Stephanie Bryant
Try This One Trick!
Try This One Trick!
Date: 5/15/2013 8:15 AM
Subject: Trick for meeting agents?
From: Charlotte Engles ;
To: ;
Hello, David!
We met at the Writers By Journey Conference last weekend! You mentioned a trick for getting editors to read my manuscript. What was that trick? I thought I jotted it down, but it’s not in my notes, just your email address and “editor trick.”
Great to meet you,
Charlotte Raynes
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Date: 5/15/2013 10:23 AM
Subject: Re: Trick for meeting agents?
From: David Jones ;
To: Charlotte Engles ;
Greetings, Charlotte,
At, well, the trick is to contact some an editor or agent who was at the conference this weekend, and tell them you met them either at a pitch session or during one of the luncheons, and that they asked you to send them your synopsis and first three chapters. Most of the editors and agents have talked to so many authors this weekend, they’ve lost track of who they already heard, and they’re not going to greenlight it without reading anyway.
And you didn’t jot it down and you’re not going crazy. I asked you to email me for it. We were in line to go to one of the luncheons, and the guy standing in front of you was Edward Farley, from Farley Literary Agency. I pulled this trick on one of his staffers two years ago, and I’m pretty sure he suspects it but doesn’t have proof.
Regards,
David
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Date: 5/15/2013 1:44 PM
Subject: Re: Trick for meeting agents?
From: Charlotte Engles ;
To: David Jones ;
David--
Ooh, scandal! I like it! Could be in a novel.
--C
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Date: 5/15/2013 5:49 PM
Subject: Re: Trick for meeting agents?
From: David Jones ;
To: Charlotte Engles ;
Dear Charlotte,
A boring one, yes.
Anyway, how have you been since getting home? Also, where is home, anyway? I detected an accent, but couldn’t place it.
--David
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Date: 5/15/2013 6:02 PM
Subject: Re: Trick for meeting agents?
From: Charlotte Engles ;
To: David Jones ;
David--
Home is Chicago, but I’m originally from Boston and went to college in Atlanta. I have all the popular accents, smushed together into one.
How about you?
--C
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Date: 5/15/2013 6:15 PM
Subject: Re: Trick for meeting agents?
From: David Jones ;
To: Charlotte Engles ;
Seattle. Pretty far from Chicago.
Why Chicago?
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Date: 5/15/2013 6:30 PM
Subject: Re: Trick for meeting agents?
From: Charlotte Engles ;
To: David Jones ;
Ah, well. My aunt lives here. I’m staying with her and working for CNN. Nothing exciting-- I’m a researcher. But it pays the bills and gives me enough leeway to help Aunt Sophie out. She has early stage Alzheimers. She gets by right now, but my family feels better if I’m here for her.
--C
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Date: 5/15/2013 6:35 PM
Subject: Re: Trick for meeting agents?
From: David Jones ;
To: Charlotte Engles ;
Charlotte,
Interesting. Sorry to hear about your aunt. I’ll confess, I’m both relieved and disappointed that you live so far away. I’ll tell you honestly-- I found you really cute at the conference. And I enjoyed what you read during the volunteer readings at night. You have a really concise style that I like.
I’m relieved by the distance because I have a girlfriend here in Seattle and a long-distance online crush is completely fine, but I’d probably find you distracting if you were close by.
Does that scare you?
--David
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Date: 5/17/2013 4:08 PM
Subject: Re: Trick for meeting agents?
From: David Jones ;
To: Charlotte Engles ;
Charlotte,
Oh, crap. I scared you.
-D
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Date: 5/17/2013 7:14 PM
Subject: Re: Trick for meeting agents?
From: Charlotte Engles ;
To: David Jones ;
David,
Sorry-- I was away for a couple of days. Sophie and I went to Boston to visit some family stomping grounds and do some of the tourist stuff. It was hilarious-- she basically translated all the “museum speak” into “what it was really like.” “Settlers in Plymouth spent that first year merely surviving against the elements…” “And the fleas, natives, domestic violence, and starvation because they failed to adequately prepare for life with nothing…. This is what smaller government gets you, people!”
Needless to say, we got a few stares.
Not scared…. Flattered. Probably would be scared if I hadn’t found you moderately attractive as well. It wasn’t a coincidence that I snapped a picture of the three of us at that lunch-- I mean, sure, it’s nice to get a picture with the keynote speaker. But…. I’ll admit to enjoying some eye candy, myself.
--C
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Date: 5/17/2013 9:25 PM
Subject: Re: Trick for meeting agents?
From: David Jones ;
To: Charlotte Engles ;
Charlotte,
Woah-- I’m completely speechless by the compliment-- and that’s saying a LOT!
--David
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Date: 5/20/2013 10:18 PM
Subject: Re: Trick for meeting agents?
From: David Jones ;
To: Charlotte Engles ;
C-
Well, damn. Scratch what I said about the girlfriend. We broke up.
--D
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Date: 5/20/2013 10:33 PM
Subject: Breakup
From: Charlotte Engles ;
To: David Jones ;
David,
Oh, I’m so sorry! What happened?!?
--Charlotte
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Date: 5/20/2013 11:09 PM
Subject: Re: Breakup
From: David Jones ;
To: Charlotte Engles ;
It’s been coming for a long time. When I got home, I found out she’d accepted a job in Alaska without even talking to me. Even from Seattle, it’s a long-ass way.
Doesn’t matter. I’m home with a bottle of Jameson and our cute cat. MY cat, now.
--D
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Date: 5/20/2013 11:19 PM
Subject: Re: Breakup
To: David Jones ;
From: Charlotte Engles ;
David,
I don’t believe you. Send pictures of cat.
--C
PS: That was an attempt at levity. I’m so sorry for your relationship, but glad you get to keep the cat.
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Date: 5/21/2013 8:34 AM
Subject: Re: Breakup
From: David Jones ;
To: Charlotte Engles ;
Charlotte,
Picture of cat with Jameson bottle attached. Note the disapproving glare she gives me? My cat doesn’t like the smell of whiskey.
--D
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Date: 5/21/2013 11:40 AM
Subject: Re: Breakup
From: Charlotte Engles ;
To: David Jones ;
David,
Speaking of cats… will it completely annoy you to hear a story from my weird dating life here in Chicago?
--C
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Date: 5/21/2013 1:09 PM
Subject: Re: Breakup
From: David Jones ;
To: Charlotte Engles ;
Not at all. I could use some vicarious entertainment.
--D
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