Comments on: Why I signed.. Brodi Ashton

By: Draven Ames

Draven Ames — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:13:37 +0000

Wow, what a great story. It makes you wonder what might be getting said about you, somewhere behind that curtain. Thank you for letting us peak behind. The story does sound interesting.

Crying at the end is a great sign. That is something we can all hope for with our writing.

Congratulations Brodi, it sounds like you deserved it!

Draven Ames

By: Brodi Ashton

Brodi Ashton — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 04:05:06 +0000

Bryan- I should’ve STOLEN more…

By: Bryan Bliss

Bryan Bliss — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:27:31 +0000

No, I’d say universally loved is probably adequate.

Brodi – this sounds awesome. I think you may have been too humble in your own description. This sounds amazing… I should’ve given you all my fries.

By: Yahzi

Yahzi — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 01:12:03 +0000

Eh… he’s not universally loved.

But congrats on your sale, Brodi.

This is an interesting post, particularly for this sentence: “I didn’t need to look at those pages to know I’d be reading the whole book.”

In other words, the pitch is really, really important. So put as much work into your pitch as you did into at least the first 3 chapters of your book. One might even suggest you write the pitch first, and then write the book to match it… (which is what you’ll be doing as a pro under contract, anyway.)

By: Debbie CranberryFries

Debbie CranberryFries — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 03:58:13 +0000

I’m an avid reader who enjoys hearing more about authors and their stories but this is the first time I’ve read an agents take on things. Thanks for a fun look into the other side of things I dont often get to see. I can’t wait for EVERNEATH.

By: Brodi Ashton

Brodi Ashton — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:42:10 +0000

Thanks Michael!
I remember that phone call like it was yesterday. Michael came highly recommended (he is universally loved) and he totally lives up to the hype! I knew, once we agreed on the crazy turn for the end of the book, that I’d found my match. I’m honored he took me on.

By: EEV

EEV — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:02:23 +0000

That was really amazing! Thank you Michael, it is great to know how other writers make the breakthrough. I’ve been finishing and polishing my MG/YA, and sometimes I think… I think there’s nothing out there for me – everybody is way better than me, etcetera.
But your post made me realize the emotional charge a writer nails on their writing matters – and that gives me hope.

And please remind us of Brodi Asthon’s book release date – I definitely want to read it!

By: Alli

Alli — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:56:15 +0000

Thank you to Michael and Brodi for sharing this story. EVERNEATH sounds like a fascinating read and I love the title!