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Sally Murphy, Australian author

Tania McCartney: Approaching Publishers

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I am delighted to welcome to my blog today children’s author, publisher and all round lovely person, Tania McCartney, here as part of her blog tour to promote her new book Riley and the Curious Koala. Tania has kindly agreed to guest blog here – and the topic I gave her is one which is near and dear to my own heart – how to approach a publisher. Over to you, Tania.
Approaching Publishers
by Tania McCartney
Congratulations! You’ve written a wonderful children’s book. You’ve spent the time letting it bubble away and enrich like a good pasta sauce. You’ve honed it, tested it (on kids, that is… and none were harmed during the testing process), had it edited and appraised either professionally or via a very clever friend… and now you’re left with an al dente newborn babe, bundled up in snowy white paper, smelling all fresh and new and ready to be launched into the world.
Eeeep. This is where things get hairy. Nerve-wracking. Gut-wrenching. Breathless. And also endurance-testing, patience-inspiring, self-esteem-buffeting and hopelessly helpless… for this is when you hand your baby over to someone else. To prod, to poke, to pull apart… or perhaps even – gasp – gently and quietly put aside, to be forever forgotten.
While all this is happening, you wait. You wait and wait. Perhaps for them to tell you your baby is ugly. Perhaps for them to tell you nothing at all. Perhaps for them to say your baby has promise and may succeed quite nicely upon its 18th birthday. Perhaps – and only just perhaps – for them to say they want to see more… how you live for that moment. Nothing promised – just a glimmer of hope that you might not be nudged further down the priority line as some else’s work appears on the publisher’s desk to tempt them away from your baby.
It’s almost a game of chance, only you are probably gambling part of your heart and soul. Any writer will tell you their manuscripts are part of who they are. Some manuscripts are a powerful and life-altering chunk, others are a small but meaningful slice – but all are handed over with a feeling of anticipation that can only be described as agonisingly bittersweet.
I first began approaching publishers with my work twenty years ago. Things were a little different then. You just sent in an entire wad of paper with a covering letter and kept your fingers firmly crossed for the 3 to 6 months it took for a rejection letter to arrive. Or an acceptance phone call, as was the case with my non-fiction book You Name It (Hodder Headline, 1995). I can still feel the scream of joy rising from my toes and bursting from my mouth. The series of rolling backflips I performed soon thereafter was truly a miracle (I actually can’t perform rolling backflips).
Since that day, I’ve had a rollercoastering writing career and have only half-heartedly and occasionally approached publishers. It’s not been until the past two years that I’ve really made it a full time job – and boy have I made up for it – in a big way. I’ve actually lost count of the amount of publishing proposals I’ve written in the past 18 months. Some have failed, some have worked, and some are in the process of working (squeeee!)
If you’re about ready to launch a baby into the arms of a publisher and are feeling sick with anticipation, I hope these tips I’ve learned on my own journey will help you feel a little more at ease. Letting your baby go is mighty heartbreaking – but remember, our babies must all fly the coop some time – and may they sour and flourish in the world of books. Good luck!
·         Research who to send your ms to; this is vital because it wastes everyone’s time if your book is not what the publisher normally publishes or it doesn’t fit their ‘style’ of book. Publishing houses can be quite specific, so get to know their needs; read what’s already on their list.
·         Find out if your targeted publisher is accepting unsolicited ms. If they’re not, and you are still super keen, try sending it anyway, but be prepared for it to be scooped into the bin, unopened.
·         Learn how your publisher likes to receive submissions and follow it to the letter. Some publishers are now accepting ‘enquiry emails’ whereby you can suggest a book idea to them, so take advantage of these.
·         Research your book’s target market (you should have already done this anyway) and present a marketing outline with your submission letter.
·         If your prospective publisher does not clearly outline their requirements for an ms submission you will need the following – a covering letter outlining (succinctly!) who you are, what your book is called and why you have approached this particular publisher, a marketing plan on why your book would succeed in the market (including books already on the market that might compete with your title), a short synopsis or chapter outline, and the first three chapters of your ms. Also enclose a concise writing résumé.
·         Only submit your ms to one publisher at a time, unless told you can submit elsewhere.
·         Some publishers require you to indicate if the ms has been presented to other publishers.
·         Be open, honest and completely yourself in communication with the publisher. Show your enthusiasm for your ms but always remain professional and don’t rant and rave about how fabulous you are (everyone is fabulous!).
·         Most publishers prefer picture books to be submitted without illustrations.
·         Remember that even though publishers are interested in a wonderful, well-written story, they absolutely require a book to be marketable – they invest a lot of time and money into a manuscript – it has to have financial return.
