What have I been up to? Ooh, quite a few things. Maybe you can help?

I’ve been trying to get an agent since 2012, with my first middle-grade novel. I shelved that project and kept writing. I had a YA novella finished and was busy writing my historical fantasy, while a publisher had picked up my Sci-Fi middle-grade. Many agents said they didn’t know how to sell my SFF, and why I took a chance with a publisher I believed had the same idea in mind: Books for reluctant readers. I have two at home. 

I revised that MS for nearly a year, it went to copy edits — and POOF. The book was canceled (many already know this sappy story of 50 authors with books canceled by Month9books. We may be the lucky ones). That was forever ago—last May. I had the good fortune that my YA (ebook) novella came out the same week. Or did I? Whoa, boy, were my emotions All. Over. The. Place. Trying to smile and meanwhile..." 

I remind myself that no experience is wasted. Even if it takes time to realize this.

Back to now. I’m drafting a new contemporary YA, because — hey—I have fans of THE UNMOVING SKY who want to read my next book! They’re looking for suspense and intrigue, such was TUS, about two brothers lost in the woods and found by a bomb-plotting domestic terrorist.  So I’m drafting — working title: American Girls. Best friends take off for New York City and trouble ensues (of course). This will be a more autobiographical. I’ll use much of my experience arriving in NYC with $400 in my pocket — and lots of dreams.

Meanwhile, I’m querying my Historical Fantasy. I have a couple subs and a couple passes on subs. It is always subjective. It’s torture.

This is my question: A publisher will most always insist on revisions. Why not forgo the wasted effort and time and STRESS, searching for the “perfect fit” agent, when many publishers accept unagented submissions? Why? I need to know. 

On that point, a pretty amazing and promising publisher is reviewing my canceled middle-grade SFF, since Jan. So, yeah! Fingers crossed! 

Is this a sign to go straight to publishers? Subconscious, I need you to speak a little louder, please.

If this isn’t enough to keep busy, last week I read that many agents were looking for the book I wrote in 2012! My magical realism MG, about a herbalist and her family of witches from outer space!  A mad fever took hold of me. I whipped that baby out and began revising like it was butter. Overcome with excitement about the story. Again. After years away. My beta-readers always liked it, but the agents I queried, didn’t.

What if I had sent it to directly to a publisher?

Agent passes – and these days just complete radio silence –has given me time to question my methods. 

  

What has your experience been submitting to publishers?  

As a bonus, I’m adding a list of publishers who accept unagented subs at the bottom of this post. It hasn’t been checked or updated. I found it on AW. 

BTW, my publisher LEAP is amazing. Such a great group of award-winning authors and editors, only they aren’t open for submissions, plus my work would have to be suited to them. 

 Publishers who accept unagented subs:

Ace and Roc Science Fiction & Fantasy
Alban Lake Publishing
Alter Press
Anaiah Press FLEDGLING
Artema Press
Baen Books
Bedazzled Ink Publishing Company
Belfire Press
Bitingduck Press
Black Bed Sheet Books
Black Rose Writing
Blind Eye Books
Bloomsbury Publishing: Bloomsbury Spark
Bold Strokes Books MATURE
Books to Go Now MATURE
BURST Books
By Light Unseen Media
Candlemark & Gleam
Cerridwyn Publishing MATURE
Champagne Books
Civil Coping Mechanisms
Constable & Robinson MATURE
Crescent Moon Press
Crowded Quarantine Publications
Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing
Damnation Books MATURE
Dark Quest Books
DAW Books
Diabolic Publications
Diversion Books
Divertir Publishing
Dragonfairy Press
EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing
Eggplant Literary Productions
eLectio Publishing
Entranced Publishing MATURE
Eternal Press MATURE
Etopia Press MATURE
eTreasures Publishing
Evernight Publishing MATURE
Evil Girlfriend Media
Fable Press
Fireship Press
Fish Creek Press
Freedom Forge Press
FreedomFiction.com
Genesis Press
Ghostwoods Books NEW!
Glastonbury Publishing MATURE
Gollancz
Hark! New Era Publishing
Harlequin LUNA Books
Harlequin Series Digital First MATURE
Harlequin: Carina Press MATURE
Hydra House
Infinite Acacia: Africa-Centered Novels
Ink Smith Publishing
J. Taylor Publishing
Jolly Fish Press
JournalStone Publishing
Jupiter Gardens Press MATURE
Kayelle Press Two-Up Short Novels NEW!
Kayelle Press Young Adult Novels
Keith Publications MATURE
Kensington Publishing Corp. MATURE
Lethe Press
Lillibridge Press MATURE
Loconeal Publishing
Loose Leaves Publishing
Lyrical Press MATURE
Mandrake of Oxford MATURE
Medallion Media Group
Montag Press
Mundania Press
Musa Publishing MATURE
Necro Publications
Netherworld Books MATURE
Nosy Crow
Old Timey Hedgehog
One Ink FLEDGLING MATURE NEW!
PageSpring Publishing: Lucky Marble Books
Pan Macmillan Australia
Paper Road Press
Polis Books FLEDGLING MATURE
Port Yonder Press
Pyr
Random House: Hydra NEW!
Random Static
Resurrection House FLEDGLING
REUTS Publications
Roane Publishing FLEDGLING MATURE
Rogue Phoenix Press
Rooster Republic Press
Rozlyn Press
S A M Publishing MATURE
Seven Archons
Shadow Mountain
Shroud Publishing
Silver Leaf Books
Silverthought Press
Sirens Call Publications
Sky Warrior Books
Skyhorse Publishing: Sky Pony Press
Small Beer Press
Snowbooks
Spanking Pulp Press FLEDGLING
Splashdown Books
Spore Press
Strange Days Books
Stygian Publications
Sybaritic Press
SynergEbooks
Theaker's Quarterly Fiction
Tor Books
Tor UK
TWB Press
Twelfth Planet Press
Twenty or Less Press
Typhoon Media: Lightning Originals
Upper Rubber Boot Books
Vagabondage Press MATURE
Wapshott Press, The: Storylandia
Wings ePress, Inc.
World Castle Publishing
World Weaver Press
WriterPrint New Author Publishers MATURE
Zharmae Publishing Press, The MATURE
Zharmae Publishing Press, The: illusio & baqer
Zharmae Publishing Press, The: Luthando Coeur
Zumaya Publications

