Interview with SAMHAIN Editor Holly Atkinson

Editor Holly Atkinson

FF&P Member, Nancy Lee Badger, invited Holly Atkinson, an editor with SAMHAIN Publishing, to give our readers a new perspective from the other side.

Please tell our readers a little bit about you, such as why did you become an editor?

I became an editor almost by accident, actually, which is strange considering how much I wanted to be one. When I was in college, all of my critiques for creative writing classes were extensive and somewhat brutal. I was exposed to Track Changes on MS Word in my fandom days, when I exchanged fanfic notes with fellow Buffy-writers.

As I said, my dream job was always editing. People would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I’d waffle with what I thought were more realistic answers, but when I allowed myself to fantasize, my answer was always the same. Some people shoot for movie stardom, some for athletics—I just wanted to edit books and spend my days reading.

I debuted in the publishing world in 2009 or 2010, and after a while, decided to look for editing positions. My first editing gig came from Lyrical Press, where I served as a line editor. I next worked at Mundania Press as a content editor. After a couple years, I applied for a position with Samhain, and the rest is history.

Describe the genre of the most recent release, and is this the only genre you represent?

I believe the most recent release was in the urban fantasy genre, and I know I have another coming up. I do love urban fantasy, but it’s not my only genre. My authors write contemporary, fairytales, paranormal, BDSM, post-apocalyptic, science fiction, historical and fantasy. The only requirement, as far as I’m concerned, is to tell a good story. I have preferred genres, but I do like taking a break from those and sampling what else is out there.

What is your weekly routine like?

I am a copywriter by day and an editor by night, so my weekly routine can be a little hectic. From 8-5, I work at a local advertising agency and write content for blogs, websites, print media, television, radio spots, and so on. Before work, during breaks, and over lunch, I check my editor email, chat with authors, squeeze in edits, read submissions, and do the administrative paper-pushing. When I get home, I answer author emails, do my best to meet self-set edit goals, and then read until bedtime. Over the weekend I focus almost entirely on edits and submission reading.

What do you see ahead in your career?

I would like to transition to editing full-time. This is my five-year goal. Working with authors and helping bring their vision to life is incredibly fulfilling.

Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract?

Keep reading. Keep writing. Keep submitting. If you receive a rejection, try to distance yourself from the manuscript. Have a friend—one who’s not afraid of hurting your feelings—read it and listen to what they have to say. Demand brutal honesty, and don’t shy when you get it. You’re not going to agree with every piece of advice you receive, but you have to allow yourself to take some lumps to make your manuscript better.

Critique groups cannot be overvalued. Online communities are fantastic, but check for local groups where you can meet and discuss ongoing writing projects with regional authors.

How can our readers find your submission guidelines?

The submission guidelines are available on the Samhain website: http://www.samhainpublishing.com/submissions/




BIO:

Since she can remember, Holly Atkinson's professional ambition has revolved around fiction editing. She was fortunate to receive her first taste in editing when she was thirteen and wrote copy for a local realtor show. In 2008, Holly graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelor’s in English, specializing in Creative Writing. Her first real job in the literary world came in the role of line editor for Lyrical Press. In 2011, she joined Mundania Press as a content editor and finally landed her dream job at Samhain Publishing in 2012. 

Holly describes herself as the quintessential book nerd. In her spare time, she writes erotic romance under a penname, though she hopes to produce more mainstream works in the future so the more conservative members of her family can read her work. She lives in Missouri with her husband, loves to travel, and goes a little crazy around the holidays. Her largest writing influences include Pamela Smith Hill, Aaron Sorkin, JK Rowling, Stephen King, and Joss Whedon.

Thank you, Holly, for the great insight.

Readers: Feel free to leave comments or questions.

Interview with Editor Heather Howland from Entangled Publishing

Entangled Editor Heather Howland

Readers, we have a special treat for you: an interview with Heather Howland, one of the editorial directors at Entangled Publishing, LLC. Get ready for a new perspective from the other side.

I have heard so many good things about Entangled publishing. Please tell our readers about the publisher you represent.  

Entangled Publishing is a boutique publisher of romantic novels in most teen and adult subgenres. Founded by industry-savvy authors and backed by a successful media corporation, Entangled Publishing utilizes a bold new business model that ensures authors are paid a fair royalty for their talent and hard work, while giving everyone in the company—from the copy editor to the marketing director—a financial stake in the books they work on. In other words, we don’t make money unless the author makes money. 

