Suzanne Frank's next novel in the Chloe and Cheftu series, Twilight in Babylon, another adventure in the Chloe and Cheftu series, will be available November 2002.  The other novels in this series are Reflections on the Nile, Shadows on the Aegean, and Sunrise on the Mediterranean.  Also, writing as Chloe Green, the next mystery in her Dallas O'Conner series, Fashion Victim  be available December 2002.  The other Dallas O'Conner novels are Going Out in Style, Designed to Die.  Visit her at her website at http://www.timescribe.com/ .  After the meeting, Suzanne will be signing her books at B Dalton from 1:30 to 3:30.

James Reasoner was born in Ft Worth and raised in Azle, so he's a true son of Texas.  He has written over 140 books and over 100 short stories under several pseudonyms.  Many of his stories can be found in the various western serials Wagon's West , Stagecoach Station, Abilene, Powell's Army, and Cody's Law just to name a few.  Visit his website at http://home.flash.net/~livia/ for a full listing of titles.

OCTOBER MEETING RECAP

We had no guest speaker, but Joni Latham presented a program on all the handouts received over the last two years from DWL workshops and guest speakers, as well as other conferences and workshops that she had attended.  Included in the handouts was Character Building, Query Letters, Common Grammatical Mistakes, an example of writing that needed a lot of editing, and other articles.  Extra copies will be available at the next meeting.

C.J. Molman brought a copy of his new novel, Woman at the Well, to the meeting.  Woman at the Well is a fictional account of what happens to woman who met Jesus at the well and how the meeting affected the rest of her life.  Right now, C.J.'s novel is only available from the publisher's site  http://bkorder.1stbooks.com/   .  Late November 2002, it will be available through other distribution outlets: Ingrams, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.

Jim Matheson updated the membership on the anthology project. He brought a grant application from the Greater Denton Arts Council in hopes of receiving monetary assistance with the project. Joni Latham will complete the form and send it in.

Agents and the Writer: Roles and Responsiblities

By Gordon Crump

The relationship between writers and agents is one of much discussion, especially among writers. Unfortunately, many myths and misconceptions have muddied the waters and, occasionally, damaged what should otherwise be beneficial to both parties as well as the lucky publishers who obtain rights to the works under consideration.

1. Writers do not need an agent to sell either fiction or nonfiction books, and in fact, may be better off without one. Good books sell themselves. If you don't have one, write another one. Study agents, editors and marketing as thoroughly as you have writing.
2. Agents cannot do anything for new writers that they cannot do for themselves, with a little study and logic. They use the same techniques for you that you can use for yourself, i.e. bundling up a manuscript and sending it to an editor. The much vaunted idea that agents have some mystical power over editors that they are golfing buddies (at least) with hundreds of editors is pure bunk. They cannot get an editor to buy a manuscript he or she does not wish to buy, and if they wish to buy, he or she will buy from you as quickly as from an agent.
   Often, in fact, writers find their agents by selling their first book themselves, then getting an agent based on the sale. This can be valuable if the agent can obtain a better deal, perhaps by negotiating subsidiary deals that an author might not otherwise consider.
3. Most agencies are small, with only one or two agents. You may get a hearing on your script while waiting for them to get through shuffling paper for someone else. You may wait weeks or months for an agent to even look at the manuscript. If you are putting it in "storage," why not store it with an editor?
4. Do not do business with any agency that does not invite submissions, or at least queries. Submit where your script will be welcome.
5. Before agreeing to let an agent represent you, investigate him or her. It is worthwhile to ask for a list of clients for whom he or she have sold books, with the dates they were sold. Run a D&B credit check on the agency. See if if is a member of Association of Authors Representatives. If it is not proceed with caution. If it is, realize that this is no guarantee of anything; however it is a plus, since they have signed a pledge of ethical treatment of authors. There are good agents who would meet none of these tests, but realize that you are agreeing to let someone represent you that is not on the record at important places. If an agent gives you mumbo-jumbo instead of a list of recent books sold, accept it and move on. Even in the negotiation stage, if an agent plays hard to get and does not answer your letter or phone call promptly, realize that after you sign you may lose contact altogether, except when contact is in the agent's interest. Insist, within reason, on knowing everything the agent is doing to sell the book, so that you will know when he or she is doing nothing. That doesn't mean calling everyday.
6. Sign your first contract or letter of agreement for the current book only. Do not tie up future work. Insist on a written agreement. A letter outlining the full agreement is workable if both parties sign it.
7. Monitor your relationship with an agent carefully for at least the first year. If the agent does not keep you informed of when and where the work is being submitted and is hard to contact or get any information from, get out of the agreement as soon as legally possible. Such agents usually will take you nowhere.
8. If you find a good agent, stay with him or her. Offer that person lavish gifts on birthdays and holidays. You have found a gem!

November 2, Writers Roundup (Elgin). Contact: Judy Sears jlbcats@yahoo.com
November 2, George West Storyfest. Contact: Paul Perry PERRY10900@aol.com
November 9, Writers Roundup (Somerville). Contact: Elizabeth Reid buenobooks@yahoo.com
November 15-17, Book Festival (Austin). Visit: www.texasbookfestival.org
NEW December 7, Texas Authors on the Square (Fayetteville). Contact: Yvonne McCowen bymc@ev1.net
April 1-4, 2003, Texas Library Association Convention, Houston. http://www.txla.org/

From the Texas Author’s Coalition, Inc website. URL in listing below.

Author's Network-for writers about writing based in Europe, but interesting-http://www.author-network.com/
Copyright Forms- http://www.loc.gov/copyright/forms/
New Writer's Market http://hge.members.atlantic.net/
Preditors and Editors-a resources to check out agents and publishers http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/
Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators http://www.scbwi.org/
Texas Coalition of Authors, Inc. http://www.texasauthors.org/
The Novelist's Workshop-essays and advice on how to publish your book-http://www.monash.com/writers.html
Writer's Exchange http://www.writers-exchange.com/epublishing/
Writer's Market http://www.writersmarket.com/index_ns.asp
Writers Net-source for information for writers, editors, agents, and publishers-http://www.writers.net
The Zuzu's Petals Literary Resource Homepage-for both writers and poets-http://www.zuzu.com/

There are multitudes of writing resources available on the Internet. Go to any search engine and ask for writer's resources, writer's markets, writer's contests, writer's conferences, etc

DWL OFFICERS:

President - Joni Latham (joni@verizon.net) - 940/243-5200
1st VP - June Powell - 940/565-1013
2nd VP and Program Chairman - Oleta North - 940/458-3960
Treasurer – Joseph Marino
Secretary - Rae Nell Causseaux - 940/321-2739
Newsletter - George Avera (gavera@chatter.com) - 940/382-4130