The rest of the thread
The rest of this thread got eaten when our site was overwritten, so I'm reposting whatever I can find of Jenny's replies here from cached files.
-----
Originally Posted by lauriejgs
Hi, Jenny. If another agent at Trident rejected the full ms from an author, would you be averse to the author then querying you? Thanks!
No, I'm fine with it, as long as you let me know.
JennyBent
Originally Posted by
Josie
Hi Jenny: Thanks for being here
I notice on your website that you allow query letters to be sent via email. What length do you like the query letter to be?
What kind of genres are you interested in seeing? Paranormal by any chance?
What do you see as the most popular genres today? And is chicklit becoming passe?
Sorry to ask so many questions at once
Cheers
Keep the query letter short and to the point. One great opening sentence that grabs me, a short description, and a short bio. No attachments please, unless I request the work.
I represent women's fiction, including romance, quirky/funny literary fiction, dark memoir, women's lifestyle, and humor.
Chick lit is OVER, my friend. Not just BECOMING passe, but beyond passe. Which is too bad, but it will come back. It just got over published.
I represent some paranormal, yes. As far as popular genres, if you look at the bestseller lists, thrillers and suspense are working very well, and paranormal is still working, although I fear it's going to get over-published as well.
Originally Posted by trmonet
Dear Ms. Bent,
If I were to get a 'not interested at this time' reply to my query, how much time would you consider to be acceptable to let pass before resubmitting a new query?
Thank you for your time.
I'm sure it's different for every agent, but I get so many queries that I really don't remember names. I think a few weeks to a month would be fine.
Originally Posted by Josie
Thanks Jenny about the popular genres today. So good to get the facts from an expert like you.
I have a story which is paranormal chicklit mystery...I find it difficult to give it a label...it has a smattering of everything, including light humor in first person voice, major part is solving murder mystery...
Is it important in the query letter to you to give it the right label, though what follows will hopefully clear that up. t: I worry I'll crash on what category to put down. Am I confusing here?
Thanks again.
JENNA, so sorry I called you Cathy, (blush)
Well, definitely don't call it chick lit. I would call it paranormal mystery.
Originally Posted by Toni1953
Hi Ms. Bent,
If you were sent a novel that might need a smattering of editing, but was fresh and different, would you consider representation? Would you suggest revisions on a novel you felt had promise?
Yes, to both. And I've done both and sold the books.
Originally Posted by Toni1953
Another quick question:
Are you adverse to seeing one-sentence queries emailed to you or do you prefer longer ones? For example, something like this:
In ONYX-2097, a 70,000-word futuristic fantasy, young rock star Jazzie must defend Earth against its greatest threat – the evil Wizard Gwyn ApNudd.
would a blurb like that be enough to warrant a further look or do agents prefer the traditional 3 paragraph query letter? would receiving a one-sentence query like that ruin one's chances?
You could start out your query like that, and then segue into a longer query. That's what I would like to see. If I just got the one sentence, I probably wouldn't ask to see the material.
Originally Posted by Toni1953
One last one, I promise....
I understand that you are the agent for the new book, The JOURNAL, which looks really different....is this the type of book publishers are looking for? something with a totally different approach?
Also, is this book fiction or non-fiction.
Well, I think JOURNAL, by Joyce and Kristine Atkinson (check out the website at
www.amyzoemason.com) is one of those books that comes along once in a lifetime. It's truly so unique and special. For some publishers, who turned it down, it was TOO unique and special. Fortunately I was able to sell it to a house and an editor (Denise Roy, Simon and Schuster) who recognized its potential. But I think you are right, that in these tough economic times, when not a lot of people are buying books, publishers are certainly looking for books that bring something extra to the table--a fresh hook or idea or approach.
Originally Posted by Memnon624
Hi Ms. Bent,
On another board you mentioned a resurgence in the historical novel. What are your thoughts on the ancient historical (i.e. works in the same vein as Steven Pressfield or Conn Iggulden)? Is it a hard sell?
Thanks for your time!
Scott
I'm so sorry; but I don't know who those authors are. What seems to be working in the historical novel in terms of women's fiction (more my area of expertise) are novels set in England and revolving around real historical figures, like the work of Phillipa Gregory.
Scott wrote:
Hi again,
Both are writers of non-romantic historicals set in antiquity -- Pressfield's best,
Gates of Fire, dealt with the last stand of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae; Iggulden writes a series called
Emperor, which charts the rise and fall of Caesar. As I write in the same arena (6th through the 4th centuries BC), I'd hoped your comments at
Romancing the Blog might have included that segment of the genre, as well. Still, I appreciate the time you're taking to answer our questions!
Enjoy the rest of your day!
Scott
Originally Posted by waylander
Hi Ms Bent
Firstly thank you for your time. It is very much appreciated.
Secondly I wonder if I might seek your advice?
A well-respected agent requested my full manuscript back in March. I duly sent it and she acknowledged receipt and said that she would need "at least 6 to 8 weeks" to review it. Having heard nothing at 13 weeks I sent a short and polite e-mail enquiring about it. I had no reply. 16 weeks have now passed and I'm wondering what I should do. I would be delighted to be represented by this agent and I do not want to annoy her. Any thoughts?
Did she ask for an exclusive? Because 16 weeks is a very long time, particularly if she's not responding to e-mails asking about it. If it wasn't an exclusive, send it out to other agents. If it was an exclusive, send another e-mail asking for a time frame. If she still doesn't respond, send it to other agents.
Originally Posted by Toni1953
In your opinion, is the horror genre still "soft". I'm not talking about paranormal romances a la Love at First Bite...I'm talking about the type of novels Stephen King churned out in his heyday. Is there a market for them? Do publishers look for them? If someone had a novel that was patterned along the lines of a Dark Shadows-ish plot, would they be able to attract an agent and/or publisher, or should they concentrate on another genre.
Literary horror is one of those evergreen genres that publishers always want. Pulp horror is much less popular, although Kensington likes it. The ironic thing is that Hollywood is always on the lookout for a good commercial horror book, even if publishers are not.
Originally Posted by
Cathy C
Dear Ms. Bent,
First, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer questions here. I know how much our members appreciate it!
One question that shows up a lot on this board has to do with genre. Since there are two different "kinds" of genre--one being what elements of the story will fit a particular publisher's line, and the other being where it will be shelved in the store, it confuses aspiring authors.
When a book is a blend of various elements, do you prefer for an author to attempt to narrow it down in the query by telling you what genre THEY think it is, or should they simply tell the agent the plot and leave it to the agent (or, in reality to the publisher) to determine the genre?
Thanks again!
I'm sort of confused by this concept of two "kinds" of genre. However, I would be wary of any book which is a blend of various elements and is hard to categorize for the simple reason you raise above: bookstores don't know how to shelve it. I definitely want to be told in a query what genre of book I'm considering; it's an important and necessary piece of information which helps me determine if I want to see the project.
Originally Posted by waylander
This was not an exclusive and I am continuing to query other agents. I do have a phone number for the agency, but I am very wary of calling.
That's good. Don't call.