·         Don’t pester once your ms is in the publisher’s hands. There’s nothing wrong with a polite enquiry email or phone call after some time, but don’t expect an answer and don’t do this often. It can take many months for a book to be approved (or not approved).
·         Remember – publishers are professionals and it’s wise to respect their opinion.
·         Do things with a high level of professionalism at all times.
·         Network with other authors and illustrators – become involved in the writing community and you’ll not only make great friends, you will learn an enormous amount and enjoy quite an astounding level of support.
·         Don’t torture yourself over making your ms ‘perfect’. A successful author once told me publishers are more likely to become enamoured with a brilliant book idea rather than a perfectly honed, endlessly revised ‘perfect final’ manuscript. Don’t send yourself crazy with edits. The publisher will more than likely ask for changes or send your ms to an editor anyway – and it could get seriously chopped to pieces, making all your pedantic agonising for nought.
·         Be prepared for changes; if you can’t cope with that, self-publish instead.
·         Don’t expect a publisher ms appraisal or a ‘reason’ for a rejection.
·         Try a variety of publishers and don’t underestimate small indie publishers – they are producing incredible books.
·         Get to know publishers. Develop a relationship. Ask them if they are looking for a particular style of book and whether you could submit an outline to them. No harm in asking.
·         Don’t take knock-backs personally. I know this is incredibly hard to do! but it’s absolutely true – there are a myriad of reasons why your book could be rejected, and many times, being unpublishable or ‘not good enough’ is not the reason.
·         Publishers, even small indie publishers, are bombarded hourly by an avalanche of manuscripts and publishing requests. Wading through these ms must be truly Mt-Everest-like. The wait is hard, but let go of all expectation, start work on your next ms and never get shirty with publishing departments – you don’t want to burn your publishing bridges!
·         DO. NOT. GIVE. UP. Ruminate. Revise. Resubmit. Did I mention don’t give up? Ever.
·         Emit patience and graciousness like a radiant literary beacon – and let me know when your book hits the shelves!
Tania McCartney is an author, editor, publisher, blogger, book reviewer and mango devourer who loves writing, celebrating and supporting children’s literature – and literacy. She is the author of the Riley series of travelogue picture books, as well as several published and self-published books. Tania is also an experienced magazine writer and editor, is the founder of Kids Book Review http://kids-bookreview.%20com/ and is a Senior Editor at Australian Women Online http://www.australianwomenonline.com/. She lives in Canberra with a husband, two kids and a mountain of books.
Riley and the Curious Koala: A journey around Sydney
Riley and the Curious Koala is the third in the Riley travelogue series of picture books, taking young children on a journey to far flung destinations. Riley’s first adventure began in Beijing with Riley and the Sleeping Dragon, continued on through Hong Kong with Riley and the Dancing Lion, and now enters home turf, with a fun-filled adventure through the beautiful city of Sydney.
Will Riley find this terribly elusive and quite curious fluffy creature amongst the gorgeous watery vistas of one of the world’s most beautiful cities? Panda, Dragon and Lion from earlier books join this little aviator on his sensational Sydney search… and their discovery is a curious (and funny!) one, indeed.
Using stunning black and white photos, pictures of a real life tin aeroplane and hilarious illustrations by illustrator Kieron Pratt, Riley and the Curious Koala is perfect for experienced travellers, armchair travellers or for those wanting a fuzzy little adventure.
Part of the profits for Riley and the Curious Koala will go to the Australian Koala Foundation https://www.savethekoala.com/.
Available Australia-wide from 22 November 2010.
Riley and the Curious Koala Blog Tour Schedule
Monday 15 November
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Monday 15 November
The Book Chook http://www.thebookchook.com/
Crafting a Book Using Photos
Monday 15 November
BOOK GIVEAWAY!
Tuesday 16 November
Marketing a Self-Published Book
Tuesday 16 November
A CURIOUS LIFE
Tuesday 16 November
HOW TO SELF-PUBLISH A CHILDREN’S SERIES AND REMAIN SANE
Wednesday 17 November
Little People Books http://littlepeoplebooks.com/
Reading to Little Ones
Wednesday 17 November
TRAVEL, BOOKS AND CHILDREN
Thursday 18 November
Story Writing Ideas
Thursday 18 November
Bernadette Kelly’s Blog http://www.bernadettekelly.com.au/news/
ILLUSTRATING THE RILEY SERIES
Thursday 18 November
Posie Patchwork: The Blog http://posiepatchworkblog.blogspot.com/
EXTENDING YOUR BRAND and BOOK GIVE AWAY!
Friday 19 November
Sally Murphy’s Writing for Children Blog http://sallymurphy.blogspot.com/
Approaching Publishers
Saturday 20 November
Sue Whiting’s Blog http://suewhiting.blogspot.com/
The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing
Saturday 20 November
Sheryl Gwyther’s Blog http://sherylgwyther.wordpress.com/
FROM BEIJING TO CANBERRA
Saturday 20 November
LIVE QUESTION TIME WITH TANIA!
Sunday 21 November
Sandy Fussell’s Blog http://sandyfussell.blogspot.com/
An Interview with Riley!
Sunday 21 November
RilEY AND THE CURIOUS KOALA BOOK GIVEAWAYS!
Sunday 21 November, 6pm
Book Launch Party
Thanks so much for dropping in, Tania!

