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UB Shuttle
The University of Bridgeport provides a free shuttle to campus destinations and major transit centers for students with a valid university ID. The shuttle is operated by Campus Security. Please contact them at 203-576-4913 or email@example.com with any questions about this service.
Bus Service
Bus schedules are available at the campus information counter located in the Student Center. The bus terminal is located at 35 John Street in downtown Bridgeport. For more information, please call (203) 366-7070.
National Bus Lines
For traveling out of the local area and out of state of Connecticut, the following services are available:
- Greyhound: (800) 231-222 or www.greyhound.com
- Bridgeport Bus Terminal: (203) 335-1123 or http://gogbt.com/
- Peter Pan/Trailways: (800) 343-9999 or (203) 334-2116 or http://peterpanbus.com/
Train Services
- Metro North goes Southbound to New York City and northbound to New Haven, making local stops along the way in towns such as Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford and Hamden, etc. For more information please call 1-800-638-7646 or visit mta.info/mnr
- Amtrak goes to Boston and Washington D.C., as well as other cities and states on the east coast. Call 1-800-872-7245 or visit www.amtrak.com.
- The Bridgeport Railroad Station is located in downtown Bridgeport, opposite the bus station.
Ferry Boat Services
- The Bridgeport/Port Jefferson Ferry provides transportation to Long Island, N.Y. Call 1-800-443-3779 or visit www.88844ferry.com.
Taxi Services
- Metro Cab: (203) 333-3333
- Yellow Cab: (203) 334-2121
Free City Bus Pass
All full-time UB students are permitted to ride on the city bus system for free. The Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority buses stop at many entertainment, shopping, and cultural destinations throughout the city and surrounding towns.
To obtain your city bus pass, contact:
Campus Security
Norseman Hall
221 University Avenue
Airport Shuttle Service
On select dates during August and January new student orientation, the University will provide free shuttle service for new students from JFK Airport. Please contact firstname.lastname@example.com for more info about this service. At all other times, for transportation from JFK or LaGuardia airports, the University of Bridgeport recommends that you take Prime Time Shuttle (also known as GO Airport Shuttle) to UB. To reserve a seat, you can go to their website and use a credit card. If you have not reserved a seat before you arrive, you can typically secure a seat on a Prime Time shuttle once you arrive at the airport.
- Once you have arrived at the airport, claimed your baggage, and gone through Customs and Immigration (for International students), go to the Ground Transportation Counter located just outside the baggage claim area.
- Call Prime Time/GO Airport Shuttle on the Courtesy Phone to let them know you have arrived, or tell someone at the Ground Transportation Counter that you want to take the shuttle to the University of Bridgeport. They will tell you where to wait, and the driver will pick you up and take you to your address in Bridgeport.
- The ride to the University of Bridgeport takes about 1 hour. The last van leaves the airports at 10:00 p.m.
- The cost for the trip to the University of Bridgeport is about $60. You should give the driver a tip of about $5.
If you arrive at Newark Airport in New Jersey, you can use Connecticut Limo. Follow the same procedure as above, but ask for Connecticut Limo instead. Connecticut Limo does not take you to your campus address but arrives at the Bridgeport Terminal. The price is about $65 per person. The van leaves frequently throughout the day, until midnight. Once you arrive at Bridgeport Terminal, you should ask for a taxi to the University of Bridgeport. The cost of a taxi to campus from the Bridgeport Terminal is about $6.
In the unlikely event that your flight is delayed past the last departure of these pick-up services, you should stay in an airport hotel overnight and come to Bridgeport the following morning.
DO NOT take a taxi directly from any NY/NJ airport to Bridgeport. It is VERY expensive!
Zipcar Car-Sharing Service
Having a car on campus just got a whole lot easier!
