Agents as Publishers

There's been a new controversy brewing lately in the publishing world -- literary agencies taking on the role of e-publisher.

For those of you who don't know, an agent is a writer's best friend. They're your advocate when dealing with publishers. They negotiate with publishers in order to get the best deal and the most money for the writer. They are also the mediator when things aren't going so well between writer and publisher.

This, obviously creates a conflict of interest when that agent puts on a publisher's hat. Where does the line get drawn between an agent's duty to get the best deal for his/her client and the publisher's duty to make money? How hard is that agent going to work for his/her client at getting those good deals when they can simply steer them towards e-publishing through their company?

My personal feelings about this match those of many other agents and writers. I have no problem with agents opening up their own publishing arm AS LONG AS their clients don't overlap.

Actually, I lie, I do have a problem with it. And that problem lies in the area of time management. As it stands now with agents simply being agents, they're pressed for time to get everything done. Where is the extra time going to come from? Who is going to get skimped for attention? The agent's clients? The publisher's clients? Those poor, desperate souls hopelessly querying trying to snag an agent?

Romance author Courtney Milan has a fabulous post on her blog about this whole fiasco. Go check it out and give her some love because she is one intelligent, classy lady.

Manic Monday

Sorry for such a late posting today. Hubby has today and tomorrow off, so my schedule is all messed up. We spent a good portion of the day ripping up linoleum that had been laid over beautiful hardwood floors. Right now I'm an aching, tired mess so I'm just going to squee a bit because Ghost Story, Book 13 of the Dresden Files, will be out tomorrow.

Also, Old Spice Duel! Even though I'm in complete lust with Isaiah Mustafa, I hate the Old Spice commercials. That said, Kick Fabio's Ass Isaiah!!!

Throwing in the Towel (Then Picking It Back Up)

My guest post over at Black Ink, White Paper is up. Head on over, take a peek, and maybe hang around for a bit. It's a great site filled with awesome people.

Manic Monday

Due to a miscommunication, my guest post over at http://blackinkwhitepaper.wordpress.com/ was pushed to this Friday.

This round of rewrites have been sent off to the most excellent of agents.

And since this heat has melted my brain, I'm going to leave you all with some Harry Potter themed alcoholic drinks.

Manic Monday

This weekend I realized that the book I had planned as Book #2 in my series is actually Book #3. Lucky for me, I also figured out the plot of the new Book #2. Now to just let the plot bubble away in the cauldron of my brain for a bit.

My friend K.B. Wagers asked me to write a guest blog for Black Ink, White Paper. After looking over the interview questions she sent, I opted to go for a regular blog post instead of just answering questions. So look for that on the Black Ink, White Paper blog this coming Friday, July 15th!

I was lamenting on Facebook today how woefully neglected this blog is and K.B. subtly made the suggestion that I pick one day a week and make a habit of posting on that day. So, I'm going to take her up on that challenge and do my very best to post something every Monday. And if I don't have a new post on Mondays, I give you all permission to threaten me with spiders. :-D

Happy July 4th Weekend

I finished the rewrites for Where Demons Fear to Tread. Now I'm just waiting to hear back from a couple readers to make sure I didn't miss anything and didn't leave any embarrassing threads dangling then it's off to my wonderful agent.

In the mean time, I read over a story for a friend. OMG! It was so good. I can't wait for some agent and then publisher to snatch this up because it made me laugh, cry, love her and hate her all at the same time. I was supposed to be beta'ing it for her, but I got so caught up in it the first time around that I couldn't do anything but read it through to the end. The second read through was just as engrossing as the first time, but so much more difficult because I knew what was going to happen. Damn you, Katy!! *sniffles*


Today I started to poke at a story I began in high school. This story started out as a horrible Mary Sue wish-fulfillment. The first several rewrites over the years didn't do much to alleviate that problem, but now I'm proud to say I have three dimensional characters with flaws and personalities all their own.

Have a little snippet:

Trent didn’t answer, he only stared at her. His blue eyes were cold as ice, but she refused to be cowed into submission. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared back in defiance. He turned away first, but it was by no means a victory for Kit. Somehow she had the feeling it had been a calculated move on his part.

            Damn him!

            “Fine, then where are my chambers?”

            He smirked and she knew she was not going to like his answer.

            “Right here, my love.” He gestured with his hand, the movement taking in the entire room. His room as she very well knew. “Even if there is to be no sexual contact between the two of us, you will still sleep in my bed.”

            “The hell I will!”

            He raised his eyebrows, clearly bemused.

            Like an indulgent parent would look at an unruly child, she thought crossly.

            “You will either sleep in my bed or on the floor.”

            What a choice, but she knew which one she would ultimately choose.

            “All right then,” she huffed, crossing the stone floor to the bed.

            He smiled at his victory until she snatched a pillow off the bed and walked over to the fireplace. She stretched out on the brown fur rug hoping it was free of bugs. Deliberately rolling over and closing her eyes, she told him silently in no uncertain terms how much regard she had for him and his orders. Inside she knew his clenched jaw and expression of unadulterated fury would give her nightmares.

            The roller-coaster ride of emotions took their toll and she drifted off to sleep despite the hard stone beneath her and the lack of a blanket.

            When she awoke she was warm and comfortable, a tanned male arm encircling her waist. The bastard had waited until she had fallen asleep then picked her up and put her in his bed.

            The hard length of his body curled against her back, a sheltering presence. Of course, those things that shelter can also trap and that was exactly what this was.

            Her eyes scanned the room looking for anything she could use as a weapon. He was battle trained, so any attack she made had to be fast and deadly while he was still asleep. She wouldn’t get a second chance.

            Slowly she rolled onto her back and his arm tightened around her, restricting her movements.