Coffee & Conversation with Sara D’Emic

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you survived that wickedly awful ice storm and that your power is either still on or back on! Don’t know about you, but I am so, so ready for spring.

Speaking of spring, today we are continuing our pre-Spring: Nature’s Revised Draft conference interviews! Last week, Susan shared an interview with Rory Shay who will be speaking about Social Media 101 for Authors:

Moreso now than ever before, agents and editors expect authors to already have a platform and a presence on the Internet. Whether you’re a social media novice or expert, this session will give you ideas you can use as an author to increase your presence and make the most of social media.  You’ll learn how you can interact with other authors, and the answer to social media success riddles such as which author got a publishing deal after she acquired 36K twitter followers?  Which self-published author got a film offer from a prominent producer after he saw her tweets and website?  We can all learn from tales like these and hope you’ll come prepared to ask and answer questions of your own.

Today we have Rory’s co-presenter for that class, Sara D’Emic!

Sara is an agent with Talcott Notch Literary based in Milford, CT, though she spends her time all over the CT/NY/NJ area. She represents adult and young adult fiction with an emphasis in mystery, fantasy, science fiction, and horror. She earned a BA in writing, literature, and publishing from Emerson College in Boston.

Sara will also be leading a session on How to Query and Find an Agent:

We work hard writing our novels, and after the first draft is finally complete and you and your critique group have reviewed it over and over again, what’s the next step in the process?  This breakout session will talk about the nitty-gritty of finding an agent through querying and addresses questions such as:  What are good query letter examples?  How can you get your submission noticed?  What are the mistakes newcomers make, and how can you avoid them?  Bring a copy of a query letter you want critiqued (names x’ed out), and we’ll review a few during our session.

And now that she’s comfy in our cyber chair with her favorite coffeehouse beverage, a mint mocha or variation thereof…

…and her favorite snack, chocolate lava cake…

Let’s begin! First off, Sara, what was your favorite book as a child?

Child of the Wolves by Elizabeth Hall. I had to google this because I couldn’t remember the full title, but I did remember the cover. In retrospect, I’m impressed that the characters could be so fully realized when they’re all dogs/wolves (of the non-talking variety).

And now, what’s your favorite book as an adult?

I don’t even know; I’d estimate I have 10-15 at any given point. If you’re looking for something really, really different, one of my favorites is The Monk by Matthew Lewis. It was published in 1796 and the official genre would be Gothic lit. But it’s just ridiculous. And horrifying. It’s also a good example of a book that I love but I would never accept a query like it. Read it, but don’t use it as a comp title.

You magically find a $100.00 bill in your box of cereal. In what frivolous way would you spend it? (Key word: Frivolous!)

Is $100 enough to bid successfully on a storage unit? Or those boxes of unclaimed luggage? I don’t think so. But sticking with reality shows, I live in New York, so I might go the Oddities shop and buy something weird.

You’ve been locked in a bank vault Twilight Zone style, so you finally have time to read!  Your glasses are fine (whew!) so what’s the first book you crack open?

Deathless by Catherynne Valente. It’s next on my list!

For one day, time travel is a reality and you can visit any famous deceased author you want.  Who do you pick?

Mary Shelley. And as a bonus, I’d get to meet Percy and Lord Byron. They’d be a lot of fun, more than a day would just be obnoxious.

If you could sum up your best advice for new writers or illustrators in only four words, what would it be?

If at first…

Thanks for stopping by, Sara, and we’re looking forward to seeing you at the conference!

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Happy writing and drawing, everyone! Be sure to register if you plan on attending our Spring: Natures Revised Draft conference and keep in mind that the deadline to register for a critique is February 28th!