WOTP: Michael Eigbadon, Adult Thriller Author

Lucky for us, January has five Tuesdays in it! So say hello to the final querying writer in my Wielders of the Pen series: Michael Eigbadon. I had the privilege of critiquing Michael's query letter and a few chapters of his novel. He possesses a wealth of imagination that makes the worlds he builds amazing!

To start on a personal note, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi! My name is Michael Eigbadon. I currently live in Miami, doing an MBA and running several businesses (data analytics and housing). I am also a writer. Writing is something that I got into in 2004 with my first book, THE LEGEND OF ARCON (or Avarcon in the Arconian language—I invented). I cancelled that book for personal reasons and completed the first draft of my latest novel, DARKNESS AND THE CITY, by the end of that year.

After years of working professionally as a Performance Analyst, Business Support Analyst and Data Quality Analyst, I returned to the book in 2016 to prepare it for querying.

What novel are you currently querying? What is it about in a few sentences? 

I am trying to query the novel, DARKNESS AND THE CITY, a dystopian political thriller. It is follows Intelligence Agent Gee van Gauss in his bid to stop several secret societies from destroying the new superpower, the FRON, in the year 2100.

 Who is your favorite character from this book?

Gee van Gauss, because he is the protagonist.

Have you written/queried other books before? 

No, I have not queried other books before. As I mentioned earlier, my first book was Avarcon, which was about the descendant (set in 2004) of a powerful sorcerer at the height of the Sumerian civilization. He finds himself on a mission to stop an evil secret society from resurrecting the wicked Sumerian High Priest and save his father.

What is the hardest part about querying?

Obviously the rejection and not knowing what the agents want, even when you think that you have a slam dunk.

How did you go about picking the agents you wanted to query?

I went about picking agents based on Genres and if they were in New York, California, London, or Florida.

How do you cope with waiting to hear back from agents?

  

Doing other things like focusing on businesses and school work.

Do you have any tips for writers yet to query or people who are writing query letters?

For a person who hasn’t gotten an offer to represent, I can’t say much. But a lady called Emily Layne is my secret weapon; I recommend her for writers that have no idea where the sun is during a hot summer’s afternoon. (Aw! Thank you! I'm glad I can help.)

Finally, how will you celebrate when you eventually get your agent?

  

Pray I get a massive advance fee for the book J. I’m a business man. What do you expect?

Michael's a busy man, but he always takes the time to respond to messages (and do interviews!) so make sure you check out his links to stay up-to-date with his querying journey:

Facebook

LinkedIn

WOTP: Lindsay Adams, Young Adult Author

Say a big hello to my long-time author friend, Lindsay Adams! She's the fourth author in the WOTP series. I originally contacted her to be a part of the querying author category, but since then, quite a few things have changed! But I'll let her tell you all about that...

To start on a personal note, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Like my writing, I’m a bit of a niche person. I do 3D art and animation for a living, and spend my free time painting ducks for contests, and participating in a very old sport known as falconry.

What novel did you query? What was it about in a few sentences?

I queried for my novel GRYPHON'S PROPHECY, under the working title GRYPHON LEGEND. It’s the tale of two gryphon brothers who find themselves pitted against each other in a war that encompasses not only the mortal lands, but also the realm of the gods.

An amazing drawing by Lindsay of
her gryphon character, Nimure.

Who is your favorite character from this book?

That’s a tough one. I love my main character because I feel like I’ve been through this entire adventure with him, and more. However, his brother is one of my favorite types of characters, so I’m also very fond of him, and I enjoy writing his segments.

Have you written/queried other books before? 

This book was my first book to be finished. Since then I’ve written two others, both of which take place in the same world, but with different characters. I queried for two of my three completed novels

What was the hardest part about querying?

Probably the synopsis. I enjoy the process of writing query letters, but I really struggle with the synopsis. What to leave out, what to keep. It’s just way over my head.

Recently you decided to stop querying and pursue a different publishing route. Why did you decide to forgo traditional publishing and pursue independent publishing?

Lindsay, her husband, and the
adorable Ender

I have gone back and forth for years now, but a couple months ago I decided I was finally going to self publish my novels. I decided on this route for a number of reasons, the main one being that I write very niche fiction—animal fantasy, and while I believe I can market this to specific readers who will enjoy my books, I understand from a traditional standpoint it’s just not profitable. My chances of seeing my books published are slim unless I can write something else that has a better market, and publish my animal fantasy later. I also have a friend who is a self published author and I like the community she has built. I enjoy how close she is with some of her readers, and I honestly believe that’s something you’re only really going to see with indie books.

