The AWer Harper Voyager Unagented Submissions Watch Thread

thothguard51 · Apr 21, 2013

Here is where the AW Cooler members stand as of 4/21/2013. We have a new member that has asked to be included, so they have been added.

The Cooler is now up to 84 members submitting 110 manuscripts.
For total submissions by AW members, are now up to 52 rejections, 7still in review, and 49 not reporting any response yet and 2 withdrawn by authors.

01..JJdebenedictis, submitted 1 manuscript on 10/01/12, rejected 1/8/2013.

02...Saanen, submitted 2 fantasy manuscripts on 10/01/12, both rejected 1/8/2013.

03...thothguard51, submitted 1 Epic Fantasy manuscript on 10/01/12, no response yet.

04...narmowen, submitted 1 Epic Fantasy manuscript on 10/01/12, rejected 4/16/2013.

05...Amergina, submitted 1 urban fantasy manuscript on 10/01/12, no response yet.

06...Dryad, submitted 1 manuscript on 10/01/12, no response yet.

07...tirceretops, submitted 1 UR Fantasy, 1 SF Distopian and 1 Adult Thriller on 10/01/12, genre ?, all three rejected 1/8/2013

08...Shadow Ferret, submitted 1 Urban Paranormal manuscript on 10/01/12, no response yet.

09...A.P.M, submitted 2 YA manuscripts on 10/01/12, both rejected 1/14/2013.

10...Michael Drakich, submitted 1 Fantasy and 2 SF on 10/01/12, Fantasy rejected on 2/19/2013, one of the SF rejected on 4/2/2013, last one rejected 4/10/2013.

11...GeorgeK, submitted 1 Fantasy and 1 SF on 10/05/2012, 1 rejected 2/24/2013, no response on 2nd.

12...G. Applejack, submitted 1 manuscript on 10/06/2012, no response yet.

13...Anarchic Q, submitted 1 fantasy on 10/07/2012 and 1 dystopian SF 10/13/2012, 1 still in review as of 1/8/2013, 1 rejected on 1/23/2013, but unsure which one.

14...MaraValderran, submitted 1 Epic Fantasy manuscript on 10/09/2012, no response yet.

15...eileenmcilwain, submitted 1 YA Urban Fantasy, 10/11/2012, rejected 1/30/2013.

16...ElizaC, submitted 1 Epic Fantasy on10/04/2012, and 1 Urban Fantasy on 10/07/2012, received response 1 held for further review. Other is unread.

17...Evelyn, submitted 1 SF manuscript on 10/05/2012, rejected on 1/16/2013.

18...Andrea GS, submitted 2 manuscripts on 10/13/2012, 1 rejected on 1/23/2013, withdrew 2nd submission for a R&R by agent.

19...Miguelito, submitted 2 Fantasy manuscripts,10/04/2012, and 10/12/2012, 1 rejected on 1/?/2013, no response on 2nd.

20...Retlaw, submitted 1 mystery, 10/14/2012, banned from AW, outcome unknown.

21...Amadan, submitted 1 manuscript on 10/13/2012?, rejected on 3/22/2013.

22...Mistri, submitted 1 manuscript on 10/14/2012, no response yet.

23...Lineykin, submitted 1 manuscript on 10/14/2012, no response yet.

24...M.R. Mortimer, submitted 1 manuscript on 10/07/2012, rejected 3/14/2013.

25...N.P. Browning, submitted 1 manuscript on 10/07/2012, rejected 1/22/2013.

26...Cally W, submitted 1 manuscript on 10/13/12, rejected 1/23/2013.

27...Espresso5, submitted 1 manuscript on 10/14/12, rejected 1/23/2012.

28...J.R.Vogt, submitted 1 urban fantasy, 10/02/2012, no response yet.

29...Veggie Neko, submitted 1 YA Fantasy, 10/14/2012, no response yet.

30...Jan Darby, submitted 1 urban fantasy on 10/01/2012 and 1 dystopian on 10/02/2012, received rejections on both, no dates listed.

31...Omnigon, submitted 1 Epic Fantasy, 10/13/2012, rejected 3/03/2013.

32...WarpedReality, submitted 1 YA Fantasy, 10/14/2012, no response yet.

