The Writer Who Signed an Agent is…Calista!

Cdesses/c.taylor, aka Calista, my critique buddy over on AgentQuery is in the process of signing with a literary agent. Calista decided to move from fantasy to steampunk a few months ago and the move paid off. She’s written a great story about a feisty lass named Phoebe who creates a powerful drink that brings her to the center of a murder mystery. I feel honoured to have read and provided feedback on VIRDIS as Calista has a unique voice and a very simple, crisp, straight-forward style that makes my convoluted, wordy mind envious. When her book comes out, I’ll be sure to let you know so you can enjoy this action adventure/romance/history/mystery story set in London.

What is steampunk? Basically, it is a genre that is part historical, part futuristic. In Calista’s story, the story is set in London in the 1800s. While some things are as they were in the 1800s, such as clothing and social norms, it is a ‘what if’ take on life with a bit more technology. What if steam could be used to power some of the inventions we have now?

Curious? You can read her story, VIRDIS…coming soon!

Writer News

Remember the other day when I mentioned that as aspiring writers we need to stand out? Well, here’s a quote from literary agent Nathan Bransford that illustrates my point quite nicely:

“To put it another way still, when a sales rep goes to a chain and tells the buyer about the books on the upcoming list, they need something to point to that makes a book stand out. They need to be able to say, “This is what makes this book different.” A unique character, a unique way of telling the story, a unique plot, a unique world, something, anything that sets a book apart from the thousands of other books that are published every year.”

In other news: Publishers Marketplace is offering a free few days with their service. (Until January 3rd when they start charging $20 a month again.)

As well, Firebrand Literary is offering a query holiday until the 15th of January.

Go forth and prosper my good friends. (And check out your local bookstores, the deals are a plenty.)