HELP: SOS from India

abdasgupta1

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Hello All,
I was not sure where to start and am thus giving this one a try. Please do move this to the forum appropriate.
I am desperately seeking an agent dealing with Indian writers. Can this forum help, please, if for nothing else, then for its widely acclaimed credibility?
Warmly,
Abhijit Dasgupta
Calcutta
India

THE SYNOPSIS

THREE: THE DESTRUCTION

A two-in-one debut novel by Indian author-journalist Abhijit Dasgupta. The two stories combine to make up around 100,000 words.
In a dark Calcutta of the late 19th century, ruled with a populist wand by the Viceroy, Lord Dufferin, the upper-class Bengali gentry struts their erudition while, at the other end of the spectrum, fellow hedonists indulge in obscene nocturnal practices to the mortification of their British rulers.
In the first of the two stories, Anandamoyee, young protagonist widow of the household Sen, a family of respected newspaper editors working in the still extant Creek Row Press, shocks with her drunken behaviour as much as with the proof of many whispered rumours of her inappropriate relationship with her brother-in-law, a controversial, militantly anti-British editor.
The story is fiction placed within historical reality: where the legendary reformer Vidyasagar fights against the criminal tradition of widow-burning (suttee) and for widow remarriage, and where giants mingle with midgets as helpless onlookers to an unfolding, unstoppable, black tragedy.
In the second story, The Inheritors, which moves in the world of 21st century Calcutta journalism, history seems to repeat itself with bloodline passing down mirror-images of a tragedy which happened a century and quarter back. Only time seems to have passed as tragedy strikes one after the other, with uncanny familiarity, as two women, almost like the Anandamoyee of yore, take it in their hands to devastate the man of their lives.
Abhijit strings together the two stories as one epic journey through common gadgets like a tattered, lost-and-found journal, a tragedy repeated in the same family, straddling more than a century, while he handles, with equal felicity, the devastation of two journalist-men brought about by intriguing tragical character flaws in three women who destroy their loves at the altar of addiction, ambition and ailment.
The two dark stories together make one, an epic genre not explored with such powerful and lyrical effect ever before. THREEis a must-read for those interested in realtime British India and also provides a peek into modern-day Indian journalism. It’s an enriching and amazing experience for readers whose picks are black tragedy and magical realism.

END OF SYNOPSIS




SHORT BIO OF ABHIJIT DASGUPTA (with mugshot photograph attached)

Abhijit Dasgupta, 45, has been in English print media journalism for 24 years now, six of them as Editor.
He was the launch editor of Calcutta Times, the city-centric supplement of the Times of India, with a nationwide circulation of 250,000 daily, before deciding to embark on this novel. Abhijit’s first e-book was published at www.TodayBooks.com by a Canadian publisher, Medalion Enterprises, and it is called Troy's Boys: Is India Wilting Under Western Pressure? It is a short 10,000-word analysis and would be of interest to India lovers. Abhijit has also written for the London-based magazine, OneUp and contributed short stories for many websites.
Abhijit has earlier worked with papers like The Telegraph, The Indian Express, The Financial Express, The Pioneer, The Sunday Observer and finally, the Times of India.

Details and other works of Abhijit can be found on http://abhijit7.sulekha.com and mail directly to [email protected]
 

abdasgupta1

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Advise, pl/Hello from Calcutta, India

Hi,

Greetings!

As Executive Editor of India Today, the sub-continent's largest-selling magazine, I have just completed my debut novel.

My 110,000-word debut black tragedy novel, THREE, an Indian family saga, split into two books and straddling a century and more in Calcutta, has just been accepted by an Indian biggie publisher as also a UK-based imprint which is now moving into fiction for the first time.

Both the contracts are now with me.

Having said that, I am sort of wary about making any precipitative moves. It took me five years to write the novel and am clueless about the British and American publishing world. The Indian publisher has given me the option of choosing between only Indian or world rights. The UK publisher has not got back to me after I told them that I would not sign unless they talked of a nice advance. they pay only royalties.


