosalie Grace Heacock Thompson, AAR
Authors' Representative
Heacock Literary Agency, Inc.
Member, Association of Authors' Representatives
Authors' Guild
507 Grand Blvd., P O Box 226
Cloudcroft, New Mexico 88317-0226
505-682-1005; e-mail GraceBooks@aol.com
website: http://members.authorsguild.net/heacocklitry/
Dear Author:
Thank you for your recent inquiry concerning representation. I am reluctantly going to pass. After
twenty-six years in the business, it is time to retire and pursue my lifelong love of painting watercolors
and oils.
You may well find another agent who will react with great enthusiasm. I suggest that you check the
Association of Authors' Representatives website http://www.aar-online.org/.
Members of this organization subscribe to a strict canon of ethics.
We send you every good wish for success with all of your writing endeavors. Persevere!
Sincerely,
Rosalie Grace Heacock Thompson
WRITERS HOUSE
From: Daniel Lazar <dlazar@WritersHouse.com>
To: Robyn Schneider
RE: query letter like whoa ;-)
Robyn,
I'd be delighted to take a look. Feel free to email the manuscript as a Word attachment. Give me a
few weeks to read, and I'll be in touch
shortly.
Best,
DL
Sent: Wed 8/18/2004 2:00 AM
To: Daniel Lazar
Cc:
Subject: RE: query letter like whoa :-)
Hi Daniel,
Here's the manuscript! Sometimes the word docs come out with screwy format when switching from a
Mac to a PC, so I switched the formatting to PC for ya (my luck you're on a Mac and I wasted a good
five minutes I could have spent watching Big Brother Bazillion. Yeah, right :P). Anyhow, I hope you
have fun reading this, and I look forward to hearing back from you in a couple of weeks.
-Robyn
Subject:RE: query letter like whoa :-)
From:"Daniel Lazar" <dlazar@WritersHouse.com>
To:"Robyn Schneider" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Robyn,
I really like the premise and structure of this story, and the confidence of your voice. I have to admit,
though, despite the fact that you're obviously a fantastic writer -- it's amazing that you're only 18! --
I'm just not falling in love with these characters. Perhaps they seem to introspective and snarky at
first... I don't feel compelled enough with each personally to keep following them on the journey
they're headed on.
Hopefully another agent will feel differently, but for now I'll step aside. Best of luck to you.
SCOTT TREIMEL NY
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 11:21:38 -0400
To: "Robyn Schneider" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
From: "Scott Treimel" <st.ny@verizon.net>
Subject: Submission Policy (was Re: author query)
S©ott Treimel NY sells and administers intellectual property rights-- print, electronic, foreign,
dramatic, film, composition, broadcast, merchandise, promotion-- for children's book creators. On
average, 3,000 unsolicited submissions arrive yearly, necessitating our strict adherence to these
policies.
• submissions are to be sent via post.
• text submissions must be in standard manuscript form: double spaced type in a standard size
font.
• no multiple submissions or queries are considered. our period of exclusivity is 90 days from
our receipt.
• submissions received without an s.a.s.e. are recycled upon receipt.
• complete picture book texts may be submitted, but no more than two.
• picture book dummies and/or thumbnail storyboards may be submitted only if the author is
also the illustrator. a manuscript must be included separately as well.
• complete chapter books of 60 or fewer pages may be submitted.
• queries are required for manuscripts of 60 or more pages: include a story synopsis with
attention to character development and two sample chapters.
• no film scripts are considered.
• do not telephone before submitting work.
• no toy projects are considered.
Founded 1995
Associate of Authors Representatives
The Authors Guild
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
--
S©ott Treimel NY
434 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10003-6918
SCOVIL CHICHAK GALEN LITERARY AGENCY, INC
From: "Russell Galen" <russellgalen@scglit.com>
To:"'Robyn Schneider'" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: author query
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 11:29:15 -0400
Dear Ms. Schneider,
We'd be interested in reading this manuscript. Please send it at your earliest convenience.
Best wishes,
Russell Galen
Scovil Chichak Galen Literary Agency, Inc.
