First, let me start by announcing our winner and runner up for the Hook Us With Your Hook contest:
Books & Such Literary 25th Anniversary Contest Winners Announced
The winner of the Books & Such Literary Management 25th Anniversary Contest is Marilyn Nutter’s Mourning Hope for Widows: Reflections on Loss and Life.
As president of Books & Such, Janet Grant was tasked with making the difficult final decision. “When I started to read the proposal and opening pages of Mourning Hope for Widows,” says Grant, “I was prepared to be unimpressed. Another book on widowhood? But as I read the proposal, I noted the apt selection of words, thoughtful presentation of the concept, and angles of approaching the topic that were fresh, something we agents are always looking for.”
Grant continues, “Then I read the beginning pages of the manuscript. Next thing I knew, I was so engaged in the flawless writing, beauty of expression, and ways Marilyn told about her husband’s death, that I was reduced to tears of empathy. This writer knows the power of the right word in the right place.”
Marilyn’s prize is a $250 Visa gift card. Congratulations, Marilyn!
The contest was designed to select one overall winner. “But, as I considered the proposals and sample chapters of the projects each agent chose as her pick, I couldn’t decide between two of them,” Grant says. “After waffling back and forth several times, it occurred to me that I could add a runner-up category. These two projects are both winners, and a cat’s whisker separated them in my mind.”
The runner-up in the 25th Anniversary Contest is Jessica Roach Ferguson with her romantic suspense, A Bad Guy Forever. Of the book, Grant says, “The tension between the hero and heroine is created through snappy dialogue and the guilt, anger, shame they both bear over a tragic moment in their past. The building suspense elements kept me engaged through every page.”
Jessica will receive a $100 Visa gift card. Congratulations, Jessica!
The Books & Such team also reviewed and made comments on each of the proposals submitted by the finalists and those will be returned to the 25 finalists in the coming week.
Thank you all for celebrating our 25th Anniversary with us!
The Books & Such agents have never done a contest like this before, so we had no idea what to expect. It was awe-inspiring to us how much could be determined from a one- or two-sentence hook. The quality hooks really did lead to some quality proposals and projects. It seemed that those who had really mastered their hook and had the ability to tell what the core of their book was in a brief way, had also taken the time to really nail their proposals and sample chapters.
We were very pleased with the projects we saw and had a lot of fun while we were evaluating them!
So I’d encourage you all to keep working on your hook (and proposal, too) get some feedback and have your critique partners weigh in. It can really make a difference!
Thanks, again, to those of you who participated in our contest! It was wonderful!
Hidden Treasure on Back Covers
I’ve always enjoyed Jessica’s writing!
Awww, thanks Charles. I appreciate that.
Congratulations Marilyn and Jessica! And congratulations Books & Such for 25 amazing years!
Congratulations to Marilyn and Jessica! And thank you Books & Such for the opportunity to participate. Was an honor to make the top 25.
Thank you so much for entering the contest. It was no small feat to make the top 25, Laura.
Yay, Marilyn and Jessica!
It’s good to read of other’s joys
without a grim green jealousy
that as its central trick employs
“Why could that have not been ME?”
I used to think that really most
of life was zero-sum,
and it was clear that I had lost
when another won.
But it’s not really that at all,
and my eyes were opened wide,
to find that all boats, large and small
are lifted by a rising tide,
and that the act of cheering for
an unmet friend makes my heart soar.
Thank you, dear Books & Such, for generously hosting the contest and continuing your generosity through all the helpful blog posts here.
It’s a gift to writers to have a safe and wise resource to refer to.
Congratulations to Marilyn and Jessica. Well done.
Blessings – Wendy Mac 🕊️
And thank you for entering the contest, Wendy. We love having you as part of our blog community.
☺️ Thank you, dear Janet.
Congratulations to the winner! They sound like books, and I hope they find a publishing home.
Congratulations Marilyn and Jessica! What a wonderful way to celebrate 25 years.
Congratulations to Marilyn and Jessica, and to Books & Such on celebrating 25 years. You make such a difference in so many readers’ and writers’ lives. Here’s to the next 25!
Congratulations, Marilyn and Jessica! Way to go!
And thank you to Janet and the Books and Such team for the opportunity to hone our hooking abilities, so to speak!
Thank you, Jeanne, for being such a steadfast part of our blog community.
Thank you, Books and Such, for the wonderful opportunity to grow as a writer through this contest! It is inspiring to see how you encourage so many writers through the offerings you have as an agency. Congratulations on 25 years and congratulations to Marilyn and Jessica!
Vina, I appreciate your participating in the contest and for being part of our blog community.
Thank you so much for hosting the contest, Books & Such. Congratulations on 25 wonderful years … and congratulations to Marilyn and Jessica!
How exciting not only for finalists but those who entered. Sounds like you may have found some gems for future publication!. An annual contest would be a great tradition.
Congratulations to Marilyn and the runner-up.
Daphne, I don’t know that we’ll make a writing contest an annual event, but I’m thinking we’ll revisit the possibility of a repeat down the road a bit.
Congratulations to an awesome agency on your 25th anniversary, and congratulations to the contest winners Marilyn and Jessica. Looking forward to reading your books.
Janet, will you be publishing the winning hooks?
Virginia, we agents discussed that, but some of the contestants had specifically asked us not to. They worked very hard on their hooks and didn’t want to make them public.
I want to thank everyone for their congrats! I’m honored to have been chosen as runner-up. I can write for years and years on that honor alone. 🙂 Such encouragement!
Jessica, I’m so glad you found being acknowledged by a prize rewarding and motivating. That makes me happy.
Congratulations to both of you! I appreciated the review notes by the judge. Thanks and best wishes!
I’m so glad the agent’s notes were helpful to you, Patricia. And congrats on being a semi-finalist.
Dear Janet, I did not know that! Would I have received an email? Wow. Thanks.
Congratulations to the winners and to everyone who placed, as well. What an accomplishment to all, prevailing thru such tremulous times. I know the Lord will bless the work of your hands.