All this leaves me with so much in hand but then nothing at all too, if you know what I mean. Anybody in India would give his right arm to be taken by the Indian biggie and another for the UK imprint since that would mean pound sterling payment.

It is now that I feel that an agent should come into the picture, somebody who should be as confident about the novel as I am. Let me forewarn, however, that the novel has already taken a beating of over a 100 rejections before being picked up by the two publishers. Those were direct submissions.


But now, I have the confidence to actually request an agent to assume charge of something which has proved its bit in parts, at least on home soil.

I guess I shall hold on to the foreign rights while going with the Indian biggie first. The need is to be paid in pounds/dollars. Soiled rupee notes stink. All other stuff like literary genius and recognition come later.

Any suggestions welcome, please. Write in to my personal ID at [email protected].

Rgds
 

waylander

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Not sure where to start, but here is a good listing of UK agents
http://writersservices.com/agent/uk/index1.htm

Possibly you might look at The Marsh Agency as they specialise in all kinds of foreign rights. Their e-mail address can be found on their listing above.
 

abdasgupta1

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Thanks. yes, I do know about all UK agents and have their IDs. My concern is different. It's not about the hunt for an agent. It's about what to do with two contracts in hand and lack of guidance from people who know. Also, while I can easily sell my books to either of the two publishers, I think I might be a loser regarding money. It is my understanding that you need to hardsell, and hardsell badly. That is not an author's job. That is the specialisation of an agent and I am willing to pay him/her the 15 per cent. His/her job is cut out: use the two contracts that I have with me and sell me abroad. Period. Also, he/she needs to believe in the novel too. I know it's hard bargain but those are my cards for all to see. And also, look at it this way. Not too many first-time novelists can show up two contracts to agents. Sometimes, even when they wish to pass, the contracts may just make them see merit in the work. Cheers
 
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I actually don't understand the problem. You want to get an agent and are in an excellent position to get an agent. I may just be tired. Could you repeat the question lol!
 

abdasgupta1

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I want to USE the two contracts that I have to get a foreign agent. To be published either in the US or the UK first. That brings in the big money for an Indian ( read South Asian). My Indian publisher will pay me in rupees which is chickensh.. compared to the pound and dollar. It has to be a foriegn imprint first and an Indian edition later. If I give world rights to the Indian publisher,fine. I get a pittance as rupee advance and if the novel flops, there will be NO further foreign imprint. Am i clear now? So get me a foreign agent by showing the contract carrots, if you will please. tks
 

waylander

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OK
Try going to agentquery.com and use the site search menus for the genre that you think best fits your book (maybe multicultural). That will bring up a long list of US agents. Then you'll need to send queries to them in which you should describe your book and the details of the publishing contracts you have in hand. Many of them will take queries by e-mail.

Maybe try this one http://agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=274
 
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abdasgupta1

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Thanks. been there and done that. Right now, there are 28 agents in the UK and US going through both the contracts and the novel. All of them have been told that it's a multiple submission. However, what I want is fast action. I came to this forum to get hold of a credible agent or may be, for the word to spread for a reputed editor/agent to touch base with me directly without me having to write to each and everyone individually. It's in their interest as well as mine.
 

waylander

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The only agent who drops by on a reasonably regular basis is Nathan Bransford of Curtis Brown.
You'll find his thread at the top of the 'Ask the Agent' forum. You could post you question there and hope he comes by soon.
 

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Well, have you thought about email?

It seems to me you are doing all the right things.

I know this is taboo, but if you called an agent's office and explained the situation to their assistants, maybe they could advise as well.
 

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Okay Abhijit, this is the thing, I think we are all a bit confused as to what you want from us help wise. You have a list of agents, you are sending things to them, the only thing I could really see that you wanted was how to get a speedy response. I suggested email because a lot of queries are often done by snail mail. Obviously you are using email. I suggested phoning in person, but you didn't respond to that. There isn't really much we can do to help you really, as I mean we aren't in control of how fast or slow agents will respond to your request, so am I missing something here?

