Book Spotlight: The Edison Enigma by Thomas White

 

A physicist discovers the secret to time travel only to find out he was not the first, it is now his task to go back and repair history.

 

Title: The Edison Enigma

Author: Thomas White

Publication Date: February 29, 2024

Pages: 196

Genre: Scifi/Mystery 

Edison, a Chicago physicist, manages to successfully transport an object through time. Almost immediately following this success Dr. Edison is shut out of the facility and told by benefactor Raphael Barrington, to take a vacation. He is contacted by Don Rivendell, a grizzled old man with a secret. Rivendell explains to Tom that he is not the first person to discover time travel. Someone else went back and changed history by saving a young girl from dying in an internal combustion engine explosion.

Dr. Edison is tasked with going back and fixing history. He travels back to 1904 to find the younger version of Rivendell and stop him from saving the girl. 

You can purchase your copy of The Edison Enigma at Amazon at https://t.ly/_NOoo.

 

Book Excerpt:

Tom, Lori, and Jerzy entered the lab and stood on the landing, looking over the commotion. There was a hustle and bustle of frenetic activity as lab personnel moved from station to station, checking data, preparing modules, and entering critical information.

“Every time I come in here, I expect to see tables with bubbling test tubes and old, toothless women sweeping the floor,” Jerzy said.

Lori laughed. “Well, it would be hard to explain what bubbling test tubes have to do with this project, but I get your drift. We are kinda like Dr. Frankenstein with this whole thing.” Tom vaulted down the stairs and skipped to the control area on the opposite side of the room. He high-fived everyone he passed and crossed to an older, balding man with a semi-circle of gray hair around the fringe of his scalp. A short gray mustache covered most of his upper lip. The man had a slow gait caused mainly by forty straight hours on his feet. Tom hugged him. 

“Bruce! This is it! I feel like tap dancing!”

“Well, I’ve put up with worse from you. We’re just running the final check-down now; almost complete. The data you just sent down is perfect.” Bruce had a New Jersey accent highlighted by a Yiddish lilt that caused his mustache to bounce when he spoke. 

The retrofitting of the building was designed specifically for this project. Constructed like a sports arena with a high domed ceiling, the lab was ten thousand square feet open from wall to wall. Three levels encircled the room starting at the floor. Each subsequent level rose above the one below and contained a series of computer stations lined up like the NASA control room, collating, interpreting, or generating data. The entire room was connected, hardwired, and air-gapped to The Quint's central motherboard. The Quint was the fastest and most potent AI computer known to man and contained the most significant elements of learned behavior and artificial intelligence. More significantly, it could determine and pinpoint a specific moment in time. 

In the main staging area, in the center of the room, was the masterpiece of the entire project - The Time Tube. The Time Tube was a four-story, transparent tube made from indestructible acrylic conducive to energy absorption. As energy swirled through the Time Tube, it created the power needed for time travel. It stood 18’ tall with an eight-foot diameter. A raised platform ran halfway around and had six steps that led up to a full-size door allowing access to the Tube. 

The lab's roof was six stories high and supported a series of lighting instruments, air conditioning units, and safety mechanisms.  Among the other things that lived in the ceiling was a series of tubing that wrapped around the room like a tornado and converged from the roof to the lab's centerpiece. This series of tubing was called the Cyclone. Air was pushed through the Cyclone at incredible speeds, producing centrifugal force. That energy transitioned to Euler acceleration, creating a variation in the angular velocity. Theoretically, this opens a window in time and allows the object to pass through.

After years of research, study, and failed experimentation, Tom finally understood that time is, in fact, parallel, meaning that time moves through us rather than us moving through time. In essence, time is an ever-evolving moment. We move from one plane to the next as we move forever forward. The wonder is that it is infinite, never-ending, so we will never reach the edge of time as time continues to build moment next to moment. Once Tom accepted that theory, the means of moving through time began to evolve. 

