Happy
Monday Everyone! Today I’m excited to have debut author Dana Swift here with
her agent Amy Brewer to share about her YA debut Cast in Fireflight. It sounds
like a fantasy story with a unique magical system and hidden identities.
Here’s a
blurb from Goodreads:
The first book in an epic, heart-pounding
fantasy duology about two royal heirs betrothed to be married, but whose
loyalties are torn, and a ruthless enemy who threatens their world, perfect for
fans of Sabaa Tahir, Hafsah Faizal, and Renée Ahdieh.Adraa is the royal heir of Belwar, a talented witch on the
cusp of taking her royal ceremony test, and a girl who just wants to prove her
worth to her people.
Jatin is the royal heir to Naupure, a competitive wizard
who's mastered all nine colors of magic, and a boy anxious to return home for
the first time since he was a child.
Together, their arranged marriage will unite two
of Wickery's most powerful kingdoms. But after years of rivalry from afar,
Adraa and Jatin only agree on one thing: their reunion will be anything but
sweet.
Only, destiny has other plans and with the
criminal underbelly of Belwar suddenly making a move for control, their paths
cross...and neither realizes who the other is, adopting separate secret
identities instead.
Between dodging deathly spells and keeping their
true selves hidden, the pair must learn to put their trust in the other if
either is to uncover the real threat. Now Wickery's fate is in the hands of
rivals..? Fiancées..? Partners..? Whatever they are, it's complicated and bound for greatness or destruction.
Now here’s
Dana and Amy!
So glad to be here
today! Thank you, Literary Rambles.
I think the best place to begin is
the beginning. So, let me start with how I met my agent, Amy Brewer. And yes,
met!
In 2018 I attended the
DFW Writer’s Conference, which is run and hosted by the DFW Writer’s workshop.
At the time I was an active member and officer so I helped out where I could.
On the Friday night before the event, I
was at a cocktail hour, surrounded by my writing found family and literary
agents. At one point I had a question for the President of the Workshop and
when I found her, she was talking to an agent. The President introduced us and said
the nicest thing a fellow writer can say, “Dana has a great book,” before
leaving.
This was my first pitch of that conference
and I hadn’t even walked over to pitch my work. The notecards in my head were
still undefined and scrambled. But I did it. I told this lovely woman who my
main character was and what she wanted in the world and then blurted out bits
and pieces of conflict and comparison titles. By the end I was a pile of
nerves, wondering aloud if that pitch even made sense. And it must have because
Amy Brewer from Metamorphosis Literary Agency asked for the full manuscript of
what would become CAST IN FIRELIGHT. A book that will hit shelves tomorrow
after ten years of striving for this dream of publication.
Anything you would you like to add in regard to our first meeting and my
pitch? What drew you in and made you request? And what do you recommend when
pitching an agent, be that in person or through cold querying?
I loved the
casual nature of the DFW cocktail hour where the staff and DFW team got to
socialize and chat with the agents and editors freely. You may have felt like
it was a messy pitch but the main characters, plot, and hook, got me
immediately. Just like the title of the prologue in Cast in Firelight “I Meet
the Love of My Life and Slap Him in the Face” That is the kind of attention
getter that I love. You also had the time and grace to explain that your
manuscript had beta readers and that you knew the YA fantasy genre inside and
out and that was a real plus for me asking for the full manuscript and not just
a few chapters. When I read it the first time, I knew the ending wasn’t right
and I gave Dana a revise and resubmit. She must have worked night and day
because she resubmitted it within two weeks. I knew that any writer that had
that kind of drive and passion was/is the kind of writer I want to work with.
When
pitching an agent, I recommend practicing with friends in writing groups and
beta readers. Both for queries and in-person pitches. Even if you say or read
the words out loud and get feedback from friends it will get better. I also
recommend doing a practice Twit-pitch just so you can narrow down your concept
into acceptable elevator pitch form. Know your genre, know your word count,
know what your plot points and hook are… and breath.
Oh wow, thank you Amy!
I actually love the editing process more than drafting. Since getting an agent
and editor I seem to thrive when I know what direction to take the book and
make changes for the better. Plus, deep down I think I also felt the ending was
a little off. You pushed me and gave me enough freedom to create a much better
ending. It’s a shame I can’t say more about what I did wrong and what Amy
advised, but I don’t want to spoil anyone. Maybe in a few months I’ll talk
about it in depth for fellow writers who want to see how I changed so much in
such a short turn around.