Students at the University of Bridgeport can now have wheels with no strings attached! Zipcar, the world's leading car-sharing service, is now on campus. With Zipcar, members can reserve self-service, on-demand cars by the hour or day, 24/7. All UB students 18 years of age and older can become a member today for only $25 and will receive $35 in free driving credits. Students who are current Hertz Connect members can transfer their membership to Zipcar for FREE! You can transfer your membership at www.zipcar.com/bridgeport.
As a member you receive:
- Access to Zipcars 24/7
- Gas, insurance, and maintenance are included for free!
- You only need to be 18+ to join
- Discounted hourly rates that start at just $7.50/hour or $69/day
Wondering how it works? There are 4 simple steps to Zipcar freedom:
- Join today at www.zipcar.com/bridgeport
- Once you're a member, reserve a car online or on your phone for as short as an hour or as long as 7 days
- Let yourself into the car with your unique Zipcard (the keys are already in the car) and…
- Drive away (just make sure to return the car at the end of your reservation)
With Zipcar parked right on campus, it's easy to get downtown, do errands, or even take a road trip. And since Zipcar covers gas, insurance, and up to 180 miles per day, you can enjoy the freedom of the open road without any of the extra costs.
Interested? Join today at www.zipcar.com/bridgeport and follow us on Facebook.
For more information on i.d. and/or documents needed for international students to reserve a Zipcar, please refer to www.zipcar.com/apply/foreign-drivers.


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USC students excavating Hilton Head shipwreck
By Peggy Binette, firstname.lastname@example.com,803-777-5400
A team of USC maritime archaeologists are on the beach near Harbour Town on Hilton Head Island today (Friday) training a group of students how to get an unidentified shipwreck to reveal its secrets.
Archaeologist Ashley Deming and archaeology technicians Carl Naylor and Joe Beatty are showing four students how to excavate and record the remains of an abandoned wooden vessel that was reported to state archaeologists in late 2010. The students are adult scuba divers who are taking a four-day Sport Diver Archaeology Management Program course offered through USC's South Carolina Institute for Archaeology and Anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The vessel, located on the beach of Calibogue Sound, was reported to state archaeologists in late 2010 by Sea Pines resident Sally Peterson and her brother Peter Thompson. State archaeologists visited the site, located on a shell beach not far from the 18th tee of Harbour Town Golf Links, in March 2011.
"We decided that the wreck needed further study and would be an excellent opportunity to teach students the basics of ship recording," Deming said.
What type of vessel was it? How old is the vessel? Why was it abandoned? Where was the vessel built? These are just some of the questions the archaeologists and students hope to answer.
"Our purpose is twofold," Deming said. "First, we want to learn as much as we can about this particular shipwreck. Second, we want to give the students the tools necessary to become our eyes and ears in South Carolina waters."
At the end of the course, the wreck will be sandbagged and reburied to protect it from future deterioration.
Students Bruce Orr, Don Davic, Richard Painter and Brianna Blacklock are certified scuba divers who frequently dive in Lowcountry rivers and coastal waters. Because Lowcountry divers routinely find previously unknown shipwrecks in state waters, USC maritime archaeologists are working to train them on basic archaeology methods.
"We not only want divers to report these valuable cultural resources to us, but also provide some basic information about each site so that we can formulate plans for their protection," Deming said.
Scuba divers who want to collect artifacts and fossils from state waters are required to have a license issued by the state. This licensing program is administered through the USC Sport Diver Archaeology Management Program, whose offices are at the Fort Johnson Marine Resources Center on James Island near Charleston.
"The divers get to keep everything they find provided they report to us descriptions and precise locations of their finds," Deming said. "But we want them to be more than collectors. We want them to become protectors of South Carolina's submerged cultural resources."
The USC archaeologists and students are staying at the S.C. Department of Natural Resources' Waddell Mariculture Center near Bluffton for the course, which concludes July 15.
USC has trained approximately 175 students through the SDAMP field courses since 1990. For more information, visit the SDAMP website or its Facebook page.
