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Old 07-10-2009, 10:29 PM   #1
KookyKat
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Is it true deals aren't made in the summer?

My agent told me two weeks back that he's going to wait till the summer is over (and he's happy with my revisions - which will make it next year at this rate ;-) before subbing my novel because he prefers to know he has a good chance of all the major players being around to read it (so if the editor likes it, then s/he takes it to the rest of the team).

Is anyone else hearing this from their agents/friends with agents?

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Old 07-10-2009, 10:31 PM   #2
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My agent started subbing on Monday. She said that three of the editors were on vacation until July 13th, but most of them were there. We already heard back from St. Martin's, Plume, Sourcebooks, and Kensington. She hopes to hear from the others by the end of next week.

Of course a lot of people take vacations during the summer, but I doubt the whole industry comes to a halt.
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Old 07-10-2009, 10:40 PM   #3
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Yes, I've heard this too, mebbe it's a UK thing? Especially with recent announcements about Penguin etc...
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Old 07-10-2009, 10:50 PM   #4
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I wish I could remember which blog I read this, but one agent said that while summer used to be a dead zone, that's less and less the case.
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Old 07-10-2009, 10:56 PM   #5
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What happens is many editors are on vacation and it takes longer to send a book through the editorial board. The exceptions are if it's a second (or third) book and part of an option-
For Lottery my agent waited to submit in November- often times it's strategy-
right now tho my agent has made several deals...
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Old 07-10-2009, 11:14 PM   #6
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Interesting... and lucky them!!
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Old 07-11-2009, 03:17 AM   #7
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New York does shut down early in the summers.
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Old 07-11-2009, 03:57 AM   #8
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I dunno. Have you read Publishers Marketplace lately. Lots and lots of deals are still happening every day.

When I was querying agents, it was right around Thanksgiving and "everyone" said agents usually go quiet between then and New Years. I had 5 full requests and signed with mine the week before Thanksgiving.

I don't think there are hard and fast rules about good or bad. Its getting your book in front of the agent or editor who loves it, whether its June or November. IMO
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Old 07-11-2009, 05:16 PM   #9
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Summer is conference and vacation season, which means a lot of editors are out of their offices. But deals still happen.
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Old 07-11-2009, 09:10 PM   #10
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Old 07-11-2009, 11:27 PM   #11
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I think it doesn't shut down but it's a bit slower as people are vacation. As someone who lives in New York (Manhattan) I have to say that the city all but shuts down in August, so I would expect it might be pretty close to business as usual for most of the summer, but in August, I don't know, NYC is like a ghost town...

All that said, I don't work in publishing, so this is my experience working in other industries (literally not being able to get anyone to do anything in August) and as someone living there and seeing it slow down to a crawl. I've never seen that anywhere else that I've lived - but it's understandable - NYC is miserably hot and gross in August
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Old 07-12-2009, 04:28 AM   #12
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My agent goes away for the entire month of August since everyone is on vacation. He edits, reads queries, and prepares for a big fall.
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Old 07-12-2009, 05:39 AM   #13
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