From an author’s point
of view, I think pitching in person is a little different than writing the
query. First, I begin differently. On a query I start with why I am querying a
particular agent, inputting the research I found that led me to think we’d be a
good match, or the agent would like the book. In-person I start with a more
basic introduction: my name, the books title and its genre. Second, I shorten
my in-person pitch to be a more basic one or two sentence summary. Amy’s advice
on practicing and perfecting your pitch for Twitter pitching opportunities like
PitMad is a great idea.
After the introduction
and shortened pitch if the agent seems interested or has immediate follow up
questions it devolves into more of a conversation, which makes the whole thing
more relaxed and casual. On a written query I make it look/sound similar to the
blurb on the back of a book, which is how you want your query to read.
I know many people
won’t have the opportunity to go to conferences, and especially in the last
year and months to come. But, it’s always a good skill to learn how to verbally
describe your book (though I know it’s difficult) to better understand the
premise and selling points. I’ve also been hearing about virtual conferences opportunities.
What do
you think of the virtual conferences? How are they different than in-person?
Any advice for pitching authors?
I’ve had the honor of doing some virtual conference
this year and I enjoyed them. When it came to pitches I feel like the authors
were more comfortable because they were pitching from their own homes. They
also asked more questions and I was happy to see that. What was missing from
the online conference were the casual meet and greet situations that I really
love about in-person conferences. Being online takes away my ability to alleviate
author anxiety by being anonymous. I enjoy sitting down amongst authors and
listening to them talk about books casually with their friends and conference
mates. I like weighing in on questions and being part of groups without the
gravitas of my title.
If I hear something that clicks with me, I will ask
if the author is represented and then make a request. The brilliant and
wonderful editor, Deb Werksman from Sourcebooks likes to have knit and pitch
workshops where she knits and authors can knit or craft or color while they
pitch to her and chat with friends in a casual environment. If authors can
forget that you are an agent or editor and feel more comfortable chatting, we
see deeper insight into the book, not just the highlights. Writing a book is
personal and forcing that book into a one-page query or elevator pitch is
painful because it becomes less personal, it is the authors first step toward
making it a business. That is why the casual, at home, relaxed, knit-n-pitch is
a great way to find authors.
I love how you try to
make writers comfortable and knit-n-pitches sounds amazing. Overall, I miss
events so much. 2020 has been such a year. For me, it’s meant a lot of learning
how to debut in a time where debuting has changed in major ways very quickly. I
think networking for one has been so hard. I had many plans to attend local
writing events and meet more authors. So, there has been a feeling of
isolation. But at the same time, I’ve gone to virtual events I would never have
been able to and connected online with my debut group in such wonderful ways.
The writing community has always been supportive, but this year I think so many
fellow writers have lent a helping hand in regard to promotion and being there
to listen to each other talk through our own struggles.
How did
2020 change work as an agent? What’s major differences in your daily routine
and/or yearly? And if there aren’t any big changes what is an average day as
agent like?
I feel very lucky because I’ve always worked
remotely as an agent. I have to, I live in Oklahoma. Before 2020, I had no
issues jumping on a flight to either coast to do what needed to be done. So,
just like everyone else in 2020 it is all done by Zoom meeting now. It evened
the playing field in a way for me, because now the New York and L.A agents are
in a similar boat. I have found that some editors are more apt to chat on the
phone now because they miss the office environment and all of the book talk
that we so love.
My routine has changed because my boys are at home.
I have two teen sons and though I feel immensely lucky that they are old enough
to learn online without any guidance from me, I miss the quiet reading time.
I guess my routine has changed because I sleep later
now. Now I sleep till a luxurious 7am. I have coffee and check social media and
wake-up and start returning emails within the hour. If I send an email before 8
am there will be a grammar mistake in it, I guarantee. Then it is calls or zoom
meetings with editors and clients. I try to lunch away from my desk and in the afternoons
I read and I research editors and shop manuscripts. That has changed too,
before Covid, I generally knew when staff meetings were and when editors were
most responsive, that has all gone sideways. There were “seasons” for when it
was a good time to shop, and all of that has changed. I think the biggest
changes have yet to unfold. Penguin Random House acquiring Simon and Schuster
will have huge ripple effects throughout the industry. BEA in New York has been
permanently canceled and I look forward to seeing what develops out of that
void. I could go on and on. Overall, I look forward to the future and I know
that no matter what changes come to this industry both good and bad, we will
still exist because people love stories.