With enough energy, we can freeze ourselves in a moment, thus staying still as time moves on. The challenge became moving through thousands of moments to move back in time, or more accurately, let a specific moment of the past catch up to you. It had taken Tom and his crew almost five years to reach this point. They believed they could generate enough energy to move back and forth within their time sphere to moments that have happened or will happen and return to their own designated moment and survive. 

One of the most daunting challenges the team had to overcome when sending something through time was having the entire entity arrive in the same moment. Any portion of an entity that arrived a millisecond later than any other part of that entity would be split in two by the paradox of time. Using an optical lattice clock allowed the team to calculate to a precise moment. When coordinated with The Quint, the top or bottom, front or back, the side to side of any entity would arrive at the same exact moment in time so as not to be split apart. 

Subsequently, above the main control area, against the back wall, was the read-out of an optical lattice clock, accurate to one second every 400 million years. It was this technology that allowed Tom and his staff the ability to pinpoint a single moment in time. The optical lattice clock uses laser beams instead of atoms to calculate the second. The light from the laser excites the strontium atoms and increases the accuracy of determination of time.

With The Quint’s exceptional calculation ability, Tom could capture moments within a zeptosecond, one trillionth of a billionth of a second, targeting specific areas of history or periods of time, with phenomenal accuracy.  Projecting these moments into the future would allow them to move forward in time as well. Theoretically, at least. 

That theory would be tested this afternoon.

About the Author

 

Thomas White began his career as an actor. Several years later he found himself as an Artistic Director for a theatre in Los Angeles and the winner of several Drama-Logue and Critics awards for directing. As Tom’s career grew, he directed and co-produced the world tour of “The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Coming Out Of Their Shells”. The show toured for over two years, was translated into seven different languages and seen by close to a million children. Tom served as President and Creative Director for Maiden Lane Entertainment for 24 years and worked on many large-scale corporate event productions that included Harley Davidson, Microsoft, Medtronic Diabetes, and dozens of others. The Edison Enigma is Tom’s third novel following up Justice Rules which was nominated as a finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association 2010 Literary contest, and The Siren’s Scream.

Author Links  

Website | X (Twitter) | Facebook 1 | Facebook 2 | Goodreads

 

When Will Her World Stop Shaking? by B. Lynn Goodwin, author of Disrupted

 

 

When Will Her World Stop Shaking?

 

When tectonic plates shift below the surface of the earth and cracks appear in the sidewalk, we say we’ve had an earthquake. The seismology lab on the Berkeley campus of the University of California studies them and reports on when and where they occur, but no one can predict them yet.

A Few Basic Facts:

The earthquakes in Northern California, where I live and where my new novel, Disrupted takes place, occur along fault lines. The San Andreas Fault caused the big one in 1989 and we’re waiting for a predicted, massive eruption on the Hayward Fault.

Faults shift below the earth and anything from cracks in the pavement to broken windows to caved-in structures can result. If you’re a Californian and you feel rumbling below you, you may run for the nearest door frame.

Small quakes postpone the big one, which is supposed to happen within the next 30 years. Despite that prediction, we keep building developments and skyscrapers as if there’s no real danger.

There are older homes directly over the Hayward Fault, which withstood a 7.1 quake in Disrupted. You can imagine the potential disruption.

If your dog goes crazy, barking and running madly, an earthquake might be about to erupt. Spike, the Dalmatian Sandee keeps that belonged to her brother Bri, did that in Disrupted.

 

Here are a few earthquake mysteries:

No one knows why earthquakes are unpredictable.

Some earthquakes appear where there’s no apparent tectonic activity and no one knows why.

There are variations in earthquakes that scientists cannot explain…yet.

There’s no clear pattern of foreshocks or aftershocks, so there’s something the earth knows that we don’t.

William Shakespeare’s line, “There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy, Horatio” certainly applies to earthquakes.

In addition to having her world rocked by a physical earthquake, Sandee Mason, the central character in Disrupted, lived through an emotional earthquake when her family got word that her older brother died in an IED explosion in Afghanistan.

 

Emotional Earthquakes:

Can you imagine losing a sibling when you’re only 15? What impact would it have on your parents and your home life? And what if you were the only child left?

