Read on Twitter
I can hardly get a word in edgewise to tweet about @halley_sutton's pub day for THE LADY UPSTAIRS because all of Fierce Stabby Feminist Fiction Twitter is already raving about it so instead I'll tell a little story about how I got lucky enough to sign Halley.
I requested the full pretty fast after getting her query and pages. The manuscript was STRONG! Halley's voice absolutely sizzles. But the pacing needed work, and the characters' WHY was too fuzzy. And would editors agree that we NEED bisexual feminist LA noir? (spoiler: YES)
For an agent, an MS with a TON of potential that also needs overarching work is a super tough choice between risks: Snap it up and trust that we can work with the writer to get it where it needs to be? Ask for an R&R to make sure, risking they'll sign elsewhere?
I hemmed and hawed and finally wrote a pass with a ton of feedback and encouragement to send a revision in future.
I regretted the pass i m m e d i a t e l y.
And then regretted it harder when I heard Halley was going into PitchWars.
I regretted the pass i m m e d i a t e l y.
And then regretted it harder when I heard Halley was going into PitchWars.
I spent the next several months lightly stalking *ahem* I mean occasionally professionally checking in with Halley and also with her PitchWars mentor. Who just so happened to be the brilliant @LayneFargo, already my client. Which just might have given me the tiniest edge...
And by "edge" I mean I PROFESSIONALLY hinted to Layne that I would die of regret if Halley didn't come back to me with the revision when she queried again.
She did! It was superb! I signed it, we edited a bit more, we sold it, now you get to read it! https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624260/the-lady-upstairs-by-halley-sutton/
She did! It was superb! I signed it, we edited a bit more, we sold it, now you get to read it! https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624260/the-lady-upstairs-by-halley-sutton/
I share all this to highlight 1. @halley_sutton is incredibly talented at both drafting AND revising 2. @LayneFargo is a killer scout/mentor 3. Agents are not omnipotently choosing between good and bad. We pass on things that are amazing and sometimes kick ourselves.
When an agent passes, that's as much about their taste, their current bandwidth, their editorial perspective, as it is about the objective merit or potential of your work.
Keep working and keep going!
And buy Halley's delicious, rompy, searing book
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624260/the-lady-upstairs-by-halley-sutton/
Keep working and keep going!
And buy Halley's delicious, rompy, searing book
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624260/the-lady-upstairs-by-halley-sutton/
