Meet the Conference Faculty

An Interview with Agent Meg Thompson

Meg Thompson will be one of the many great featured agents at our 2014 Agents and Editors Conference. Meg is an agent at Einstein Thompson Agency. To find out more about Meg and what she represents, visit our Featured Agents page and read her Q&A below.

How would you describe your personal approach to working with a writer/client?

I’m very hands-on. One of my favorite parts of agenting is that I get to edit before I submit, and I very much enjoy the back and forth that goes on with an author as we perfect their manuscript. My friends actually tease me because when I’m working with a client closely, I’ll start to pick up their cadences and their vocabulary…I can’t help it! I’ll email with friends and they’ll be like “Oh Lord, are you working with a mom blogger right now?”…or “Um, come again?  Are you working with an academic right now?”  I sort of become a ventriloquist, which is helpful, because I can anticipate what my authors are trying to say when they can’t quite get it on the page. I absolutely love that process.

If a potential client could do one thing to make the experience of working together even better, what would it be?

Trust that your agent has your back. We’re your advocate, and we’re always going to try to do what’s best for you. I’ve had clients who went with advances that were lower than those offered by other houses because they just really loved the editor, or the house. I have the utmost respect for those decisions, but I know some agents who don’t, as it equals less money for them. I want my authors to know that I always have their best interests in mind, and I will respect their decisions while providing the best business advice that I can. Trust is a huge component of the agent/author relationship.

What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to receiving submissions, reading work, etc.?

When a query starts off with “Dear Agent.” If you can’t take the time to find out my name, why would I want to take the time to read your work? 

You often hear that it’s the first ten pages – or even the first page – that sells a story. Is there something particular that you look for in those first few pages?

Grammar and copy-editing are very important. If there are glaring mistakes in the first few pages, that lets me know that the author did not take the time to proofread before submitting, which isn’t a good sign. I get sucked into a manuscript if the writing is beautiful and the subject matter is interesting to me–it’s pretty much as simple as that! 

If you could give writers one piece of advice, what would it be?

Try not to be too neurotic–HA.

Tell us about a project you took on, even though it wasn’t like projects you usually take on, because there was something special or unique about it that you couldn’t say no to. Or, tell us about an exciting or proud moment in your career as an editor or agent.

I specialize in nonfiction, and I chased this great essayist, Lenore Zion, to do a book. She ended up writing me a novel! It was so strange, so quirky, so dark, and so brilliant, I couldn’t say no. The big publishers passed because it was too niche for them, but I got her a deal with an indie publisher called Emergency Press, and they did a terrific job. The book is called Stupid Children, and man, is it bizarre. I just fell in love with it though.  

—

Thanks, Meg!

Click here for a full list of our A&E Conference Faculty.

Click here for more information and to register for the 2014 A&E Conference.

April Third Thursday Wrap-Up

WLT’s May Third Thursday event is just a day away. Join us at BookPeople at 7:00 PM, where we’ll be discussing everyone’s favorite topic: FOOD!

Our fantastic foodie panel includes Addie Broyles (Austin American Statesman and Austin Food Bloggers Alliance), James McWilliams (author of Just Food: Where Locavores Get it Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly and A Revolution in Eating: How the Quest for Food Shaped America), Angela Shelf Medearis (THE KITCHEN DIVA!), and Georgia Pellegrini (author of Modern Pioneering, Food Heroes, and Girl Hunter). 

Come here these professional food writers discuss the unique challenges, rewards, and adventures that come with their careers.

Until then, we’d like to share with you a wrap-up from April’s Third Thursday, written by one of our fabulous interns, Kelsey Peters.

Writing about Books

By WLT Intern, Kelsey Peters

Our panelists this month came from very different backgrounds, but the common thread for all was that they began as voracious readers. All four of our panelists agreed, that regardless of where they are in their lives and careers, not much has changed. After all, in order to write about books, it’s necessary to read books, and as Sharyn Vane pointed out, “Austin is a fertile community for writers.” Jeff Solomon agreed by saying, “Austin is a big literary town.” All four of our panelists, who currently live in the Austin area, seem to have hit the jackpot when it comes to getting paid to read and to write about the books they love (and sometimes hate) in a city that fosters their creative side.

