My latest manuscript, The Dragon's Song, is the story of refugees ("boat people") trying to escape from Vietnam during the early eighties. My agent started sending it out after a lengthy hiatus. Here was the first response from an editor at Disney/Hyperion:
Quote:
Thanks for your query regarding THE DRAGON’S SONG. In today’s climate, I think a white author writing a fictionalized version of an Asian’s story would draw criticism, and sales would suffer as a result. For this reason I am going to pass on this opportunity.
My agent set her straight by letting her know that a real Vietnamese person co-authored the work and is splitting the profits. So now the editor is happy and is reading the manuscript. Yay!
We've had to adjust the sales pitch (query letter) to make it very clear that this is a shared work and not that of a Caucasian intruding on an Asian's turf. Whatever it takes.
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Available now:
The Secret At Haney Field: A Baseball Mystery
The Right Hand Rule
Center Point
Dizzy Miss Lizzie
Running On Empty
The Tick Tock Man
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http://www.rmclarkauthor.com With agent:
The Dragon's Song
Waiting their turn:
The Night Train
Devin Drake: World's Worst Magician
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Devin Drake and The Family Secret
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Devin Drake and The Roller-Ghoster
Devin Drake and the Haunted Balcony