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Publishers Tell Writers

What They're Looking For

At Texas Book Publishers Seminar

They are questions every writer asks at one time or another. Where shall I send my manuscript? What are the author/editor and author/publisher relationships like? Will a bad book review kill my new book?

Many answers could be found November 15 in Austin at the seminar, Writers Meet the Publishers, sponsored by the Book Publishers of Texas. The day-long event was part of the first annual Texas book Festival. Here, editors from four Texas university presses, a small press and several successful authors guided a series of discussions:

Highlights from the panel discussion, which included:

• Kathryn Lang, Senior Editor, Southern Methodist University (SMU) Press
• Judy Alter, Director, Texas Christian University (TCU) Press
• Joanna Hitchcock, Director, University of Texas (UT) Press
• Tom Rotell, Director, Texas A&M University (TAMU) Press

TCU PRESS:

"We publish the history of the American West; scholarly non-fiction," Judy Alter said. The Chisolm Trail series (history and some memoirs), and the TCU Press Biography Series (new) target this theme.

"I don't think of us as a fiction house, but we have done some regional studies of the west," Alter added.

The Texas Tradition Series publishes reprints, Alter said, and TCU Press is also interested in expanding around literary criticism.

Query by letter first.

SMU PRESS:

Kathryn Lang said that SMU Press is "tiny." The press, with its staff of three, has very specific requirements and "I'm madder than a hornet when someone sends a manuscript that doesn't fit. Do your homework," Lang said. SMU is interested in fiction and a broad category of Human Values and Ethics, especially Medical Ethics--death and dying--and a few books of Southwest life and letters. Also, film/theater, and works of scholarly theological interest.

"Fiction has been an important area for us," Lang. In a normal year, SMU publishes three-five original titles and one or two reprints. This Fall they will publish eight titles. The book does not require ties to Texas. SMU wants "the best that comes to us, from wherever it comes," Lang said.

No poetry, no genre, no historical except reprints or that relating to the region.

"We are looking for literary quality," she said.

UT PRESS:

Joanna Hitchcock explained that UT Press publishes books for scholars, usually written by scholars. UT's books "may not have a big audience, but they do have a long shelf life," Hitchcock said.

UT publishes about 90 books per year, 13 journals, and some electronic works. The three editors handle social sciences, ornithology and marine sciences/ Natural History, etc., plus the classics and women's studies.

They publish no original fiction.

UT is also interested in Latin American history and Texana, and is looking for works concerning groups who have been overlooked--African Americans, women, etc.

Query by letter only.

TAMU PRESS:

TAMU Press focuses its efforts in 12 different areas. The strongest are Texas History and Texana. Tom Rotell said that they are now trying to develop a series on Borderland studies. TAMU Press is also interested in Natural Science and Natural History, Military History, a Presidential Studies series, Anthropology, Art and Art History, Economics, Veterinary books, and some books about electronic publishing.

"We're trying to publish a great variety of books within the focus areas," Rotell said. "We don't publish fiction or poetry, although we have occasionally published some historical or scholarly fiction, only for its scholarly value.

Rotell listed four key points for selling a manuscript to TAMU:

1. keep it short--under 85,000 words
2. write in an accessible rather than arcane style
3. make it scholarly or a reference work
4. be certain it is superbly written

Query by letter plus sample chapters and author's bio.

Panelists:

• Les Edgerton, author of The Death of Tarpons
• Charlotte Wright, Associate Director
• and Editorial Director of UNT press and Les's editor.

"The author/editor relationship has been successful if you remain friends after the book is published," said Charlotte Wright. "Les and I were in this together. We had the same goals.

Les Edgerton had been rejected by New York editors numerous times, and at one point, quit a major publishing house when the changes they wanted to make to his manuscript didn't make sense. "The expectation that editors don't edit anymore is not entirely true. Good ones do. But they do it gently. This was a partnership. I have a unique voice. Charlotte never tampered with it."

"An editor who writes has an edge, an insight that one who doesn't won't have," Wright said. "An appreciation for the words." She added that such an editor would strive to maintain the voice of the writer.

"Regional presses are caring publishers, " said Les. "That's something that is hard to find in New York."

Panelists:

• Novelist Jane Roberts Wood, author of the trilogy, A Train to Estelline, A Place Called Sweet Shrub, and Dance a Little Longer
• Ellen Temple of the Ellen Temple Publishing Company.

"It's important for writers to interview agents and editors," Woods said. "Ask them, what book have you read this year and just loved?"

Woods and Temple formed a successful partnership to publish and promote A Train to Estelline, recounting their experiences along the way. Temple also addressed the subject of regional vs. New York publishing.

From a regional house, "the book stays in print, in hardback, for ten years. Can you see that happening in New York?"

Panelists:

• Carolyn Banks, reviewer for the Washington Post "Book World"
• Ann Morris, book pages editor of the Austin American-Statesman
• Writer Mary Willis Walker

While Walker questioned whether reviews affect the book sales at all, the reviewers had different perspectives.

"A bad review is better than no review," Banks said. "I don't pick the books to review, and we're not out to trash authors. Sometimes you think you're gonna love a book and you absolutely hate it. But the worst thing for an author is to be ignored."

Morris said that the Statesman gets in 100 books per week, and can only review seven. "We're looking to call attention to good books," she said

Banks stressed the networking aspects of publishing in getting reviews placed. "Who you know sometimes counts as far as getting reviews. A good editor will have contacts with major reviewers."

