Foreword by Jane Rubietta xvii
Introduction xxi
Part One
Winning the Hearts of Agents
By Hope Bolinger
1. Introduction to Winning the Hearts of Agents 3
2. Let’s Talk about What Agents Do 5
3. Let’s Talk about Querying Agents 11
4. Let’s Talk about “The Call” 21
5. Let’s Talk about the Agency Contract 29
6. Let’s Talk about Expectations (On Both Sides) 35
7. Let’s Talk about Communications with Your Agent 45
8. Let’s Talk about Submissions Strategies 51
9. Let’s Talk about Leaving an Agent 57
Part Two
Winning the Hearts of Publishers
By Linda Fulkerson
10. Introduction to Winning the Hearts of Publishers 65
11. Understanding the Various Types of Publishers 69
12. Understanding What Publishers Want 77
13. Understanding What Publishers Do (And Don’t Do) 83
14. Understand that Publishing is a Business 89
15. Understanding the Acquisitions Process 93
16. Understand the Publishing Process 103
17. Understand the Basics of Book Marketing 111
18. Understand the Responsibilities of an Author 121
19. Understand How to Connect with Publishers 127
20. Understand How to Beat the Odds 131
Part Three
Winning the Hearts of Editors
By Rowena Kuo
21. Introduction to Winning the Hearts of Editors 137
22. The Acquisitions Editor 141
23. When Can You Stand Your Ground on Edits? 149
24. The Developmental or Content Editor 155
25. The Line or Copy Editor 169
26. Conclusion 177
Part Four
Winning the Hearts of Readers
By Carrie Schmidt
27. Introduction to Winning the Hearts of Readers 183
28. Let’s Clear the Air 189
29. The Care and Feeding of In!uencers 195
30. What Makes Readers Try a New-To-Them Author? 201
31. How To Make a Good First Impression on Readers 207
32. How Do You Successfully Use Word-Of-Mouth? 215
33. Mostly Painless and Organic Reader Engagement 221
34. What Turns a Reader O” an Author? 227
35. Why Your Story Matters 233
Glossary of Terms 237
Acknowledgments 257
About Hope Bolinger 261
About Linda Fulkerson 263
About Rowena Kuo 265
About Carrie Schmidt 267
Get Free Stuff! 269
Index 271