News and Internal Communications

subset: commoncrawl


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Senate set for tax plan showdown
For two years, Senators Ron Wyden and Judd Gregg met almost every week to talk about taxes. The exuberant, indefatigable Democrat from Oregon and the dour, taciturn Republican from New Hampshire made an odd couple. But they shared a singular, nerdy passion for wanting to overhaul the tax code and their lengthy negotiations ultimately resulted in the Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act they introduced in 2010.
Gregg, who left the Senate that same year, describes Wyden as "somebody who has relentless optimism." There were many substantive disagreements between them along the way as they tried to hash out the details of the plan, and Gregg recalls, "On numerous occasions I gave up on the process but he (Wyden) would track me down on the floor or in an elevator and insist we keep at it."
Their plan to simplify the tax code, reduce corporate and personal rates and eliminate many exemptions and write-offs didn't have much chance of being enacted, but both men thought it was worth the effort. "We enjoyed it because it was so tough," says Wyden.
"Something like that takes a long time, it's like a cork floating to the surface of the ocean," Gregg says.
That same year President Obama created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform co-chaired by former GOP Senator Alan Simpson and Clinton White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles to come up with a bipartisan "grand bargain" for tax and entitlement reform. The plan, though widely discussed, didn't go very far either. But Gregg, a member of the commission who voted in favor of its final report, says a lot of its ideas came from his and Wyden's tax plan and will be the basis for future discussions.
While a grand bargain is extremely unlikely, Wyden intends to keep pushing for piecemeal reform. After years as an earnest, wonky backbencher toiling on seemingly impossible legislative quests, Wyden as the new chairman of the Senate Finance Committee will now have a seat at the table when big decisions are made.
The Finance Committee is the most consequential and powerful committee in the Senate with far-reaching jurisdiction over tax, trade, and health care issues affecting every American, and it provides a huge platform for Wyden's ideas along with the staff and resources to implement them.
"I've had these tax reform bills for a decade. We've put some sweat equity into this," Wyden told me the day he formally took over the chairmanship just before the Senate adjourned for its President's Day recess. "I come to play every day. I'm going to be looking for activist opportunities that have a strong bipartisan coalition behind them… This is the go-to place for tackling big things."
Wyden is popular with GOP colleagues for his collegiality, work ethic and willingness to include their ideas in legislation. "At his core he is very liberal but he's also willing to go across the aisle and be bipartisan which is what you have to do to get anything done and really govern," asserts Gregg.
Read The Full Article On The Daily Beast
More articles from The Daily Beast:
- The Podcast Too Hot for iTunes
- The Conservative Crusade For Christian Sharia Law
- Why Is Walmart Paying Chris Christie's Pals?
© 2013 Newsweek/Daily Beast Company LLC


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Former president Bill Clinton's stem-winding nomination speech was a fact-checker's nightmare: lots of effort required to run down his many statistics and factual claims, producing little for us to write about.
Republicans will find plenty of Clinton's scorching opinions objectionable. But with few exceptions, we found his stats checked out.
The worst we could fault him for was a suggestion that President Obama's Affordable Care Act was responsible for bringing down the rate of increase in health care spending, when the fact is that the law's main provisions have yet to take effect.
FactCheck.org: Bill Clinton's speech was a nightmare, lots of work only to find almost everything was true
Current Status: Blessed (1)
Seeded on Thu Sep 6, 2012 1:57 PM
keyboard shortcuts: V vote up article J next comment K previous comment


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3vprinting offer custom tee shirts printing for individuals, businesses
family re- union churches and etc.
If you are in Austell ga area and you are looking for a high quality
screen printing tee shirts for cheap and affordable price call 4042549651
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'The league is holding firm on its pledge to gain "cost certainty" that will tie player salaries to revenues. The NHLPA has offered a 24 percent rollback on salaries but refuses to agree to a salary cap.'
