Wednesday, September 2, 2009


I want to welcome Tess Hilmo today. Applause please! :) No the frog is definitely not Tess. :)

I am pleased that Tess agreed to do this interview. Thank you Tess for joining me today.

Thanks, Robyn. It’s my first ever blog interview, which is super fun!

Tess has decided to do a give away in honor of her first blog interview. What must you do to win? And what do you get as a prize? The sweet stuffed NoJo Jungle frog that you see at the top of this post and a $10 Amazon gift certificate. To win, just give us a comment on the interview. After twenty four hours has elapsed, I will use Random.org to determine the winner. Then I'll notify the winner and the winner will contact Tess and she will send you your prize. And why a frog? Tess's book, With A Name Like Love has a character who is a herpetologist (that's the study of frogs). How does all this sound? Like great fun? Let's start the interview.

Tess, we know that you recently signed with an agent. I know that was an exciting time in your life. What was your reaction the first time you answered the phone and it was your agent?

We had communicated through e mail a few times prior to ‘the call’. He said he was interested in discussing the novel with me and we arranged a time that worked for both our schedules. So, there was no real ‘surprise element’ to getting the call. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t nervous, though! I had a list of questions all ready, but we just chatted about the novel and the market and ourselves and I didn’t ask a single one of those fancy questions!


Did your agent offer advice for revisions?

After signing the contract, we discussed some revision ideas. They were relatively minor things, adding to characters or scenes. I tend to write very directly and he wanted more ‘layers’ put in. We then sent it out to a couple of editors who gave even more feedback, offering to review the novel again if I chose to complete the revisions. Like I was going to say no! I guess the most interesting thing I’ve learned is that revision ideas are often WAY more general than I had expected. Things like, ‘could this character be more vulnerable?’ or ‘could the town have more of a journey?’ Why don’t they tell me exactly what to write and let me do it? Sheesh, that would be so much easier!


Have you and your agent discussed marketing plans?

Not really marketing plans, per se. I guess he’s just interested in getting the dang thing sold and then we’ll move on from there. He is was happy that I keep an ongoing blog and my statcounter shows him coming over and reading through the posts and comments from time to time. That’s always fun to see.


What is the best and most difficult part of having an agent?

The best part is having someone who is invested in you as a writer. Who is interested in what your next idea and work will be. The most difficult part is having someone who is interested in what your next idea and work will be. Don’t get me wrong. I am so blessed to be working with Steven and he is a great agent. Still, as writers, we are often solitary in our craft. Opening your mind and laying out your ideas for critique can be daunting. It’s something I had never considered prior to this point. Having an agent invites a business partner into your private writing world. It’s wonderful, but also an adjustment.


What do you think about social networking? Besides your blog, I'm talking twitter, facebook, etc.. Do you think it's important for authors to do it?

Not if they don’t want to. There is a certain level of transparency that I am not comfortable with. I mean, who cares what I ate for dinner or who is standing in front of me in line? TMI, IMHO (hehehe). But, we do need to be available. We need to have some sort of web presence and it needs to be updated regularly. Editors/Agents look. They Google your name. You want them to find something.

Did you get a lawyer to go over the contract? Do you think that is important?

I didn’t. It was contract language, but it was all very understandable. Nothing terribly unexpected. I had researched Steven prior to querying him. I was comfortable with his reputation and didn’t worry too much about the contract details. They were all pretty straight forward.


Do you jump every time the phone rings?

No, but I get a little pulse of excitement every time I see a new e mail in my inbox. He communicates about 85% through e mail, but is happy to call if I am feeling a need to really discuss something. He always sets an appt. with me if he is to call, which is something this mom of 3 appreciates!

Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed!

Sure! Do you think anyone will read it?

May the commenting begin!

53 comments:

  1. Yay! I love Tess and her blog! I'm glad I got to see her very first blog interview (and be the first one to comment).

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  2. Yay! I think her interview is super. And we had fun doing it. Good luck! :)

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  3. I was a great interview! Tess, you were very insightful, and I thank you for making me think of things I haven't before.

    Robyn, thanks for hosting! :)

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  4. Woo-hoo, Tess. Oh, and Woo-hoo Robyn for securing the interview!

    S

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  5. Yay, Tess!('Cause you can't hear the applause through the computer.) Keeping up the theme of letting us all get to know you better.

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  6. Wahoo for Tess. What a wonderful interview.

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  7. Janna, she did give us a great interview, didn't she? :) Thanks for stopping by.

    Scott, Woohoo! :)

    Michelle, Oh I know you can't hear applause through the computer. I was just setting the scene. :)

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  8. Janice, Thanks for stopping by and commenting. :)

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  9. Oh, I never considered setting an appointment to call. That's an interesting tidbit! Now here's hoping that I, too, will soon have appointments to call!!! :)

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  10. Well I read the interview! It was well done, so good for both of you! Tess, I find that helpful to see how an agent is invited into your personal writing life. I never thought of it that way, but it's true. I think it's great and scary at the same time. I'll just try and have a bunch of novels and ideas saved up for when I get an agent, hehe.

    Okay, I HAVE to put the word verification here: otsTOAD. Seriously....!

    Thanks for a great interview and another contest!

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  11. Tess, Big congrats! Do you mind if I ask who your agent is? I guess I should hop over to your site! That was a fun interview. I enjoy learning more about my blogging buddies.

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  12. Glam, thanks for stopping by and the word verification...so fitting! :) Perfect!

    T. Anne, I should have asked that question. Sorry. :( Glad you enjoyed the interview. :)

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  13. Wow, Tess, congrats on getting an agent. How exciting. And I think you did wonderful for your first blog interview.

