Queries are out there!

Anne made me post here. If I get negative responses despite all my good luck charms and the manure sculpture of Buddha that's on my lap right now having its stomach rubbed (or is that a fertility thing . . . ? Hmmmmmm.), it will be because I jumped the gun and actually talked about this. On your head, Anne!

I've got queries about my second book out to the only two publishers (humorous equine how-to is the niche market from hell!) I could find that might conceivably publish what I write. If they don't bite, I may be forced to join the happy throng over at PA.

Kidding. Just kidding. Please don't lecture me on P-A**hattery. I've been around the block, in the pool, under the boardwalk, and over the coals already. I swear I didn't mean it!

I've approached Adams Media because they've already published two of my stories in anthologies, and BowTie Press because I like the name. Keep your hooves crossed for me, k? I need all the positive energy I can get.

On to my next project! I'm macrame-ing a new barn out of baling wire. Wait for it!

awatkins said:

Wow, I hope this is successful or I'm gonna be wearing a very aromatic hat!

Click to expand...

Aromatic, yet stylish!

Give Barron's a shot, too, Joanne. They publish horse titles! Here's the addy for their guidelines (and you can check out their catalog while you're there to see if your book might be a fit):

http://www.barronseduc.com/info.html

Scroll down past the job opportunities to find the manuscript guidelines. I'm keeping my fingers and 16 parrot toes crossed for you!

Click to expand...

Thanks! I'll take a peek! I was under the impression that they didn't do humor, but it sure can't hurt to verify that.

Oh, and when you finish that macrame barn, how about trying a parrot cage?

Click to expand...

Tell you what; if I get a positve response, I'll macrame you a whole damned flock of birds too!

Thanks, Joanne!

I do believe you're right. I could have had that sucker finished and the queries out almost a year ago. It was settling down to focus on who might be interested in it that kept me dawdling along.

The sense of relief is tremendous! I feel as if I got out of jail free! I've been able to write an article a day for the markets that actually buy my work. It's the sunrise of a new day! ^\^

First reply!

Well, hail and halleluja! I got a positive response from one of the two publishers I queried in February. He seems really interested and asked what a "full proposal" (I offered in my query to send one) might include. Odd question, but I jumped right on it. Hell, if he wants to know what laundry detergent I use and how often I say "pejorative", I'll tell him! I'll pretty much do anything not to have to go POD again.

Now, let this be a push for the rest of you who are sitting on something and afraid to put yourself out there. Go query. Now! What are you waiting for?

Thanks, Anne and Joanne.

You're right, Anne, it really wasn't hard. It just took three books on proposal writing, four different versions of the query before I hit on one I didn't feel embarrassed sending out, and the better part of a bottle of gin to ease the waiting period. It's a good thing it was only three weeks or my next book would be a memoir about my years in rehab.

Joanne, I almost typed "just do it", but I'm hardly the person to be trying to motivate someone else. Procrastination is my downfall. I have to have so many ducks in a row before I do anything, I can hardly remember where I started!

I'm learning to number the ducks. You can do the same. Big Magic Markers work best.

BTW, the positive response came from BowTie Press. Their acquisitions editor is an absolute doll to deal with. He couldn't be nicer or more ingratiating. That is making the process as painless as it can ever be, and waiting to find out how they're going to "position" my book in their "list" (those are good words, right . . . tell me those are good words) is easier knowing that I'm not dealing with some a**hat with attitude to spare.

I will also say that I like that they require a snail mail query with chapter outline. I may be out-of-step in my appreciation of that, but there's been some research lately that suggests that email is a very isolating environment and leads to a feeling of anonymity that permits off-hand replies and unpleasant behavior. That's not a criticism of the places that permit (or require) online queries and submissions, but I do believe a piece of paper gets a bit more respect than a few words flitting across the screen.

Or not. What do I know?

SHBueche said:

This is excellent news. Equine humor, huh? I remember when I was at camp (many years ago) horse lovers as myself were called "pilots," we piled it here and we piled it there. Have you ever thought about writing about miniature horses providing therapy?

Click to expand...

OMG! "Pilots"! I love that!

Y'know, that's a really good topic. I'm going to give some serious thought to that. I have a friend who works for The Seeing Eye where they train some mini's. If she manages not to quit her job before I get to her, I'll see what kind of link I can create for an inside info stream. Thanks!

Hi Schoolmarm,

Congrats and Good Luck on hearing from Bowtie Press! My downfall is also procrastination! So, this is very inspiriing news.

I also wanted to let you know that I came across a new horse magazine:
http://www.women-horses.com

You can view sample pages too!

All the best

Reece

Click to expand...

Thanks, Reece! I appreciate the congrats and the link. I just got a copy of The Best of the Magazine Markets for Writers 2006, so let me even the score with a Canadian mag, http://www.horsecountry.ca and one in Ohio, http://www.ustrotting.com (Hoofbeats Magazine). I also found Equestrian Magazine in KY (http://www.usef.org) and Farm and Ranch Living (http://www.farmandranchliving.com).

All of these say they take non-staff submissions, some with more frequency than othersrs.

While I'm at it, I highly recommend the Best of Magazine Markets. I came across it in the NABWW (National Association of Baby Boomer Women) site (I'm a boomer in good standing and a member of the Association). The association offers free advertising for members' books, which I think makes the annual membership fee well worthwhile.

Okay, will do!

And thanks . . . we like you too.

Noob, I've got everything crossed that I don't need for standing or eating. Best of luck to you!

How about sharing a little more information? What are your topics, and which publishers did you pick?

CW, welcome! Nice of you to pop out of the shadows and join us. I agree with you. This is one of the most erudite groups I've ever come across, yet they always make everyone feel comfortable. The information-sharing that goes on here is unparalleled. Other stuff gets shared sometimes too, but if you've had your shots, you should be okay.

Funny you should say that about translating your book. My first one, the POD book I did with iUniverse, was picked up by a Finnish translator and publisher. We worked on it for about a year, clarifying points and making it easier to translate, then she just disappeared. I haven't been able to raise a squawk from her via email, and I don't have her address, only the address of the publisher whose name is on the contract. One of these days soon I'll send a snailmail there and see what happened. I was kind of looking forward to seeing the Finnish version.

Keep us posted if you hear anything back from the publishers you've queried.