381 Park Avenue South, Suite 1020
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-679-8686
Fax: 646-349-1868
www.scglit.com
From:
"Russell Galen" <russellgalen@scglit.com>
To:'Robyn Schneider'" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: author query
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2004 11:37:12 -0400
Dear Ms. Schneider,
I enjoyed reading this, but I'm afraid I'm going to pass. It's amazingly polished, professional, and
readable, and I read it through to the end--something I almost never do. You have genuine talent
and it seems to me that you literally can't fail to have a career as a writer. But this book, for all its
qualities, seemed slight to me. That's a code-word we use in the publishing industry that simply
means the book didn't have a big enough impact. In the end it's just a funny little slice-of-life episode
in the life of some fairly ordinary kids. It reads like a television movie more than a novel. From a novel
we expect more, we expect deeper, we expect edgier, we expect more out of the ordinary. Particularly
for a first novel trying to break into a crowded field, it's not enough merely to be entertaining and fun
to read. You have be different from everyone else; you have to have a voice and subject matter that
is uniquely yours. I didn't see that here; I saw material that was essentially
familiar. And I saw emotional relationships that were handled in a quick, funny, essentially shallow
way, which again is very entertaining, but not enough to get you in.
Best wishes,
Russell Galen
Scovil Chichak Galen Literary Agency, Inc.
381 Park Avenue South, Suite 1020
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-679-8686
Fax: 646-349-1868
www.scglit.co
WALLACE LITERARY AGENCY
From: Walliter@aol.com
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 13:22:34 EDT
Subject: Re: author query
To: robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Ms. Schnieder:
Thank you for your query to the Wallace Literary Agency. While I don't generally handle young adult
fiction, your letter intrigued me and I would be interested in seeing the first 50 pages of your
manuscript if you wish to snail mail them to me.
If I love what I read, I will ask for the rest. As I will be out of the office next week on vacation, you may
have to be a little patient waiting for a response.
Best,
Cressida
Cressida Connolly
Wallace Literary Agency, Inc.
177 East 70th Street
New York, NY 10021
phone (212) 570-9090
fax (212) 772-8979
From: WLACressida@aol.com
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 16:15:04 EDT
Subject: Better Than Yesterday
To: robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Robyn Schneider:
Thank you for letting me have a look at the beginning of BETTER THAN YESTERDAY. As I think I
told you in my initial letter, I don't really handle YA, but was intrigued by your letter. Having had a
chance to read the manuscript, I can see that it really would be an easier fit for a YA line and so
you'd be best served to find an agent who knows that market, has those connections.
I wish you the best of luck and again thank you for indulging my curiosity and allowing me to read
your work.
Best,
Cressida
Cressida Connolly
Wallace Literary Agency, Inc.
177 East 70th Street
New York, NY 10021
Tel. (212) 570-9090
Date: Fri, 1 Oct 2004 15:26:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Robyn Schneider" robynschneider@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Better Than Yesterday
To: WLACressida@aol.com
Ms. Connolly,
Thank you for responding by email (I switched dorms after the first week of college and can't quite
muster up the courage to bother my old roommate by inquiring for my mail: she shaved off her
eyebrows, refused to eat, and sort of went insane). Anyhow, I'm sorry that you won't be wanting to
see the rest of the manuscript. I know you don't usually take on YA
fiction, but for some reason I was positive Andrea Seigel had mentioned you as being her agent and
well, I thought anyone who handled "Panda" could certainly hold her own with "Better Than
Yesterday." Actually, I was wondering, since you didn't have anything negative to say about my
partial (I'm assuming you liked it, so sue me), are there any agents you would
recommend for me to query who would be interested in representing my manuscript?
Curiosity killed the cat, but it asked for six more lives as a consollation prize ;-)
Robyn
From: WLACressida@aol.com
Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2004 11:57:05 EDT
Subject: Re: Better Than Yesterday
To: robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Robyn;
I had a crazy roomate freshman year of college too, certifiable. I think she was last cited pacing the
corner's the library reading room screaming about something...Anyway, you have my sympathies.
