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A plea for (literary) help
I've approached a new agent, a rather good one actually, and he wants to see a chapter of my book. This is good.
He also (and I've discovered, this has become par for the course when approaching agents now) wants to see:
'1 page with a few lines on the five most recent competing and comparable books giving author, title, publisher and date of publication together with a note on how the books relate to the author's own book.'
This is not so good. Urm... Urm... Heck! I don't read travel books, I write them! Does anyone else read road books of this type - comic travel stuff...? Can anyone on m'flist rec a comic-type book of travels for me to peruse and decide if it fits the bill? 'Cause I freely confess, I'm at a bit of a loss here.
Quick summary: I've written a road story; true story - how me and a friend crossed Cuba at the height of its troubles; the Berlin Wall is down, the USSR is gone; everything is rationed, most of Cuba is getting four hours of electricity and three buckets of water a day. 33,000 people just fled the country on a raft and Maria and I decide to hitch across Cuba on ten pesos (50c) a day. Sometimes it goes well, sometimes, it doesn't (We are offered jobs in the porn industry, are almost killed by a well-meaning mercenary, kidnapped by a voodoo priest... ) It's mostly funny, but with a few sad interludes.
I've got a short-list of potentials:
In a Sunburned Country, Bill Bryson
The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society, Chris Stewart.
Narrow Dog to Carcassonne, Terry Darlington
Snowball Oranges, Peter Kerr
I haven't read all of these booksI have read one of these books. OK, I have read about two thirds of the Bill Bryson book. I think it's clear, I need some help, here. ::wibbles a bit:: Have any of you read a book (preferably published in the last 3 years) that sounds anything like mine? All suggestions would be received with grovelling gratitude. You will be mentioned in dispatches the acknowledgements when if in the very unlikely event that it's published.
::kisses you in advance::
He also (and I've discovered, this has become par for the course when approaching agents now) wants to see:
'1 page with a few lines on the five most recent competing and comparable books giving author, title, publisher and date of publication together with a note on how the books relate to the author's own book.'
This is not so good. Urm... Urm... Heck! I don't read travel books, I write them! Does anyone else read road books of this type - comic travel stuff...? Can anyone on m'flist rec a comic-type book of travels for me to peruse and decide if it fits the bill? 'Cause I freely confess, I'm at a bit of a loss here.
Quick summary: I've written a road story; true story - how me and a friend crossed Cuba at the height of its troubles; the Berlin Wall is down, the USSR is gone; everything is rationed, most of Cuba is getting four hours of electricity and three buckets of water a day. 33,000 people just fled the country on a raft and Maria and I decide to hitch across Cuba on ten pesos (50c) a day. Sometimes it goes well, sometimes, it doesn't (We are offered jobs in the porn industry, are almost killed by a well-meaning mercenary, kidnapped by a voodoo priest... ) It's mostly funny, but with a few sad interludes.
I've got a short-list of potentials:
In a Sunburned Country, Bill Bryson
The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society, Chris Stewart.
Narrow Dog to Carcassonne, Terry Darlington
Snowball Oranges, Peter Kerr
I haven't read all of these books
::kisses you in advance::
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That probably doesn't help -- good luck! (And also, WTF? The agents basically make you do their own job for them? Huh? They're supposed to be the ones up on what's been published, aren't they -- not you? You're, like, supposed to *write* -- not do their work for them...::exits, with eyebrows raised heavenwards::)
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I have a short list of 19 now; I guess next stop = Chorley library, see if they have any of these then do a bit of dipping and speed reading! ::blush::
I used to think the actual writing was the hard part...
A couple of thoughts/suggestions
Our Hearts Were Young and Gay was recently re-released. It's set in post-war Europe and chronicles the adventures of two young ladies on their first trip to Europe. Highly mannered, yet hilariously funny. Yours is a modern-day Hearts, two adventurous young women, traveling through a post-war country having adventures Cornelia and Emily never dreamed of.
You might try going to Google and googling teh topic. I saw a guide to sex in Utah, travels in Morocco, and a guide to Japan that might fit the bill.
I am the proud owner of "How to S*** in the Woods" a guide to how to poop no matter where in the world you are - deserts, woods, etc. It's perfectly serious, or else written in a serious deadpan.
HTH
Re: A couple of thoughts/suggestions
LOL. Well, it's an attractive idea but I doubt if it'll fly. (o:
I have actually thought of listing '3 Men in Boat' - hardly a recent publication, but probably closest to my book than anything else I've read so far.
"Our Hearts Were Young and Gay"
I'll look into that - sounds a good read anyway, whether or not I use it in my sub.
I've managed to get a list of 19 books, via Amazon; I'm busy googling them all in the hope of finding more reader reviews and extracts. ::G:: TBH, the Michael Palin books are most like mine in feel, but I don't want to list celebrity writers. I need to show a little more imagination, I think.
Thanks for your thoughts - you've given me a couple of ideas.
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Like
Poop - I should be better at this *g* If the wine jogs anything else loose later, I'll let you know.
And Wheeeeeee! Interested agent.... ::bounces madly::
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"'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' by John Berendt "
Ah me, not read that in an age!
"'Holy Cow' by Sarah MacDonald."
Don't know that one, I shall investigate immediately...
Wine and olives as inspiration. I like the sound of that... (o:
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