Arts & Entertainment
Grayslake Author Lives A Cinderella Story In The Publishing World
In four short years, Erica O'Rourke went from starting a story to a multibook deal with an agent and a publisher.
Erica O’Rourke started writing her manuscript in 2007, started submitting it to agents and publishers in late 2008, then entered it in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart competition in 2009. By 2010, she had offers from publishers and agents to represent her work! That’s a whirlwind project with a fairy tale ending.
Patch asked O'Rourke about how it all happened, and for her advice for others who want to follow in her footsteps.
Patch: How did it all begin, and where do you write?
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O’Rourke: I started writing at my kitchen table, and then when we moved to our new house, I moved to an office in the laundry room of the basement.
Patch: What inspired you to write your first book, TORN?
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O’Rourke: I was actually in the shower one day, and started to wonder what would happen if the main character in a story like Harry Potter died and the “average” best friend had to come in and save the day. That’s how I began my story.
Patch: Did you ever considering self-publishing your story, or did you know you always wanted to go the route of traditional publishers?
O’Rourke: No. I never considered self-publishing. For me, I love the editorial feedback of traditional publishers and distribution is so much better. Self-publishing takes a LOT of work all the way around, from editing to promotion.
Patch: Did you receive a lot of rejections before your manuscript was sold?
O’Rourke: I received approximately five-10 rejections.
Patch: How did you target the agents and publishers you sent your manuscript to?
O’Rourke: I researched agents that were going to the RWA (Romance Writers of America) conference (I was attending) and picked from that list of agents. Once I met the agent I liked at the conference, I felt we had a great fit. I interviewed two other agents after that, but once a publisher made me an offer, I knew I wanted to go with the original agent I had met. She was by far my favorite.
Patch: What is your agent’s name and the agency she is with?
O’Rourke: I am represented by Joanna Volpe with the Nancy Coffey Literary and Media Representatives.
Patch: What, in your opinion, makes a great agent?
O’Rourke: I think a writer needs to know what he/she wants and expects from an agent personally. For me, I wanted the following things:
- Lots of editorial feedback.
- Ability to communicate with me.
- I like to know what’s going on and be kept in the loop.
- I want someone who is very fast at getting back to me (I didn’t have to wait a week for correspondence).
- I wanted someone who is always looking at the big picture as far as total career, branding of an author, etc.
- I wanted someone I can trust. I’ll do whatever my agent says because I have complete trust in her instincts.
Patch: Do you feel you negotiated a better advance, royalties, and rights having an agent?
O’Rourke: Yes, most definitely. For me, the most advantageous part is that she (my agent) kept world rights, so when my manuscript sold in Germany, for example, I was paid all over again. This is something authors don’t typically get.
Patch: Do you have a publicist and how did you find him?
O’Rourke: Yes I have a publicist. I received him through Kensington, my publisher. They work in-house for Kensington, so I do not have to pay them out of my own pocket.
Patch: What, if any, professional organizations are you in?
O’Rourke: I am in RWA, which is the Romance Writers of America, and am involved in the local and national chapters. It was their contest, the Golden Heart, which I won with my novel TORN.
Patch: When does the second book in the series come out, and what is the title? How can people get it?
O’Rourke: The second book is titled TANGLED and comes out Jan. 31, 2012. (You can pre-order it on Amazon.com, and look for it at libraries, book stores, and Target once it is released.)
O’Rourke will be giving a speech on writing at the SCBWI-Far North Suburbs’ monthly meeting held upstairs at the Barnes & Noble store at Westfield Hawthorne’s shopping mall in Vernon Hills from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19. The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators is a worldwide organization.
The meeting is free. To learn more about this author, visit her website at www.ericaorourke.com.
