Who are you, where are you from and where do you live now?

I am Isabel Rogers from Atlanta, Georgia. I still live in the same hot, humid city where I grew up.

What was the first book you fell in love with, the one that sealed it for you, the one that made you cry or laugh.

Persuasion, by Jane Austen. I can still remember my heart beating faster as Anne read Captain Wentworth’s letter. Who could resist a man who has been in love with a girl for eight years?

Who was your first literary hero?

Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice. I know, another Austen answer. I judge myself. But I was raised on a heavy diet of Austen, so there’s really no helping it if you are going to keep asking me about my firsts.

What are your favorite kinds of stories?

I am often attracted to stories with a strong, female lead, though not exclusively. I adore character studies. I also have a soft spot for fairytales and magic.

When you’re not reading or editing what do you do with yourself?

I tend to fill my days drinking tea, daydreaming, spending time with my two dogs, picking up but never completing new hobbies, and watching lots of television.

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be?

Tina Fey. The woman is brilliant and I would feel bad eating in front of a ghost.

If you could spend the rest of your life with one author, who would it be?

Hmm…It seems indecent to say without asking permission first; but I suppose JK Rowling, due in large part to her Harvard Commencement Address. The financial security wouldn’t hurt either.

If you could remove one book from the world, as if it never existed, which one would it be?

I think removing a book from the world is an extraordinarily harsh thing to do. I believe that every book has importance, even if only to the author. Books give insight into the lives of others; though discernment as a reader is certainly important.

Two truths and a lie:

I imagine myself as Sydney Bristow when I travel.

I graduated from college in three years.

My favorite place on earth is London.

As a developmental editor, I long to fall in love with a manuscript. I want to read a story that gets it, that speaks to me, that haunts me when I go to bed and I wake thinking about. Almost every submission has something I could fall for. But far too often I reject the submissions I read and critique. The attributes that spark a love affair, and the reasons love fizzles, are consistent and common, and they’re not the reasons you think.

Sure, I recoil at the twelfth adverb in a paragraph, pervasive passive voice, misspellings and its/it’s mistakes. I grumble at stories that start in the wrong place. But those are lover’s spats. An editor cleans up language, recommends moving scenes, and proposes cutting unneeded characters or chapters. I can love a manuscript despite those faults. But the reasons I fall for a manuscript or not are much more fundamental.

No matter your genre, I want to love your manuscript. Make sure your submission delivers on the following things, and I guarantee I’ll love yours.

1.   Your Story Feels New

I guarantee your story has been written before.

Think of your favorite book. Game of Thrones? Try Lord of the Rings, George MacDonald or Arabian Nights. Twilight? Romeo and Juliet, Dracula and Camilla. Eragon? Star Wars, which was in turn influenced by every hero’s journey myth ever. Every plot and story has been told before, by a master. The manuscripts I love feel refreshing and new despite this.

How do you make your story feel new? First, by reading. A lot. Not only will this inspire you and teach you the craft, it will expose you to what tales have been written before so you can avoid being the carbon copy.

Second, bring something new to the story, like a new setting or theme. Weave two existing stories together in an unexpected way. George R. R. Martin made his fantasy world unique by getting rid of fantasy races, making magic rare and adding realism and nuance to a world not filled by just good or evil.

Never rest on one or two unique elements. Add as much as you can at every turn and breathe freshness into your tale.

2.   You Cut the Backstory

I don’t need backstory. I don’t want it. Neither will your readers.

It’s crucial for you, the author, to know your subject and characters. But writing isn’t a test. You don’t need to show your work. Manuscripts I love respect my intelligence and don’t patronize me by feeding me backstory.

There are a lot of things I don’t need to know in order to enjoy a tale. Show me what’s happening. It doesn’t matter to me that your protagonist graduated first in her class from Harvard in 2005 and is an expert on North African Pre-Egyptian fossils, which her much-loved and recently deceased grandfather inspired her to study. Show her in action and I know she’s an expert. Keep my interest by leaving her history unsaid until it’s pertinent. Accept that I, and your readers, will appreciate your exhaustive research and backstory without needing to know it.