And as for loyalty, Banks said that hers are not to the authors, but to the readers.

Contact:

Book Publishers Of Texas

3615 Gilespie St. Unit F

Dallas, TX 75219-4882

National Academy Of Sciences

Offers Books Online

NOVEMBER, 1996--The full text of more than 1,000 science, technology and health books from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), is now available for browsing and for sale on the web.

The National Academy Press, official publisher for the Academy of Sciences, enables web site visitors to browse the full text of Academy titles, securely order a work on line, and have a hard copy quickly shipped to them. Rapid order fulfillment on a one-on-one basis, is made possible by Xerox's high-speed document printing technology. Xerox technology also enables visitors to view the full text of many titles through their Internet browsers.

The National Academy Press expects to expand the on-line list to 5000 by the end of the year. The site is located at http://www.nap.edu

Major Bookstore Chains

Report 2nd Quarter Sales Increases

NOVEMBER, 1996--The big four US bookstore chains reported a significant sales increase for the second quarter of fiscal 1997 over the same period last year. Barnes & Noble reported a 24.8% increase; Books-A-Million, 16.1%; Borders Group, 13.9%; and Crown Books, 4.1%, for an overall second-quarter increase of 18.5%. Total chainstore sales for the first half of fiscal 1997 were $2.1 billion, compared to $1.7 billion at the same time last year.

Dallasite Takes Top Prize

In Craft Of Writing Contest

NOVEMBER, 1996--Bill Scarborough, bone thin, and always grinning like he has a secret, is a stock broker. He has been a broker for 12 years, and writes in spare time, mostly for fun.

So, when University of Texas at Dallas sponsors called his name at the recent Craft of Writing Conference awards ceremony, Bill hardly expected more than an "honorable mention."

As he strode, slightly bow-legged, to the podium, a room full of fellow writers began applauding before he reached his destination. They knew. Bill was to receive more than a mere mention. He earned the highest honor the organization can bestow: "The Best of Show Award."

The winning novel, titled, " The One that Got Away," is an adventurous tale about the victim of corporate downsizing who becomes a fishing guide to survive, and winds up teaching his ex-bosses more important lessons than how to catch big bass.

" It was way early, like 5:30 in the a.m., when Billy Ray eased his metallic blue pick-up and bass rig into the parking lot at Vera's Largemouth Cafe, " Scarborough's novel begins.

"The sun hadn't even begun pinking up the sky over on the far side of Lake Spoon, the undisputed bass capital of the free world. Billy Ray limited his bragging to the free world because he didn't know what that the now defunct Communists might have some damn good fishing they were keeping to themselves."

Bill's native Texan voice resonates in much of his works, which includes about 20 short stories, and two full novels. The One That Got Away, his third novel, is nearly completed.

Scarborough, who took up the pen about seven years ago, says he remembers the exact moment he decided to write.

" My wife and I were vacationing. She drove and I was in the back seat consuming a book by Larry McMurtry. It was great. As we traveled through Washington, D.C., it struck me. 'I can do this. I can write too.'"

Back home in Dallas the very next weekend, he enrolled in a class on how to write, and now spends more than an hour every day at his craft. He has won several awards for short stories. Several agents have requested his manuscripts, and now he adds the prestigious "Craft of Writing" award to a growing list of credits. Not a bad start for a numbers guy who also happens to be literary.

Colgan Joins Berkley

As Senior Editor

OCTOBER, 1996--NEW YORK, NY-- Thomas J. Colgan, formerly associate executive editor at Avon Books, has joined Berkley Publishing, New York, as senior editor.

Colgan said the move was prompted by the excitement of general expansion at Berkley, and "an opportunity to become best-selling author, Tom Clancy's paperback editor."

"Berkley is increasing its trade paperback list, and enlarging its presence in all aspects of the market," Colgan said.

As new senior editor, his main fictional interests are in mysteries and thrillers. Non-fiction interests focus on business, science, history, military and inspirational categories. However, he said he would "take a look at any category." Fiction must be novel-length and completed. Queries should include a cover letter, synopsis, first three chapters, and self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE).

Tom Colgan joins Berkley after a six-year term at Avon, and a total of 11 years in the publishing industry.

Contact Information:

Thomas J. Colgan

Senior Editor

Berkley Publishing

200 Madison Avenue, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10016-3900

Avon, Film/TV Producer

Create New Book Imprint

OCTOBER, 1996, NEW YORK-- Avon Books has formed a stategic partnership with film and television producer Brandon Tartikoff to create a new book imprint, tentatively called Tartikoff Books.

Tartikoff, who formerly had a similar contract with Warner Books, is commited to develop 30 titles in three years for Avon. His first projects likely will be two completed first novels written by Emmy Award winners. Tartikoff will draw upon his relationships with a variety of talent in both Hollywood and the publishing industry in developing the new line.

San Diego Writer

Publishes In Roswell Review

Thanks To Authorlink!

OCTOBER, 1996-- Harvey Stanbrough, editor and publisher of The Rosewell Literary Review, has purchased a short-story for its November/December issue from San Diego Writer Tim Pingleton. The sale is a direct result of contacts made through Authorlink!, said Editor Stanbrough, in a letter of thanks to Authorlink! Stanborough also described the on-line site as a "wonderful service."

While Authorlink! does not list short stories in its manuscript showcase at this time, many valuable contacts are being made by writers, editors and agents through the service.