Sharyn Vane began as a journalist and currently works as the Books Editor for the Austin American Statesman. Today, she writes about children’s and young adult literature for the newspaper. When she’s reading for pleasure, she uses a “different brain” than the one she uses for work. She shared with us her thought process in picking books for her monthly column. She explained that she aims to give people a good idea about what the writing is like and said that in order to best do this, she will sometimes read some of an author’s previous work so that she has something to compare the newest release to.

As an avid young adult reader, Sarah Pitre runs Forever Young Adult or FYA, (“a site for YA readers who are a little less “Y” and a little more “A.”). She said that YA literature is a “much bigger thing” now than it was when she was a kid. She wanted the opportunity to provide a community for like-minded readers. FYA allows her to review and suggest books to her readers and, in the interest of fostering a community, it has given birth to over 80 book clubs across the nation so that people who share her passion for YA can meet in real life. She happily shared with the audience that the stigma against YA is going away, thanks to books like The Hunger Games series, but said (with a laugh) that it might have been slightly hindered by books such as the Twilight series. In addition to FYA, Sarah is the lead programmer at the Alamo Drafthouse and is in charge of Girlie Night and Afternoon Tea screenings.

Jeff Solomon currently serves as the editor for the books column for Texas Monthly, but he began his career as a rock critic. Somewhere down the line, he got burnt out on going to shows and interviewing rock stars. He explained that he loves to interview writers because he finds that they are articulate and love talking about their work. In reviewing books, he stressed the importance of reading “every vowel and every consonant” but said that he takes a different, less formal approach when interviewing writers.

Clay Smith began as a journalist and later became the books editor for the Austin Chronicle. Today, he edits for Kirkus Reviews, the toughest review publication in the industry. He told us that his background in book journalism gave him the chance to interview writers and get to the bottom of the beginnings of a book. Now that he doesn’t specialize in any one genre, he gets the opportunity to learn and to expand his horizons.

Though all of our panelists said they tend to give the most space in their publications to books they would recommend, there is definitely still a place for the occasional negative review because, according to Sarah, “not everything is unicorns and rainbows” and as Jeff added, “sometimes books are bad.” Clay explained that though it can be harsh, he’s proud of the consistent honesty of Kirkus Reviews. He admitted though, that in receiving eight to ten thousand books a year for review, it’s possible to become jaded.

During the Q&A portion of the evening, Jeff took the time to ask the audience whether they were interested in reviewing books or getting their own books reviewed. The response was mixed, and Sarah encouraged those of us who want to review to read a lot. Not only that, but she challenged us to pretend that we’re reviewing for a publication that we admire, whether it be the Austin Chronicle, the Austin American Statesman, Kirkus Reviews, or Texas Monthly.

Overall, the sentiment echoed by all four of our panelists was the encouragement to write about what you know. Not only do they recommend this, but they embody it in their work.

Kelsey Peters is a native Austinite and a senior English Writing and Rhetoric major at St. Edward’s University. She is an intern for The Writers’ League of Texas’ Third Thursday program. 

Meet the Conference Faculty

An Interview with Editor Michelle Howry

Michelle Howry will be one of the many great featured editors at our 2014 Agents and Editors Conference. Michelle is a senior editor at Simon & Schuster/Touchstone. Learn more about Michelle and what she represents by visiting our Featured Editors page and reading the Q&A below.

How would you describe your personal approach to working with a writer/client?

Michelle Howry: It’s really tailored to the individual author or project. Some authors like to send me chapters as they go along, (this probably works better for nonfiction, which is what I work on). Others like to go away, hunker down, and write the whole thing before they share anything with me. Sometimes our working style is dictated by the schedule – if we’re on a tight schedule, I might insist that we edit as we go along! In the end, I work with the author to craft a plan that works for each book and each situation.