Reports: NHL readying to cancel season
February 14, 2005 Submitted by
Via: Business First of Buffalo


text: The NY Daily News is reporting that Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy are on the rocks. For the past few months they have both been the subject of blinds about their relationship and moving on to other people. The article says that because of their schedules they never see each other. They could make time to see each other if they wanted. They have been engaged for almost three years so it doesn't look like there was any rush to get married and they are rarely spotted together and spend so much time apart that they were probably hoping no one would even notice they weren't a couple any longer. The article says Kate has three movies in production and Matt has the whole Muse thing so it is easy to use the whole schedules thing but they had no issues finding time for each other in the early days of their relationship and just don't seem to want to find time to be together now.


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Click Here for Cleaning Instructionsand to Learn More
Welcome home to the ease and comfort of this casual 3 seat sofa from the Paula Deen Home collection. It features familiar touches such as box border attached backs and paneled roll arms. Also note the classic turned wood legs. This style features 2 pairs of accent pillows and Paula's exclusive Down Blend seat cushions for a plush feeling that you love coming home to. Also available are the matching loveseat, chair 1/2, and ottoman to complete your room.
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text: Peter from Kerrville, Texas writes: My system runs Windows XP, Service Pack 3. In the "Windows" directory there is a sub-directory labeled "Installer". This directory is very large (2 GB) and contains many .msp and .msi files. My question is can any of these files be deleted in order to regain some disk space? Thank you in advance for your help and answer. Answer: The good news is… Continue reading


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Our bullion fringe from Conso comes in 31 lovely colors and is available in 6" width on 12 yard reels. From the Veranda Collection.
General Shipment Timing GuidelineThis product takes about 4 weeks before we are ready to ship not including ship time to your area from JKM's facility.
(Product Characteristic: Fabric Fringe) / (Fabric Content: 100% Polyester)


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American popular music reflects what is happening in the broader society at specific
and presents a lens for viewing broad social, cultural, political, and historic trends.
WKU Libraries is pleased to provide America's Music: A Film History of our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway. This series will consist of seven sessions dealing with different musical genres that were born from—and reflect—uniquely American aspects of our history and culture.
Without Broadway, there would be no Glee. Without the Mississippi Delta, there would be no Blues.
And the story of the South Bronx is the story of Mambo and Hip-Hop.
Each session will have a short film, which will be introduced by an expert in that genre. After the film, the expert will discuss and lead an interactive discussion on what that genre reflects about American culture.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Film: The History of Rock n Roll: Episode 6, Plugging In [from Bob Dylan acoustic
to Haight-Asbury electric]
Speaker: Kevin White, Mineral Area College
WKU Music Hall, Choral Rehearsal Room, 7 p.m.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Interactive discussion: The roles of Women and the Sociology of Popular Music
Steven Groce, WKU Department of Sociology
7 p.m., Location TBA
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Film: High Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music
Speaker: Erika Brady, WKU Folk Studies & Barren River Breakdown co-host
WKU Music Hall, Choral Rehearsal Room, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Broadway: The American Musical Episode 2: Syncopated City (1920s-era Broadway)
Speaker: Michelle Dvoskin, WKU Department of Theatre & Dance
WKU Music Hall, Choral Rehearsal Room, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Film 1: Martin Scorsese's The Blues Episode 1: Feel Like Going Home
Film 2: Say Amen, Somebody (Gospel music)
Speakers: Clay Motley, WKU Honors College, and John Edumunds, Gospel Artist (The John Edmonds' Gospel Truth)
WKU Music Hall, Choral Rehearsal Room, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Film 1: Ken Burns Presents Jazz, Episode 6: The Velocity of Celebration
Film 2: International Sweethearts of Rhythm
Marshall Scott, WKU Music Department
(with assistance from John Martin and Wayne Pope)
WKU Music Hall, Choral Rehearsal Room, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Film 1: Latin Music USA Episode 1: Bridges
Film 2: From Mambo to Hip-Hop: A South Bronx Tale
Speakers: Audrey Gossom (DJ Diamond), WKU Alum and local Hip-Hop DJ, and Mark Berry, WKU Music Department
WKU Music Hall, Choral Rehearsal Room, 7 p.m.