I’m also one of those world building writers. I have ideas for many books, all based in the same world but with different characters. Sort of like what Mercedes Lackey did with her Valdemar series. I realized that I’m more likely to publish every book in my series if I go indie. Whereas traditional may not want every book.

  

Do you have any tips for writers who are trying decide whether they should query agents/publishers or go indie?

It took me years to decide, and even now I don’t want to sway people one way or another. I guess if I were to offer tips it would be to sit down and figure out what you really want as a writer. Do you want to make a living off of writing? Do you just want to publish one book? Do you want to write a 50 book series all in one world? Are you happy just having your story out there? Once you find out what it is you want, research both traditional and indie thoroughly and then decide what you think will best get you and your writing where you want to go.

Finally, how will you celebrate when you publish your first book?

I’ll probably have a little party at home, while I dust off my webpages and prepare my marketing strategies. Or I’ll just start writing the next book. haha.

Isn't it amazing where our different writing journeys take us? There are so many different paths authors can take in modern society--it's fantastic!

To keep in touch with Lindsay as she forges her own path make sure you follow:

Facebook Author

Facebook Art

Wordpress

Website

Deviantart

WOTP: Fiona Claire, Young Adult Author

The third WOTP querying author is the fantastic Fiona Claire! Hers is a book that I would love to see published for totally selfish reasons--I want to read it! Fiona has a really interesting background, but I'll let her be the one to tell you about it...

To start on a personal note, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

In Ireland, I’m what is known as a “seanachai” (pronounced shawn-akee). That’s a story-teller. And, no that doesn’t necessarily mean I’m great at making up lies, although I can do that too. I carry on the tradition of oral story-telling as a Bard. I’m a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (or, a Druid, duh), which means I’ve done a good few courses and study on spirituality, my native Celtic heritage, meditation, natural healing, and eco-psychology. In short, I love nature, trees, and anyone with four legs. (*side note: this does not exclude two-legged individuals)

My first career was as a dancer with two different U.S. ballet companies, where I learned to tell stories without words. From there, I segued into an acting career and worked as an actress in L.A. for over twenty years, telling stories with words other people had written. Finally, I enrolled in writing courses and learned how to write my own stories. Sort of. That’s actually an on-going process, isn’t it. So now I’m the reclusive writer by the lake in the wild west of Ireland, where I have my own tour business and put together writers’ conferences combined with tours of Ireland, called Ireland Writer Tours. I love introducing people to this country, as well as meeting the successful writers and editors who teach at the conferences.

I was the sole reporter/photographer for the local village news, until it folded. My fiction has been published in Athenia West, Triad and Touchstone and my play “Sorted Out” won first place at the Beehive Theatre New Playwrights’ Competition. When not writing or guiding tours, I work as head cook and housekeeper for two demanding black men who worship tuna and catnip. I also enjoy dancing, late night horseback riding and discussing existential realism with the neighbours' sheep.

What novel are you currently querying? What is it about in a few sentences?

ISLE OF NO RETURN – It’s a YA thriller about two girls from Palo Alto, California on vacation in Ireland who get kidnapped and taken to a remote island. The query for this is a masterpiece thanks to Emily, Goddess of Query-topia, who assisted in its creation. (Oh, you make me blush!)

Who is your favorite character from this book?

Hmm. It would have to be the MC, I guess, because she’s a driven ballet dancer on the fast track to stardom. She’s sidelined by an injury, which is what lands her on vacation in Ireland, and she’s a total romance-geek. Write what ya know (ha)!

Have you written/queried other books before? 

Yes! A historical fiction opus that had two agents foaming at the mouth for a while, but they gave up before ever starting.

A YA time-slip about a miserable teen who moves from southern California to a remote lake island in Ireland and discovers her past life.

A middle-grade novel about a boy with Asperger’s whose condition sends him straddling a parallel dimension.

And I’m also currently working on a non-fiction manuscript and another YA thriller.

Plus ISLE OF NO RETURN cooooouuuld maybe be a duology, but Ima hold off on that and see if anyone takes the bait.

What is the hardest part about querying?

Pressing Send. Waking up in the morning and seeing an empty inbox. Getting back on the horse and doing it all over again.

How did you go about picking the agents you wanted to query?

