Industry Q&A with Alexandra Machinist & Abigail Koons

STEPS ALONG THE WAY FROM ‘THE END’ TO ‘ON SALE’

I don’t take on anything that I don’t think has the potential for tremendous success – Alexandra Machinist

A great idea is different than a great book. – Abigail Koons

• Don’t start querying until the book is finished.  
• Critique and contest for feedback and to get used to sharing your work
• Then, when polished and perfect, begin the query process
• Research which agents would be best for your book – AgentQuery, Writers Market
• Every agent is different, just like every writer is different.
• Don’t blanket query. Take the time to make the query specific to the agent and their requests and guidelines.
• Make it a little Hollywood, high concept – Tomb Raider meets the DaVinci Code

You can’t disguise bad writing – Abigail Koons

I can decide if I like a book in the first ten pages – Alexandra Machinist

• When an agent requests your work, be clear on what they are requesting. Not all agents require an exclusive.
• Make sure the agent is the right fit for you!
• Check the contract/agency agreement, Make sure you’re not signing on for indentured servitude!
• If possible, have a lawyer look over it.
• You do not pay an agent. They get paid when you get paid.
• 15% is the industry standard, be wary if they want more or less
• 20-25% is the standard for foreign & media rights, which they can sell separately
• The manuscript is polished & submitted. It takes between a week and six months to sell a book.
• If no one bids, discuss the next step with your agent – rewrite, set aside
• Make sure your agent knows the personal tastes of the editors in the industry so your book has the best chance.




Alex flashes her gorgeous YSL bling


• There might be one offer or multiple



I have stupid faith in my own taste - Alexandra Machinist

• You’ll begin negotiating the contract. You can usually separate foreign rights and have your agent sell them separately
• 25% of net on ebooks is the industry standard, no one seems to be budging right now
• An option clause is standard, but how much flexibility is negotiable – full book, partial, synopsis
• The changing market of erights is evolving the publishing model. Publishers have been redoing their boilerplate contracts.
• Editors always want changes. There will be an editorial letter and a marked up mss. You do the edits..and wait.
• Advances are often split, a percentage at signing, delivery, acceptance and publication
• Take control of your own publicity. Social media is part of your job. Balance your time between promotion and writing.
• Your book comes out…
• Be sure you are appealing outside of the romance writing community
• Each book has to be better than the last