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Official Site for Soap Nuts, Wool Dryer Balls and Organic Cleaning Products. Eco Nuts are berries that grow on a tree in the Himalayas and naturally contain a soap. Multiple Award winning and certified USDA Organic by Oregon Tilth. Are you tired of spending too much on laundry detergent and other cleaning products? Are you looking for mild, natural products that are effective, yet eco-friendly and safe to use on sensitive skin? Eco Nuts® soap nuts and natural cleaning products might be just what you need.
Eco Nuts® soap nuts are berries that grow on trees found in the Himalayas. They naturally produce a substance called saponin, which is a natural cleaner that works as a surfactant. Made with de-seeded and sterilized soap nuts and soap berry extract, our eco-friendly products are certified organic and provide you a greener, gentler, and more natural way to do your laundry and keep your home fresh and clean.
Created by a scientist and a serial entrepreneur, Eco Nuts was created to help consumers feel great about the products they are using. If you are a mother, student, or anyone, our soapnuts will help you feel like you are making a difference. On average, by using our natural laundry detergent, you can save up 15 plastic jugs a year!
We also offer household cleaning supplies and wool dryer balls that we hope will transform you into an eco-nut!
To learn more about Eco Nuts laundry and cleaning products, click here.
OUR LINE OF NATURAL PRODUCTSSoap Nut Laundry Detergents
- Eco Nuts® Natural Laundry Soap (360, 100, and 10 loads): Certified organic, wild-harvested and grown without chemicals, fertilizers, or pesticides- Eco Nuts sterilized soap nuts are the greenest laundry soap you can find anywhere. Because they don't contain harsh chemicals found in ordinary detergents, they're safe for those with sensitive skin, eczema, and psoriasis. They're hypoallergenic and great for baby clothes and cloth diapers too!
- Eco Nuts Liquid Detergent (24/48 HE and 60/120 HE loads): An extreme concentrate made from soap berry extract. Our liquid detergent is ideal for High Efficiency (frontloading) washing machines and cold water washing. One teaspoon is all you need to wash one regular load of laundry.
- Certified Organic Multi-Surface Cleaning Spray: Uses our proprietary blend of essential oils and botanical extracts. Ideal for cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, it is also safe to use on tile, metal, stone, porcelain enamel, chrome, and other non-porous surfaces.
- Certified Organic Glass Cleaner Spray: To help you achieve an organic streak-free shine, we've combined the power of soap berry extract, vinegar, and other botanical extracts in this unique, all-natural product.
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CERRITOS - When a teacher at Stowers Elementary School in Cerritos allegedly made death threats against two other teachers, then-principal Eileen Blagden thought she was doing the right thing by reporting the incident to police.
"I was told (by an ABC Unified School District employee in the Human Resources Department) not to say anything or tell anyone," Blagden said.
"But I thought I was protecting the students and teachers by going to the Sheriff's Department. I figured the district would see my side of it."
Blagden said she didn't expect to lose her job.
After she reported the death threat incident to authorities in 2010, Blagden said she was put on administrative leave and ultimately demoted to a teaching position.
The 51-year-old La Mirada resident and mother of two hired a lawyer and filed a lawsuit against ABC Unified, alleging retaliation for whistle-blowing. The case is now making its way through the court system.
Last week, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Joanne O'Donnell denied the school district's motion for a summary judgement. The judge set a jury trial for Oct. 31.
ABC Unified Superintendent Mary Sieu declined to comment on the case, citing confidentiality in personnel matters.
Sieu, in an email, said the teacher who allegedly made the death threats, Kevin Michael Kirby, is "no longer working" in the district.
Sieu, who officially replaced retired former Superintendent Gary Smuts this month, didn't say when Kirby stopped working for ABC Unified nor the circumstances surrounding his departure.
Kirby couldn't be reached for comment this week.