Part of protagonist Sandee Mason’s mission in life is to live up to her brother’s successes. He was president of the student council and headed for college, but first, he wanted to serve his country, just as his father did. Maybe someday Sandee will go into the Armed Services or maybe she’ll work for a non-profit. Maybe she’ll become a lawyer who fights for justice or work to overcome poverty and discrimination. There’s a lot of life ahead of her, so if you have suggestions for what she might do, I’d love to hear about them.

Curious? You can find Disrupted on Amazon by clicking on the book name. It’s available in or other places, or ask your local bookstore to order it using the ISBN number.

 

B. Lynn Goodwin wrote two award-winning books, a YA called Talent, and a memoir titled Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62. Her newest book, Disrupted, came out on January 25^th. She writes author interviews, book reviews and articles for WriterAdvice, www.writeradvice.com,  for Story Circle Network, where she also teaches. She is on the boards of Story Circle Network and the Women’s National Book Association—NorCal and is a writing contest judge. She edits every genre except poetry, and loves helping writers improve.

Book Spotlight: Disrupted by B. Lynn Goodwin

 

The San Ramos High students are busy rehearsing their performance of Our Town when the school and the surrounding towns are rocked by a 7.1 earthquake. As a series of unusual aftershocks disrupt the town further, their school is deemed unsafe, and the show is postponed indefinitely unless they can find a way to turn that bad luck around. Dealing with their own personal difficulties and led by the stage manager, Sandee, who is working her way through the loss of her brother, they attempt to bring the community together, make the performance a success, and do their share to raise funds to rebuild. Both the show and life must go on! Purchase a copy of Disrupted on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add it to your GoodReads reading list.

 

 

About the Author

B. Lynn Goodwin is the owner of Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com. Talent was short-listed for a Literary Lightbox Award and won a bronze medal in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards and was a finalist for a Sarton Women’s Book Award. A second edition came out on November 1, 2020 from Koehler Books. She also wrote You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers. Her memoir, Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62 won a National Indie Excellence Award, a Human Relations Indie Book Awards Winner, a Dragonfly Book Award, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Best Book Awards Finalist & NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winner Her next book, Disrupted, will be out on January 25th. Goodwin’s work has appeared in Voices of Caregivers, Hip Mama, Dramatics Magazine, Inspire Me Today, The Sun, Good Housekeeping.com, Purple Clover.com, and elsewhere. She is a reviewer and teacher at Story Circle Network, and she is a manuscript coach at Writer Advice. She always has time to write guest blog posts and answer questions. She loves working one on one, troubleshooting, and helping writers find what works. Contact her to see how she can help you. You can find her online at:

Her website: https://www.writeradvice.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lgood67334

Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blynn.goodwin

Website Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writeradvice/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blynngoodwin/

Her Books: https://writeradvice.com/books-by-lynn/

The Inspiration Behind St. James Infirmary (Stories) by Steve Meloan

 

Tales of wounded people in need of care…

Title: St. James Infirmary

Author: Steven Meloan

Steven Meloan’s writing has been seen in Wired, Rolling Stone, Los Angeles, BUZZ, the San Francisco Chronicle, and SF Weekly. His fiction has appeared in SOMA Magazine, the Sonoma Valley Sun, Lummox Press, and Newington Blue Press, as well as at Litquake, Quiet Lightning, and other Bay Area literary events. He has regularly written for the Huffington Post, and is co-author of the novel The Shroud with his brother Michael. He is a recovered software programmer, and was a street busker in London, Paris, and Berlin.

“Reading these stories, I felt like I was hearing an original voice for the very first time. They are surreal, cinematic, poetic, and have real punch-with everything I could want in a collection of short fiction. Set in California and Europe, from the 1960s to the 1980s, they vividly capture lost times and lost places. They have echoes of Jack Kerouac and Paul Bowles, and can be read again and again with a sense of wonder and pleasure.”-Jonah Raskin, Author of Beat Blues, San Francisco, 1955

“St. James Infirmary is a captivating collection of stories that takes readers on a dark and uncanny journey through everyday life. Meloan’s writing has a haunting subtlety that draws one in, as if witnessing the events in real-time. With sharp insights and unexpected twists, these stories explore complex human relationships and the often-mysterious forces that shape them. Meloan vividly captures the gritty reality of each setting, throwing a column of light into the underground of the ordinary. For fans of evocative writing that stays with you long after the final page, St. James Infirmary is a must-read.” 