Best of the Blogs

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I’ve been catching up on my blog reading (much neglected of late in the midst of a very busy couple of months) and have found some real gems to share with you.

On Submitting Your Work:

Jane Friedman talks about the dos and don’ts of writing a bio to go with your query, while Nicola Morgan makes an excellent point about obsessing (or not) about cover letters. Well said, Nicola.

On/For Inspiration

Laura Salas shares a quote which really resonates with me, as it did with her, about the internet and its effect on us, and, if you are looking for inspiration, Kathy Temean’s writing prompts are a good starting point.

Writing Advice

13 year old Angus tells us 6 and 1/2 things he’d like all authors to know. How cool is this kid -a nd how spot-on is his advice?

Kathy Temean talks about the decision whether or not  to use a prologue, and Nicola Morgan has a brilliant – and long – list of resources for writiers.

Author interviews

Megan Blanford at Kids Book Review interviews wonderful Aussie author Nette Hilton and, though technically not an interview, Michael Pryor guest blogs, also at Kids Book Review. Top bloke is Michael.

You’re still here? Get clicking on the above links and see if they do for you what they do for me. More soon.

Christmas is Coming!

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Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you – you still have plenty of time to do your shopping, make your lists, check it twice – even to be naughty and/or nice – but today marks the beginning of my Christmas festivities because today marks the release of the paperback edition of Snowy’s Christmas.

I’m amazed to think it’s been 13 months since the release of the hardcover version, but delighted that the paerback version is now available.

If you have a moment hop on over to he Aussie Christmas Blog to join the celebration.

Angela’s Here!

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Today I am delighted to welcome Angela Sunde, who is here as part of her blog tour to promote her first ever book, Pond Magic.