• Publisher’s Marketplace
• Writers’ Conferences
• Talked to loads of other writers – (for me that’s frequently via skype because I live in a really remote location)
• Stalked agents on the internet
• Read the Acknowledgements pages of books similar to mine
• Joined a singles website (just kidding)

 How do you cope with waiting to hear back from agents?

Eat red licorice

Clean the kitty litter boxes

Write something else

Talk to friends and let them remind me I’m not a useless piece of goat poop.

And GOD BLESS OUR WRITERS’ GROUP coz they always help!

Do you have any tips for writers yet to query or people who are writing query letters?

Yes. Always brush your teeth after eating garlic.

Also, the usual stuff: Join a critique group and get as many people as possible to read your ms before you query (btw, we have one available spot in the group I’m in); REALLY consider feedback and rewrite before querying. Do. Not. Rush. Subscribe to Publishers Marketplace (you can split the cost of the subscription with another person. Study agents before you query. Who have they represented? What do they tweet? Do you hate their favourite books? If possible, talk to their clients and find out if that agent is an all-business-type or an isn’t-my-puppy-cute type. In other words, try to query people you’ll be compatible with. Go to writers’ conferences whenever possible, not only to meet agents, but also to take pitch workshops. These can really show you where there might be holes in your story.

Long ago, my college professor in Theatre Arts told us, “Practice does not make perfect. It makes consistent. And that is not success.” While a consistent writing practice is great, if you’re simply rushing to get 50K words down, you’re missing the point. Just putting words on a page does not make you a better writer, and it won’t necessarily get you traditionally published. We need an awareness of the QUALITY of our work. Also, how do people react to what you have written? And most importantly before we query, we need to know how we fit into the market.

Finally, how will you celebrate when you eventually get your agent?

Well, bless your sweet heart, Emily, for saying that day will come. Here’s how I see it: 

Points for using an I Love Lucy gif! My favorite show--EVER! Fiona's got such a fun way of writing, doesn't she, guys? I've got my fingers crossed for her because this a YA I want to read. It could be a distant cousin of my THESE WICKED WATERS. Which makes me adore it all the more. Who doesn't like scary islands?
If you want to keep up with Fiona and her writerly exploits (and check out the cool tours of Ireland that she does!) visit the following links:
Fiona's Website
Ireland Writer Tours
Facebook
Twitter

WOTP Interview: Delise Torres, Adult Author

The next querying author in the WOTP series is the very talented Delise Torres! I had the honor of critiquing Delise's query letter and let me just tell you, she won't be querying long. She'll discuss the difficulties of querying, her current novel, and how to cope while waiting to hear back from agents.

To start on a personal note, can you tell us about yourself?

I’m originally from Puerto Rico, and currently live in Germany with my German husband. I have a PhD in Food Science, but after relocating to Germany, had a hard time finding a job. I never considered becoming a writer, but always had ideas for stories in my head. While trying to find a new path, I decided to write one of them, and now hope that this will lead to a career as an author.

What novel are you querying? What is it about in a few sentences?

My novel is titled PULLING ME BACK IN, women’s fiction with romantic elements. My main character, Gwen, is an art gallery curator who rekindles her relationship with her first love, Jeff, someone who broke her heart, but she can’t get over. It’s a story about how obsessing with the past can prevent us from moving forward, and how a strong sexual chemistry can make it hard to leave an unhealthy relationship.

Who is your favorite character from this book?

I love Jeff. He’s my most complex character, since he can be a bastard but also charming, and striking that balance was really challenging. He also goes through the biggest change arc.

Delise in Puerto Rico

Have you written/queried other books before?

No. This is my first novel.

What is the hardest part about querying?

The waiting and the not knowing. I’ve only been querying for two months, but the waiting is painful. You never know if the rejections are based on the concept or on the writing, and unless you get some feedback from a request (which I haven’t), there’s really nothing you can do but wait. It’s hard to feel that the outcome is out of your control.

How did you go about picking the agents you wanted to query?

Twitter has been the best resource. I follow Writer’s Digest and they share spotlights on new agents, so that helped me start my list. As I began to follow agents, I found more agents based on their tweets and recommendations. The Manuscript Wish List website and #MSWL tweets have also been of great help.

How do you cope with waiting to hear back from agents?

So far, I haven’t been coping very well. It’s hard to stay motivated when all you get are rejections. I did binge watch all the seasons of Gilmore Girls to keep me distracted. Sadly, I’m done, so now I will try to focus on my blog and also write a new story.

