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Success Story - Christopher Ryan
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An Interview with Christopher Ryan
(A QueryTracker Success Story)
After receiving six offers from six very prominent agents, Christopher Ryan signed with Melissa Flashman of Trident Media Group. This all happened several months ago, and although he contacted me back then and filled out our interview, I am only posting it now because I goofed and misplaced his interview and then forgot all about it. Sorry Christopher.
QueryTracker: How long have you been writing?
Christopher Ryan: Pretty much all my life. My mother's still got some stories I wrote about a wolf when I was six or seven. My undergraduate degree is in English.
QT: Is this your first book?
CR: Yeah, first full book, though I've had a few chapters included in anthologies (mostly scientific stuff).
QT: How long have you been working on this book?
CR: It's based on research I did for my doctoral thesis, so it's been on the back burner quite a while (almost a decade, all told).
QT: Do you have any formal writing training?
CR: Not other than the critical writing I did for school.
QT: Do you follow a writing "routine" or schedule?
CR: I try to get in front of the computer every day (or night). If it's flowing, I stay put as long as I can.
QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your novel?
CR: It's non-fiction. Language normally comes out pretty clean for me. My wife described my writing style as being similar to a dog taking a shit: I go around in circles for a while with a concerned expression on my face then I suddenly squat and out it comes.
QT: Did you have beta readers for your novel?
CR: Yes, my father and a couple of friends were kind enough to comment on the manuscript as I was writing.
QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?
CR: We were very lucky with this (it's co-authored with my wife). Our first batch of 30 queries got about 20 interested responses.
QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?
CR: We chose those rated "very good" or "excellent" on the Predators and Editors site, and who accepted queries by email.
QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?
CR: No.
QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?
CR: Get your query/proposal into tip-top shape before you send anything out. You've got one shot; don't waste anyone's time.
QT: Here is your chance to plug your book. Tell us a little about it.
CR: It's about the prehistoric origins of modern sexuality -- what sexuality was like in the Stone Age.
QT: Has your book been picked up by a publisher yet? And if so, is
there any news about when we can expect to see it on the shelves?
CR: Yes, it was sold to Collins (a division of HarperCollins) in an auction. It should be out in late 2009.
Thank you Christopher, and good luck with your book. You can read more about Christopher and his book at http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/lust-in-paradise
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