Hi Sally! Thanks for inviting me to your blog. I’m very excited to be here.
 1.       Pond Magic is your first book publication. How did it feel to hold that baby in your hands for the first time?
It was a little surreal in a way. I’d been excitedly waiting and expecting the Pond Magic parcel to arrive and one day a plain white box was delivered to the letter box. I ran down the hill (we live on acreage) and back up, placed the box on the outside table on the veranda and then ran inside to get my camera. My mother-in-law was visiting at the time and, after taking a few photos of just the white carton, I asked her to capture the moment of me opening my lovely box of books. The look on my face said it all – inside was a selection of sample products from the supermarket! No books!
Eventually the books did arrive and my lovely publisher had filled the parcel with glittery multi-coloured stars which burst out once opened. It was a magic moment!
2.       Tell us about the journey. When did you decide you wanted to write for children and what did you do to make it happen?
I’d been itching to draw and paint seriously ever since I can remember. Then after an extended family holiday overseas, I was also keen to write about that experience. Upon my return I decided to enrol in some art and creative writing courses and because of my love of picture books I also did a ‘Writing for Children’ course at my local TAFE. I was hooked after that. I trawled the internet in search of courses, groups and workshops. I seriously began to study the craft of writing for children, and I was struck by how many opportunities there are for writers who are starting out. My first contact with other children’s writers and illustrators was at the CYA Conference in Brisbane. I came home buzzing!
3.              And Pond Magic – how long from getting the idea to having it accepted?
Pond Magic was born as an idea for a short story. As it developed it grew in length and took about six months to write the first draft. But as I continued to study the craft of writing for children I would go back to the manuscript repeatedly and apply my new found insights and knowledge, editing and polishing parts of it each week. I didn’t rush this process. I love playing with language and Pond Magic was my creative artwork. So it wasn’t until a year after the idea was born that I submitted it to publishers. Penguin Australia accepted Pond Magic six months after that.
4.              After the acceptance, what steps did you and your publisher go through to get it from manuscript to finished book?
Before acceptance I had to cut back the manuscript by 3,000 words to fit the Aussie Chomp format. I saw this as a challenge which would prove to myself whether I had the mettle to be a true writer or not. Sharpening my pencil, I systematically set about chopping out words and re-arranging sentences. After six days I was done and the contract was in my hand.
The first editing with the publisher was done via email, using track changes on Word. This is an efficient and effective way to work together. Then the first pages were mailed out to me and I had to work on cutting back parts of the manuscript to fit the maximum 96 pages of the Aussie Chomp. Each chapter had to be considered separately. Final pages were mailed out in July for me to check and comment on and then only incidental changes were made by email after that. The whole process was simple and straight forward – taking about three months – , and the editors at Penguin were so supportive and helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed working with them.
5.              What did you/do you do to improve your writing skills?
If I immerse myself in excellent writing then hopefully a little might rub off on me, so I read in the genre I write as much as I can. I attend master classes on writing at conferences, festivals and the Queensland Writers Centre and I subscribe to a number of online writing groups and e-bulletins on writing for children. As a member of a writer’s group I also learn from the feedback given to my work. Currently I am working with a mentor on a picture book. There is always something new to learn and every opportunity is worth investigating. I have links to the ones I recommend on my website. 
6.              What advice would you give to unpublished writers who want to write for children?
Take your time. Re-write, edit, polish, let it be, then edit again. Join your local writers centre and attend workshops, conferences, literary festivals and author talks. Then go back to your manuscript and apply the new skills you have learnt. Edit again and again and again. Give it to other writers for feedback. Don’t rush into submitting your manuscript to a publisher. I have often heard other authors say: “I wish I hadn’t submitted my story to that publisher, because now it is so much better.” My advice is – make it better, make it the best you can.
I also found networking with other writers has helped me enormously. The children’s writing community is so friendly and welcoming. It’s the best job in the world!
 7.       Lastly, what next? What other projects do you have on the boil?
I am writing and illustrating a picture book with the assistance of a RADF grant. I also have a junior fantasy novel which is nearing completion and I am collaborating on a picture book with my sister, Nadia Sunde, who is an international award winning children’s songwriter and playwright. Life is great.
Thanks so much for visiting Angela. Enjoy the rest of your blog tour – and the wonder of your first book’s release.

Lara Morgan Blog Tour

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I am delighted to welcome fellow West Aussie and awesome author Lara Morgan here today on the final stop of  her blog tour to promote her new book, Genesis.  Welcome Lara.
1.    Congratulations on the release of Genesis, you first YA novel. Can you tell us a bit about the book?

