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Irish Times
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
How I got published and what nearly stopped me
For a writer, there's no feeling like finishing a manuscript. But what if you're a first-time novelist with no idea how to turn the file on your laptop into a book on the shelves? That was me in 2003. I was working as a journalist, and things were going well – USA Today, Ireland's national papers , RTÉ, the lot. On lunch breaks I sat in the Iveagh Gardens and wrote my science-fiction adventure in a notebook. Journalism had taught me how to get words onto the page, and fiction felt like an easy lane change. Within a couple of months I'd finished the story and mailed it to literary agents. Too fast, and too sloppy, as I would soon discover. When the rejections started flowing, they punctured my confidence so thoroughly that I stopped writing fiction for nine years. But by 2012 I'd given birth to my target market, and I was determined to give it another go. I knew there had to be a right way to find an agent. I'd mastered the wrong way already. READ MORE What I discovered was that there wasn't a single source of knowledge, there were hundreds: about the writer's craft, how to revise, the etiquette around sending a query letter. It felt like trying to earn a master's degree by sitting outside a lecture hall near a half-open window, hoping to overhear what to do next. In the end, the miraculous happened: I signed with an agent in 2015, and Scholastic Press New York published my debut Friend Me in 2020. By then, I'd been rejected more than 100 times, an ordeal that was only survivable thanks to my writing friends. Here's what I wish someone had told me back in the Iveagh Gardens: the four steps that, for me, would lead to a publishing deal. 1 Get feedback on the manuscript If you've shown your story to people, who are they? The most valuable critique partners are often those writing in your genre, because you work from the same toolbox. Children's writers grapple with how to get parents out of the picture, and mystery writers must learn how to lay false clues. Historical novelists practice the art of writing about the past without sounding like a museum pamphlet. Find a professional organisation connected to your genre (mine was the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators); it provides a community of like-minded writers, including critique partners who can give you informed feedback. Their annual conferences can also connect you with editors and agents whose expert insights are fuel for your next round of revisions. 2 Understand the genre I attended a technology conference once where the keynote speaker was a novelist, a sci-fi superstar who was asked about another author's work. He said he hadn't read it and in fact didn't read much science fiction. This astounded me. I was at the beginning of my renewed quest to get published, and everyone urged me to read more children's fiction. Read widely in your genre, both the canon and newer, award-winning books. My Goodreads record shows I read 164 children's novels before I found my agent; those are the books that taught me to write fiction. You'll need a broad knowledge of your genre when you contact agents, too. Your query letter should mention a couple of recent novels that have similar themes to your story and have sold well. These are comparable titles, known as comps; mentioning great comps in your letter is an important signal to agents that you know your stuff. 3 Write the query letter Writing this letter is surprisingly difficult. Can you say what happens in your story, in a way that makes agents want to read on? Practice writing a compelling, 250-word summary that doesn't reveal spoilers or the ending. This is your pitch, and it will form the heart of your query letter. When you've added the extras, including comp titles and a line or two about yourself, the letter should be about 350 words, so revise ruthlessly. Your pitch should describe your protagonist in a memorable way; the catalyst that launches them into their quest; their major opposition; and what the late agent Janet Reid called 'the impossible choice', the two, awful options that most heroes must choose between at the climax. Yes, pitches are formulaic. No, following the recipe doesn't make you a lazy writer. In fact, a killer pitch is one of the hardest things you'll ever write. 4 Research agents and submit Agents who are the most visible on social media aren't necessarily the best match for your story. Research your target agents in depth, including their deal histories. What editors have they sold to, and do they represent your genre? My favourite tool was Publishers Marketplace (best if seeking a US agent), but there's also Jericho Writers AgentMatch . Check the Association of Authors' Agents , the Association of American Literary Agents , and the ever-popular Writers & Artists Yearbook . Always consult agents' websites to verify exactly what they want you to send. The final time I queried, I didn't approach any agent until I'd read a book they'd sold. This is a long-term business relationship, so don't query anyone you'd be unhappy to have represent you. Every author has a different path. Entering a contest or contacting small publishers directly sometimes gets writers a book deal, but I'd always choose to work via an agent. They can help develop your craft by offering feedback, sell the screen and international rights to your work, and advocate for you as the industry continues to transform. Don't lose hope. The biggest misconception about getting a literary agent is that you need to know someone on the inside. All you need to know is your story, and how to describe its key elements in a way that compels readers to want to know more. Sheila M Averbuch is the author of Pitch Your Book: Write the Letter that Hooks an Agent on Your Novel. You can order here or learn more at
Associated Press
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Horror Writers Association Announces 2025 Summer Scares Reading Program Selections