33...Leanan-Sidhe, submitted 1 manuscript, 10/15/2012, no response yet.

34...RemusShepherd, submitted 1 YA SF, 10/01/2012, rejected 2/28/2013.

35...Xenith, submitted 1 fantasy, 10/02/2012, rejected on 1/30/2013.

36...Link 389, submitted 1 Epic Fantasy, 10/01/2012, no response yet.

37...BlinkerBot, submitted 1 Epic Fantasy, 10/06/2012, no response yet.

38...Bookislovakia, submitted 1 contemporary fantasy, 10/08/2012?, no response yet.

39...Skunkmellon, submitted 1 Fantasy manuscript on 10/12/2012, no response yet.

40...Velcro, submitted 1 manuscript on 10/14/2012, rejected 1/24/2013.

41...Cameomac, submitted 1 Urban Fantasy on 10/9/2012, no response yet.

42...Sarahdalton, submitted 1 SF YA dystopian, 1/10/2012, no response yet.

43...Clovia, submitted 1 Contemp. Fantasy, 10/13/2012, no response yet.

44...Pterofan, submitted 1 Urban Fantasy 10/01/2012, no response yet.

45...Sheadakota, submitted 1 Paranormal, 10/07/2012, no response yet.

46...Literati, submitted 1 manuscript on 10/14/2012, still in review 1/08/2013.

47...loki76. submitted 1 SF Paranormal on 10/02/2012 and 1 SF Horror 10/06/2012, 1 is under review as of 3/02/2013. 1 rejected on 2/23/13

48...Black Marlin, submitted 1 Military SF manuscript on 10/13/2012, no response yet.

49...Teleidoplay, submitted 1 Urban Fantasy on 10/04/2012, no response yet.

50...Specialfae, submitted 1 YA manuscript on 10/09/2012, rejected 2/21/2013.

51...td333777, submitted 1 Urban Fantasy on 10/12/2012, outcome...?

52...Beverly, submitted 1 SF on 10/12/2012, rejected 1/22/2013.

53...J.L. Rowan, submitted 1 Epic Fantasy on 10/07/2012, rejected 1/22/2013.

54...BillBlume, submitted 2 traditional Fantasy manuscripts, 10/06/2012 and 10/15/2012, 1 rejected on 3/02/2013, second rejected 4/02/2013.

55...AnnaC, submitted 1 SF on 10/11/2012, no response yet.

56...Cmartin, submitted 1 YA paranormal on 10/14/2012, rejected 1/23/2013.

57...Michael P, submitted 1 Sword & Sorcery on 10/08/2012, rejected 2/24/2013.

58...CatherineS, submitted 1 Fantasy on 10/09/2012, no response yet.

59...Slclick37, sumitted 1 YA Supernatural on 10/13/2012, no response yet.

60...Gin Jones, submitted 2 manuscripts,10/01/2012 and 10/02/2012, both rejected 1/14/2013 & 1/16/2013.

61...Ravenlea, submitted 1 Urban Fantasy on 10/14/2012, no response yet.

62...Chebbs, submitted 1 Epic Fantasy on 10/14/2012, rejected 1/23/2013.

63...eltondiva, submitted 1 Dark Fantasy on 10/01/2012?, rejected 1/10/2013.

64...AziaRayne, submitted 1 Urban Fantasy on 10/14/2012, no response yet.

65...entropicsinkhole, submitted 1 Urban fanstasy on 10/01/2012, and 1 SF on 10/14/2012. 1 rejected 1/23/2013, no response on 2nd.

66...sennydreadful, submitted 1 Urban Fantasy on 10/15/2012, rejected 1/23/2013.

67...A Long December submitted 1 on ?, genre ?, rejected 1/23/2013.

68...QueenFrostine, submitted 1 YA Fantasy on 10/9/2012, no response yet.

69...Janntampa, submitted 1 on ?, genre ?, rejected 1/23/2013.

70...Absolute Koala, submitted 2 Horror submissions on 10/15. 1 is still in review as of 1/8/2013, no response yet on 2nd.

71...MichelleAdir, submitted 1 YA Fantasy on 10/14/2012, rejected 1/23/2013.