I'm afraid, however, I am woefully ignorant when it comes to other agents, particular those who are
YA-friendly. I would suggest that you keep doing what you are already doing, which is finding books
you like and consider similiar to your and querying the agent who handled them. Sorry I can't be
more helpful. Have you had a look at www.everyonewhosanyone.com? Might prove useful.
Best,
Cressida
BOOKS & SUCH LITERARY AGENCY
From:Jkgbooks2@aol.com
Date:Wed, 25 Aug 2004 13:36:36 EDT
Subject:Better Than Yesterday
To:robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Ms. Schneider,
Thank you for writing to me about Better Than Yesterday. Unfortunately, I’ve just taken on a number
of new clients and am not, therefore, in a position to add others. I do wish you the best in your
publishing venture.
Janet Kobobel Grant
Books & Such Literary Agency
"Discerning Literature"
LITERARY AND CREATIVE ARTISTS, INC.
Date:Wed, 25 Aug 2004 15:04:06 -0500
Subject: Re: author query
From: "lca9643" <lca9643@lcadc.com>
To "Robyn Schneider" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
August 25, 2004
Dear Mr. Schneider,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, we must pass on the opportunity to represent BETTER
THAN YESTERDAY. Please do not let this decision discourage you. We mold our client list from the
many submissions we receive every month, and the process is both subjective and based on the
direction of this agency.
We hope you will soon find an agent with whom you can establish a productive relationship. Thank
you for contacting Literary and Creative Artists.
We wish you the best of luck in all your endeavors.
Sincerely,
Antonio Oppi
Literary and Creative Artists, Inc.
WORD SERVE LITERARY
From: "Greg Johnson" <greg@wordserveliterary.com>
To: "'Robyn Schneider'" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: author query
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 12:41:20 -0600
Robyn:
This sounds great, but I don't have an "extensive knowledge" base in the general trade in YA. Best of
luck to you.
Greg
SUSAN SCHULMAN, A LITERARY AGENCY
From: Schulman@aol.com
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 14:28:41 EDT
Subject: Re: author query
To: robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Robyn, Thank you for your query telling me about your new novel. I represent Brent Hartinger
and his GEOGRAPHY CLUB. Your group of friends sounds equally interesting and entertaining and
thought provoking. Please send the ms. to Susan Schulman
A Literary Agency
454 West 44th St.
New York, N.Y. l0036
and include your query and this reply. Susan Schulman
From: Schulman@aol.com
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 12:01:54 EDT
Subject: Manuscript
To:robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Robyn Schneider, Our reader Emily Rhea read your manuscript and would like to know more
about you and your writing career, your goals and expectations. She recommended it to me.
Schulman
Mon, 18 Oct 2004 10:13:37 -0700 (PDT)
From:"Robyn Schneider" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Manuscript
To: Schulman@aol.com
Dear Susan Schulman,
Attached is the requested author and marketing info;it is the word document marked “For Susan
Schulman.” The JPEG is a picture of me. Thanks for expressing interest in me and my work. I’ll
hope to hear good news from you soon.
Best,
Robyn Schneider
From: Schulman@aol.com
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 13:38:00 EDT
Subject: Re: Manuscript
To: robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Robyn Schneider,
I read BETTER THAN YESTERDAY last night and was not disappointed. Emily's recommendation
was right on target. Your misadventures of rich teenagers at a prestigious Connecticut boarding
school hit home. I'm familiar with the scene, Taft, Hotchkiss, Gunnery, Loomis Chaffee, could all work
as backdrops for this novel. You have an uncanny ear for dialogue and a wicked sense of humor,
making this one of those joyously frothy page turners that one cannot put down. At least I couldn't--I
read it in one sitting. I was enjoying myself the whole time. This manuscript reads very m uch like the
GOSSIP GIRL series, but I personally think it is better and smarter. Underlying your candy surface is
a profound understanding of the coming of age genre, and the characters' conversations are
peppered with literary references to satisfy more sophisticated readers. I didn't see a false step in
this one.
Coincidentally, I represent Louis Sachar to whom you refer in your letter of this morning and he
would be thrilled to know you have been compared to him, and, I have two daughters, l8 and 22.
