September | 2009 | Betsy Lerner

I’m Not Too Blind To See

Posted on September 4, 2009 by betsylerner

In a favorite scene from Entourage, the actor Jeremy Piven, aka Ari Gold, exclaims after making a mega deal for the guy with puppy eyes, Adrien Something, “You should call me Helen Keller because I’m a fuckin’ miracle worker.”

InToday,Nation, I struck such a deal and I’m not talking about a seven figure book contract. More impressive, I got my husband to agree to excuse me from going to a family wedding and spending Labor Day weekend at my in-laws which is our family tradition. Take it in. Take another minute. It’s okay.

The reason. The only reason: to write, of course. If you’re not writing this weekend, I hope you’re having sushi with Pevin. But hold on to your chopsticks, I hear he scarfs the stuff. Love, Betsy

Filed under: Agent | 5 Comments »

Etymology

Posted on September 3, 2009 by betsylerner

Unpacking unearthed a rare treasure: my pocket Oxford Dictionary which I bought in London in 1981, otherwise known as junior year abroad. I purchased it at Foyles, the venerable London book store, more like a church to me. The dictionary had been lost for at least a decade, so long that I had forgotten about it. But the moment I held it in my hand, the size and heft of a small prayer book, that lost and lonely year returned to me.

Mostly I remember my single room adorned with one single poster, Diane Arbus’ twins. How every night, I’d stretch out with my Hardy, Dickens, or Larkin and finish off a cheap bottle of red wine and a sleeve of peanuts from the corner grocery. Every night the shop owner seemed genuinely pleased to see me; while I acted as if I had never been there before and would certainly never return. I can’t tell you how happy I am to have this little dictionary back. You can hold it open in one hand and snap it shut like a purse. A phone number is scrawled in the end papers, 212-874-8954. Anyone?

Filed under: The End of the World as We Know It | 5 Comments »

All In the Family

Posted on September 2, 2009 by betsylerner

Publishing Industry Gets a Laugh Track

By Jason Boog on Sep 02, 2009 10:23 AM

Comedy scriptwriter Gail Lerner scored a deal with CBS for a new sitcom set in the hilarious world of contemporary publishing.

According to Hollywood Reporter, the show will follow the adventures of a book editor and her friends, and has the tentative title: “Open Books.” Lerner has worked on “Will & Grace,” co-executive produced for ABC’s “Ugly Betty,” and had a stint working on CBS’ “Worst Week.” She wrote what she knew: Lerner worked a stint as a publishing temp and her [older by ten years] sister Betsy Lerner spent 15 years as an editor and now runs a publishing website. [Hello, fact checker, that’s a blog. And I’m now an agent not a website publisher for the record.]

Here’s an inspiring quote from Lerner [the younger] that should cheer all publishers, from the article: “Publishing is a lot like sitcoms. Although both are supposedly dying, that only makes people more passionate about creating the next great novel or show.”

That’s my kid sis.

Filed under: The End of the World as We Know It | 7 Comments »

Don’t You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me?

Posted on September 1, 2009 by betsylerner

This is the kind of letter I get most often. I think it must be terrifying to deal with agents if you don’t have any experience, if you’re afraid to alienate one when you’re not certain if another is interested, when everything you’ve been hoping for…happens.

Betsy,
I have an offer of representation that I was at first excited about but after speaking with the offering agent I was less excited. Three other agents have my manuscript and I have notified them of the offer. I’ve stopped sending queries but still have some queries out there. My question: If I receive more requests for my manuscript is it okay to send the materials and tell the agent that I’ve had an offer I’m luke warm about?
How would you handle this situation? I don’t want to do anything unethical but also want to find the agent that is the best match for me.
Thanks,
happily confused

Dear HC: First, I’m dying to know what put you off the agent you were originally excited about? Simple common halitosis? Excessive name-dropping? Invited you to lunch at Balthazar which is so 2000?

So far, you ‘ve done everything right by alerting the agents who have your material. This is called LEVERAGE and we rarely have the chance to exercise it unless we are Google or George Clooney.

You’ve stopped sending it out. Good. But what about the queries you haven’t heard from? I think you should let those agents know that you’ve had a number of positive responses thus far and if they can look at it sooner rather than later you’d love to know what they think. I just got an email like that from a woman with two projects. I took a quick look at both (and if you’ve been reading this blog you know I hate considering two projects at once). Still, she came highly recommended and others were sniffing her petticoats. I was glad for the heads up. I might have passed more quickly, which is always the fear when forcing someone’s hand. But you’ve got to act. And I’d keep the agent with bad breath on the hook just in case the others don’t pan out, unless you wouldn’t want to work with him under any circumstances.

I think I’ve answered all your questions. Will you please come back and tell us how you made out, superstar? Also, if this project is so hot, have you ever heard of an agent called Betsy Lerner? Her breath is sweet mint, her name dropping levels respectable, tasteful even, and her restaurant selection more traditional than trendy, which is cool.

Filed under: Agent, Protocol | 5 Comments »