For every author, there’s a great deal of trust involved in the editing process, and I try not to take that lightly. My job is to guide, to prod, to nudge, to question. Their job is to write, and while I can help answer questions and give advice, they are the ones who have to do the hard work of getting those ideas down on paper. So I want to do whatever I can to help them – I try to be honest in my feedback, to be available when they have questions or get stuck, and to know when it is best to just step out-of-the-way and let a writer work!

You often hear that it’s the first ten pages – or even the first page – that sells a story. Is there something particular that you look for in those first few pages?

MH: Since I work mostly on nonfiction, I’m usually reading a proposal rather than a finished manuscript when I’m making an acquisition decision. But I think what I’m really looking for right up front in that proposal is a sense of the author’s expertise and passion. That can mean different things depending on what kind of book it is. I acquired a book called The Girls of Atomic City several years ago, which tells the story of a secret military installation built in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to help enrich uranium for the atomic bomb during WWII. The author, Denise Kiernan, was a journalist, not a historian, and at first one might have thought it would take someone with a history background (or a scientific background) to tell that story right. But Denise built her own expertise – she interviewed dozens of women who had worked at Oak Ridge, she scoured the National Archives for forgotten photos and stories, and she even became well versed in the intricacies of nuclear fission – so that she was able to tell a rich, convincing story about these women and their remarkable accomplishments. I don’t think that a historian could have captured the human element of that book nearly as well as Denise did, and it was because of her passion for the topic and her drive to tell the story right.

Of course, if you do have some expertise in whatever you are pitching (an advanced degree on the topic you’re discussing, you’ve published books on the subject, etc..), that should go front and center in your proposal, too. And if you’re writing, say, a health book, you’re probably going to be someone who has some advanced training in that area, like an M.D. or a nutritionist. But that’s not the only kind of expertise that could work in that category — maybe you regained your health following some particular regimen (for example, the Paleo diet) and then you built a career training, cooking, speaking, and teaching others about it, like my author Nell Stephenson did with her book, Paleoista. Her expertise is a result of her hard-won wisdom in this field, and then she built up an audience through her social media outreach that was excited to hear more from her. There are so many more ways a prospective author can build her audience and her credentials these days.

If you could give writers one piece of advice, what would it be?

MH: The work doesn’t end when you turn in your manuscript-writing your book is only the beginning. I love authors who are excited to market and sell themselves and their ideas.

Tell us about a project you took on, even though it wasn’t like projects you usually take on, because there was something special or unique about it that you couldn’t say no to. Or, tell us about an exciting or proud moment in your career as an editor or agent.

MH: I have a book coming out this fall called Champagne Supernovas – it’s a look back at the changing face of fashion in the 1990s, as told through the biographies of three visionary, larger-than-life characters: Marc Jacobs, Kate Moss, and Alexander McQueen. I am not particularly obsessed by fashion, and before I started working on this book I probably couldn’t have picked Alexander McQueen out of a lineup. But the author persuaded me, through her great proposal and then through her wonderful chapters, that this was a larger, universal story of excess and hubris, of genius and heartbreak. Through her writing and the way she brought each of these unique personalities to life on the page, she made me care about each of them in a way I didn’t think was possible. That’s what a great nonfiction proposal should do – open up a new world to the reader.

On the flip side, I’m incredibly susceptible to what I call “autobiographical” publishing – in other words, acquiring a book that seems to mirror the life stage I’m at in a particular time. When I was pregnant, the number of pregnancy/ parenting books on my list swelled along with my stomach. Now that I have a three-year old, I recently acquired a book called How Toddlers Thrive. Also, I’ve been known to be unduly influenced by the books I’m working on. I’m now editing a new book from the Forks Over Knives team, and I’m trying to eat a plant-based diet (though my resolve may falter when faced with some Texas BBQ during my time in Austin!).