72...BoBalder, submitted 1 Fantasy on 10/12/2012, no reposnse yet.

73...Skatehall, submitted 1 YA Supernatural on 10/06/2012, no response yet.

74...SK Daley, submitted 1 Fantasy on 10/03/2012, rejected 1/30/2013.

75...Adam Rakunas, submitted 1 SF, 10/13/2012, no response yet.

76...Treehouseman, submitted 1 YA Cyberpunk, 10/14/2012?, withdrew sub, signed with another publisher.

77...Sochitelya, submitted 2 Urban Fantasies on 10/1/2012 and 10/2/2012, no response yet.

78...ChesS, submitted 1 SF religious satire on 10/13/2012, no response yet.

79...GingerSue, submitted 1 Urban Fantasy on 10/04/2012, rejected 1/30/2013.

80...Lauren 82, submitted 1 Paranormal Romance on 10/6/2012, rejected 2/11/2013.

81...Springs1, submitted 1 Space Opera SF on 10/03/2012, no response yet.

82...Astria, submitted 1 urban fantasy on 10/12/2012, no response yet.

83...4everwriter, submitted 1 Epic Fantasy and 1 steampunk on 10/14/2012 and received 1 rejection on 4/5/2012 but unsure which one. No response on the other.

84...Xagarath, submitted 1 contemporary fantasy on 10/7/2013. Got email on 3/14/2013, still under consideration.

If I missed anyone, or got any of the information wrong, please notify me. To those who have reported their submissions, please report back on any contact you recieve from Harper Voyager. If not, then on May 7th, I am going to change the format up to just those who are still in the running, deleting those who have been rejected from the list. Or something like that...

G. Applejack · Apr 21, 2013

sarahdalton said:
Um, anyway...

May is approaching. Think they'll have moved onto the next round by then?

I'm going to be Negative Nancy, but my gut says no. At least, not right on May 1st. I'm guessing there hasn't been an April update because there's nothing new to report. The amount of queries they managed to get through during March were small for whatever reason. Based on the self reporting here (where as many as half are still waiting for word in April), we're still firmly in round 1.

Deleted member 42 · Apr 21, 2013

sarahdalton said:
Definitely, but I was in control of every aspect of the process, which is something I enjoyed. But at the same time I'm open to relinquishing control to the publisher, just a little nervous as to how it might feel

One thing I wouldn't miss is blurb writing - I hate it! Please tell me publishers have someone to do that!

Blurb writing is so very specialized that it may be contracted out (the publisher does this, and pays for it) to a specialist (and yes, that person reads the book).

Some publishers have a full-time person in Marketing writing blurbs; some have the acquiring editor for the book write it. I've sat in on editorial meetings where the blurb was a primary topic; it's taken very seriously.

Xagarath · Apr 21, 2013

I'd have though the blurb was as important as the cover, so I can see why.

thothguard51 · Apr 21, 2013

As a reader, three things sell a book to me...

1...The cover art and title that attracts my eye while it is sitting on the shelf.

2...The blurb, that draws my interest on if this is the type of story I want to read. If the blurb interest me, I will generally crack the book and skim through the first chapter to see if the writing also interest me.

3...Recommendation from a friend or acquaintance that I trust. I have discovered many new authors this way, in genres I would normally not pay attention to, or authors I never heard of before.

AW Admin · Apr 21, 2013

G. Applejack said:
I'm guessing there hasn't been an April update because there's nothing new to report. The amount of queries they managed to get through during March were small for whatever reason. Based on the self reporting here (where as many as half are still waiting for word in April), we're still firmly in round 1.

I'm speculating here, but the quarterly royalty reports might slow things down for April.

That often disrupts everyone's schedule, even Editorial's, a bit.

mygoditsraining · Apr 21, 2013

AW Admin said:
I'm speculating here, but the quarterly royalty reports might slow things down for April.

That often disrupts everyone's schedule, even Editorial's, a bit.

Also the London Book Fair has pretty much carved a fortnight out of the landscape, if you include the lead time for pre-empts. I met up with an author friend for lunch and she commented that both her agent and publisher habitually go dark during that period.

thothguard51 · Apr 21, 2013

I assume it is the same for the NY office and the BEA, (Book Expo America), set in NY next month. HV has several editors who will be giving lectures and setting on panels, as I understand it...

