Welcome Guest Blogger Superagent Natasha Kern

Missy, Natasha and Mary

 We have a very special guest on with us today. Literary Agent Natasha Kern. To Celebrate we are doing a giveaway of a prize fault full of books from Natasha's cliets.
Included in those prizes are books from: Robin Lee Hatcher, Tamera Alexander, Maggie Brendan, Margaret Brownley, Debra Clopton, Patti Lacy, Candice Calvert and Dorothy Love. Also from Natasha's Seeker clients, Mary Connealy (me), Julie Lessman, Glynna Kaye, Myra Johnson and Missy Tippens. We're winding down our Birthday Party month and what a great way to add a splash to the last weekend before the announcement of the big Netbook giveaway.
Winners of todays drawings will be announced on the Weekend Edition NEXT week, Nov. 5th.
And now, without further ado, (which means I'll shut up and let Natasha talk!!!)
here is Superagent (my nickname for her) Natasha Kern.

What Writers Should Expect from Agents

By Natasha Kern

Myra and Natasha

I thought it would be most helpful to talk about what I do for clients and to encourage every writer to get the support, advocacy and expertise of a good agent. In hiring professionals, people are generally aware of what to expect from a doctor, lawyer, architect, broker, etc. They look for degrees or a license. But writers have vague ideas of what agents actually do or whether they are qualified. Since an agent handles your income, it is similar to hiring a broker and you should understand the strategies for your career and how it will be actively managed.

I inform new writers about when to call me about problems by providing an extensive packet of information right away. With all the current industry upheavals and new opportunities there can be a lot of confusion. How can a writer feel more empowered?

Julie with Natasha

One of the questions a writer must ask is: What exactly is the 15% for? According to copyright law, the life of a book contract is now 35 years and the agent will be paid that entire time—so what is she doing after the first year? Think about this. If you hire a plumber or electrician and they aren’t doing a good job, you can fire them and hire someone else. An agent of record will represent you for the life of the contract—at least in terms of your paying them. So choose carefully!



Robin Lee Hatcher with Natasha

 It is widely believed that it is better to have any agent than no agent. THIS IS NOT TRUE! If you get a bad contract, it is difficult to impossible to change it later. Publishers know there are agents who do not read contracts or negotiate them or even read works they are submitting. Agents can receive very different contracts because an agency boilerplate with each house is based on previous work with that publisher and the agent’s leverage.



Natasha and Tamera Alexander

 Quite a few of my clients have had other agents previously and learned to be careful the hard way. A new writer should ask about the agent’s track record, and expect the agent to tell her what her strengths and weaknesses are. She should discuss her future plans, hopes and dreams and if she has other unpublished works, have them considered as possibilities. The agent will need to understand what her career potential is and which editor or house is the best match. If the author has been published, the agent should read some of her published books. The author should not feel rushed or pressured to sign.



Margaret Brownley and Natasha

 The agent should talk with the author about her reasons a published author has for making a change. They should discuss how many books she can write per year, her income expectations, her family situation and how that affects her writing and so on. Some agents feel they should not put any time into a writer who might then sign with another agent. I think a writer should have a chance to ask questions just as you might of any other professional. You would expect to discuss your case with an attorney or plans with an architect or have an initial interview with a real estate agent or even several BEFORE signing with them.

Debra Clopton and Natasha

A writer should expect the agent to go over contracts with her, explaining every aspect to her, both positive and negative. The agent should look at the previous contracts for a published author and tell her what improvements could be expected if she signs.

The agent should provide contact information for several clients so the author can learn more about the agent’s workstyle and interactions with writers and publishers.

The agent can provide examples of sticking with writers through thick and thin because ‘thin’ times are bound to happen. Would the agent drop a writer if there isn’t a sale in the first year? What will happen if the initial work is rejected everywhere?



Patti Lacy and Natasha

 How many other clients are on this agent’s list. If there are few, say under 35, is this agent active enough? If there are more than 75, will a new client get adequate time and attention?

On a recent panel at a conference I attended, we were asked what the most important thing an agent should look for in an author and vice versa and two agents said they expected to have a friend. My comment was that in this day of tight family budgets, I don’t think any writers need to pay 15% of their income for friendship. And what are the expectations of this ‘friend”? Take care of the kids if you are sick? Do you want your broker to be a friend—even if he loses your retirement savings? I do have clients who are close friends, soul sisters, prayer partners—but that is not what you should look for.



Dorothy Love and Natasha

 Several of my clients were earning very low advances when I began working with them and have gone on to hit bestseller lists and earn six figures/year. That takes work, attention and time, and planning aside from luck. Some have film deals or are bestsellers in other countries.

An agent should support and advise you whenever trouble arises. It can come in the form of: an editor leaving; a book being postponed or cancelled; family problems; you cannot meet a deadline; you want to change genres; your line is dropped or publisher goes out of business; market changes; a terrible cover or jacket blurb that could kill the book (I request changes on the majority of covers; rewrite the majority of blurbs); you have a career hiatus; your contract isn’t renewed; there are problems with the marketing plan for your work (which your agent should always review with you and work on with the in-house team) you face personal bankruptcy; your rights are due for reversion and you don’t know how to get them back or what to do with them. Three of my clients have had cancer in the past year and needed amendments or extensions. Who will handle your literary estate? Does the agent have a strong team of co-agents in Hollywood or subagents worldwide? Does she work with scouts, attorneys, auditors and other experts who can support you? Can she help you to publish ebooks as part of her services and part of your career? Some agents do a lot with ebooks and some do nothing. Who will advise you about the smorgasbord of options now available to writers and stay on top of new opportunities?

I follow the precept of Edward Everett Hale: I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I should do and, by the Grace of God, I will do.

Natasha Kern
http://www.natashakern.com/

Mary Again: Leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for a copy of one of Natasha's clients' books. THE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE WEEKEND EDITION FOR NEXT WEEK, NOT TOMORROW.
I'll draw two winners an hour for eight hours beginning at 8 am for these books:
Within my Heart Tamera Alexander
Deeply Devoted by Maggie Brendon
A Vision of Lucy by Margaret Brownley
Code Triage by Candace Calvert
Her Rodeo Cowboy Debra Clopton
Out of Control and Ten Plagues Mary Connealy
Belonging (Where the Heart Lives) Robin Lee Hatcher
A Horseman's Heart Myra Johnson
Dreaming of Home Glynna Kaye
Reclaiming Lily, What the Bayou Saw, An Irishwoman's Tale, Rhythm of Secrets by Patti Lacy
Julie Lessman Winner’s Choice or any of Julie’s books
Beyond All Measure by Dorothy Love
A Family for Faith Missy Tippens