—

Thanks, Michelle!

Click here for a full list of our A&E Conference Faculty.

Click here for more information and to register for the 2014 A&E Conference.

MEET THE MEMBERS

Tayyba Kanwal has been a member of the Writers’ League for 3 years. She lives in Houston, Texas and will be attending the Agents & Editors Conference in June.

Scribe: In what genre(s) do you write?

Tayyba Kanwal: Literary fiction and YA.

Scribe: What authors would you like to have coffee or a beer with and which beverage?

TK: Neil Gaiman, for sure. He does these deep, bold, zany things that I admire so. The meeting would most definitely have to be over Irish coffee, so you know, one can have the best of both worlds, and Neil Gaiman is so good with worlds. Words. Worlds.

Scribe: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what book would you want to have with you to keep you sane?

TK: A notebook. But if that’s cheating, I’ll take Proust’s Swann’s Way so I can ache with the human experience under a microscope whenever I start to feel empty. I’d also need a pencil, to write between the lines.

Scribe: What have you learned from your association with the Writers League?

TK: Most importantly, to keep working at my craft, and as cheesy as it sounds, to not give up hope. Watching the active learning and progress that takes place in the WLT community keeps me moving and inspired.

Scribe: Where do you see your writing taking you (or you taking it) in the future?

TK: I hope to grow into a cranky old lady who has consistently produced a meaningful body of literature. Each one of us is a unique creature in time and space, and what we have to share with the world is precious. I feel blessed to have the drive and ability to bring my observations to life through my work, and I hope that it will add at least a smidgen to humanity’s understanding of itself. That sounds awfully lofty, but there we go, these are the stars I am reaching for.

Scribe: Is there anything else about you that you would like to share with the world?

TK: I used to be a mathematician, and patterns still turn me. This comes screaming into my writing, but I’m probably the only one who knows this about my pieces. My completed YA novel has many layers, and I hope one day a reader will have as much fun digging them all out as I had writing them in. I will expect a letter from that reader.

I share more of my thoughts and news on my website: http://mayakanwal.com and I can be found on twitter @mayakanwal.

Catch some of my recent published pieces in these neat journals:

• “Here’s the Thing” – experimental humor in The Doctor T.J. Eckleburg Review http://thedoctortjeckleburgreview.com/2014/02/06/essays-heres-the-thing/
• “Mailee and the Saint of Horses” – a short story in Quarterly West http://www.quarterlywest.utah.edu/iss_80/iss_80_maileeand.html
• “I Breathed you First” – experimental fiction in Squawk Back http://www.thesquawkback.com/2013/07/mayakanwal.html

MEMBERS REVIEW

THE KIDS GOT IT RIGHT: How the Texas All-Stars Kicked Down Racial Walls

By Jim Dent, author of The Junction Boys

Published in 2013 by Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin’s Press.

Reviewed by Laura D. Sanders

The Kids Got it Right is a celebration of courage. Courage to ignore color and see skill and abilities, courage to stand up against the predominant culture, courage to do the right thing.

For over 50 years the Southwest Conference had refused to integrate. Great Texas African-American high school football players had no choice but to go out-of-state if they wanted to play football in college. In May 1965, that situation changed: Jerry LeVias became the first Texas African-American high school football player to sign with a Texas college in the Southwest Conference. LeVias’ signing started a slow process: a few months after the signing Bill Bradley was the only white player willing to room with LeVias. Together the skill of the two and their willingness to be friends changed the face of both Texas and national football.

Bradley and LeVias, the visible images of the change that occurred that day in 1965, didn’t cultivate their courage by themselves. This book is also about the parents, family, churches, coaches, school administrators, and even journalists and others, who planted the seeds of  bravery, teaching the two boys to respect others regardless of race.  Sometimes their own courage put them on the front lines of the battle against racism; sometimes they worked behind the scenes for several years, waiting until the time was right to make a move towards integration.