– Roadside Press

St. James Infirmary is available at Amazon at http://tinyurl.com/fv3zr2hn and Roadside Press at https://www.magicaljeep.com/product/james/129 .

The Inspiration Behind St. James Infirmary (Stories)

Many of the stories were spawned by semi-annual literary events in my town—raucous, coffeehouse-style readings often set to acoustic live music. The group just celebrated its ten-year anniversary at the same location. The below picture was taken at one such gathering—and is on the back cover of St. James Infirmary. With most of the stories, I began with the germ of some event or experience that was important or memorable to me, and then let the underlying meaning of the experience reveal itself during the writing. And since many of the stories were intended to be read aloud, the rhythm/pacing of the words was also essential. After several years of such gatherings, I realized I had a sizable collection of stories. The co-founder of the events suggested I put them together into a book, and so I did.

I’d had a previous collection of song lyrics published out of an indie press in Germany. Through them, I connected and became friends with Westley Heine, a wonderful musician, poet, and memoirist, with a book on the same German press. Westley ultimately found his way to Roadside Press, and Michele McDannold. Roadside published Wes’ Busking Blues, a wild memoir of his days as a Chicago squatter and street musician. Through that connection, St. James Infirmary also found a Roadside home. McDannold is a true publishing force of nature—with over 100 recent books of poetry, prose, and memoir. And she is a brilliant poet in her own right. 

In compiling my collection of stories, I came to see that they often centered around “wounded people in need of care.” And since the title story makes mention of an old folk-blues standard, “St. James Infirmary,” it seemed the perfect encompassing title. The song also has great personal meaning for me. It has been recorded by countless artists—including Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Van Morrison, and Rickie Lee Jones. In fact, an entire book was recently written about the song. But the version that I know best is by the folk singer Josh White. My mother was friends with White in Greenwich Village during WWII. So, I grew up hearing his music. (White was later honored with his own commemorative US Postal Stamp and is mentioned in Bob Dylan’s autobiography.)

The title story of the collection centers around a wild cocktail party thrown by my parents during my teen years. The cover image of the book—featuring a cocktail glass and ‘60s/’70s Pop Art colors—is visually celebrative. But the title text hints at darker undercurrents. The book’s jacket blurbs note that the stories take readers on “a dark and uncanny journey through everyday life,” exploring “complex human relationships and the often-mysterious forces that shape them,” and then “throwing a column of light into the underground of the ordinary.”

About the Author

 

Steven Meloan has written for Wired, Rolling Stone, the Huffington Post, Los Angeles, BUZZ, the San Francisco Chronicle, and SF Weekly. His fiction has appeared in SOMA Magazine, the Sonoma Valley Sun, Lummox Press, Newington Blue Press, and Roadside Press, as well as at Litquake, Quiet Lightning, Library Girl, and other literary events. His short fiction collection, St. James Infirmary, was released in 2023 on Roadside Press. He is a recovered software developer, co-author of the novel The Shroud with his brother Michael, and a former busker in London, Paris, and Berlin.

Author Links  X (Twitter) | Facebook | Instagram

Book Review: The Book of 5 Mews by MG Rorai

 

When Harper loses her beloved husband, she moves homes to get away and start anew, without the old memories, and hopefully to create new ones. Her decision to do some volunteering at Wispy Paws animal rescue takes a strange turn when she ends up fostering and ultimately keeping a calico cat that she names Marble, who has a penchant for cheese and philosophy. Harper is a dog person so when Marble comes into her life, things will change. Marble has decreed this is so. The book has alternating points of view between Harper, the hapless human who knows nothing of the Way of Catness, and Marble, who expands upon the philosophy contained therein as a guide to life with a human and managing them; also considering their mental frailty, their weaknesses, and their ability to be easily swayed by feline cuteness.