So yes, combine the Trade Shows and the Quarterly reports and I think we will be lucky to hear anything before the end of May...

mistri · Apr 21, 2013

Medievalist said:
Blurb writing is so very specialized that it may be contracted out (the publisher does this, and pays for it) to a specialist (and yes, that person reads the book).

Some publishers have a full-time person in Marketing writing blurbs; some have the acquiring editor for the book write it. I've sat in on editorial meetings where the blurb was a primary topic; it's taken very seriously.

To add this, I was a blurb writer for a publisher about 18 months ago. It was outsourced out to me and I had to read the book - I was only very rarely given the synopsis as an aide.

I would usually get given revisions too - in this case they worked with the author until they were happy as well, which is pretty rare. Ten years back I worked for a different publisher that never (or at least very rarely) asked the author for input. Sometimes I'd be told what book buyers liked or didn't like to see. I did have to stick to a very strict word count.

Sadly it has not helped with writing my own blurbs one jot

thothguard51 · Apr 21, 2013

Blurbs are like a mini query, sometimes very hard for the WRITER to get right because they are so involved in the WHOLE story...

G. Applejack · Apr 21, 2013

thothguard51 said:
I assume it is the same for the NY office and the BEA, (Book Expo America), set in NY next month. HV has several editors who will be giving lectures and setting on panels, as I understand it...

So yes, combine the Trade Shows and the Quarterly reports and I think we will be lucky to hear anything before the end of May...

Ah yes, we are gearing up for the busy season aren't we? (Just think. It's a possibility next year this will all be over with and one of US will be represented at a show. Kinda cool...)

Makes me wonder if my other submissions to other publishers will be similarly affected. Ah well.

Xelebes · Apr 21, 2013

AW Admin said:
I'm speculating here, but the quarterly royalty reports might slow things down for April.

That often disrupts everyone's schedule, even Editorial's, a bit.

Forgive my ignorance on royalty reports, having never seen one, but would they not be handed down to the accounting staff or to the hired accountant to put them together? How much is the report individualised for each author? Or do the royalty reports must obtain signatures from the editors, publishers and the agents?

thothguard51 · Apr 21, 2013

Agents are not involved in the generating of the Royalty reports. The publisher passes on the report to the agent, along with the check, who then passes on the report and another check to the author, minus their cut and any agreed upon expenses.

I suspect that the accountant has to gather all the sales info reported by the various vendors, compile them into a spread sheet and then the acquiring editor has to review. The reason, they need to know what is selling and how well.

QueenFrostine · Apr 21, 2013

i'm sure since they originally thought it would only take about 3 months, they never imagined it'd be into April/May and this would still be going on. they probably started way back in October to avoid now and thought everyone could take home the final few over Christmas for consideration and have answers for us all in January. sadly for them and us, that was not the case, but they probably still have close to 1,000 to go through between the "in consideration" and "to read" piles, so while i'd love some answers sooner, i also don't want them to sacrifice proper evaluating because they have this and 1348 other things going on. so, if it takes some time...so be it!

(although HV if you're reading this, i would reeeaaaally like to know by the end of June, if possible, so when I go on vacation I won't be stressing over the fact that I have no internet access and can't check anything for updates! :-D)

Xelebes · Apr 21, 2013

thothguard51 said:
Agents are not involved in the generating of the Royalty reports. The publisher passes on the report to the agent, along with the check, who then passes on the report and another check to the author, minus their cut and any agreed upon expenses.

I suspect that the accountant has to gather all the sales info reported by the various vendors, compile them into a spread sheet and then the acquiring editor has to review. The reason, they need to know what is selling and how well.

Hm, fair enough. Though I'm sure they would not be using a spreadsheet to put all that in. (silly reference to a thread in PC&E.)

Teleidoplex · Apr 21, 2013

I also saw a job posting a few weeks ago for an assistant editor with HCV, so it might be that they lost someone and are currently understaffed.