Author and sports journalist, Jim Dent, has done a good job of telling the stories of both generations in this book. For those who love football in general, and especially Texas football, the book is full of game statistics and biographies of history makers, including the story of the 1965 Big 33 All-Star Game in Pennsylvania, and its aftermath. At a time when few games were televised at all, this game was televised in forty-two cities in Texas and at several closed-circuit sites, having an impact far beyond those who played in it or watched it from the stands.

For those, like myself, with a lack of knowledge of this era in Texas football, I recommend keeping this book around as a quick history reference.

The Kids Got it Right would be a good gift for someone who both loves football and wants to know more about courage and its place in changing history.

Laura D. Sanders is an editor and writer who resides in Austin and has been a member of the Writers’ League of Texas for several years.  She currently has two books in process: a memoir of her Acadian ancestors journey from Nova Scotia to New Orleans, and a Christian romance novel.  She is a member of the Editorial Freelance Association and enjoys bringing out the best in others’ writing. Website: http://www.lauradsanders.com

HOUSTON: Brazos Bookstore

An Interview with Jeremy Ellis

Jeremy Ellis is the Manager at Brazos Bookstore, an independent bookstore in Houston that specializes in history and non-fiction, poetry, cookbooks, art books, and more. Without a doubt, there is always something to look forward to at Brazos, whether it be their Brazos Book Club or one of their many featured events. Read Jeremy’s Q&A below to learn more about Brazos and the Houston literary scene.

Brazos Bookstore recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. Congrats! Undoubtedly there have been many joys, but what would you say has been the most rewarding aspect of working at an independent bookstore like Brazos?

Jeremy Ellis: I’ve been working for independent bookstores across Texas for almost 20 years now. Each store I’ve worked for has had a different flavor, but the one thing they’ve all had in common was their commitment to inspiring readers and supporting the local community of authors, poets, and enthusiasts. I’m particularly lucky to have landed at Brazos Bookstore. This shop, more than any of the others I’ve worked for, shares my interests in the fine arts, culture and great fiction. We’re small enough to really focus on the best of these books.

How has the Houston literary community evolved and taken shape in recent years?

JE: There is a commitment to reading and writing in Houston that differs from every other city in Texas I’ve lived in.  Houston supports three major independent bookstores, plus dozens of smaller shops in the Greater Houston area. Strong writing programs at both Rice University and the University of Houston and Inprint, which offers classes for writers and features a headline author series (with $5 tickets!) guarantees an active and growing community of readers and writers. There is a sense of growth and optimism in all these organizations. Houston is an exciting city to live in if you love books.

We know it’s hard to pick just one, but what’s a book you’re loving right now?

JE: I’m reading BOY, SNOW, BIRD by Helen Oyeyemi right now. Structured after the tale of Snow White, Oyeyemi explores race and identity in an engaging and unexpected way. I’ve fallen in love with the novel. I’m reading as fast as I can so I can start reading Edward St. Aubyn’s newest, LOST FOR WORDS. It’s a satire based on a familiar major British literary prize… I’ve only read a page or two and can’t wait to really dig in. LOST FOR WORDS will be published on May 20.

What new writer or writers have you discovered recently?

JE: We’re particularly interested in translated fiction at Brazos these days. Store manager Mark Haber is most passionate about Latin-American authors and has been very excited about Cesar Aira, Daniel Alarcon, and Valeria Luiselli in particular. We all really respond to exceptional writing… Last year I discovered Lidia Uuknavitch. Her memoir, THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER and her novel, DORA: A HEADCASE were bestsellers for us.

What’s the best way for our Houston readers to learn more about upcoming events at Brazos?

JE: brazosbookstore.com lists all our upcoming events, as well as our staff recommendations, special features and more. We’ve recently redesigned the website and hope that it will become a resource for book lovers in Houston. Or sign up for our weekly email update for events, special announcements and local book news.

–Thanks, Jeremy!