3.   Your Characters Breathe

When I hear your characters’ voices in what they say and see them in what they do, I can’t help but fall in love.

Characters need strong identities. I need a definite sense of who they are, and I need to see their personalities in their actions and speech. Dialogue needs to be so personal that no other character could say it, and actions so unique only one character would react that way.

Take a great character (say, Tyrion Lannister). Would any of Tyrion’s dialogue feel comfortable coming from Jon Snow? Of course not. Make sure your characters are just as alive.

4.   Conflict

Conflict is drama. If your story has conflict, it adds the spice that any love affair needs.

Every story doesn’t have to start with a fist fight or space battle. Conflict can be as big as finding love in a civil war, or as small as choosing the right ring to propose with. It can be as fast as a car crash or as slow as the new valet showing up with a limp. Most importantly, conflict involves characters. Even in a pitched space battle, I care about R2-D2 and C-3PO.

Something has to happen in your story, and it has to happen fast. Don’t waste time setting up the scene or characters. Stories I love start as close to the initial crisis as possible and let things spiral downhill from there. If you never let up on the conflict, and make it personal, I won’t be able to put your manuscript down.

5.   You Edited

Remember how I said I don’t reject a submission for bad grammar, poor prose or faulty construction? In reality, I reject submissions for these things all the time.

Your goal above all else is to share your story with your readers through the language you type on the page. I can forgive a few misspellings or misplaced commas. I can accept a submission that meanders before getting to its heart. These are errors that editors are here to help you fix. But this isn’t a free pass to forego the rules of written language or storycraft. Polished submissions with clean declarative sentences, few spelling errors and a command of storytelling basics sing to me.

You have to edit your work. Send me the best you can offer. Let your manuscript rest for a few weeks, then take a look at it with a fresh eye before you fire it off. Make sure to catch all the spelling errors you can, clean up your punctuation and cut as much unnecessary words/digressions/fluff as possible.

Give me your best. Then I will work to make your story the best it can be.

This is not an exhaustive list of reasons I fall in love with a manuscript, but it covers the most important ones. And I would wager that most every editor would agree with them.

I have rejected plenty of submissions. I have been rejected plenty of times myself. I don’t like being on either end. Give me a submission I can love, and every minute I spend developing it with you will be a joy.

William Reid is a developmental editor for Pink Fish Press. Follow him on Twitter @williamreids for daily writing tips.

Who are you, where are you from and where do you live now?

I am Renda Belle Dodge, I was born in Seattle, Washington. I currently live in Atlanta, Georgia.

What was the first book you fell in love with, the one that sealed it for you, the one that made you cry or laugh.

The first book I loved was some soppy Christian book store ‘not-romance romance’ popular in the ‘90s. Since I don’t remember the name, or I’m choosing not to tell, I’m going to say Romeo and Juliet. I read it for the first time when I was ten.

Who was your first literary hero?

Jo March, hands down. I love that woman. I love those books. I read Little Women at least once a year, every year from eleven til seventeen.

What are your favorite kinds of stories?

Gripping, literary stories. I want to be immersed in language until I drown in it. I want the words and language and description to evoke deep seated emotions that I didn’t want to admit that I have. I also like to be uncomfortable, take me to the edge of real and normal – show me the world from a perspective that I haven’t seen before.

When you’re not reading or editing what do you do with yourself?

I am doing those things a lot, but I do love horror movies. I also have two puppies and a boyfriend – I spend a lot of time with all three.

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be?

Bukowski. I want to spend time with that man more than I want to breathe. It seems weird that I’d want this, as a modern feminist. But I think that’s what I find so fascinating about him. He is not afraid to be naked and raw on paper – and he doesn’t care if it’s politically, socially or morally correct.

If you could spend the rest of your life with one author, who would it be?

Sylvia Plath, as challenging as it might be. I’m in complete awe of her abilities. I want to listen to her talk and work. Alternately, I’d chose Vonnegut, because he’d be much better for a laugh.