Though we’re relatively new on the scene (we began accepting submissions in April 2011 and released our first book in July 2011), Entangled has experienced tremendous growth and success. Our books are distributed worldwide via Macmillan, and at last count, 5 of our titles have been New York Times bestsellers, and 9 have been USA TODAY bestsellers. Our commitment to quality and fairness are the driving forces behind everything we do.

Describe the genre of the most recent release, and is the only genre you represent?  

My most recent release was CHASING MRS. RIGHT, the highly anticipated sequel to Katee Robert’s NYT bestselling Brazen debut WRONG BED, RIGHT GUY. While I love sexy contemporary romance and have a lot of it on my list (I am the editorial director of Brazen, after all!), I equally adore gritty paranormal romance. In May, I’ll be releasing SOUTH OF SURRENDER, the third book in Laura Kaye’s Hearts of the Anemoi series. The book is dark, steamy, and utterly addictive. If you haven’t picked up this series yet, I highly encourage you to give it a shot. Laura and I are longtime BDB fans (as are most of my authors—I don’t think this is a coincidence), so there’s definitely some Brother flavor going on. 

For authors or prospective authors: what influences your decision to read a submission: the query letter; synopsis; an agent’s submission; etc.

Our very first impression of your novel is the query letter. Properly formatted, well-written query letters instantly engage me, and that’s exactly what you want to do. I can’t stress how important it is to know the industry and what’s expected of you (and your query letter) before submitting your material to agents and editors. First impressions are everything! 

To be honest, I’m just as likely to pick up an unagented query as an agented one. While it’s nice to know someone else in the industry has already vetted the manuscript, I’ve actually been really successful plucking gems out of the slushpile and making bestsellers out of them. There’s a certain thrill in discovering an author and helping him or her build their career.

Gems found in the slushpile. Good to know! To get an author’s submission read, what is the biggest no no you see that makes you reject them?

Again, know the industry. Know the genre you’re writing and what plot elements have already been done too many times to be considered fresh. Know your craft inside and out so when you break a rule, it’s a stylistic choice that will make me sit up and take notice. Know what a clichéd beginning is and avoid writing one (It was a dark and stormy night. As the lightning crashed outside, I stood in front of the mirror and assessed my long, wavy blond hair and closed my aquamarine eyes…). Know what the agent or editor you’re querying is interested in—I’m not the best editor for a person with a cozy mystery or an epic fantasy, for example. And please, please, please don’t query an editor with a generic, meant-for-agents “I’m seeking representation for my novel” letter. We won’t represent your novel—we’ll publish it.

Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract? 

Do. Not. Give. Up. I can’t tell you how many authors I’ve found in the slush that have gone on to become bestsellers—after the same manuscript was repeatedly rejected by agents and other publishers. This industry is extremely subjective and time-sensitive. All it takes is finding an editor who loves your book, shares your vision, and will do everything in their power to make the book—and your career, if they’re hands on like me—glow. Even if an editor can’t take on a particular project because of timing or another book like it on their list or any number of other reasons, we do remember authors we love. And we’ll be waiting for you to submit your next project. Also, do yourself a favor and read Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. This is the most effective, efficient, commercial plotting system out there. You can’t go wrong if you follow Blake’s formula.

How can our readers find your submission guidelines?  

Entangled recently switched to the greatest invention in the history of the submission process, and it’s called Submittable. Authors who work with magazines and literary journals will already be familiar with it. We ask that all submissions be sent via this portal, and in return, we guarantee a response within 30 days. Read through the various imprints, select the one that’s right for you and your book, and submit! If you want to direct your submission to a particular editor, there’s a field for that. It’s extremely simple, plus it allows authors to see status updates as their book progresses through the submission process. You can read our guidelines and submit your manuscripts at https://entangledpublishing.submittable.com/submit/

A 30 day response is nearly unheard of from a publisher! Thank you for this wealth of information. Tell us more about you:

BIO:
Heather Howland began editing in the legal, industrial, and technical sectors nine years ago while working as a Production Manager. Before joining the Entangled family, she worked as a freelance editor and as the acquisitions editor of a small romance publisher. She now edits popular authors such as NYT bestsellers Katee Robert and Laura Kaye, USA Today bestseller Cari Quinn, and Amy Andrews, as well as up-and-coming authors Tonya Burrows, Samanthe Beck, and Tessa Bailey. In her spare time, Heather creates book covers for Entangled and Brazen, hosts craft chats and teaches editing workshops for various organizations, and mentors YA authors through the editing process at Savvy U. She holds a BS in creative writing and psychology, which she channels into her love of dark and sexy romantic fiction. Find her on Twitter at @HeatherHowland.