Brazos Bookstore offers a 10% discount to current WLT members. Please present proof of membership at time of purchase.

 

Meet the Conference Faculty

An Interview with Agent Cameron McClure

Cameron McClure will be one of the many great featured agents at our 2014 Agents and Editors Conference. Cameron is an agent at Donald Maass Literary Agency. To find out more about Cameron and what she represents, visit our Featured Agents page and read her Q&A below.

How would you describe your personal approach to working with a writer/client?

Cameron McClure: I’m very honest and upfront with my writers and in assessing their work and their career prospects.  It’s a stereotypical New Yorker quality.  Some people consider that “New York” attitude to be rude, but I think what’s actually rude is beating around the bush, floating a lot of vague praise and wasting a person’s time. I’m very editorially involved with most of my clients’ work and push them hard to get their manuscripts in the best possible shape.  I try to be as transparent as possible, and I’m  always happy to explain a certain aspect of the business, or a strategy, or some contract language if my authors have questions.  

If a potential client could do one thing to make the experience of working together even better, what would it be?

CM: Not to be shy about coming to me with small problems or potential conflicts. Sometimes authors will keep quiet about something that’s bothering them, or not mention a side project. I am an advocate, and the more I understand my authors’ needs, both the big picture and the tiny details, the better I can do my job and make sure everything runs smoothly.

What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to receiving submissions, reading work, etc.?

CM: Sometimes it’s really clear that an author has work-shopped and critique-grouped the hell out of the first chapter or two, just enough to get the manuscript requested, and then the rest of the story is kind of sloppy or doesn’t hold up.  That’s always disappointing.  Those opening pages are critical, but a writer needs to continue to surprise and delight the reader.  I’m also not a big fan of rapid fire POV switches in the opening pages. I want to sink into a story and really start to understand a character, and it’s exhausting for me to head hop every few pages, before I’ve even got a firm grasp on the basics of the story.

You often hear that it’s the first ten pages – or even the first page – that sells a story. Is there something particular that you look for in those first few pages?

CM: There are quite a lot of things I look for – a distinct narrative voice, a strong sense of character and how that character is in conflict (or is about to be in conflict, either externally or internally, but ideally both), and some kind of narrative tension, whether it be a mild feeling of dread, anxiety, worry – something that is pulling us through the story, compelling us to want to read more. I also like to get a sense of place and time. I want to feel grounded in the story, and like I can trust the storyteller to deliver on the implicit promises he or she is making.  I can’t really express what it is exactly that gives me that feeling of trust… it’s probably a subtle balance of the things I mentioned above, plus that ineffable spark that makes fiction feel so real.

If you could give writers one piece of advice, what would it be?

CM: Don’t believe those effortless success stories that some authors tell – that one night they had a dream and they wrote it down and the next thing they knew they had an agent and a 7 figure book deal and a movie franchise.  Writing is hard work. You’ve got to put in your 10,000 hours.

Tell us about a project you took on, even though it wasn’t like projects you usually take on, because there was something special or unique about it that you couldn’t say no to. Or, tell us about an exciting or proud moment in your career as an editor or agent.

CM: I took on a manners book, which is way outside the range of what I represent.  The book is called Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck.  Just the title is amazing.  And the book is so smart, explaining the science behind why we are rude, and how to stand up for yourself; basically how to call rude people out on their bad behavior without getting punched in the face.  It’s a very funny and practical guide that I’ve personally found really helpful.

—

Thanks, Cameron!

Click here for a full list of our A&E Conference Faculty.

Click here for more information and to register for the 2014 A&E Conference.

Meet the Conference Faculty

An Interview with Editor Jason Pinter

Jason Pinter will be one of the many great featured editors at our 2014 Agents and Editors Conference. Previously an editor at Warner Books, Crown Publishing, and St. Martin’s, Jason is the Founder and Publisher of Polis Books. Learn more about Jason and what he represents by visiting our Featured Editors page and reading the Q&A below.