If you could remove one book from the world, as if it never existed, which one would it be?

I’m against censorship (even though I crafted this question) and don’t really want to remove any book from the world. But I do think that books are powerful, more powerful than people give credit for. And like any art, the artist has to be careful and responsible with that power.

Two truths and a lie:

I’ve studied the Greek Language

I’ve been on African Safari

I’ve watched every episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer five times

translator: David Ferry (this book is stated as being an original poem based heavily on the standard Gilgamesh epic used for translations, so Ferry is “technically” the author)

year: 18^th-17^th century BCE

# of pages: 92, including introduction

This took me more days to read than it should have, but only because I was nearing the end of reading Etymologicon (written by Mark Forsyth, OMG read that book) and it is SO good that I had to finish it first.

But when I finally did start in on Gilgamesh, I made it through almost a third of the book in one subway ride home (45 minutes). I have read this book once before, back in some college writing class I think, and I remember it being annoying because our translation was crazy archaic, and I was a lazy freshman, not interested in learning the classics at all. I was new to school, and nervous, and my boyfriend was miles away…you can understand the lack of caring for Gilgamesh’s journey.

This time, I looked at all the different versions the NYPL library had and chose MY favorite. I immediately was glad I did because Ferry uses modern English, which means I don’t have to spend half my time deciphering weird ancient terms.

What’s it About?

So, at the most basic of bases, Gilgamesh is about a god-man, who befriends his man-apelike equal, Enkidu, and they go off in search of glory, which means killing some forest demon. In the process of greatness, Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh is really sad (I wonder if Freud ever read this, he would have LOVED it), and so he goes off to find a wise man who can tell him how to live forever.

Is it REALLY One of the Best Books Ever?

Well, I guess that is based upon your definition of good. It’s the oldest epic ever found I believe, so in that respect, it’s pretty darn influential. For an epic, it’s not very…EPIC. At least not in the terms we think of today. It’s a short read, and while I like Ferry’s simple language, it’s a bit repetitive. But I am also not an ancient Sumerian who grew up with tales of Gilgamesh, so I might have missed a lot of back story. Alas.

Conclusion:

I don’t know if other translations are so repetitive, and this was just the way the original was written, but it got old really quick. This also may have been Ferry’s artistic decision, I’m not sure. The story was very succinct though, and I understood exactly what was going on the whole time. Also, I do appreciate that such an old text is readily available for the masses to read, in many different translations and languages. I mean, that’s pretty cool, ya know?

Next Book: The Iliad, by Homer (still waiting for it to arrive at my local library branch)

Rabbit centers around a young American man in his late twenties as he travels collecting folklore on his way to meet his homeless father for the first time.

Managing Editor Renda Dodge met Jared at 2011′s PNWA Writer’s Conference. She loved his ability to write and passion for the craft and started following him on Twitter and Facebook. When Jared announced the completion of the editing and revision of Rabbit in Fall of 2012, she asked to see it instantly.  New addition to Pink Fish Press, Developmental Editor Marissa Bea is the primary editor on the book.

Look for the book in early 2014!

Authored bv Davis Slater and represented by Elizabeth Kracht at Kimberley Cameron & Associates, Selling Sin at the Hoot-Possum Auction in which a 13-year-old, orphaned Missouri boy’s mission to help his parents avoid hellfire in the afterlife by burying them is threatened as he is abandoned by his community and thrust into the care of an unscrupulous cousin willing to sell his own daughters for a quick buck will be available early 2014.

Managing Editor Renda Dodge met Elizabeth at 2012′s PNWA Writer’s Conference and instantly fell in love with the manuscript. New addition to Pink Fish Press, Developmental Editor Devin Moore is the primary editor on the book.

Welcome to the Pink Fish Press family Davis and Liz, we can’t wait to share your book with all of our readers!

Who are you, where are you from and where do you live now?

