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Kimberley Cameron
October 22, 2006
As an agent with Reece-Halsey Literary Agency, Kimberley is always looking for "really good
writing."
Kimberley is known as an agent who will do everything she possibly can to sell her client's
book. She goes to top publishers first, the middle ones and finally, smaller presses.
She is known for being loyal and relentless. It took her seven years to sell one author's book.
But she stood by him the entire time.
"If we like something that has promise, we're willing to work with writers."
Good writing is important to selling a book, but intangibles play a part, too, she admits.
"Sometimes good books don't get published. Luck and serendipity plays a part, too."
But for an agent to succeed, their writers must, too.
"We NEED you. We NEED your work. We're seriously looking for it. Writers may not think we're
serious about that, we are. We eat lunch at our desks reading manuscripts.
"It's like a marriage. I'm a mother, too. I'm like the midwife. I take the baby and help get
it out there. We help manage author's careers, too."
More advice on getting an agent, developing a writer's career and selling books
Writing subjects
Write from your heart. Write what you want to write. That works best. Don't write for markets. NOBODY knows what will sell.
On titling a book
I read 10 to 20 pages and say, 'There's the title.'
On submission guidelines
Every agency has its own submission guidelines. A good book for this is Jeff Herman's guide.
On submitting fiction
You need the first 50 pages. Then a 1-2 page synopsis of each chapter.
On submitting non-fiction
You need a detailed outline and three to four chapters.
What a writer MUST do with a proposal
The first part of the book has to suck the reader in. You need a great beginning, a great middle and a great end. Great writing has to be lean writing.
What an agent gets
The business part is we get 15% (of advances, royalties). We don't ask you for money. I don't charge you for postage (many agents do charge for postage, copies, deliveries, etc.).
What a writer gets
We nurture you and move you along. We seek film and TV rights. We go over profit and loss statements (what the book makes financially, copies it sells). We play hardball with publishers.
Money writers can hope to make
New writers can expect to make 10-12% royalties; 10% on the first 5,000-10,000 copies sold; more beyond that.
On mass market paperbacks, you get a smaller backend, about 6-8%.
Success is making back your advance and making royalties. The money comes later when your book sells. And you make money on foreign rights.
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