How would you describe your personal approach to working with a writer/client?

Jason Pinter: I like to consider any writer I work with as a partner in the future success of their book or books. As a new publisher, it’s important to me that our writers feel that they’re in the loop regarding every aspect of the publication – from editorial to design to publicity and marketing. If an author is happy with how their work is being treated, they’re that much more likely to be an active partner and work towards the common goal. Which is getting their work into the hands of as many readers as possible.

If a potential client could do one thing to make the experience of working together even better, what would it be?

JP: Hitting your deadlines is the most important thing, second to which is patience. Just like the act of writing a book, the act of publishing a book does not happen overnight. There are many things that go into the publication, not all of which happen on a day-to-day basis. So if you haven’t heard from your editor or agent it’s not because they’re ignoring you, it’s because they’re in the process of getting answers to your questions.

What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to receiving submissions, reading work, etc.?

JP: People who submit, then find you on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc and continue to pitch their work in those settings. Submit, and the publisher will get back to you. If they don’t, keep on with your search. Tracking down an agent or editor via social media generally will ‘not’ land you in their good graces. Remember, you’re looking to foster a business relationship.  If you don’t get the answer you want from a certain person, keep looking for the right person who’ll give you that response.

You often hear that it’s the first ten pages – or even the first page – that sells a story. Is there something particular that you look for in those first few pages?

JP: Voice is the first thing you notice in the first few pages. I was hooked by the very first paragraph of JERICHO’S RAZOR by Casey Doran, and remember distinctly thinking, “I hope the rest of the book is this good.” It was, and we published his book. After voice, it’s basic sentence structure and polish. A couple of typos or errors can be fixed or overlooked, but if your first few pages are littered with mistakes it can be assumed there are many more where that came from and you haven’t done the work necessary. Submitting a manuscript is like going on a first date. You wouldn’t show up to a date with a ketchup stain on your shirt having not taken a shower in three days, would you?

If you could give writers one piece of advice, what would it be?

JP: Reward yourself for finishing a first draft, but realize that’s just the beginning. Keep editing and revising until you literally would not change a word. Too many writers finish a first draft and assume they’ve written a book. Well, you don’t shoot eighteen hours of film and call it a movie. Edit, trim, revise, hack, slash, expand and explain. Once you’ve put all the words down on the page, you have to make sure they’re all the ‘right’ words.

Tell us about a project you took on, even though it wasn’t like projects you usually take on, because there was something special or unique about it that you couldn’t say no to. Or, tell us about an exciting or proud moment in your career as an editor or agent.

JP: One of the first projects I acquired for Polis Books was a Middle Grade novel called THE MISSHAPES. It’s the first in a planned trilogy. I’d started Polis with the goal of strictly focusing on adult fiction, but this story was so unique, the characters so rich and the voice so witty that I just had to publish it. It was like the reading equivalent of going to a Pixar movie. I felt that kids would love it, but there was also a level of glee and wit that would allow adults to feel like they were kids again too.

—

Thanks, Jason!

Click here for a full list of our A&E Conference Faculty.

Click here for more information and to register for the 2014 A&E Conference.

MEET THE MEMBERS

Jeffrey Allen Mays has been a member of the Writers’ League for over two years. He lives in Austin, TX.

Scribe: In what genre(s) do you write?

I write quirky, speculative, psychological fiction. When you throw a little action and intrigue and plot in there, it ends up being called something like Thriller. But I don’t set out to write thrillers. I probably set out to write Literary Fiction, but I like including elements of peril or magic or futurism, so my stories tend to drift out of that category.

Scribe: What authors would you like to have coffee or a beer with and which beverage?             

Since we’re dreaming here, I would like sit on the veranda of the former Opal Divine’s on 6th street with Leif Enger, Stephen King, Cormac McCarthy, and Annie Dillard, and drink a local IPA. I would also like to sit with William Faulkner on his front porch, with John Steinbeck, Graham Greene and Walker Percy and drink Early Times. I would also love to have a tall, sweetened iced tea with Flannery O’Connor on her Georgia farm.