My name is Devin, and I grew up in a small town called Maple Valley, Washington. I studied English at Gonzaga University in Spokane and am now living in Seattle. PNW 4 lyfe.

What was the first book you fell in love with, the one that sealed it for you, the one that made you cry or laugh.

The first book to make me cry is actually really embarrassing—The Outcast of Redwall. I was a huge Redwall fan when I was younger, and this particular title was heart wrenching for me because it involved quite a bit of misfortune happening to the main character, who is a ferret. I had a pet ferret at the time, so naturally I was distraught.

The first book I fell in love with was Frankenstein. No explanation necessary.

Who was your first literary hero?

This answer also ties back to Redwall: Brian Jacques. I once attended an event where he was reading and he signed my book. I spent hours trying to think of a good question to ask him (“How do you come up with names for so many characters?”). Needless to say, I failed.

What are your favorite kinds of stories?

I actually really enjoy stories from other time periods that I cannot relate to, if that makes sense. Some of my favorite works to study are old, Anglo-Saxon epic poems and myths because I love the mystery behind them and not knowing who exactly wrote them. I also like series and stories with dark themes and sad endings. I’m quite cheery in person though, honest!

When you’re not reading or editing what do you do with yourself?

When I’m not reading, editing, working, or going to class, I play guitar in a surf-pop band called the Echo Echo Echoes. If you live in the Seattle/Tacoma area, come out to one of our shows!

 If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be?

George R.R. Martin. We would feast on black bread, fiery Dornish peppers, haunch of goat, lemon cakes, and golden wine from the Arbor.

If you could spend the rest of your life with one author, who would it be?

What an odd question. Which author would I choose to be my life partner? Which author would I choose to read the rest of my life? I guess my answer would be Mary Shelley for both.

 If you could remove one book from the world, as if it never existed, which one would it be?

I could say something awful like the Twilight series or, to get a little more eighteenth century, Pamela, but bad books are just too much fun to hate. So I’m going to say the Harry Potter series so that I can rewrite it word for word, re-release it, and make my millions.

Two truths and a lie:

I rode horseback competitively for ten years.

I’ve met David Lynch.

I’ve never been to or watched a Gonzaga basketball game.

Who are you, where are you from and where do you live now?

I’m William Reid, an editor and author originally from small town Idaho but proudly hailing from Seattle now.

What was the first book you fell in love with, the one that sealed it for you, the one that made you cry or laugh.

I have two. The original was the first novel I read over and over again, Bunnicula. It was about a vampire bunny who drained all the juices from vegetables with his fangs. The second was the book that touched me as a person and made me want to write more than anything, To Kill a Mockingbird. That book changed my life.

Who was your first literary hero?

The Hardy Boys. Now I see the issues with those stories, but when I was a kid I loved their brains, resourcefulness and teamwork.

What are your favorite kinds of stories?

Science fiction and fantasy. I love books that make you think. Good science fiction explores current social or political problems in an outlandish extreme that allows better insight. Good fantasy transports you to another world with heroes and villains that speak to you.

When you’re not reading or editing what do you do with yourself?

I write and cook. I love experimenting with new recipes and trying out the latest culinary gadgets. And I find my mind is always working out new story ideas that drive me to explore.

Who am I kidding? I’m a house husband. I change diapers and clean up messes. I write and cook when I have a free moment.

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be?

Phillip K. Dick. There are many other authors that might be more enlightening or enjoyable, but Dick was bonkers. I’d love to get a few shots of tequila in him and hear how the Communists are controlling our minds with brain waves.

If you could spend the rest of your life with one author, who would it be?

I couldn’t do it. One author is too restrictive. I would have a commune with Harper Lee, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Ernest Hemingway and Voltaire. And probably write a hit sitcom about our hilarious antics.

If you could remove one book from the world, as if it never existed, which one would it be?

As much as I would love to say Twilight in its entirety, even a badly written book still gets people to read. Every person that picks up a book is still someone that picks up a book, even if that book is a boring, cliché, poorly paced, atrociously written, crap senseless waste of perfectly good trees and ink.

