Month: June 2005

My article, “Growing Up on the Farm” is now up at Muscadine Lines, a Southern Journal.

Also, check out the NonFiction section of the site.

Writer’s Relief, Inc. – Proofreading

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer and are interested in having us help you prepare your work, we still may be able to help you. We know what agents and editors want, and their tired eyes will be more receptive to error-free, properly-formatted pages. We’ll also do a final proofing and line editing for things you missed. Utilize our expertise. We’ll charge you a reasonable per page rate.

Their prices are listed on that page.

AgentQuery :: Find the Agent Who Will Find You a Publisher

Agent Query offers the largest most current
searchable database of literary agents on the web%u2014a treasure trove of reputable, established literary agents seeking writers just like you. And it’s free (not because there’s a catch, but simply because not enough things in this world are free). READ MORE…

Did a Fiction Genre Search, using their Gay and Lesbian selection. It came up with 12 agents who take on clients who write fiction for/about Gays and Lesbians. Then, using a Full Search using keyword: romance; genre: G&L; and actively seeking clients. I got four results.

For example, one of those, Lisa Van Auken, peaked my interest. Agent Query has even more information about that agent, which is good, since I could then read that she is not interested in fantasy. Since I hope to push Sarah and Lea soon, that wouldn’t be good. Daniel Lazar will do fantasy and GLBT but not romance.

I like being able to look them up and narrow it down. Since I am working within a rather specific area, it does indeed narrow the choices. But do I even want an agent? Why would I want one? Do I want one now or later? Would it hurt my career any to push both my first book as well as search for an agent? Or do I get an agent and then the book or book then agent?

sigh

I often wonder of the concept of ‘electronic publishing’. For example, a wonderful women’s press, Artemis Press, is primarily an e-book publisher.

We now offer our e-book titles in HTML and Rocket Edition formats, in addition to our Acrobat Reader PDF e-books and our Palm e-book editions!! You can also purchase our e-books as Print-On-Demand paperbacks! For our original fiction e-books, please visit our Fiction Titles page. In our classics section, you will find e-book editions of classic works by Edith Wharton, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and George Eliot.

They claim to pay more in royalties than regular print publishing. And, the main reason I am considering it, is that they really really want lesbian romance.

Immediate Needs:

Women- and lesbian-centered Science Fiction
Lesbian Romance
Lesbian Romance
Lesbian Romance! (Where are all the romance stories???)
Mystery, Detective
Teen/Young Adult fiction

But there is something that feels, at least to me, lacking in legitimacy if it is an e-book. That the writing was too bad for the ‘real’ publishers to read it. Now, I know that is not true, but that is how it feels. I have bought several e-books, mostly weird erotica (I read them for research!) but I don’t know if I would buy one of Jane Rule’s books as an e-book. I like holding a book in my hand.

They are also looking for short stories, so maybe I’ll work on that. Like I said, Artemis Press has been around a loooong time and is well respected.

With BGCFA ready for whatever, I am again looking for Beta Readers.

Beta Readers are folks who read the work over, giving feedback on whatever fits them best. From critiquing to editing to just simply readability opinions. I am not, however, looking for readability opinions that range along the line of “It’s good! I liked it!” but more along the lines of “The middle is very weak and although I didn’t skip ahead, I wanted to”.

If interested, you will need to read and respond within seven days of receiving your copy. My self-imposed deadline extends to you, too. 😀 You must also promise to not share the copy with anyone, as I’d be really pissed beyond your wildest nightmares if I saw it published without my name on it. It’s not a contract kind of thing, more along the lines of a gentlewoman’s agreement.

BGCFA is a lesbian romance. That means its got lesbians in it. If that bothers you, don’t ask to become a beta reader. It also means it is a romance. Its got kissin’ and, well, a couple of scenes that’ll make ya blush. (but it is not anywhere near an erotica!!) That means that these romantic scenes happen between women. Again, if that bothers you, don’t ask.

If this manuscript wasn’t so far along, I wouldn’t be anywhere near as picky.

If you are interested, comment to this post, use the contact form, or simply email me at paula at paulaoffutt.com.