Heather was interviewed by

Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers

member Nancy Lee Badger

Interview with SOURCEBOOKS Editor Leah Hultenschmidt

Please welcome Leah Hultenschmidt, a senior editor acquiring YA and romance. She has agreed to answer questions in order to give you a new perspective from the other side.

Please tell our readers about the publisher you represent. 

Sourcebooks is the largest woman-owned publisher in North America and releases a wide array of fiction and nonfiction in print and ebook with distribution around the world.  Our Casablanca romance imprint is home to the works of classic favorites such as Georgette Heyer, Laura Kinsale and Victoria Holt, as well as rising bestseller stars such as Grace Burrowes, Terry Spear and Julie Ann Walker.  

Names we have all heard of! Do you have any rejection stories to share? Like a manuscript you passed on that turned into a best seller?

I remember when I was a relatively new assistant, a manuscript came in the mail with no cover letter or note of any kind with it—just the author’s name and address at the top of the first page.  I skimmed through the first couple of chapters, but couldn’t discern that it was a genre we published. So I filled out a rejection note and sent it off. A day or so later, I’m looking through trade magazines and see a familiar-looking name—the author of the mystery manuscript I had rejected. Who was apparently the head of a major writers organization.  I immediately came clean to the editor, and fortunately everyone was a really good sport about it. 

But lesson to authors: no matter whom you address to (even in email), you never know who’s going to open your work. And with so many editors forwarding submissions to ereaders these days, I also highly encourage a file name that has the full title of the project and the first page with all author and agent info. 

What is your weekly routine like?

Every day is different, which is one thing I love about my job.  Here’s a sample of my to-do list from yesterday: review author revisions and turn over ms to Production for a September 2013 romance, compile revision notes and send to author for a November 2013 release, consult with author on a title change, make offer for YA project, follow up on outstanding offer for a romance project, check through a copyedit, review a contract that just came back from an agent, prepare launch material (description, comparison titles, key selling points) for recently acquired YA project. YA marketing and publicity meeting at 12:30. Romance strategy meeting at 3:30. 

Other days may also include writing cover copy, writing/reviewing catalog copy, returning agent phone calls, prepping research information, reviewing sales numbers, prepping projects for our acquisitions meetings (and reading my colleagues’ projects) and a host of other things.  Most of my editing is done on weekends, though I try to make time for it in the office when possible.  And most of my submission reading is done on the subway to and from the office.

Whew! I thought choosing the next book was all there was to it! Who first introduced you to the love of reading?

My mom read to my brother and me every night.  I remember The Wind in the Willows was a particular read-aloud favorite.  But it was L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables that sealed the deal.

For authors or prospective authors: what influences your decision to read a submission: the query letter; synopsis; an agent’s submission; etc.

The query is what gets me most excited to read a project.  Does it sound interesting?  Is it a story I don’t think I’ve read before? Does it immediately make me want to dive in?  Then I go to the first chapters and hope the writing lives up to the story.  I want to be teased in—make me want to keep reading.

What is the biggest no no you see in submissions that makes you reject them?

A story that I feel like I’ve already heard is kiss of death. Really work on defining the hook that sets your work apart. And then make sure that open is fascinating and intriguing.

Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract?

All it takes is one yes. And every editor’s taste is different.

How can our readers find your submission guidelines? 

Our guidelines are online at http://www.sourcebooks.com/resources/submissions-guidelines.html. I’ll also be at a number of conferences this year, including Windy City, the Washington DC writers retreat, Romantic Times, BEA, and RWA to name a few.

Leah Hultenschmidt is a senior editor at Sourcebooks, acquiring romance and YA.  In her twelve years in the industry, she has worked with a number of bestselling authors across a variety of genres. Her favorite mottos: “When in doubt, cut it out.” and “Live. Love. Read.” Follow her on Twitter @LeahHulten.