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Literary Representation
For the Love of Labor
by, Jill Swenson
March 1, 2022
Cathryn J. Prince

Author of Queen of the Mountaineers and American Daredevil, Cathryn J. Prince has signed a publishing contract for her next book, For the Love of Labor: The Pioneering Life of Pauline Newman, with University Press of Kentucky for a 2024 release. Before Greta Thunberg, Emma Gonzalez, or Malala Yousafzai, there was Pauline Newman. She had been union organizing since the age of 16 before the… [Read More]

Filed Under: American Daredevil, Cathryn J Prince, Cathryn Prince, For the Love of Labor, Pauline Newman, Queen of the Mountaineers, University Press of Kentucky
1 Comment
The Perfect Pitch
by, Jill Swenson
June 5, 2018

When you write a book, it needs to be about something. When someone asks what your book is about, how do respond? Do you stumble over your words trying to describe your book? Time to pin down your premise. The perfect pitch means you need to hone your premise statement. Premise: The central idea, situation, or set-up which provides the foundation and pushes the narrative… [Read More]

Filed Under: Marketing, Pitch, premise
1 Comment
ARROWS author Melissa Gorzelanczyk’s unusual road to publication
by, Nikki Kallio
January 26, 2016

The launch of Green Bay author Melissa Gorzelanczyk’s debut Young Adult novel ARROWS (Delacorte Press, 2016) is one example of how social media can play an important role in author success. Melissa’s novel ARROWS is a modern cupid story set in present-day Wisconsin combining the fantastical elements of Greek mythology with the contemporary drama of MTV’s Teen Mom,” according to Melissa’s website. Her novel also has… [Read More]

Filed Under: #PitchMad, Arrows, Brenda Drake, Carrie Howland, Delacorte Press, Donadio & Olson, hashtags, Melissa Gorzelancyzk, Pitch Fests, Query letter, Twitter
2 Comments
‘Get Smart’ About the Business of Your Book
by, Jill Swenson
March 3, 2015

‘Get Smart’ About the Business of Your Book Distribution is not a dirty word. No one talks about it much in literary circles and it is something you may not have thought much about as an author. Perhaps you are more conscious of its importance when it comes to films and music. Distribution determines what movies appear in which theaters. What selection of music is… [Read More]

Filed Under: Baker & Taylor, book stores, Consortium, Distribution, Ingram, IPG, libraries, NBN, Publishers Group West, sales and marketing
No Comments
Capstone to publish Oscar and the Amazing Gravity Repellent by Tina L. Peterson
by, Jill Swenson
February 14, 2014

Tina L. Peterson’s debut novel OSCAR AND THE AMAZING GRAVITY REPELLENT, about an intrepid third-grader who takes on bullies and other forces of nature with the help of a magical potion, to Alison Deering at Capstone, in a nice deal by Jill Swenson of Swenson Book Development, February 11, 2014.  Tina L. Peterson has been fighting gravity her whole life. She was never any good at… [Read More]

Filed Under: Asha Benarjee, Capstone, middle-grade fiction, Oscar and the Amazing Gravity Repellent, science, Tina L. Peterson
1 Comment
Leaning Into Love
by, Jill Swenson
February 7, 2014

Jill Swenson: Congratulations on the forthcoming publication of your book, Leaning into Love: A Spiritual Journey through Grief, by Larson Publications in fall 2014. What is meant by the title of your book? Elaine Mansfield: After Vic’s death, I leaned into his love. I leaned into the love of the land, the life I created with him, our sons, close friends, and found support. Spiritual help came… [Read More]

Filed Under: bereavement, Elaine Mansfield, Larson Publications, Leaning Into Love, Spiritual Journey Through Grief
5 Comments
Top 10 List for 2013: Good News from Swenson Book Development LLC
by, Jill Swenson
December 27, 2013
Heirloom flower, Brooktondale, NY 2012

It has been a very good year for Swenson Book Development LLC and we credit the successes and accomplishments of our clients during 2013. 1.  Did someone slip President Obama’s speechwriter an advance copy of Seymour Smidt’s manuscript? His December address riffed on pages from Sy’s chapters offering a historical analysis of growing income inequality. I am so thankful Sy has recovered from a terrible car accident… [Read More]

Filed Under: Cathryn Prince, Elaine Mansfield, Jacqueline Livingston, Kirsten Wasson, Larson Publications, Laurie Abkemeier, President Barack Obama, Sandy Swenson, Seymour Smidt, Tina L. Peterson
2 Comments
What does Friday mean to an aspiring author?
by, Jill Swenson
October 1, 2013

While the rest of the working world looks forward to Fridays, if you are an author whose proposal and/or manuscript is under review with a publisher there may be dread for this day of the week. Rejection letters are often sent out on Fridays. You might wonder why Friday. Rejection letters are never welcomed and often unintentionally inflict emotional injuries. The urge to respond and… [Read More]

Filed Under: Follow Friday, FridayReads, Fridays, Rejection letters
2 Comments
Do you need an agent and, if so, how do you know which one is right for you?
by, Jill Swenson
September 17, 2013

So you think you need an agent? Most agents do not represent poetry, short stories, non-fiction or material suitable for academic or small presses. If you have written a novel or a memoir, you might consider finding a literary representative. The best reference guide is Chuck Sambuchino’s Guide to Literary Agents published annually by Writer’s Digest Books and the 2014 issue has just been released. Before you… [Read More]

Filed Under: AAR, agent, Chuck Sambuchino, Guide to Literary Agents, Publisher's Marketplace, Query letter, Writer's Digest
No Comments
Landing an agent or publisher for your non-fiction book
by, Jill Swenson
December 27, 2011

You might think you have a non-fiction book concept worth publishing, but in order to convince an agent or publisher of that you will need a winning query letter and full proposal. Writers tend to focus too narrowly on the ideas and content of their manuscript and lose perspective on the purpose of a book proposal. Think of it as a business plan. If you wanted… [Read More]

Filed Under: Acquisition Editors, agents, Book Development Editor, copyedit, non-fiction book proposal, Publishing, Query letter
1 Comment

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