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Welcome to another edition of Author's Corner. My trip to Dragon*Con in Atlanta was quite an experience. The variety of costumes and the entertainment was outstanding. I had an opportunity to meet Todd McCaffrey, son of the late Ann McCaffrey. He hosted a discussion panel entitled Books to Movies, which was very beneficial. I also had the opportunity to meet Tracy Scoggins, well known star of Babylon 5, ST: Deep Space Nine, Highlander and many other films.
The musical entertainment was outstanding. I was very impressed with Cruxshadows, Rockbot, Ghoultown, the Changelings and Jefferson Starship. While Starship, featuring Diana Mangano as lead singer, played for two and a half hours straight, groups of costumed fans were ushered onto the stage. Each song highlighted a new group of costumes from Stormtroopers to Klingons to Can-Can girls.
Saturday morning was highlighted with a Dragon Con parade, which marched through the city of Atlanta. Anyone with a costume was welcome to join in. Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura of Star Trek fame, led the way. There are really interesting pictures on the Dragon Con website, www.dragoncon.com. I was going to place several pictures on this site but I think you'd have more fun looking at the many photos they have. If you have questions about Dragon*Con, I will try to answer them. Use the Contact Link on the Home Page.
From Thankgiving to Christmas, Fox Television Network will run a commercial for Fractured Time in the Philadelphia viewing area. This area covers Delaware, South Jersey, Cecil County, Md., and Northeastern Pennsylvania. So, those of you in the viewing area may get to see it. I have no book signings scheduled for October because of my work schedule. April and October are very busy months at my facility. I'm sure I'll make up for it in November and December.
Let's talk about writing for those of you who aspire to write. This month, we'll talk about agents. You've written your first story and you want to take the next step. Last month, I mentioned the advantage of building a resume beginning with short stories and the like. You're thinking about getting an agent. This is a good way to get an agents attention. An agent will contract for a percentage of your royalties/ advance. Consider that an agent will pursue his hottest clients before you so there is no guarantee he'll be pushing yours until it becomes hot. When an agent meets with a publisher, they might present their ten best author's works (the number varies for each agent). Remember, the agent only eats when he sells.
Some will want to edit your work for a nominal fee. Keep in mind that after they edit your work, you are still a new author and a tough sell. Be careful about putting out money for editing. You may have someone reliable who can proof your story for starters. Then, when you select or get selected by a publisher, the changes will be minimal. Each time you review your finished work, you'll want to make changes. Try to be thorough the first time. If you attempt to get an agent, don't be disappointed if you are not accepted by any. Just remember, that having an agent doesn't make things automatically happen. We'll discuss more alternatives on this topic later.
If you plan to keep your book rights, as I have done. There is no sense in seeking an agent. He will not be able to gain from that scenario. Keep in mind, however, you may want one later. We'll discuss the strategies for this in later editions.
Everything I'll tell you is based on my research and experiences. I'm sure there are other possibilities and I don't discourage you from trying. I'd like to see new writers get off on the right foot with minimal disappointment. You write best when you feel good about your work. Thanks again for your loyalty. See you next month.
- Michael D'Ambrosio
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