Some writing pals and I worked feverishly over my query letter several months ago, because it wasn't getting any responses; I've been firing off the new version since. Twice now this new query has generated next-day responses and requests when sent via email. The first was from an agent who still has the material (in fact, I need to touch base with him since it's been about four moths and no word); the other was from Kensington yesterday to a query sent Wednesday. (For the record, there have been several nos, too, but this is the first time in a long time that a query has generated requests.) So I sent the material off and now fingers are crossed. I like the product Kensington puts out, especially in recent years; in fact, I always have enjoyed Kensington's books. When they were top dog in the men's adventure genre they published Don Pendleton's "The Executioner" and Jerry Ahern's "The Survivalist", both of which I devoured as a young man and still maintain large collections of the series. If I can be part of the organization that those authors worked with, that would be really cool.
Anyway, with the posting of my recent short story, The Red Ruby Kill at "Beat to a Pulp", and now this, I think I'm on the verge of something nice. If not, next time, for sure. Or maybe the next time after that, or the next time after that.
Like Harry Whittington (the pulp writer, not the guy Dick Cheney shot) used to say, "I persist."
Best of luck with this, Brian!
ReplyDeleteOne minor point: when Pinnacle published The Executioner, it wasn't part of Kensington. Kensington bought the name and began using it as an imprint later on. When Pinnacle began it was a spin-off from the porn publisher Bee-Line.
James,
ReplyDeleteYou're right! I forgot that bit of history. I was thinking of the later reprints of Pendleton's books. Heck, we're both right. Right? :)
Hey Brian,
ReplyDeleteJust read your comment about The Takers. A curious coincidence since I'm in the middle of writing a blog entry dealing with all the adventure novels (that I can think of) which deal with Atlantis...guess what tops the list for me? Anyway, shoot me an email if you get a chance. I'm a big time Takers fan (not really into Jerry's other stuff) and I may have some information that would interest you.
wildrunar@yahoo.com
~Sean