The Book of Five Mews (Paw, Slink, Roar, Tail, and Clarity) falls somewhere between The Book of Five Rings (a 17^th century AD Samurai warrior’s guide) and the 5^th century BC Chinese treatise The Art of War attributed to military strategist Sun Tzu (if Sun Tzu had ever owned a cat). To say this book is screamingly funny is an understatement. I am a dog and cat owner. I live in Cyprus (the island of stray cats) where the general public is encouraged to feed, spay, neuter, and basically care for the population of ‘outside cats.’ I have my own cat, Bertie, as well as two dogs. An adorable and very pretty ‘outside cat’ called Jasmine managed to insinuate herself into my life and kept wanting to come inside. I thought no, she had better have a flea collar. That sealed the deal. Once she had the flea collar on, it was “Open, Sesame.” Jasmine became an indoor cat. And that is why I know Jasmine has read The Book of Five Mews and understands the Way of Catness.

Author MG Rorai understands cats as well as the weak human living under the cat’s paw. The narrative style is hilarious. I shrieked with laugher many times, nodded many times, smiled many times, and said, “Yes, exactly.” Many times. The POV switches from Harper describing daily activities in winning Marble’s affection (much of the time with cheese), investigating the art of toys, the delicacy of catnip (unfortunate results there) and a basic getting to know the foster cat scenario. On the other hand, Marble delivers a calculated, quasi-philosophical treatise fittingly couched in elevated language such as a cat of great wisdom would use. The juxtaposition is hilarious. If you are thinking of getting a cat, or even if you have a cat and just want to understand your cat’s little idiosyncrasies and quirky ways better, read this book. If you want a good laugh, read this book. If you need cheering up, read this book. Cats have been ruling humans since the time of the great pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Hell, they even managed to get themselves into the pantheon of gods, so I think felines know what they are talking about.

M.G. Rorai enjoys hanging with her cats and annoying her husband. Find out more by visiting the author on Facebook and her website.

The Inspiration Behind Urbex Predator by Jens Boele

A relic from the Cold War, the old barracks beckon photographers, influencers, and adventurers, shrouded in secrets and peril. Nela and Tess dare the eerie ruins for their photography thesis, while Zander, Yelka, Vivien, and Damon embark on a simultaneous shoot. Amid the abandoned shadows, Yelka's group runs into Steven and his ruthless gang, initially outsmarting them. Yet, Nela and Tess fall victim to a nightfall ambush, escaping but torn apart. As adrenaline courses through the gang, they stalk Yelka and her friends, unleashing a relentless manhunt. Vivien becomes their captive, setting off a chain reaction. Tess encounters Damon and Yelka, while Nela, guided by Ben, the barracks' security manager, races to find Tess. Yelka strives to rescue Vivien, trapped in an abandoned outdoor pool.

On his lone pursuit, Zander witnesses the gang's brutality, delving into a darker realm within himself, spurred by the horrifying thrill of Steven's actions. The scene propels Yelka, Damon, and Tess into a frenzy, unleashing chaos to liberate Vivien. Nela and Ben, attempting to overpower the gang, witness Yelka and Vivien's escape as the gang closes in. With the arrival of Steven's older brother, Henry, the stakes are set; the old military hospital transforms into a battleground. No one is to leave alive, and a matter of life and death ensues. In the ruthless clash, Nela and Yelka emerge as the lone defenders, while Zander pursues a mission for his own catharsis. In Henry's basement, dubbed his Hades, the teams converge for a pulse-pounding final duel, where survival is the ultimate prize. You can pick up your copy at Amazon.

 

 

The Inspiration Behind Urbex Predator

Imagine exploring an abandoned barracks, only to run into a gang of ruthless thugs, with no police in sight to intervene if things go south. Sounds like the plot of my book, right? Well, replace the barracks with an abandoned hospital, and that's where I found myself.