-->

-->

--> --> -->

My First Post for The International Thriller Writers.

Being a debut writer with ITW I was asked to write a post for their weekly magazine The Thrill Begins. What was I to write I wondered? But with my recently cancelled middle-grade book, and all the work writing and editing that went into it before the rug was pulled out from under me, I found my subject: Taking the Time for Life. 

Writing, writing and more writing.

I did it every day. I woke early as possible to savor those few quiet hours of my day job before customers came clamoring for coffee. I woke earlier on the weekends than my children did. I wrote after cooking dinner, or researched scientific details through the evening. I spent nearly every minute of every day last year writing, editing, and revising three projects while helping my college-bound dyslexic son prepare to audition for four Shakespeare plays. Read more.

March Came in like a Lion.

 . . . and I'm buzzing from all of the energy!

Feels so good to be producing and being acknowledged for hard work. After years of toiling away uncertain. Uncertain if anyone will see the stories I'd spent years writing. Continuing to trust my voice even in unfamiliar, guarded territory, and learning to raise it as I step forward.


Ahhh. I'm refreshed, but still at it. Working to create something from my imagination and mind and heart, others can share. Maybe find something of themselves in the work. Otherwise, why?


I've written poetry only for myself. I needed it. Books of poetry. Handpainted and bound. My fiction became my longest commitment to paper. Growing up, I didn't believe becoming an author was a possibility. Even while I created book covers with my name on them in my tweens, or read my diary to the first-grade class. Writing a sprint of poetry during the twenty minutes my child would nap. I pursued dreams I thought I could manage like music or illustration. If I want to keep writing in secret I could do that and write in isolation.

Dug this up yesterday. My handmade poetry book circa 1989. More on my Instagram account author_klhallam. 

But I want to live outside--with everyone, creating conversations, building communities, and bringing people together. Communication. I love living in New York City. It's a large city with small communities. I talk to most everyone and find myself fortunate hearing their stories. So many STORIES. It's intoxicating! Sharing stories is part of our humanity.


So, March came in like a lion and I've been immersed in revisions for two separate books since last summer. GITCH, my MG "Tech" Fantasy releases in 2017 with  Georgia McBride for Tantrum books. THE UNMOVING SKY is my young adult, contemporary, suspense, launching with Leap Books this May 16, 2016!!  I'm so very excited and nervous of course. But I'm buzzing with energy! The gratitude swallows the terror of WT-heck am I doing? Especially as far as all the non-writer parts go. Such as marketing and growing a business. But that's okay. I love learning new skills.

As Rick James would say "Give it to me baby".    

How about you? What are you excited about? 

Tell me a story.

My Post on Reaching Readers at Summer Camp . . .

Can be found today on the blog Kidliterati

How do you find young readers?  I found some amazing kids at ChessNYC.

How (my) Home Renovations Are Like Book Revisions.

As I bent over for the hundredth time to reorganize, either the kitchen or the living room this week, I began to realize that the constant going over was quite like revisions.