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  14. Linda, thanks for coming over. She do do wonderful. Didn't she? :)

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  15. Very interesting to note the revision comments from editors. I can understand they don't want to write the story for you and want to keep it as much your creation as possible, but still... A little more direction could help.

    Good luck on the next step.

    Great interview, Robyn.

    Lynnette Labelle
    http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com

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  16. Thanks for coming over to play with Robyn and I .. aren't blogging friends great?

    And, good point,T.Anne. I should have mentioned my agent by full name. He is Steven Chudney of the Chudney Agency. He works solely w/ children's authors (I write MG).

    and, if anyone wants to see the trailer for the novel, there's a link on the sidebar of my blog

    http://tesshilmo.blogspot.com

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  17. That was a very interesting interview!

    But I wanted to hear more about your book... Wah! LOL!

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  18. Lynette , I agree that a little more pointing you in the right direction could help. A little daunting. :)

    Tess, I had thought about adding your blog address, but forgot. :)

    Jennifer, I wanted this interview to be about agent stuff. Since most of us are either querying or want to query in the near future. Tess has a trailer on her blog if you're interested. Thanks for coming. :)

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  19. Thanks for doing the interview, Robyn. It's great to learn more about you, Tess, particularly your experience with your agent. I am so happy that you've found such a good fit. Best of luck with your manuscript. I hope it finds a happy home. P.S. That's so cool one of your characters studies frogs. What a unique occupation--very clever!

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  20. Cindy, thanks for coming. Tess is so interesting, and fun to get to know. :)

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  21. SO much fun! And great agent advice. Thanks Robyn. And Thanks TESS!

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  22. Thanks for having Tess, Robyn. Great interview! It gave me things to think about.

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  23. Lisa and Laura, thanks for stopping by. :)

    Suzanne, glad you could come. :) Thanks.

    Lazy Writer, I've been wanting to have her for some time. Glad I did it. Thanks for coming. :)

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  24. great interview, tess! and LOTS of people read it! :) thanks for hosting it, robyn!

    jeannie
    Where Romance Meets Therapy

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  25. Jeannie, It was my pleasure. We had lots of fun doing it. :)

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  26. Robyn, these were seriously great questions. I feel like I understand a little bit more about the agent-writer relationship. I learned something new about the editor's comments being general. I think, based on what Scott G. F. Bailey has said in the past, that his agent comments have also been general. That's interesting.

    Tess, thanks for answering so honestly! Being unrepresented, this was all pretty interesting for me. And, you made me think of a writer friend I know, whose wife raised exotic frogs. :P

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  27. Great interview Tess! Definitely keep up posted with goings on. Eagerly awaiting the book on UK soil :)

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  28. Davin, I too understand a lot more than I did. Now if I could just get that agent. The one that needs me for a client! :)

    Yunaleska, Thanks for checking in. :)

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  29. Great interview! I love reading Tess' blog. Her enthusiasm always shines through =)

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  30. Super job by both Tess and Robyn. I so enjoyed reading this and picked up some useful information, which is always cool.

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  31. Sherrie, Thanks. You're right about Tess being enthusiastic. :) It always does shine.

    Tricia, thanks for coming. It was great fun. :)

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  32. What a great interview you two. Tess, you did great. I was wondering about the advice editors give. It's interesting that they aren't very specific. Hmmm. Maybe that's because your book is already in pretty dang good shape.

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  33. Great interview Robin. I love hearing stories like this, and absorbing the information. Thanks to Tess too!

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  34. Awesome, Tess! And thanks to Robin for doing the interview. Very informative! Can't wait to see your book published!

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  35. Great, great interview! I love it and I love Tess's blog!

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  36. Love the interview, Tess! Can't wait to meet your frog collecting MC.

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  37. Congrats Tess! I loved reading more about your experience with an agent. Crossing my fingers for you!

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  38. Lois, thanks. And it was super fun to work with Tess. :)

    Elana, I appreciate your stopping by. I like absorbing the info too. Big sponge here! :)

    BJ, I can't wait to see her book published either. We'll have to celebrate. :)

    PJ, Thanks and I love her blog too.:)

    Joyce, Glad you enjoyed it. :)

    Jill, We all have our fingers crossed. I love learning about agent author experiences. :)

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  39. Great interview, guys! Love to read about agent experiences. Thanks!

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  40. MG, thanks. I love to read about them too. :)

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  41. Robyn, great questions. Tess, great answers. I love the frog...think marketing. A cute froggy bookmark to accompany your book. Thanks for sharing your journey with us.

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  42. Sharon, great ideas. Thanks for reading. :)

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  43. That was a wonderful interview, Robyn! You asked very thoughtful questions, and Tess provided GREAT answers; I really liked learning more about the author/agent relationship and process. THANKS so much for this, you two! I'm crossing my fingers for Tess to land a publisher soon! :)

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  44. Crystal, thanks! We had a lot of fun with it. I'm proud of Tess for being so honest and straightforward. :) Keep those fingers crossed!

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  45. Wow Tess...no jumping at all?? When I sign my contract (someday...someday...) I'll give an extra jump for you, k?

    Congrats!!

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  46. Thank you for sharing! I learned so much. I've never thought about someone asking me what my next project will be. I've never let anyone into that part of my world before. That would be sort of jarring.

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  47. Amy, I agree. There are very few folks that I have let in to that part of my world too. But it could be wonderful in that once someone like that knows, you have to get it DONE! :)

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  48. That Tess. Shes such a sweetie. Great interview. :)

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  49. superpaige, HOORAY! :)

    Karen, glad you enjoyed it. :)

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