It's so interesting
how you were able to adapt and thrive because you were already working
remotely. I know for me one thing in my routine that hasn’t changed is reading
books. I’ve always loved Romance, but this year in particular I’ve been reading
romance a lot more. Of course, I will always love fantasy stories as well. Some
of favorites this year include: TWEET CUTE by Emma Lord, SHIELDED by KayLynn
Flanders, BY THE BOOK by Amanda Sellet, and in adult romance, YOU DESERVE EACH
OTHER by Sarah Hogle.
2021 books I’m anticipating
include: HAPPILY EVER AFTERS by Elise Bryant (which just came out Jan 5th),
PRIDE AND PREMEDITATION by Tirzah Price, THESE FEATERED FLAMES by Alexandra
Overy and A DRAGONBIRD IN THE FERN by Laura Rueckert. Plus so many more!
What
books are you liking right now? Since I imagine readers want to know - any
insights into what you want to see in your inbox?
This is a hard one for me because I rarely need to
venture outside my in-box for entertainment. Almost everything I read and love
is published 2-3 years after I read it. That being said, the minute I get my
delivery of Cast in Firelight, I’ll be settling down with a big cup of tea to
have a blissful reread. Today, I’m finishing the soon to be released Tasty Dish,
by Kelly Cain. Tasty Dish is a diverse contemporary romance and the second book
in her Everheart Brothers series. The brothers are all chefs and they all find
love in different ways and I love them so much. All of the books combine my
favorite things, food, humor, angst and love.
Outside my in-box, I’m a total fan-girl. To be fair,
I’m a fan-girl of all of my authors too. I’m anxiously awaiting Gena Showalter’s
next book in her Gods of War series. I am patiently waiting for Patrick
Rothfuss to publish his next book in the Kingkiller Chronicle series. I also
hope I can read your fellow Delacorte author Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward series
this year. I just bought N.K Jemisin’s, The City We Became and I can’t wait to
dive into that one. I love her.
I was going to say that I’m reading more contemporary romance at the
moment and enjoying light and positive works but I’m obviously waiting on
several sci-fi fantasies too. I also think Bridgerton has inspired me to
possibly take on another great historical romance author. As per my usual, I’m
open to almost anything as long as it captivates my heart and imagination.
You can
see her wish list and how to query her here: https://www.metamorphosisliteraryagency.com/submissions
Thank you so much Amy!
You were the first person to see potential in CAST IN FIRELIGHT and now it is one
day away from hitting the shelves and e-readers. The journey was long and
filled with huge joys like seeing the cover for the first time and holding the
final book in my hands to disappointments and hardship with a Pandemic, but
thank you for being there with me through it all.
Thank
you, Dana, I always appreciate to opportunity to chat about books. It is easy
to recognize a wonderful book like your Cast in Firelight. Your imagination,
creativity, and earnest heart have birthed brilliant, complex, and deep
characters and you placed them in a world like no other. Your courage,
strength, and work ethic has left little for me to worry about. You deserve
every success. That being said… get writing on the next book.
I’m on it! In fact I can’t wait to dive back into edits for CAST IN
FIRELIGHT’s sequel after the first one releases, and then onto starting a whole
new book!
Thanks for
all the advice, Dana and Amy! You can find Dana at:
www.danaswiftbooks.com
https://linktr.ee/DanaSwift
Giveaway
Details
Dana
has generously offered a hardback of Cast in Firelight and Amy has generously
offered a query critique for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a
follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the
right sidebar) and leave a comment by January 30th. If you do not want to
be included in the critique giveaway, please let me know in the comments. If
your e-mail is not on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to
enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.
If you
mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog and/or follow me on
Twitter, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry for
each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. The book giveaway is U.S.
only and the critique query is international.
Upcoming
Interviews and Giveaways
Wednesday,
January 20th I have an agent spotlight interview with Tricia Skinner and query
critique giveaway
Monday,
January 25th I have an interview with debut author Chrystal Giles and a
giveaway of her MG contemporary Take Back the Block
Wednesday,
January 27th I have an interview with author Gita Trelease and a giveaway of
Everything That Burns as part of her blog tour
Wednesday, February 3rd I have an interview with debut
author Jennifer Gruenke and a giveaway of her YA
fantasy Of Silver and Shadow and my IWSG post
Monday,
February 8th I have an interview with debut author Kristy Boyce and a
giveaway of her YA contemporary Hot British Boyfriend
Wednesday,
February 10th I have an agent spotlight interview with Abigail Frank and a
query critique giveaway
Hope
to see you on Wednesday!