Annual program encourages readers of all ages to explore horror literature, with curated recommendations for libraries and book clubs. 'I am so excited about every one of these books; they're creepy and delightful, brutal and terrifying, inventive and just plain good reads.' — Kendare Blake COLUMBUS, OH, UNITED STATES, February 14, 2025 / / -- In celebration of National Library Lover's Day, the Horror Writers Association (HWA), in partnership with Booklist, Book Riot, iREAD, and NoveList®, a division of EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO), announces the seventh annual Summer Scares reading list. Designed to promote horror fiction as a compelling and enriching reading option for all ages, this year's selections were curated by a panel of authors and library professionals to engage a broad range of readers. 'Is anyone else already missing Halloween? Is anyone else already dying for summer? Well, great news! Summer Scares combines both of our loves with a carefully curated list of horrifying books, giving you the perfect excuse to read chilling tales in hot weather! (If indeed you needed an excuse),' says #1 New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake, this year's Summer Scares spokesperson. Blake adds, 'I am so excited about every one of these books; they're creepy and delightful, brutal and terrifying, inventive and just plain good reads. The committee has done a bang-up job—there's truly something here for everyone, but why not try them all? Young or old(er), the time has come to fill your scary reading lists.' Every year, three titles are selected in each of three categories: Adult, Young Adult, and Middle Grade. The 2025 Summer Scares Selections Include: Adult Selections: 'Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes' by Eric LaRocca (Titan Books, 2022) 'Reprieve' by James Han Mattson (William Morrow, 2021) 'The Luminous Dead' by Caitlin Starling (Harper Voyager, 2019) Young Adult Selections: 'Devils Unto Dust' by Emma Berquist (Greenwillow, 2018) 'The Getaway' by Lamar Giles (Scholastic Press, 2022) 'Find Him Where You Left Him Dead' by Kristen Simmons (Tor Teen, 2023) Middle Grade Selections: 'Eerie Tales from the School of Screams' by Graham Annable (First Second, 2022) 'Ravenous Things' by Derrick Chow (Disney Hyperion, 2022) 'Hide and Seeker' by Daka Hermon (Scholastic Press, 2020) Summer Scares aims to introduce horror titles to school and public library workers, helping them start conversations with readers that go beyond the books on each year's list and to encourage a lifelong love of reading. In addition to the annual list of recommended titles, the Summer Scares Programming Guide—produced each year by the Springfield-Greene County (MO) Library and available for free to any library—returns with essential tools to help libraries connect with their patrons. 'The 2025 guide, developed by the HWA's Library Advisory Council, is a library worker's roadmap to providing exciting and meaningful experiences for their patrons through Summer Scares. Whether they're putting up book displays, hosting author events, or planning an entire Summer Scares program series, this guide has everything they need,' says Konrad Stump, co-creator of the programming guide. Stump adds, 'We are also excited to enhance our partnership with iREAD by selecting one title in each age group that fits iREAD's 2025 theme, 'Level Up at Your Library,' as well as creating sample partner programs with their input.' The guide will be available beginning March 1, 2025, on the Summer Scares Resource page. (See link below.) In addition to the reading list and programming guide, Summer Scares provides free live programming, featuring discussions with the selected authors and committee members. Booklist will kick off the 2025 program with three free webinars in March, allowing readers, educators, and librarians to connect with this year's featured authors: Monday, March 10, 2025, at 2 PM ET – Middle Grade authors, moderated by Julia Smith Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 2 PM ET – Young Adult authors, moderated by Kendare Blake Monday, March 24, 2025, at 2 PM ET – Adult authors, moderated by Becky Spratford Each session lasts one hour, and free registration is available on the Booklist website under webinars. Recordings will be available for on-demand viewing after the live events in the archives section. Additionally, the Summer Scares committee and featured authors will appear in person at the HWA's Librarians' Day on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Stamford, CT, as part of StokerConⓇ 2025. All attendees are welcome to join them there. The 2025 Summer Scares program is organized by a team of horror and library professionals committed to promoting the genre in libraries, schools, and book clubs. This year's committee members include: Author Spokesperson: Kendare Blake HWA Library Committee Co-Chairs: Becky Spratford and Konrad Stump Academic Library Director: Carolyn Ciesla Book Riot Editor & YA Specialist: Kelly Jensen Booklist Editor & Middle Grade Specialist: Julia Smith Manager of Reader Services at NoveList: Yaika Sabat Libraries, schools, and book clubs are encouraged to incorporate the Summer Scares selections into their programming. Whether hosting author panels, horror-themed discussions, or book club meetings, Summer Scares offers free resources to make horror an exciting part of any reading community. About the Horror Writers Association: The Horror Writers Association (HWA) is a nonprofit organization of writers and publishing professionals around the world, dedicated to promoting dark literature and the interests of those who write it. Founded in the late 1980s, it now has more than 2,000 members around the world and is the oldest and most respected professional organization for creators of horror fiction. The HWA encourages public interest in and appreciation of horror and dark fantasy literature and hosts an annual professional conference, StokerCon. HWA is also dedicated to recognizing and promoting diversity in the horror genre and practices a strict anti-harassment policy at all of its events. Learn more on the HWA website. For more information, including committee bios, promotional materials, and event scheduling, and to access the guide which will be available beginning March 1, 2025, visit the Summer Scares Resource page. For inquiries, visit the HWA contact page to connect with Library Committee Co-Chairs Becky Spratford and Konrad Stump. Desiree Duffy Black Chateau