I am genuinely confused and would love to understand! Is this simply a rant at how slow agents are in general (something we can all empathise with) or is there a actual question in there somewhere?
 

abdasgupta1

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the ask

I came to this forum to get hold of a credible agent or may be, for the word to spread for a reputed editor/agent to touch base with me directly without me having to write to each and everyone individually. It's in their interest as well as mine.
Thanks, T. This is what i really wanted from the forum. No rant, definitely not. And no particular help by any particular member of this forum either. I didn't take th option of calling because it doesn't make sense to get the Writers' Handbook and call all the way from India. I was wondering if some agent could just pass by and notice. In case I am in luck, that was the effort and the ask actually.
 

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Thanks. been there and done that. Right now, there are 28 agents in the UK and US going through both the contracts and the novel. All of them have been told that it's a multiple submission. However, what I want is fast action. I came to this forum to get hold of a credible agent or may be, for the word to spread for a reputed editor/agent to touch base with me directly without me having to write to each and everyone individually. It's in their interest as well as mine.

Basically, what I glean from your thread is this...

You have a book, two publishers are interested. You want it published in the USA or UK first. You have submitted to 28 different agents and have become impatient waiting for a reply. You popped in here and started this thread in the hopes some agent, a good/reputable agent, saw this thread and jumped on the opportunity to represent you.

Hopefully, you did your research and have submitted to agents who represent your genre. That's all you can do. Patience is a virtue, especially when starting out in a writing career.

Reputable, good agents are very busy and in demand. It takes time for them to read manuscripts and contracts.

My advice is to remain patient and write the next book.
 

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abdasupta, a recent blogging agent (Kristin Nelson?) said a few weeks ago that your situation --- in which you have a publisher and need an agent FAST --- is one of the few exceptions to the rule about never cold calling an agent. If I were you, I'd pick two or three of your most likely prospects --- people who represent books that are most like yours --- and try calling.
It is highly unlikely that an agent is going to wander in here and find you BTW. I think.
 

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I agree with lkp. Yes it is expensive to call from India, but it could be well worth the expense should it land you an agent who could get you more money on your MS. Take your top five. Call them. See what happens.

I also agree with lkp that it is very unlikely an agent will come in here and see your problem and offer to represent you.

Thanks for clearing up your request though! I like to understand what's going on!
 

abdasgupta1

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publishers wants wants world rights

Thanks for all the help out here. I have finally zeroed in on a reputed California agent, who already has an Indian author on her list, and shall sign the agreement on Monday. Pl wish us all the best and wait for The Vice Song to come your way. May be, some of you may like it. And yes, my next novel will be over this year. That's on reincarnation and I think with that, I will be wiser by far. The India biggie publisher who has confirmed is now asking for world rights which my agent is negotiating. It's strange how after two publishers, suddenly your book gets so many bites...that too, after 200 rejections over one year...but then, I guess that's how it works in publishing. All you need is a bargaining chip. Now that I have a US agent, suddenly, the Indian publisher wants world rights which they had earler left as an option for me to choose from. Helps us...makes our job easier in the US, if you ask me. Now US publishers will know that this book is in demand in India and the biggest publisher is keen on world rights which could be one simple hook to make them bite. Any other thoughts? Pl share...
__________________
 

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I will tell you that my agent from William Morris Agency negotiated for North American Rights -- That was a wise decision as we since have sold to 9 other countries. World Rights are not necessarily a good choice.
 

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Heh, I was going to say the same thing!

My UK publisher had initially wanted world rights, but my agent said no. When I asked her why she explained that if another country is roped into publishing your book because they have to (many publishing houses have multiple locations all over the world), then if they don't like your book, but still have to publish it the chances of them putting in that extra effort to promote it will be slim.

I'd say you may want to consider keeping your world rights and selling them off individually to publishing houses that are genuinely excited about your book, and come to you to ask to publish it!