I "get" your writing, I think this novel can be sold well to a traditional house, and, I think I can sell it
well. Not only have a sold Louis Sachar's work including HOLES to Disney (the sequel has just been
delivered) but also Brent Hartinger's work, and new writers like Alfred Martino, just sold to Houghton
Mifflin--the novel is entitled PINNED and it reveals the problems in high school wrestling. I also
represent THE FLAME TREE, Ann Cameron, and one you really should look at Barry Yourgrau and
his NASTY BOOK, forthcoming from HarperCollins.
I think we might be a match. Shall we arrange to meet? Would you be free the afternoon (after 3) on
the 26th? Susan Schulman
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 22:27:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Robyn Schneider" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Manuscript
To: Schulman@aol.com
Susan,
Thank you for your wonderful email--you made my day. I'm pleased that you "get" my writing, as it
really is the main thing I am looking for in an agent. I'd love to work with you to sell this book, and I
can hardly wait until the 26th to meet you. You pick the time and the place, and I'll be there.
-Robyn
p.s. I have initiated the first name only/familiar address. You may declare my initiation void at any
time by simply addressing your future emails to "Robyn Schneider" instead of "Robyn.' :-)
In a message dated 10/22/2004 12:32:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time, robynschneider@yahoo.com
writes:
Susan,
I haven't yet heard from you regarding a meeting place and a time for Tuesday the 26th. If you could
get back to me before Monday with this it would be much
appreciated, as next week is MIDTERMS (yuck) and I need to set definite times for study groups. :-)
Thanks.
-Robyn
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 10:08:01 EDT
Subject:Re: Manuscript and meeting
To:robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Robyn,
Any time between 3-5 good for you? Also is X street between X and X convenient?
(I didn’t include the correspondences with contact information and addresses between
this email and the meeting)
Dear Robyn,
It was a pleasure to meet you and to learn more about you personally and to know you as a writer.
Your stories about Hofstra are horrifying.Your stories about high school, early projects, anthologies,
teaching courses and taking senior level courses are fun. I would like to be informed about your
transfer situation. If I can do anything to help you get moved to a new school please let me know. Of
course selling the novel will move you up the food chain in any admissions office.
I've printed out the two manuscripts and will be reading them this weekend, responding next week.
I've contacted two editors, waiting to hear back from either or both and get the manuscript into
editing please confirm that your earlier publishing contract does not contain an option clause. We
also include your mailing address and phone numbers.
From: "Robyn Schneider" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Literary Representation
To: Schulman@aol.com
Hello Susan,
I'm still smiling from our meeting. You don't know how incredible it was to take a break from my horrid
Hofstra midterms (aced another once today) and go galavanting off to NYC for book stuff. It made
everything that's gone on over the past two months seem like a bad dream that's about to end.
Don't worry, though, I'm formulating a humorous novel out of this college experience yet ;-) and I'll
keep you informed of my transfer application status. So far the only looming transfer business is my
SAT test next weekend--egad!
There's no option clause, don't worry! The publishing contract, which I have in front of me, states
the publishing rights as:
"Author agrees to grant publisher exclusive worldwide English language rights to publish and sell the
work in:
readable (text) digital format (electronic download,
disk, CD/CD-ROM, E-book reader or similar media of
presentation, EXCLUDING motion
picture/television/video/DVD rights),
print on demand trade paperback,
traditional print run trade paperback,
hard cover book,
audiocassette, audio-CD or other audio format,
large print, hard cover format.
All rights in the Work not specifically granted to Publisher in this agreement are reserved by the
Author...NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL OBLIGATE AUTHOR TO SUBMIT ANY ADDITIONAL,
UNRELATED WORKS TO PUBLISHER."
My contact information:
XXXXX
XXX
X
-Robyn
In a message dated 11/9/2004 12:00:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, robynschneider@yahoo.com
writes:
Susan,
Just wondering if you'd heard anything back from the copy editors, and also if you got a chance to
read the manuscripts I sent. For some reason I have a horrible suspicion I may have sent you a
slightly unedited version of Drama Writer, but I am not sure about this. Then again, I'm not sure
about a lot of things, like which college I'm going to next year, what "http" stands for in an internet
address, or where my Mac lipglass is. Anyhow, I finally got my hands on a copy of my chapbook (it's
only 20 pages of short stories) and dropped it in the mail for you today. I'm sorry it took so long; I'd
given out all of my author copies and had to steal one back from this kid in the dorm.