Genesis is set 500 years in the future in a world greatly altered by climate change. Rising sea levels have drowned major cities, a new disease called the MalX is taking hold and water costs more than clothing. In the city of Newperth, a sixteen year old girl called Rosie Black is struggling to survive after the death of her mother. She is one of the poor – a Banker – and when foraging for things to sell to help buy food she comes across a mysterious box. Inside though are some things a powerful corporation called Helios want and are prepared to kill to get. Rosie finds herself on the run and is forced into an alliance with a feral boy called Pip and the man he calls boss. Although unsure of their motives she has to work with them to find out the secret Helios is trying to hide before she loses her family and her life.

2.  You have previously had two adult titles published. What differences have you found in writing for younger readers versus adult readers?

Structurally the Rosie Black books have not been as complicated as my adult books which was one of the reasons I wanted to write a young adult novel. The adult books I’ve written were epic fantasy so had many complex storylines that had to be interwoven and after working on those I needed a break, so I turned to young adult so I could have a more stream lined framework to create in. Not to say the actual writing has been any easier – it’s still just as much work to create good believable worlds and great characters! The main difference I’ve found between writing for adults and young adults is that the focus of the story must always remain on the younger characters, the adults must never intrude too much or take away from the story of Rosie. This is probably why in much of YA fiction parents are in the background and I had to make sure when writing the adult characters in the book that they too never took any of the reader’s attention too far away from Rosie herself. I learned that very early on. In writing for a younger audience there are also other considerations such as the amount of swearing used in the book and how sex is depicted, but the content of these is driven by the age group you’re writing for.

2.    Do you prefer writing for adults or for young adults?

I always prefer doing what I’m working on at the moment! So yes, right now I am really enjoying writing for young adults, but I don’t actually see a great deal of difference between that and writing for adults. For me it’s always about the story and I don’t dwell to much on what age group may read it but just try to create the best story I can.

3.    Do you perceive a difference in the ways you and/or your publisher promote your adult titles versus Genesis?
Definitely there is a greater emphasis on internet promotion for this age group and trying to be more interactive within that. Teens are so active online it makes sense to be part of that community to reach them – hence this blog tour!

4.    Anything else you’d like us to know about Genesis and its genesis? (sorry, couldn’t resist that one)

Genesis is, of course, the first in a series about the character Rosie Black and there will be two more books about her coming out over the next few years. Much of the premise for the series was based around me thinking a lot about climate change and wanting to write a story about what it would be like for someone to live in a future where a lot of the bad stuff that’s being predicted came to pass. So within the conceit of an adventure story, a story of growing up, there is also an environmental message– albeit not a heavy handed one – about what could happen both environmentally and socio-politically to our world if we don’t really do something about it. Although Rosie’s world has space travel and a colony on Mars the Earth is basically dying and is not a great place to be anymore.

5.    Lastly, what next for Lara Morgan?
Well book 2, Equinox, in The Rosie Black Chronicles, is in the final stages so I have to get that done and sent off to the publishers and there is also the third and final instalment of my adult fantasy trilogy to complete so I’m pretty busy. Of course I have some ideas for a totally different book bubbling away but it’s way too early to talk about it yet. 

Find out more about Rosie Black and win a copy of Genesis at Lara’s blog: http://laramorgan.wordpress.com
Or check out the new Rosie Black book trailer and website at http://www.rosieblack.com.
genesis is available for purchase online here or in good bookstores.
Lara’s blog tour is stopping at all these great blogs.
Oct 11 Who is Rosie Black?
http://content.bommerangbooks.com.au/kids-book-capers-blog (that’s here)
Oct 12 Writing tips on creating a futuristic world.
Tuesday Writing Tips http://deescribewriting.wordpress.com (that’s my other blog)
Oct 13 The Publishing Process
www.kids-book-review.blogspot.com
Oct 14 Writing YA.
http://ripping-ozzie-reads.com/
Writing a Fantasy Series
http://www.sandyfussell.blogspot.com
Oct 15     Interview
http://www.weloveya.com
Oct 16 Interview
http://bookgryffin.globalteacher.org.au/
Oct 17 Writing sci fi
www.rhiannon-hart.blogspot.com
Oct 18 Heroines in YA
www.yareads.com
Oct 19 The Boy in this story; creating male characters in heroine driven YA.
http://www.thephantomparagrapher.blogspot.com
Rosie Black’s past & future
http://belka37.blogspot.com
Oct 20 Interview
http://sallymurphy.blogspot.com

Guest Blog: Getting Published, by Aleesah Darlinson

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I am delighted today to welcome Aleesah Darlinson, who is here as part of her blog tour to promote her new Totally Twins series.
 