Scribe: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what book would you want to have with you to keep you sane?

It would have to be a long one. I would choose The Brothers Karamazov.

Scribe: What have you learned from your association with the Writers League?

I have benefited tremendously from every Saturday workshop I’ve been to. I don’t know how they keep finding such great presenters. I have learned about voice, the world of self-publishing, building a platform. I’ve also learned a lot about the harsh realities facing those who aspire to publish a book.

Scribe: Where do you see your writing taking you (or you taking it) in the future?

I don’t write hoping to get rich or become famous. I just want as many people as possible to read what I write, freak out, lay the book down with their jaw open, and perhaps be moved by it.

Scribe: Is there anything else about you that you would like to share with the world?

I just signed a contract with AEC Stellar to publish my first novel, The Former Hero, probably some time this summer. Follow my book launch at http://jeffreyallenmays.com. I would love to connect with WLT members who share similar thoughts about writing. Please send me a Facebook friend request or email at jeffreyallenmays@gmail.com, and let’s get a beer.
 

MEMBERS REVIEW

Magnolia City

by Duncan W. Alderson

Published in 2014 by Kensington Publishing.

Reviewed by Tess Anderson

It’s not unusual to use Texas as a backdrop for a story about a strong southern woman, but in Duncan Alderson’s book Magnolia City, the state almost functions as a character—and it takes something as big as Texas to parallel the protagonist of the story, Hetty Allen. Born to a wealthy family in 1920s Houston, her feisty nature pits her against her sister, her parents, society, and even herself. Through the eyes of Hetty, we are treated to the picture of early twentieth-century Texas, and Houston in its golden age. The imagery is powerful, and sets the tone of the novel. As the escapades progress, the landscape evolves to echo not just the events at hand, but the internal fluctuations of our heroine.

At first, Hetty seems like an entertaining, spunky young woman. She’s got a lot of progressive ideas, such as trusting her romantic life to Darwinism. Her ambition is balanced by a very kind nature. However, she is somewhat spoiled by her sheltered life, and has also learned to take advantage of her femininity. Her confidence contrasts with her sister’s diffidence, and their rivalry is almost uncomfortably realistic. They are at odds over the affections of a wealthy man from a privileged family. He prefers Hetty, but she finds herself attracted to another man, who is mysterious, independent, and an outsider. To complicate the matter even further, Hetty’s feelings for both men run deep: “The human heart had four chambers, after all, each one spacious enough to house her passion for the right kind of man.” But are either of them really the right kind of man for her?

As a rebellious, liberated woman of the early 20^th century, she naturally chooses the man who more strongly motivates her physically. Indecisive until the very last-minute, Hetty throws caution to the wind. Her life, and the book, pick up an exciting pace. She travels the Lone Star State, engaging in bootlegging, wild-catting, and mysticism. Shunned by her family and cut off from their support, Hetty learns to forge her own path. The trail, in turn, carves her into a woman with empathy, brave through misfortune and tragedy. She learns the hard way that the romance of adventure can wear thin when there is no one else footing the bill. Her marriage and motherhood test her, and simultaneously teach her to be less selfish and more self-reliant.

The journey leads her to the most unexpected place of all, her roots. Through Hetty’s aunt, she learns the true story of Nella, Hetty’s mother. The tale clarifies their family history, as well as the history of Texas. She embraces her heritage and calls on her mother to follow suit. Inspired by learning of her mother’s once-strong resolve, and moved by the beauty of her aunt’s Virgin of Guadalupe-themed art, Hetty decides to “learn how to love people.” A compassionate, fiery feminist ahead of her time, and yet so perfectly suited in her own time, Hetty made me feel proud to be a Texas woman.

Tess Anderson is technically a writer. A technical writer. She’s the mother of two teenagers and graduated from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas and now live in southwest Austin.