He was using it as a Budweiser coaster.
-Robyn
p.s. the SAT went swimmingly well. I get my score back in 10 days.
In a message dated 12/8/2004 11:56:42 PM Eastern Standard Time, robynschneider@yahoo.com
writes:
Dear Susan,
I have yet to receive the rewrites from Sally. Do you know what's going on?
Also, I was wondering what your decision was on publication for my diary book, DRAMA WRITER.
Tigress Press swears they're still up for a 2005 release, but
they've given me the option of terminating the contract now to find a larger publisher, if I so choose.
Since you seem to have a vision of my future career, I'm leaving the decision up to you: Would you
like to take on Drama Writer (the Harvard/Cheerleading diary) and try to sell it somewhere down the
road to an imprint of the house we go with for BETTER THAN YESTERDAY (Connecticut prep school
mss), or should we leave it as it is? I emailed you about this on Monday, guess you missed it in your
inbox, but I hate to leave the editor hanging for more than a few days after she offers to let me have
my rights back. Help, please!
-Robyn
In a message dated 2/2/2005 12:12:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, robynschneider@yahoo.com
writes:
Hi Susan,
Yes, I am aware of PREP and I read it recently, as well as Curtis Sittenfeld's columns in (I believe)
New York Metro, and the Gawker responses to them.First off, PREP is not being marketed as YA; It's
in the adult fiction section in bookstores.I don't think PREP can do us any harm--it's a completely
different book from BETTER THAN YESTERDAY. The protagonist is an average, unoriginal
Midwestern scholarship student at a boarding school in the 1990's. The story covers four years of
her life, and then some. It deals with being an outsider. BETTER THAN YESTERDAY is about being
a dissatisfied insider, a smart kid, one of the crowd who still doesn't have an identity. It's about being
born into a level of privilege that isn't too spectacular but still never manages to fade completely into
the background. In short, it's a novel where popularity doesn't exist. PREP is all about wanting to be
popular and pretending to fit in while resenting everyone and everything. So I think it might help us
that there's a novel out about boarding school, especially since it's as different from my story as
MEAN GIRLS is from THE BREAKFAST CLUB--both movies are in the same school setting with
essentially four main characters, but they encompass different situations, social groups, and time
periods. I'm glad for PREP--at least I'll have something else to be compared to other than TWELVE ;
-) What's your take?
Oh, and thanks for the names of the publishers. Now I have something to do this weekend--google!
-Robyn
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 16:11:31 -0800 (PST)
From: "Robyn Schneider" <robynschneider@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Better Than Yesterday
To: Schulman@aol.com
Susan,
Thanks for the status report. I did finish PINNED and liked it a lot. Alfred was telling me how hard he
worked on it, and it showed. Sure you can send me DO OVER via email. No problem.
I'm surprised BETTER THAN YESTERDAY is being rejected by so many editors, but then again, on a
hopeful note, it only takes one editor to get the book published. OPAL may not have taken the very
young writers slot completely--I mean, didn't Alloy books use A-List and Gossip Girl to play off each
other? Similar books can generate publicity for each other.
Perhaps, if the publishers we tried at first don't work (and what ever happened with the interest you
mentioned from Random House?) Miramax books, who published BE MORE CHILL by 22 year old
Ned Vizzini, or Grove Press, who published TWELVE?
R
One fiction writer's journey through the world of unsolicited e-queries.
visit my author website at
www.robynschneider.com
www.robynschneider.com
| --- Schulman@aol.com wrote: Dear Robyn, Just to make sure we are moving ahead, I've approached the editors as you know but not had a commitment yet. Will let you know. Get those vectors in place for the physics part of the SATs. Susan (also born in May) |
From: Schulman@aol.com
to: Robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Robyn,
Good to hear from you. We have printed out both manuscripts and Emily is reading them now. They
will then come to me, I'll probably be done over Thanksgiving weekend.
