:: Two Answers in One Video ::

Submitted by TL Hines on Wed, 04/16/2008 - 14:56.

Two of the questions I get asked most often--usually in the same conversation--are along the lines of: 1) How did you get published?; and 2) Where do you come up with your ideas?

The short answers are: 1) I was published after a couple hundred rejections; and 2) Ideas come from everywhere. Which is why I was drawn to this video, wrapping both answers together nicely.


Was the agent who contacted you

Submitted by Janet W (not verified) on Sun, 04/20/2008 - 19:14.

after reading the first chapter of your inaugural novel one of the group of 80 people that you contacted? For some reason, I thought you could only contact one agent at a time but I guess I was dead wrong. I saw your YouTube on another author's blog ... she wrote a book about rescuing people from cults (what an apropos topic!) and for some reason, I thought I'd watch it. Great YouTube and so Seventies (the idea that if you want something/someone, first you have to let them/it go :)

TL Hines's picture

Yeah, I didn't go into the

Submitted by TL Hines on Mon, 04/21/2008 - 00:14.

Yeah, I didn't go into the nitty-gritty details, but the agent actually contacted me shortly after Bethany House took the book into editorial committee. I had queried the agent, and sent him a full manuscript, about six months previously. So, his timing was good, I guess.

Can you contact more than one agent at a time? You bet your bippie. You'd never get published if you waited for a response from each and every agent. So, query them in batches of ten or so. When it comes to requests for full manuscripts, some agents will ask for exclusives. This is an individual matter. I've given exclusives before, but I'd frown on giving any agent more than a two-week exclusive; if the agent is really interested, she can read it and respond in two weeks. So say, "Yes, I'll give this to you as an exclusive for two weeks." Then, do it. After two weeks, if you haven't heard from her, make another contact and say "I have other agents waiting to read this, so I'll be sending it to others."

If the book's already out with several other agents (which it may be), assure the agent that you have other agents who requested the manuscript, but of course you love them most and will talk to them before even considering signing with another agent.

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TL Hines

the vid

Submitted by Fran Friel (not verified) on Tue, 05/13/2008 - 20:18.

Hey Tony,

I was just updating the HL blog profile at MySpace and was hunting for a link to your latest book. Thought I'd peek at your blog in the process. Love it!

And that vid...one of my faves.

I hope all is well and the words are flowing like liquid gold.

Hugs from CT,
Fran

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