Contracted Books and Options

Music I'm listening to: The Baroque Masters station at Live365.com.

Jessica Faust of BookEnds, LLC has started a discussion of options on books, particularly when the publisher is one you've realized DON'T want to work with again. Good advice, and you'll see it pays to keep a hawk's eye on contract language, even when you're thrilled to be getting that first book published!

A new blog from an experienced agent

Lori Perkins is my own agent's boss and the author of The Insider's Guide to Getting an Agent, a book I've mentioned here before. The Insider's Guide reveals great info about agenting, publishing, and how to enhance your writing career, and Lori has 20 years of experience in the biz, so she has a lot to share with her readers. Check out her new blog and welcome her to the blogosphere.

What happens to your publisher submissions...

Today was a pretty good day. I got the chance to speak with clients after my Hospital Ordeal, and I definitely have more stamina and lung resources than yesterday, so my recovery is progressing nicely.

As part of my sorting and purging through my inboxes, I found this little gem of a blog post from editor Anna Genoese of Tor. In it she talks about what actually happens to your precious pages when you submit them to a publisher.

New Year's Eve Hospital Hell

Dear Blog Readers:

I'm really hoping you've all been having a better 2007 than I've had so far. On New Year's Eve, a nightmare of a kidney infection smacked me. I spent the next ten days in the hospital, including four in the ICU. I nearly died. (Yeah...um, I don't think I've 100% processed that yet.)

I finally got home yesterday. To anyone who tried to contact me during my hospital ordeal (and can I just tell you HOW MUCH I never want to see the inside of a hospital again???), I apologize. I'm climbing back in the saddle and will be culling through emails and voicemails.

Meanwhile, I hope the sparkly new 2007 has been kind to you!

- Katey, grateful for being alive to write this post