As an urban explorer and amateur photographer, decay and ruins have always fascinated me. It all began several years ago during a visit to California when I stumbled upon an abandoned water park in the Mojave Desert. The place had an eerie yet captivating atmosphere, reminiscent of "Zombieland." Picture the desert heat, scorching sun, and remnants of civilization laid bare before you, enveloped in absolute silence. It was a moment straight out of a post-apocalyptic movie, sparking my love for urban exploring—a passion I indulge in when I'm not writing.

Inspiration strikes from the things that move me, the experiences I can feel. Sometimes, it's just a single spark that ignites an idea. In "Urbex Predator," Nela and Tess stumble upon an abandoned barracks overrun by a gang of hoodlums, mirroring an encounter I had with a friend. The what-if scenario that followed became the seed for the story. In the fall of 2021, after a day exploring and photographing on the Canary Islands, I sat down with a beer and outlined the plot, drawing from the amalgamation of abandoned military sites I'd encountered across Europe since the end of the Cold War era.

Every horror story requires an initial sin, an enclosed setting, and a monster. I've always been intrigued by the darker facets of human nature—what drives people to commit acts of evil and crime. In "Urbex Predator," we confront a group of neglected youths who form a toxic alliance, embodying the desolation of the abandoned buildings they inhabit. As night descends, the hunt begins.

After months of crafting, the story finally took shape and the book was born. I hope you enjoy the journey it takes you on.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Jens Boele, a veteran media designer in the entertainment industry, brings over two decades of cinematic expertise to his writing. Born in Germany in 1975, Jens embarked on his writing odyssey in his youth, culminating in the publication of his debut book, "Sunshine," in 2015. This was followed by "Hurensohn," and his latest spine-tingling creation, "Urbex Predator."

Jens is a genre-bending author, specializing in horror and crime thrillers. His narratives often blur genre lines, weaving intricate tales that plunge readers into the darkest corners of the human psyche. Jens's storytelling brilliance lies in his fascination with the criminal mind; his villains are always profoundly human, offering readers a chilling examination of the psychological aspects of the criminally insane. 

Jens sets himself apart by seamlessly integrating classic horror with the gritty authenticity of the present day. This innovative fusion imbues his narratives with a dynamic quality, seamlessly blending archaic thrills with contemporary intrigue, resulting in an immersive reading experience that resonates with both vintage enthusiasts and present-day readers alike.

Jens Boele's latest endeavor takes his work across borders, as "Urbex Predator" becomes his first book to be translated into English. A globetrotter with deep connections to the United States, Jens's passion for exploration and his international perspective, nurtured by family and friends in the US, shine through in his writing, offering readers a captivating blend of horror and cultural diversity. Visit Jens’ website at https://jensboele.com/.

Managing “The Call” with a Literary Agent by author Anoop Judge

 

At twenty-one years old, Gia Kumari finally leaves the Delhi orphanage where she was raised. With few prospects for the future, she receives an unexpected invitation from a stranger named Sonia Shah, in San Francisco: an internship at Sonia’s weddings and event company. Jia and America. It’s love at first sight as she navigates an unfamiliar but irresistible new world of firsts. It’s Gia’s first real job: her first meeting with her only known family, her uncle Mohammed Khan, and her first romance, with Sonia’s quirky yet charming stepson, Adi. But it might be too good to be true. Gia’s newfound happiness is unfolding in the shadow of a terrible family secret, the impact of which is still being felt in a place Gia now calls home. To save what matters most, Gia must come to terms with a tragic past she’s only beginning to understand—and a lifetime of lies she must learn to forgive. Purchase a copy of Mercy and Grace on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list.

Managing “The Call” with a Literary Agent

You’ve spent a year (or six) writing a 90, 000-word novel. You’ve poured sweat, love, and too much midnight oil into it—coming up with an original plot, fleshing out characters that are relatable and memorable, minding the pacing . . . Phew! Then you dive into the querying process and the pain begins to kick in. You research agents like a forensic scientist. You submit queries like it’s a full-time job or depending on your approach, perhaps you submit to only a select few. And then, if your experience is anything like mine, wading through rejection letters becomes a second full-time job. The advice out there is you shouldn’t take it personally and you should develop a thick skin. Hah! Easier said than done—every rejection feels like some angry prophet’s judgment on your soul.

