tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post3822598668165776090..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Workshop WednesdayBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-50365566421599558892011-10-28T22:43:18.554-04:002011-10-28T22:43:18.554-04:00/Question- I am probably the oldest in this group-.../Question- I am probably the oldest in this group-It is ahrd for me to realte to Sci Fi-My daugher-in law loves these and Harry Potter etc to which I don't relate-I grew up in the Ann Tyler -Little Woman etc generation-Do teens read the more classical type of book today-for example To Kill A Mockingbird or is it so few that writing this type doesn't pay?-Just curious-And yes, the query was good for as much as I can relate-GabbiBarbara Franzenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14007854832606659832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-30129968260482575872011-10-17T23:19:04.568-04:002011-10-17T23:19:04.568-04:00Not a great title. Combined with the query, I'...Not a great title. Combined with the query, I'm guessing the title refers to the younger brother's path revolving around his older brother's choices? I would pick it up expecting SF and be disappointed. But that aside, I hope the book gets published. I love derby and I think the idea of a high school jock getting involved in derby as a cheerleader is delightful, and I want to read the story1Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-9908322347633353452011-10-13T21:43:50.002-04:002011-10-13T21:43:50.002-04:00I'm not loving the title but I have to say it&...I'm not loving the title but I have to say it's refreshing to NOT see another YA paranormal. Sounds like a fun read!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-62832586497274542352011-10-13T18:19:44.857-04:002011-10-13T18:19:44.857-04:00I would request it as well. I agree with Colin--th...I would request it as well. I agree with Colin--the point is to get a request and this works.Tess Granthttp://tessgrant.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-59406330620542757962011-10-13T10:01:03.264-04:002011-10-13T10:01:03.264-04:00I thought it was scifi from the title too!
But th...I thought it was scifi from the title too!<br /><br />But then, with my namesake, I would wouldn't I?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-41512440632825525072011-10-13T03:57:21.975-04:002011-10-13T03:57:21.975-04:00I'm with Kristan and some of the others--the t...I'm with Kristan and some of the others--the title, while cute, is promising a book that the text doesn't deliver. <br /><br />As a fantasy/sci fi lover, I would've picked up this book...then put it right back down. It's not that I don't love humorous contemporary, but when you have a taste for a chocolate milkshake and what you get is an apple cider, nothing will do until you get that chocolate milkshake.<br /><br />-SusanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-80038571029214974162011-10-12T18:27:19.859-04:002011-10-12T18:27:19.859-04:00I'm an avid SF reader, but even with "Jup...I'm an avid SF reader, but even with "Jupiter" in the title, it didn't strike me as particularly SF-ish. It'd almost be too straightforward for most of the SF coming out today.<br /><br />That said, I thought the query was cute--quirky and a bit zany without being over the top or trying too hard. Some teens I know (the smarter ones) might use the gay senator analogy, but it really just depends on the individual.Kristin Laughtinhttp://kristinlaughtin.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-81172908097966710072011-10-12T15:58:18.590-04:002011-10-12T15:58:18.590-04:00Not sure about the hockey but as a member of a wom...Not sure about the hockey but as a member of a women's derby team I'd love to see this book on the shelves! I'd so buy it just for that alone! :)T. Wolfenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-86457618412341607062011-10-12T15:39:13.981-04:002011-10-12T15:39:13.981-04:00Hockey and roller derby? I'd read it! :)Hockey <i>and</i> roller derby? I'd read it! :)Carrie Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01540590799406170410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-79446551495835166672011-10-12T14:44:15.812-04:002011-10-12T14:44:15.812-04:00Sounds interesting, and I too found the tutu part ...Sounds interesting, and I too found the tutu part funny and unexpected. Good combo. However, this part jumped out at me: "Freezing at the thought of losing another match and freezing from the fear of suffering permanent injury like his dad did while playing in the NHL."<br /><br />It made me wonder why only after his mistake he is worrying about suffering from an injury like his dad did. It seemed odd to me.<br /><br />Otherwise sounds cool. Good luck with it!<br /><br />JodiJodihttp://weirdingout.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-21243143225142061062011-10-12T12:43:31.495-04:002011-10-12T12:43:31.495-04:00I was also confused with the title, but I saw it w...I was also confused with the title, but I saw it was labeled as a "contemporary YA" so I felt a little misled. If I saw that title on the shelf, I'd think scifi (and really, what popped into mind was a joke novel a fellow CNA brought up about a zero-gravity nursing home lol) <br />And I have the same question as Amy -- is 50,000 too little or just right for YA?