"Personal" question(s) to John Jarrold

[Havlen]

You are right, I probably shouldn't have included vanity/self-publishing/etc. in the question since I am primarily interested in the answer as it pertains to electronic publishers and legitimate-but-limited small presses. But, having hung out at Absolute Write for a while, I know there are a lot of authors who got taken in by Publish America and similar scams/companies and figured the answer might pertain as much to them.

(When I say legitimate-but-limited small presses I mean those without distribution channels in place other than Ingram and Taylor or similar companies that are more of a warehouse than a distributor. There are certainly some small presses that have legitimate distribution, get the book into stores and not just on a list the store special order from, and count as legitimate publishing credits.)

 

[Havlen]

By the way, if I haven't mentioned it before, let me say that this thread is {expletive goes here} great. I can't count the number of times I've thought to myself "I wish I could ask an agent if..." I wish I'd found this place sooner

Thanks, John. Everyone here really appreciates you giving us some of your time.

 

[Triceratops]

I agree, Havlen. (I know you from AW, btw and we see the same info there). I like this thread and I'm totally locked into it. I especially like John's view of the positive aspects of publishing SF and Fantasy today. I'm very curious about the industry as it pertains to England, and I'm learning a lot about the different perspectives and how it's viewed on both ends of the pond. Though the Brits might have a smaller industry in regard to publishing outlets concerning spec writing, they seem to respect the genre more and hold it in higher esteem. My agent's view of the SF field over here is pretty dismal. Those are my observations, anyhoo.

Tri

 

[John Jarrold]

Thanks for the kind words - it's honestly a pleasure. I came into publishing as a fan of SF and Fantasy (34 years of attending cons, this year), and I remain a fan.

So yes, in answer, stay right away from PA and any other vanity press, but small press publication will not harm later publication by a major house in any way, with other books. Basically, they are selling their books to the big bookselling chains, who have never heard of most small presses, so it won't even be mentioned - positively or negatively - when a new novel is sold in by the publishers' sales people.

 

[John Jarrold]

Oh, and good luck with the move, John. I have an uncle who lives in Lincoln, and it's a lovely city. I've visited it a few times.

Thanks! I took part in the Book Festival in May, and looked at several houses then, having sold my flat here just before that. Good house, quiet street (necessary when you work from home, editing and running the agency), and an interesting, historical city...

 

[Ian Whates]

Good house, quiet street (necessary when you work from home, editing and running the agency), and an interesting, historical city...

Careful, John, or you'll have us all wanting to move there.

 

[John Jarrold]

And they have a CHRISTMAS MARKET!

 

[Erin99]

Careful you don't move near the River Witham, John, what with all the floods happening lately. After seeing the one we had in Carlisle a couple of years ago eek, I'm always wary.

 

[John Jarrold]

No, I'm in the city and away from any floods!

 

[Havlen]

Ack, don't mention flooding! My house had a flooding issue a few weeks ago. And I live in Dallas. It isn't supposed to flood in North Texas in June. We're supposed to be on water conservation alerts! Luckily, no real damage done -- but it was a nice scare to have water coming up from underneath our newly-installed hardwood floor.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

And they have a CHRISTMAS MARKET!

I'm not altogether certain what a Christmas Market may be, but I feel instinctively that I would like to go to one.

I'm always interested in holiday traditions -- maybe because we're rather short on them here in the wilds of California, and I am sensible of the lack. Could you explain what a Christmas Market is?

 

[John Jarrold]

Lincoln Christmas Market is modelled on the market in Neustadt in Germany, one of the towns with which Lincoln is twinned. Much fun, wine, presents and good fellowship! Over about four days in early December, where I will buy the mincemeat to make my mince pies, dip into the bran tub and share a glass or two of wine, to the sounds of Christmas music...ho-ho-ho.

It's my favourite time of the year, and has been for well over forty years...nothing to do with religion, if I'm being honest, but very much related to memories of wonderful parents who loved me, and immensely happy December 25ths...

 

[scalem X]

Yeah, I'm surprised you don't have Christmas Markets in the states.
We have them everywhere. Woehee Gluhwein and Gin and mittens and santa hats and ice skating. You should introduce it in the US, Teresa.

 

[Havlen]

Unfortunately, our version is called the mall. I like christmas, but I detest the commercialism of it. At least I don't actually have to go to malls since I can get all of our gifts on amazon and toys r us for the kids 8)

 

[Wayne Blackhurst]

Much fun, wine, presents and good fellowship! Over about four days in early December, where I will buy the mincemeat to make my mince pies, dip into the bran tub and share a glass or two of wine, to the sounds of Christmas music...ho-ho-ho.

It's my favourite time of the year, and has been for well over forty years...nothing to do with religion, if I'm being honest, but very much related to memories of wonderful parents who loved me, and immensely happy December 25ths...

Ditto - apart from the forty years, of course.

 

[The Bloated One]

I crashed a Government car in the Czech Republic over Christmas years back, and got towed to Weiden (sic) inside the German border. Spent a week waiting for a new sump, having a great time experiencing German Christmas Markets, and a very strange Hawaian restuarant...

Ah happy memories!

TBO

 

[lin robinson]

That's the oddest post I've seen here. Consider it as a first line for a story.

 

[anomanderis]

Hei, John Jarrold ( it sounds only somewhat weird saying that with your full name )

I am currently writing a novel that I plan to finish by the end of the year. Since 2 of the story lines have adolescent protagonists, there is a healthy amount of swearing and "teen-talk" involved . I don't mean that in the sense of having 20 ****s per page, but just the usual, arbitrary cussing that we young ones like to indulge in.
How is cursing usually considered when the novel is taken on by a publisher? If they want to sell it as YA, would one have to edit most of the profanities out?

Or maybe I could just substitute **** with fudge...

 

[Havlen]

We'd better get on the ball coming up with more questions. We don't want to bore John!

If you have two projects that fit the same agent -- bearing in mind that you only want to pitch one project at a time -- how long should you wait between pitches? If you query the agent and they pass on the first project, should you send them the next query right away? Wait a few weeks? Wait a few months?

 

[The Bloated One]

Don't forget he's in the process of moving and likely to be off air for a few days.

TBO