It’s hard to keep going, but you do. In my case, there were copious amounts of chocolate, wine, and tears—not always in that order. You wait and wait, and one day your email pings with a request for a full manuscript. And then you wait again. I’m a chronically impatient person, and although motherhood was supposed to imbue me with patience, it never did. Playing an endless cycle of the waiting game makes you question your writing abilities, makes you almost throw in the towel, and in my case, chew your nails down to nubs.

By now, you’re as jittery as a junkie. After one hundred and fifty rejections (but who’s counting?) you decide to let the manuscript eat its head off in a drawer and start something new. That’s when your inbox pings with the magical words, “Can we talk?” But how do you prepare for this crucial conversation? Here are some tips to help you manage the call with a literary agent effectively.

Before the Call

Research the Agent: Familiarize yourself with the agent’s background, the books they’ve represented, and their agency. Understanding their interests and successes can help you gauge how well they might align with your work and goals.

Prepare Your Questions

This is your opportunity to learn more about the agent’s vision for your book and their working style. Consider asking questions like:

          •        What aspects of my manuscript excite you the most?

          •        What is your strategy for pitching my book to publishers?

          •        Can you tell me about your communication style and frequency?

          •        What are your expectations regarding revisions?

          •        How do you support your authors through the publishing process?

Revisit Your Manuscript and Query

Be prepared to discuss your manuscript and any potential revisions. Refresh your memory on key plot points, themes, and character arcs. Also, review your query letter, as the agent may reference specific elements that caught their attention.

During the Call

Be Professional and Personable: Treat the call like a job interview, but also let your personality shine through. This is as much about the agent getting to know you as it is about discussing your book.

Ask Your Questions: Don’t hesitate to ask the questions you’ve prepared. This call is a two-way street, and it’s important to ensure that the agent is the right fit for you and your work.

Discuss Next Steps: Before the call ends, make sure you understand the next steps. Will the agent send you a representation agreement to review? Are there revisions they’d like you to work on before moving forward?

After the Call

Reflect on the conversation: Take some time to consider how the call went. Do you feel confident in the agent’s ability to represent your work? Were they enthusiastic about your manuscript? Did you feel a good rapport? 

Follow Up: Send a thank-you email to the agent, expressing your appreciation for their time and interest. If you’ve agreed to make revisions, keep them updated on your progress.

Seek Advice if Needed: If you’re unsure about anything discussed during the call, don’t hesitate to seek advice from writer friends, mentors, or other industry professionals.

Take Your Time: If you receive an offer of representation, remember that this is a significant decision. Take the time you need to evaluate the offer and ensure it’s the right fit for you and your career. The call with a literary agent is a critical moment in your journey as a writer. By preparing thoroughly, asking insightful questions, and reflecting on the conversation, you can navigate this step with confidence and clarity. Remember, this is not just about landing an agent—it’s about finding the right partner to help bring your literary dreams to fruition.

 

About the Author

Born and raised in New Delhi, Anoop is the author of four novels, THE RUMMY CLUB which won the 2015 Beverly Hills Book Award, THE AWAKENING OF MEENA RAWAT, an excerpt of which was nominated for the 2019 Pushcart Prize, NO ORDINARY THURSDAY, and MERCY and GRACE. Her essays and short stories have appeared in Green Hills Literary Lantern, Rigorous Journal, Lumiere Review, DoubleBack Review, and the Ornament anthology, among others. Anoop calls herself a “recovering litigator” —she worked in state and federal courts for many years before she replaced legal briefs with fictional tales. She holds an MFA from St. Mary’s College of California and was the recipient of the 2021 Advisory Board Award and the 2023 Alumni Scholarship. She lives in Pleasanton, California, with her husband, and is the mother of two admirable young adults.

You can find her online at:

 Website: https://anoopjudge.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judgeanoop/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anoop-ahuja-judge-94396743/