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12964473925684317787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-43682886826712698202011-10-12T11:38:51.369-04:002011-10-12T11:38:51.369-04:00Cool post! Thanks a lot.Cool post! Thanks a lot.college research paperhttp://researchpaperwriter.net/blog/research-paper/college-research-paper-2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-34144360608597824112011-10-12T11:25:56.071-04:002011-10-12T11:25:56.071-04:00I have a question -- I thought 50,000 words was fi...I have a question -- I thought 50,000 words was fine for YA. I've even seen agents commenting on Twitter that they're relieved when they see YA in the 50s because they are all getting so long now. I know the "how many words should my novel be?" questions can get annoying, but that just caught my eye. :)Amynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-58868542665107763252011-10-12T11:04:40.924-04:002011-10-12T11:04:40.924-04:00Kristan, you are not the only person who thought s...Kristan, you are not the only person who thought sci-fi.<br /><br />My first thought...another teen saves the universe. I guess that's why it pays to read beyond the title and weird names. <br /><br />I'm not the writer's customer so perhaps I'm the wrong person to be commenting. <br /><br />Having said that, the last line will stay with me for awhile, <br /><br />"everyone learns that the dreams they try to squeeze into aren't always the dreams that fit."<br /><br />That line alone makes me think beyond my assumptions.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-12292878655730380112011-10-12T10:47:38.664-04:002011-10-12T10:47:38.664-04:00I think Kristan is right--there are some problems ...I think Kristan is right--there are some problems with the query--but ultimately, the point of the query is to get the agent to want to read the novel. And clearly, this worked! I wish the writer every success, and hope the full lives up to the promise of the query.Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-23718895225461282282011-10-12T10:23:40.283-04:002011-10-12T10:23:40.283-04:00Ha, I love it. But I kind of love the "gay se...Ha, I love it. But I kind of love the "gay senator" thing. You really think a teen wouldn't think that? Just curious.i'm erin.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13729541389129887477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-50196241943155772352011-10-12T10:03:08.293-04:002011-10-12T10:03:08.293-04:00I have to admit, I'm not as taken with this qu...I have to admit, I'm not as taken with this query as everyone else seems to be. The concept is fabulous, it's the writing that makes me wary.<br /><br />The query starts out sounding serious (family pressures, injuries), then gets Middle Grade-sounding and wacky (their names, the tutu), then talks a lot about the brother instead of the protagonist. The last bit was my favorite part -- when he meets the roller derby girl and she helps him get his confidence back, in addition to helping him train. THAT, to me, is the heart of the story.<br /><br />My advice may not be needed, given everyone else's reaction, but I'll say it anyway: refocus the query on the protagonist and the girl, and make sure the whole thing sounds mature but humorous, instead of just wacky.<br /><br />(Also, this is a miscellaneous note, but am I the only one who thought -- between the title and the names -- that this was going to be scifi?)Kristanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771013578685419826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-26635837244189925762011-10-12T09:22:20.251-04:002011-10-12T09:22:20.251-04:00Woot!!!Woot!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-70489008499755482992011-10-12T08:13:55.884-04:002011-10-12T08:13:55.884-04:00Ah, that's what it was, Jaime -- a First Page ...Ah, that's what it was, Jaime -- a First Page Shooter! Thanks! :)Miranda Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08988989430969827909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-66342770596029747782011-10-12T08:13:13.750-04:002011-10-12T08:13:13.750-04:00I swear I've seen this query critiqued somewhe...I swear I've seen this query critiqued somewhere before (Jupiter is a very memorable character name, and the premise matches up with what I remember, too), but I can't seem to find it on Query Shark, which is where I thought I'd seen it... Anyone else know?Miranda Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08988989430969827909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-5033118499261034272011-10-12T08:12:34.670-04:002011-10-12T08:12:34.670-04:00I've seen the first 250 words (also picked at ...I've seen the first 250 words (also picked at random!) on another agency blog, and I have to say, the writing matched the awesomeness of the query! Had me laughing immediately! I will definitely read this once it hits the shelves! :DJaime Lorenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18392626360063082592noreply@blogger.com