The manuscript is now with Sally Arteseros and she will have comments for you and me by end of
November. Also Sally says use her name and introduce yourself to Philip Lopate who teaches the
Art of the Essay at Hofstra. Sally edited that book and several others of his and he is a brilliant
writer and editor.And he is right on campus. Perhaps you can audit the class or at least connect.
All best, Susan
to: Robynschneider@yahoo.com
Dear Robyn,
Good to hear from you. We have printed out both manuscripts and Emily is reading them now. They
will then come to me, I'll probably be done over Thanksgiving weekend.
The manuscript is now with Sally Arteseros and she will have comments for you and me by end of
November. Also Sally says use her name and introduce yourself to Philip Lopate who teaches the
Art of the Essay at Hofstra. Sally edited that book and several others of his and he is a brilliant
writer and editor.And he is right on campus. Perhaps you can audit the class or at least connect.
All best, Susan
| From: Schulman@aol.com Date: Sun, 5 Dec 2004 10:28:55 EST Subject: Re: Literary Representation To: robynschneider@yahoo.com Dear Robyn, Did you hear from Sally? If not let me know and I'll call her directly. I believe she was going to edit over Thanksgiving but that is now long past. I've got to insist if she hasn't already sent to you that we get it done by the time you leave for the holidays so you can revise and we are ready to go out in multiple on January 3. Also I printed out SAY NOTHING MEAN NOTHING and read it, good, solid, entertaining stories. Am I right that this is the self published anthology? Who is distributing and most importantly did you get any reviews on this collection? If not then I think some work needs to be done to submit for reviews in magazines aimed at ITS target audience. The way I see the month playing out is to get Sally's edits, rewrite over the vacation, you of course take finals and get great grades, take Philip Lopate's class and finally get your college education underway and on track in the writing program, we meet as soon as you return from vacation and start the multiple submission of the novel and hope to get an auction going. Then we move to the back list to edit and sell those two novels as well. Let me know you are surviving Hofstra. All best, Susan |
| From: Schulman@aol.com Add to Address Book Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2004 15:11:57 EST Subject: Re: Literary Representation To: robynschneider@yahoo.com Dear Robyn, Sally will send the manuscript and editorial letter to your home in Irvine CA tomorrow by UPS. I will separately get a copy of the editorial letter so we can then discuss it. Email me when you read it and if you have questions. She completed it this weekend. I went through the Tigress Press web site. Tigress is not listed in Literary Market Place and I couldn't find much about them excepting that you can download a novel for $1.00. I don't think you are losing anything by DELAYING the publication. Perhaps cancel the contract and if we can find no other publisher, then go back to them. What do you think of that approach. In any case make certain only U.S> English language rights are granted. Susan |
| From: Schulman@aol.com Add to Address Book Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 08:47:40 EST Subject: Re: Better Than Yesterday To: robynschneider@yahoo.com Dear Robyn, Yes, we have the manuscripts ready and will add the headshot and bio. We will start on Monday checking to see what editors remain in their jobs! As you probably realize at the end of the year there is an approximately 30% change over of personnel in most media companies. Therefore I make it a policy to touch base with each editor personally before submitting, especially at the turn of the year. I will give you a summary of the editors as soon as the first round is set. Susan |
| From: Schulman@aol.com Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 10:42:58 EST Subject: Re: Stranger Things Have Happened To: robynschneider@yahoo.com Dear Robyn, I'd say you can either license Tigress Press or not, in the scheme of your career I don't think it will hurt or help, but you might feel better having it "finished." For me to bring it to a commercial market will require your rewriting it which I don't think is a good investment of your time. You are correct, between the first two novels and BETTER THAN YESTERDAY, you grew as a structuralist, a writer and further we are off and running with BETTER THAN YESTERDAY, we can't go back I think to rewrites. You are older, the new manuscript is very very