Two truths and a lie:

I’ve never been able to finish a Jane Austen novel.

I’ve swam with and eaten piranhas in the Amazon jungle.

I’m passably adept in five languages.

I haven’t checked, but I hope all of these books have at least been TRANSLATED into English, otherwise I might have issues. If that happens, I’ll read an alternate, I guess. I have time to decide.

I did the math (it was easy really, I’m good at math). I am borrowing these books, mostly, from the New York Public Library, and they have a three-week return date. Assuming I take three weeks to read each book…that means it will take me THREE HUNDRED weeks to read them all. That’s slightly under six years. DAUNTING. Some books will inevitably go faster (Gilgamesh is a small book), but others, like Moby Dick, or the Tale of Genji (oh my god, like 1,000 pages), will probably require renewals. I’m really glad Les Misérables unabridged is not on this list. I tried that book once, it’s not only long, it’s infuriatingly digressive.

But I digress.

On top of all that, I’m going to do this in chronological order, starting with The Epic of Gilgamesh written some 1,800 years before the common era, to Blindness by José Saramago, written only 18 years ago. How numerically alliterative is that time span, eh?

Every time I finish a book, I’ll write up a little ditty with my thoughts, and a picture of the actual book I read (hooray for iPhones!). I also completely plan on riding the L Train back and forth whilst reading some of these. The hipsters in Williamsburg won’t even know what to do with me. I’m going to out-hip all of them.

FIRST BOOK: I picked up The Epic of Gilgamesh at the library today, so reading begins pronto.

Here is a link to the list of the 100 Best Books! Read along with me, if you dare.

(On a semi-related note, everyone should have a library card. The ENTIRETY of literature at your fingertips, for free! Swoon!)

<3 marissa!

Who are you, where are you from and where do you live now?

My name is Marissa, I am from the Emerald City, and I now live in the Big Apple.

What was the first book you fell in love with, the one that sealed it for you, the one that made you cry or laugh.

I still have it. I was a tomboy growing up, and I played baseball. With the boys, no girly softball for me. My favorite book back then was The Basement Baseball Club. I have no shame in admitting I will still pull it out and read it when I feel homesick (or lazy, since it’s a kids book and I can read the whole thing in like an hour). I have easily read that book a hundred or more times over the years.

Who was your first literary hero?

TINTIN. I lurrrrvvvv Tintin. I have all the Tintin stories, I can read them over and over again, he is awesome. That is all.

What are your favorite kinds of stories?

I’m a total sucker for reading Non-fiction. Any time I go to the book store, the History section is my first stop. I love reading books to gain knowledge, and what better knowledge than the history of our world, from every angle!

When you’re not reading or editing what do you do with yourself?

I play soccer, lots of soccer. I’ve been a goalkeeper since I was ten years old or something, and I play on multiple teams, in multiple leagues, all over the city. When I’m not doing that, my boyfriend and I are out being social (we love happy hour), or sitting at home with our kitty (she’s sooo sweet, and she’s on a diet and actually losing weight! We’re like proud parents). He likes to cook, but sometimes he likes to let me make salads. I don’t like cooking, but I make a mean salad. Oh and Netflix. All of it.

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be?

Alfred Jarry. That man was a loony-bin and having dinner with him would be a trip. He was drunk on absinthe all the time, I bet he has the best stories.

If you could spend the rest of your life with one author, who would it be?

That’s really hard. Maybe August Strindberg? Because if you’ve never been online and seen the Strindberg and Helium videos, then you have not lived. If you have seen the videos, you will understand.

If you could remove one book from the world, as if it never existed, which one would it be?

Impossible. Every book that has ever been written deserves to be read. Unless they’re filled with hate-mongering, but in those cases, people should just ignore the book. People still have a right to write it.

Two truths and a lie:

I know how to unicycle and juggle at the same time.

I rescued a child from a river in Croatia.

I have read an entire atlas.

Click for more information on the Pink Fish Press Staff

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