Dead tired, I thought, what am I learning from this? It was grueling, our landlord’s handyman, sloppy. I had to continually clean up after his and my husband’s mess. I came home to a surprise, each day, unwarned, the kitchen wrapped in plastic with millions of white water-based paints splattered across the wood floors. I cleaned up the kitchen, and the next day, it happened again – for the second coat. And I cleaned that.

This had gone on for over a month, with one handyman making his way through our apartment, after a sub-zero winter left us with a steam pipe break and nearly collapsed wall. 

I asked myself, what am I learning from this? This cannot be a wasted effort. Granted, I’d eventually get a wall and a painted apartment and several neglected repairs. (In years past, I did the wall painting) But the slow and messy progress was like a cruel joke. 

My husband works nights, and he wrestled with the handyman during the day while I watched the café – and wrote. Thank the heavens! However, I’d pay for that when I got home.

With revisions, you feel like you’re doing the same thing, over and over, most of the time. You fix a page, maybe a beta reader reads it, and you utilize their notes, or you revise because revisions are an ongoing process and you have faith that the work will get done and turn out right by the end. And eventually you push through – warrior style. 

Which reminds me of a great Cheryl Strayed interview clip you can hear on Soundcloud, about writing like a warrior. Coincidentally, I heard the interview for the first time, during this exhausting time. Just what I needed to hear.  

Maybe this is all I learned.

Just to push through. Keep going. And hold that polished kitchen/MS in your mind’s eye until the work is done.

Then stand back, and remember: you earned this.  The reward is getting the work finished. In my case, it's uncertain when the rubble of creation will form. But for now I'll take a respite, and just in time for Mother's Day.  

Making the Decision to Pause the Music.

Hardest decision EVER! I spent years working on my music, writing original tunes and studying jazz and improvisation with various teachers. Four years hosting a jam session I created to get the performance practice I needed and to help other vocalists. Since I had the space, I’d create it and they would come. Sure helped that my husband owns one of the hippest jazz venues in NYC.

As I was trying to find my voice in jazz, I was also trying to develop my voice in fiction. A stranger once told me, “Those are two of the hardest businesses to crack into.”  Thank you, kind stranger. But he was right.

It’s always, do what you love, what’s in your heart. But what if you love several things and you aren’t half bad at them, either?

I already resigned myself to put down the paintbrushes and stop my figurative sculpture classes. Leave the painting to weekend meditations.

To help me decide I’d boil it down to one thing: Story Telling, which is what Jazz singers do. They tell an emotional journey, a tale. I love connecting with the emotional core of the song.

I was energized by the thrill and the buzz of live performances for years, and I became pretty good. Then I stopped.

There were a few personal reasons I ended the jam session, last September. As in, if you aren’t having fun – why bother. I didn’t need it to pay my rent. And the truth is I made scarcely anything after paying my pianist. It was quite a bit of behind the scenes work, with promo, etc. But it was more than monetary rewards. It was helping others when I was in a position to do so — and getting my practice on. But the lifestyle – the nights and the longer nights – I didn’t think I could do – not with one parent already working every night.  Now, if I could sing at Jazz brunches every weekend I’d be down for that, but it’s not very realistic.

As a kid, I was always singing, and often writing stories. Both have been a part of me for as long as I can remember.

I made the decision to focus on my fiction. I still jam with friends, but the time needed to go out and hustle for gigs, and search for musicians at this time in my life isn’t going to work out.  All I need, to focus on my writing is me -- for now. Until I want to publish them, that is.

We can only do so much on our own. Eventually we need the help of others, even the solitary practice of writing. And we need our readers!

I want grow as a writer and learn my craft from inside and out and become the best fiction writer I can be.

I write during the day, as I babysit the family Jazz club and attend to café customers. At night, I research craft, or history for the story I’m working on, (make dinner!) and read at night. There’s scarcely enough time. I must be extremely disciplined to get the work done. But I LOVE it!!! I could spend hours (if my rear end would let me) in my fiction. Time dissolves; hours pass, and I hardly notice where the day went. It's a little different when I’m editing. But, shh, I actually enjoy editing. This may be part of the reason I always over-cut my bangs. I’ve also been known to over-edit. Oh, for the love of first novels.

Today, I pause the music. But it’s not the end. Oh Lord, no. The music is in me. I am a storyteller. I just cannot do it all, all at once. Right? This is what I tell myself.  Cause, I sure do miss performing. (I vocalize every day, no matter what, to relax and keep my instrument supple) And lucky for me, I spend my days writing in a Jazz club. So the music is also, all around me.

What have you had to put aside to focus on writing?

If you'd like to hear an original song of mine. (2011)

ALL THAT'S CHANGED lyrics/melody/vocals: Karen lee

 The live shows were of poor phone quality. You'll find one or two on my youtube channel and more on www.myspace.com/karenleehallam.