Aleesah has oblingly written a  guest blog on the topic of getting published. Over to you Aleesah.

Getting Published

As an author, 2010 has been a huge year for me. My first book, Puggle’s Problem, was released in July. My second book, Totally Twins: Musical Mayhem, was released in September. My third – and final book to be released this year (thank heavens!) – will be Totally Twins: Model Mania in November.
3 books in 5 months.
It’s been a whirlwind, but it’s also been grand.
After four-and-a-half years of wandering in the darkness, of searching for the light of publication, I’ve switched it on and it’s beaming brightly.
Finally, I’m able to say, ‘I’m a published author’.
If I look back at my fledgling career and try to distil all the things I’ve learned down to a few short points to share with others, this would be them:

Top Tips For Getting Published
1.    Learn how to write well and learn it from the best, ie other published authors.
2.    Write and write and write. Practice does make perfect.
3.    Give up watching TV and whinging about being tired. Instead, write some more.
4.    Start sending your work out to competitions and magazines. Test yourself. Test your writing.
5.    Don’t worry about the rejections. Instead, write some more.
6.    Start networking and meeting people. Join a writers’ group, join SBCWI, the NSW Writers’ Centre, the CBCA, the ASA. Whatever you think will get you connected with other writers, illustrators and publishers. Become involved.
7.    Set goals to win a competition or get something published, even if it’s only small. When you do receive a win or an acceptance, add it to your Writers’ Resume.
8.    Keep building your Writers’ Resume.
9.    Don’t worry about your friends getting published before you do. Instead, write some more.
10.    When it’s ready – and only when it’s ready – submit your work to publishers. Multiple submissions to 3 or 4 publishers is okay – as long as you let the publishers know.
11.    Don’t worry about the rejections. Instead, write some more.
12.    Subscribe to Buzz Words and Pass It On. Contribute to these online magazines regularly with comments, articles and notices of your achievements.
13.    Attend festivals and workshops. Be inspired. Scare the hell out of yourself and enter the pitching sessions. Book into one-on-one meetings with publishers, agents, editors. Rehearse your pitch, take along your best work and give it your best shot.
14.    Don’t worry about the rejections. Instead, write some more.
15.    Keep submitting your work.

I think you get the picture – ‘If you build it, they will come.’
There are things you can do to build your presence as an author. There are things you can do to improve your writing. Both go hand in hand to help you get published.
You only need one more thing and we all know what that is, right? It’s the ‘P’ word: Persistence.
Whatever you do, don’t give up. Don’t ever stop writing because you never know what’s around the corner. Some of my biggest writing rejections have been followed by wonderful acceptances.
And so, I will leave you with a quote from Benjamin Franklin, American author, printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman and diplomat.
‘Energy and persistence conquer all things.’
I couldn’t agree more.

Aleesah Darlison writes picture books and novels for children. She also reviews books for The Sun Herald. Aleesah has won many awards for her writing including an ASA mentorship with Kate Forsyth in 2009. Her stories have appeared in the black dog books Short and Scary Anthology, The School Magazine and Little Ears. Her first picture book, Puggle’s Problem, was released in July. Her junior series for girls aged 9 plus, Totally Twins: Musical Mayhem, was released this month. The series follows the adventures of identical twins, Persephone (she’s the sensible one) and Portia (she’s the messy one) Pinchgut and is written in diary format by Persephone.
To find out more about Aleesah, visit her website at: www.aleesahdarlison.com.

Next stop on Aleesah’s blog tour is the Book Blog, where host Dave Hibbins will be interviewing Aleesah on the topic of ‘Writing For Children’. Check it out at: http://bookblog.com.au/.

sallymurphy.com.au