What are you looking for specifically that you wish you would see more of? Book-to-film, I recently sold author Jo Davis's erotic thriller, WHEN ALEX WAS BAD, to Mandalay Universal. ALEX is both erotic and suspenseful, and likened to FATAL ATTRACTION in tone. I love when authors are daring, cross genres, and become trendsetters. I like reading beyond the norm. I enjoy books that really push the envelope, yet are marketable. Authors need to think block buster and commercial when writing their novels. Texture, layer, and show me great secondary characters. Keep the dialogue natural, and draw out the conflict.
Roberta what are you tired of receiving? I don't read futuristics anymore. I like the genre, but they are a hard sell.
How can a new writer get your attention in a good way? Query letters tell a lot about an author. I want them no longer than one page, and concise. I like to see enthusiasm and writing strengths in the query, without it being too silly or egotistical. Tell me 'why' you loved writing this book. Was your heartbeat in the story?
How can a signed writer stay in your radar without driving you insane? All the authors I presently represent are wonderfully professional. Their goals are to write amazing books and hit the LISTS. I have a very open-door policy, I answer emails and phone calls from my authors 24/7. Not one of my writers has ever bothered me unnecessarily.
What do you wish more writers understood about you as an agent Roberta that they don't seem to? Perhaps the fact when I decline on a project it doesn't mean the writing or plot was bad. The story just didn't work for me. In this business, it's selection over rejection - always keep that in mind. What doesn't work for my agency, could easily work for another agent or editor.
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