Remember in the olden days, when movies were based on nothing more than a screenwriter’s brainchildren? Now movies are based on novels, childrens’ books, even theme park rides. And which superhero is helping bridge the publishing world with the glittering stardust of Hollywood? That’s right, a hard-working, bookstore-scouring, voracious reader like one Ms. Sarah Self, literary agent at The Gersh Agency and champion of writers everywhere.

WordHustler sat down with Ms. Self to get the skinny on the convergence of Hollywood and the publishing industry, the kind of queries that hook her, and the lure of a good, old-fashioned zombie story. Read on to fill your cup with the elixir of publishing (and Hollywood) SUCCESS!

WordHustler: How did you get your start in the industry?

Sarah Self: I went to school at Northwestern University and got my start in the industry by working/interning for Lynda Obst, Jodie Foster, and Stacy Sher and Michael Shamberg at Jersey Films. In college I knew that this was the business I wanted to work in, so every summer I would come to LA and do internships. I did a lot of coverage and started building my resume.

Then when I graduated everyone told me I should get agency experience but didn’t think that I wanted to be an agent. I wasn’t totally sure what I wanted to do- maybe more in line with being a producer- I definitely knew I wanted to create. But agency experience really helps, despite what some may think. Agencies put it all together. Of course the project starts with the writer, but the agency is really the link that connects everybody. That’s where you have directors, writers, talent and they all come to an agency as the center point. It’s the perfect place to start if you’re not sure what you want to do, because you work with all the elements. So I started working at CAA for Bob Bookman, who’s the head of CAA’s Film Department and still my mentor today. He’s at the top of his game.

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Remember that over-achieving kid in your high school class who was on the varsity basketball team, President of the Student Body, AND played a mean guitar solo in the talent show? That’s J.E. Fishman…only in the publishing world. He’s been an accomplished editor at Doubleday, owned his own literary agency, and is a published non-fiction author. Did we mention he has a few novels and a screenplay in the pipeline?

But the best thing about J.E. is that he’s willing to share his experiences to help aspiring writers out there learn the lessons he has accumulated over his many years in the business. WordHustler sat down with J.E. to discuss how fast the industry moves, how much moxie it takes to survive, and why no one owes you a read. Hint: make sure you grab your reader from the start!

Read on to learn from J.E.’s heartaches, triumphs, and vision. You won’t be sorry!

WordHustler: You’ve been involved in pretty much every aspect of the publishing industry, from editor to agent to author. How long have you been writing?

J.E. Fishman: Like anyone who aspires to be published, in some sense I’ve been writing all my life.  I wrote stories as a kid.  Wherever I go - walking down the street, driving in the car - I see stories.  Recently, I was getting rid of an old office computer and had to laboriously wipe the hard drive clean one file at a time.  It was full of reading notes, book ideas - most important, story ideas.

WH: When you were an editor at Doubleday, which types of books/authors did you work with?

JEF: The books ran the gamut of non-fiction, from the equestrian library to true crime, business, sports, narrative non-fiction.  When I left Doubleday, I had a lot of credibility with journalists, so I ended up specializing in narrative non-fiction, though I agented the occasional novel.

WH: What is the main difference between being an editor now and when you were one?

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Therese Walsh is just your average writer/mom/website founder/wife/blogger/freelancer/chocolate enthusiast. But wearing that many hats takes someone a bit more than average. It takes someone extraordinary, just like Therese.

After years of freelance and research journalism, Therese has struck it big with her debut novel, The Last Will of Moira Leahy, which the Boston Globe called “a strange, fascinating novel of psychological suspense…suffused with the supernatural. (It’s) an imaginative exploration of the bond between twins.”

WordHustler sat down with Therese to explore the evolution of book titles, the challenges of running a writing site (Therese runs Writer Unboxed with some other fantastic ladies), and how sometimes you have to scrap the whole book and start fresh to make it work.

So read on to learn how Therese landed her dream agent, her dream publisher, and is rocking her way through her dream career! And you can, too!

WordHustler: You have a journalism and research background, and have spent time freelancing and working at Prevention magazine…what do you consider your first big break, writing-wise?

Therese Walsh: If I think about my writing career as a whole, then being hired to work as a researcher for Prevention Magazine was my big break. I was able to move from researcher to editorial assistant/writer relatively quickly, and learned that I had a true hunger for writing.

When I look at fiction alone, my big break came when I connected with my agent, Elisabeth Weed. She fell in love with The Last Will of Moira Leahy, and was able to sell the book to Random House in a pre-emptive two-book deal within about a month of our connecting.

WH: After so much journalism, what made you decide you HAD to write this upmarket women’s fiction novel? Had you published any fiction previously?

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Romance writer Marcia King-Gamble is in love with writing. And after twenty-five published books, her love has paid off. WordHustler sat down with Marcia to discuss query letters, finding an agent, and how everyone deserves a happy ending.

Read on to get inspired, then write your own happily ever after!

WordHustler: You’ve been reading romance novels since you were 6 years old, but how long have you been writing? Do you remember the first thing you ever wrote?

Marcia King-Gamble: It seems I have been writing most of my life.  My mother, who was a teacher, tells the story of taking me to her classes at age three and watching me scribble furiously as she spoke. She didn’t realize I was following her curriculum until one day she discovered I was actually writing. She called those stories my childhood fantasies.

In terms of actually creating adult stories, I’ve always had one story or another roaming around in my head. I wrote short stories in college, joined my local Romance Writers group years later, and had my first book published in 1998. Today I am still going strong and enjoying every bit of what I do.

WH: What were some of your favorite books when you were growing up? What about when you were a teenager?

MKG: Too many to mention but I’ll give it a try. I grew up on a British Caribbean Island and read what I got my hands on. Books like: Anne of Green Gables, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Bobbsey Twins, Animal Farm, To Kill a Mockingbird, Little Women, Jo’s Boys, etc.

These stories took me to far away places and fueled an already fertile imagination. In between I indulged a forbidden pleasure- I was after all six. I read Mills and Boon books – back then they didn’t even have sex. Now you know why I am a die-hard romantic

WH: What about romance writing draws you to it? Do you write any other genres of books?

MKG: I still believe in the happily ever after. We all need to believe that somewhere out there is a good fit. It helps us endure the dating nightmares.  Romance writing is about feel good stories and keeping hope alive. I have written mainstream books that wouldn’t exactly be classified as romance – This Way Home (paranormal), (contemporary), Hook Line & SingleMeet Phoenix (action adventure) – to name a few.

WH: You’ve written well over twenty-five books and have been published by Kensington, St. Martin’s Press, BET, and Harlequin. How did you go about finding an agent? Or did you send your book to publishers and get it published first?

MKG: I’ve actually had three agents throughout that process. When I first started out, I had already submitted to a publisher and gotten the nod. Then I got an agent. Agents are wonderful for helping with the negotiation process.

WH: What advice would you give writers for crafting a great query letter?

MKG: The query letter is an opportunity to showcase your voice so put your all into it.  In a succinct manner, tell the editor or publisher who you are and what story you have to tell. Mention a relevant movie or a best selling book that is similar. Add your unique plot twist and your writing credentials – even if modest, like contributions to  a company newsletter or poetry awards. The query letter should be a one-page sales pitch. Keep it short, sweet, and to the point.

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