Do you have any tips for writers yet to query or people who are writing query letters?

1. Read books in your genre. This will help with comps and to know how your story fits in the current market. Once you can identify what makes your story unique, you can better prepare your pitch. I had the challenge that my novel is basically a romance, but doesn’t conform to the specifications for that genre. In order to sell it as women’s fiction, I had to focus the query on my main character’s journey and the lessons she must learn, and not on the romantic relationship.
   
2. Get feedback. My query letter went through several iterations as I figured out how to best sell the story. I had the privilege of participating in a Query Bootcamp, where several people critiqued my query letter and synopsis, and I also learned a lot by critiquing theirs in return. After that, I thought my letter was ready, yet I was feeling insecure, so I sent it to Emily for another opinion, and she helped me see where I needed to clarify. So even when you think you’re done, you can always make it better, so always get feedback.
   
   
3. Participate in online pitch contests. My first contest was for the Women’s Fiction Writer’s Association, and my pitch was deleted because it read too much like a romance. This helped me realize the issue I faced, and I was able to re-do my query letter before I started querying. I also participated in Pitch Slam and got useful feedback. These contests really help you hone what makes your story unique and how to best pitch it.

Finally, how will you celebrate when you eventually get your agent?

I will go out to dinner with my husband. We already have a fancy French restaurant picked out for the occasion.

Best wishes to you, Delise! Querying is such an emotionally draining endeavor. Keep your head up and stay in love with your book. Everything else will fall into place! Delise has two great blog posts that offer tips on how to give and receive feedback. Make sure you check them out!

If you want to keep up-to-date with Delise's journey, make sure to follow her...

Website

Twitter

WOTP Interview: Emily Smith, Young Adult Author

The next category of my Wielders of the Pen are Querying Writers.
Querying writers have taken the next step after writing and editing their book. A quick explanation of querying...
Querying is when a writer composes a query letter (typically a 250-300 word email introducing themselves and their book--which is a challenge in itself!) and sends it to agents. After receiving this letter, agents can either respond with a rejection or a request or, after receiving a request, an offer of representation! All the writers in this category are currently in the querying trenches, waiting to hear back from agents. 
Let's check out our first querying writer... Emily Smith!

To start on a personal note, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Sure! Hi I’m Emily (Actually, it is my pen name) I’m an 18 year old student from Georgia, a small yet beautiful country. I study in English philology, which I absolutely love! I also love reading, writing, books, and horror genre.

What novel are you currently querying? What is it about in a few sentences?

Ah, that actually is the hardest question to me, cause I don’t want to give away spoilers! Well okay, at least I’ll try. The novel is a YA Dystopian Thriller. It is about two boys, Peter and Josh. Peter is a normal boy, yet he has a peculiar talent and Josh is a serial killer who is seeking revenge for his childhood.

Who is your favorite character from this book?

Peter! Peter and his father! I adore them in every way!

Have you written/queried other books before?

 I have written other books! I’ve written three novels. They were about kids who were the descendants of ancient blood wars and were trained as a super soldiers. Yet I never queried them because I knew I was too young for that, so for three to four years I did nothing but revise.

Location of Georgia. Map found here.

What is the hardest part about querying?

To stay motivated and keep querying. I bet most of the writers will say rejections, but I understand that rejection is a part of business. Still, staying motivated is very hard. Sometimes I seriously consider quitting.

How did you pick the agents you wanted to query?

I often visit Writer’s Digest and Twitter with #MSWL hash tag to see if agents’ interest match to my novel. If it does, then I’ll query. I also read interviews, and if they think like I do, but their MSWL don’t matches with mine, I still query.

How do you cope while waiting to hear back from agents?

That’s hard for sure, but usually I still keep revising and doing my daily chores. That way I don’t think about agents at all.

Do you have any tips for writers yet to query or those who are writing query letters?

Yes, do your homework and follow agent’s advice carefully. You might think that you can write a perfect query letter on your own, but trust me, you can’t!

Finally, how will you celebrate when you eventually get your agent?

I don’t know! I’ll tell you when I get an agent. I might jump out of my pants. I might say yes that’s good, but I still have to get published, so I don’t know.

Emily, thank you so much for chatting with me today. Emily is an awesome name by the way. Perfect choice for a pen name ;)

If you want to stay in touch with Emily and her writerly journey, you can find her at her website!