Deleted member 42 · Apr 21, 2013

Xelebes said:
Forgive my ignorance on royalty reports, having never seen one, but would they not be handed down to the accounting staff or to the hired accountant to put them together? How much is the report individualised for each author? Or do the royalty reports must obtain signatures from the editors, publishers and the agents?

Processing the hard copy royalties can mean that the support staff, the conference rooms, the printers/copiers, are for a brief time are not available to anyone else, because royalty reports need to be timely.

I've even been called back when I'd left a publisher to come back as a temp to help get them out on time, and correctly.

So other things can get pushed back.

And then once they're out, you have calls from agents and authors with questions about things like whether a particular order to a large chain would be on the current or the next report, what an oddly named category for sales means, etc.

Deleted member 42 · Apr 21, 2013

thothguard51 said:
I suspect that the accountant has to gather all the sales info reported by the various vendors, compile them into a spread sheet and then the acquiring editor has to review. The reason, they need to know what is selling and how well.

Publishers of any size use a dedicated and pricey piece of software that tracks all that. Sometimes it's one of a handful of CMSs written just for publishers, sometimes it's an in-house system.

Publishers have to be able to track sales in a lot of different ways, so these systems can be complicated.

You then have someone with accounting and/or IT skills who helps [cough this used to be me] generate various kinds of reports, including royalty statements.

Increasingly, large houses are moving to digital reports and direct deposit, which, I gotta say is, sweet.

Pterofan · Apr 21, 2013

Dropping in on the new thread to say hi. Still no response from HV.

Back to lurking, writing smut and eating cookies.

AbsoluteKoala · Apr 21, 2013

QueenFrostine said:
i'm sure since they originally thought it would only take about 3 months, they never imagined it'd be into April/May and this would still be going on. they probably started way back in October to avoid now and thought everyone could take home the final few over Christmas for consideration and have answers for us all in January. sadly for them and us, that was not the case, but they probably still have close to 1,000 to go through between the "in consideration" and "to read" piles, so while i'd love some answers sooner, i also don't want them to sacrifice proper evaluating because they have this and 1348 other things going on. so, if it takes some time...so be it!

(although HV if you're reading this, i would reeeaaaally like to know by the end of June, if possible, so when I go on vacation I won't be stressing over the fact that I have no internet access and can't check anything for updates! :-D)

So you're still checking over there multiple times daily, Queen Frostine?!

Hi to the new thread.

QueenFrostine · Apr 21, 2013

I REALLY TRY NOT TO! :-( it's become this addiction i can't quit...if i don't do it at least once in the morning and once at night i get a nervous tic...

i really need to stop. LOL

amergina · Apr 21, 2013

I'm still here and still waiting.

I've no issue with the wait... I think it's quite extraordinary that they're taking the time amid everything else they have to do to go through 4500 manuscripts and responding to everyone. They don't have to do this.

I have plenty to keep me busy in the meantime.

K. Q. Watson · Apr 21, 2013

Still no response for my second submission. I never got around to poking them asking which was rejected after my initial poke. I should but I guess something shiny caught my interest.

I'm working on a query an that in itself is it's own special kind of hell.

CrastersBabies · Apr 21, 2013

Medievalist said:
Blurb writing is so very specialized that it may be contracted out (the publisher does this, and pays for it) to a specialist (and yes, that person reads the book).

Some publishers have a full-time person in Marketing writing blurbs; some have the acquiring editor for the book write it. I've sat in on editorial meetings where the blurb was a primary topic; it's taken very seriously.

A pal of mine used to write blurbs for TOR. She made a livable wage doing it, but this was, hmmm 6-7 years ago. Not sure how this works now with publishers and such cutting costs.

Heck, I have enough issues writing a query letter. I can't imagine doing blurbs for a living. I imagine you get better as you go, though.

sarahdalton · Apr 22, 2013

QueenFrostine said:
I REALLY TRY NOT TO! :-( it's become this addiction i can't quit...if i don't do it at least once in the morning and once at night i get a nervous tic...

i really need to stop. LOL

I'm at my first sticky point in my current WIP and I'm getting way too easily distracted, so I feel your pain. Try having sales AND the HV query to contend with

It's a wonder I get anything done at all!

The AWer Harper Voyager Unagented Submissions Watch Thread

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