How to Pitch Your Book by Jon Land
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Tor/Forge Author Voices Volume One This is a collection of fiction and nonfiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in these stories and novel excerpts are either products of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously. Collection copyright © 2011 by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC. Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC 175 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10010 www.tor-forge.com Tor® and Forge® are registered trademarks of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC. Table of Contents From the Editors 5 Tor/Forge Editors Talk about Writing, Publishing, and Falling in Love..........................5 Short Story Casual Sex by Deborah Coonts..........................................................................................20 Author Articles Gallants, Rakes, and Dandies - A Field Guide to Regency Men by Carrie Bebris.........300 My First Love by Rebecca Cantrell.................................................................................342 Self-Publishing, Publishing with Tor, and Being Edited and Copyedited by Rhiannon Frater..................................................................................................................................91 Odd historical things I learned while writing Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal..............................................................................................................219 How to Pitch Your Book by Jon Land.............................................................................360 The Stories Keep Coming by Carrie Vaughn..................................................................167 Excerpts Urban Fantasy, Horror, and Paranormal Romance Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake........................................................................46 Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers........................................................................................69 The First Days by Rhiannon Frater.................................................................................100 Honeyed Words by J.A. Pitts...........................................................................................126 As You Wish by Gabi Stevens..........................................................................................141 Kitty’s Big Trouble by Carrie Vaughn.............................................................................169 Science Fiction and Fantasy The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton..................................................................................188 Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal....................................................222 Pospero Regained by L. Jagi Lamplighter......................................................................238 Ganymede by Cherie Priest..............................................................................................261 Thriller, Mystery, Women’s Fiction, and Historical Deception at Lyme by Carrie Bebris................................................................................306 Emory’s Gift by W. Bruce Cameron................................................................................318 A Game of Lies by Rebecca Cantrell...............................................................................346 Wanna Get Lucky? by Deborah Coonts............................................................................25 Strong Justice by Jon Land..............................................................................................364 Angel by Nicole “Coco” Marrow.....................................................................................402 Cat in a Vegas Gold Vendetta by Carole Nelson Douglas..............................................430 A Dublin Student Doctor by Patrick Taylor.....................................................................442 The Dark at the End by F. Paul Wilson...........................................................................476 5 5 Tor/Forge Editors Talk about Writing, Publishing, and Falling in Love Recently Tor/Forge editors Melissa Frain (MF), Stacy Hague-Hill (SH), Whitney Ross (WR), Kristin Sevick (KS), and Melissa Ann Singer (MAS) sat down to talk about what they are looking for in a submission, where the publishing industry is headed, and why love stories are the best stories of all. Now that we have you all here, let’s talk a little bit about your jobs as editors for Tor/Forge. What types of books do you edit or are looking to acquire? SH: I work with several different types of fantasy: urban, contemporary, epic, and historical. I’m actively acquiring in all of those categories and am looking for projects with an intriguing central concept, a strong voice, and a fresh take within their genre subset. MAS: I usually say I’m “an editor of all work,” because I roam all over the place—one of the best things about working at Tor/Forge is being able to edit what appeals to you, regardless of genre. Over the years, I’ve edited pretty much everything. I’m looking for both contemporary and historical women’s fiction, urban fantasy, horror, contemporary women’s fiction with speculative or fantastical elements, and—in a complete change of pace—natural disaster or medical thrillers. MF: I absolutely love YA for older teens and am always looking for great new teen books to add to my list—mostly but not exclusively paranormal. Romantic elements are a big plus. I’d love to find a Kristin Cashore or Megan Whalen Turner-esque fantasy. I also 6 edit a lot of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, with the occasional historical fantasy thrown into the mix. WR: I just enjoy genre novels, whether it be for YA or adult. I’m currently acquiring fantasy, urban fantasy, YA, historicals, science fiction, and romance. I’d love a YA Outlander, a historical novel with fantastic elements, and am also a huge fan of teen fantasies like those by Tamora Pierce and Gail Carson Levine. KS: I’m a voracious reader, so I read and acquire across genres. I’m mostly interested in crime, women’s, and historical fiction. And I would love to find a fresh voice in romantic suspense. What is it about a manuscript that catches your eye? SH: Before I pick up a manuscript, I have to be intrigued by the concept. Once I begin reading, I’m immediately drawn in by a strong voice in the prose. Great characters, a fresh angle, and a satisfying romance will keep me reading. MF: Voice is the biggest draw for me. A great voice will often keep me reading even if I’m having some doubts about the premise or the plotting. This is especially important for YA, because teens can spot an inauthentic voice from a mile away. MAS: It sounds so silly to say this, but good storytelling really stands out. On top of that, I want characters to care about or empathize with. For me, the style in which a book is written is less important than telling me a story that holds my attention. 7 WR: I want characters to fall in love with! The characters and the chemistry between them carry me through the story, no matter what the genre. KS: Agreed! Two boring people could be in the middle of a race-against-the-clock, save- the-world thriller and I won’t care. On the other hand, two really well drawn and compelling characters could sit in a room for 200 pages and I would be riveted. And what would make you stop reading a submission? SH: Bad writing stops me immediately—sometimes on the first page. Poor sentence construction, awkward or wooden phrasing, word and phrase echoes, and typos or auto- correct gaffes will all ensure I’m going no further. MF: Flat, poorly written characters. A bland or forgettable voice. WR: Or choppy dialogue. If I don’t even notice or think about it as I’m reading—it sounds that realistic—that’s a good thing. I don’t want to hear a “What’s up!?!” in a regency novel, either. Period novels are tough, but the dialogue should fit the time without being distractingly archaic. MAS: Characters who behave in an anachronistic fashion and are never called on it. Too little research. Conversely, expository lumps can also make me set something aside. Figuring out “whodunnit” by the time all the characters have been introduced. And of course, just getting bored. 8 MF: Yes, exactly, boredom is a problem. I really dislike slow-moving stories. I get bored easily, and it’s irritating when I have to muddle through 100 pages before finally getting to the good stuff. KS: It’s a very good point. If the good stuff doesn’t start until a hundred pages in, a reader is not going to make it that far. Mostly, for me, it’s the lack of a distinct voice. I don’t want to acquire a book that sounds exactly like something I have read before. Say you did fall in love with a submission. Do you require or recommend that an author be represented by an agent? MAS: We certainly don’t require it. SH: I don’t require it, no, but an agent is a useful, sometimes invaluable, resource. A book deal is enormously exciting, but can be overwhelming for a new author. An agent can be a business manager, a negotiator, an ally, and an invaluable source of wisdom and experience for someone who is just starting out. A good agent will also work with an author to polish the manuscript before it goes out to editors, potentially increasing the author’s chances of acquisition. KS: Absolutely agree. I have seen agents go to bat for their clients and get stunning results. A good agent is well worth their commission. What are some good resources for an author who is looking for an agent or a publisher? 9 MAS: I often recommend that authors visit Preditors & Editors