OK:  usually (almost always) the very first response is a PASS.  In this case the first response is a genuine expression of interest.  Matthew Benjamin at Touchstone called to say he really likes it, really likes the concept, really likes the writing itself—but also that he doesn’t really understand what the book itself is, what the arc of the story is, etc.  

 

And he’s right, we really HAVEN’T spelled that out explicitly.   We’ve told some great stories, given some fascinating history and context, listed some very intriguing characters and conflicts.  But the traditional chapter outline, where in we show the actual progression of the actual narrative itself—Gregg’s story, really, and the order in which its pieces will be laid out—isn’t here.

 

Now, back to Matthew:  he asked whether you’re coming in for meetings, which is a very good sign:  publishers try like hell to avoid meetings unless they’re genuinely intrigued; and given the proposal itself doesn’t lay everything out end-to-end, meeting face-to-face provides us the opp’y to convey that we nonetheless know how to lay out the story.

 

So  I think we SHOULD plan to do meetings, and I’d like you both to look at the week of Sept 19^th.  Ideally I’d like you to set aside a two-day swath of time; it may turn out we only have enough meetings for one day, but for now let’s block out for a best-case scenario.  

 

Let me know as soon as you can whether that’s feasible, and what two days might work for you both.

 

In the meantime, let me reiterate:  this is a very, very good first reaction.  Now let’s come up with a plan to meet with these folks quickly while their enthusiasm is high.

 

What say?

 

-Dan

 

 

Literary Agent

Writers House

(212) 696-3825