promising and funny and unique. Here is where we are with BETTER THAN YESTERDAY Beverly Horowitz Editor in Chief and Publisher Random House Books for Young Readers Cindy Eagan Little Brown Books, Editor in Chief for Books for Young Readers Ginee Sea, Editor in Chief own imprint at Atheneum, part of Simon and Schuster Meredith Mundy Wassinger Dutton Books, PenguinGroup USA Frances Foster, Editor in Chief and publisher Farrar Straus and Giroux Children's books Laurie Godwin, Henry Holt and Co., Editor in Chief of Children's Books Tamar Brazis Abrams Books for Young Readers These are strategic and key submissions, starting with the most importnat and well funded editor in the business Beverly Horowitz. It will be a week more before we get reactions. Susan |
| From: Schulman@aol.com Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 11:25:30 EST Subject: Curtis Sittenfeld To: robynschneider@yahoo.com Check out PREP and see what you think, read the reviews on Amazon. This could hurt or help us. |
| From: Schulman@aol.com Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 12:17:30 EST Subject: Re: Stranger Things Have Happened To: robynschneider@yahoo.com Dear Robyn, Unfortunately, i think every single conversation about your book is going to some how involve PREP and I will need to explain it away. Not to worry however, this is an expected part of the process. Anyway, we have bigger concerns, getting this ms. sold. Add Barbara Lalicki at Harper Collins to the list. Susan |
| From: Schulman@aol.com Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2005 15:16:12 EST Subject: Re: Read this article To: robynschneider@yahoo.com Dear Robyn, We have a pass at S and S from Gineo Seo but she turned it over to another of her associates, different line. We have interest from Random House. I'll keep you informed. Susan From: Schulman@aol.com Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 15:55:26 EST Subject: Fwd: Better Than Yesterday To: robynschneider@yahoo.com I don't know if I sent this to you or not but for your files. Rejected by Putnam. Susan Forwarded Message From: "Seo, Ginee" <Ginee.Seo@Simonandschuster.com> To: "'schulman@aol.com'" <schulman@aol.com> CC: "Raffensberger, Kristy" <Kristy.Raffensberger@Simonandschuster.com> Subject: Better Than Yesterday Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 10:11:17 -0500 Hi Susan, Thanks for sending BETTER THAN YESTERDAY to my attention. I agree, Robyn Schneider definitely has something. I don't think she's right for my list, but I am passing the manuscript along to Paula Wiseman, who also has her own imprint here, to see if Paula connects with the book. Thanks again for thinking of me, and congratulations--I think Robyn is the real thing. Best, Ginee Seo VP, Editorial Director Ginee Seo Books Atheneum Books for Young Readers 1230 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020 (212) 698-7130 ginee.seo@simonandschuster.com |
| From: Schulman@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 14:36:15 EST Subject: Re: Better Than Yesterday To: robynschneider@yahoo.com Dear Robyn, I want to bring you up to date on the status so far. We are getting read everywhere and I've done alot of talking about you to various editors. We are rejected now by Farrar Straus by Frances Foster the most distinguished of editors. She had it read by younger editors. Also Tamar Brazis at Harry Abrams because isn't confident Amulet list can handle it. And by Dutton because their title LOOKING FOR ALASKA is a competitor to it. Hope you have finished PINNED and like it, Alfred worked hard to shape that book and now the pay off is here with good publicity and reviews. His editor has it. It is also with LB and the editors Muchnick and boss Michael Pietsch but I think Kaavya Viswanathan's OPAL has taken the very young writer's slot. We shall see. I'd like to send you another I"ve worked on via email if you can accept an entire y.a. via email. It is DO OVER by Christine Deriso. Not yet published but sold. Can you? Shall I send it? Susan |
| From: Schulman@aol.com Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2005 15:31:39 EST Subject: Re: Better Than Yesterday To: robynschneider@yahoo.com Dear Robyn, Please call me when you get this message. Susan |
| And we all know what it means when an agent wants you to call them...yup, an offer! :-) |
By Robyn Schneider, author of Better Than Yesterday
(Delacorte 07), The Social Climber's Guide to High School
(Simon Pulse 07), and The Ivy Legacy (Delacorte 08).
(Delacorte 07), The Social Climber's Guide to High School
(Simon Pulse 07), and The Ivy Legacy (Delacorte 08).