Blagden's attorney, Ronald Wilson, said he reviewed her personnel files and found no negative performance evaluations during her years as principal.
Blagden, an educator for 26 years who previously taught in the Anaheim City School District, joined ABC Unified in 2003 as principal of Stowers.
In the 2009-2010 school year, Kirby, a tenured teacher with the district, was transferred from a middle school to a kindergarten class at Stowers following a period of suspension, Blagden said.
She said district officials didn't say why Kirby had been suspended from his previous teaching position.
Los Angeles Superior Court records show Kevin Michael Kirby had legal problems in Long Beach in early 2009 when he faced two charges of lewd conduct and indecent exposure in a public place.
Kirby was acquitted of both charges but was found guilty of a misdemeanor charge of being in a public park, beach or building during closing hours.
State records show that Kirby still holds a teaching credential, which expires on Oct. 1.
Halfway through the school year, Blagden said Kirby was involved in an accident while riding his motorcycle on the freeway. The teacher, she said, showed up at the school disheveled and distraught but insisted on teaching his class.
"He told me he had refused medical treatment at the scene of the accident," Blagden said.
Disturbed by his condition, Blagden urged Kirby to get medical treatment and told him he couldn't report to his classroom.
She said Kirby became visibly distraught and at one point said, "I wish I was dead." He then said he had been having problems with two of his fellow kindergarten teachers and wanted to hire a "hit man" to kill them, according to Blagden.
Blagden said she excused herself from the room and called the district's Human Resources Department.
A short time later, human resources personnel and a representative of ABC Unified's teachers union arrived and escorted Kirby to a medical facility.
Blagden said she was told by district officials not to do anything else and that the school district would handle the situation. But as the weekend came, Blagden said she was concerned that Kirby would return to the school the following Monday.
She filed a report with the L.A. County Sheriff's Department over the weekend and notified the two teachers Kirby allegedly identified as targets. The following week, Blagden claims she was placed on administrative leave for "unknown reasons."
The L.A. County District Attorney's Office decided not to pursue the death threat incident and dropped the case, she added.
Blagden claimed the school district subsequently investigated her for about three months. In June 2010, she was reassigned to teach at another elementary school in the district.
Blagden is seeking salary compensation and an unspecified amount in emotional damages.
email@example.com, 562-714-2181, twitter.com/kellypuentept


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According to KMUD News, US Marshalls were canvassing Southern Humboldt today looking for Dinette Eugene Patterson (shown in the photo). Patterson is wanted for allegedly stabbing and murdering Charles Jordan in Sacramento.
Patterson is described as a black male adult, 5-feet 11-inches tall, weighing 195 pounds. If you have information about this suspect, please call the Fugitive Watch hot line at 1-800-9-CAUGHT (1-800-922-8448) or text at 408-355-0999, or call local law enforcement. Tune in to the KMUD Local news tonight (Fri., March 14, 2014) to hear more on this story
Foul play is suspected in the disappearance of Robert Joseph Tennison, age 42.Tennison (shown in the photo) was reported missing on March 19, 2009 and was last seen in the Rancho Sequoia area of Alderpoint. Law enforcement is treating Tennison's disappearance as a possible homicide and served a search warrant on a residence and parcel of property located in the 1000 block of Rancho Sequoia Road. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office is requesting that anyone having information on Tennison's disappearance please contact, Detective Sam Williams at 707-268-3645 or the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office at 707-445-7251. The full Humboldt County Sheriff's Office press release appears below.
To get more information about this case, KMUD News Director Terri Klemetson interviewed Lt. Wayne Hanson from the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office. Use the KMUD News SoundCloud player below to hear the interview, which aired on the KMUD Local News on Thurs., March 13, 2014.
HCSO Press Release, dated March 13, 2014:
On 03-12-2014 at about 0900 hours the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the State of California Department of Justice served a search warrant on a residence and parcel of property located in the 1000 block of Rancho Sequoia Road, Alderpoint. The search warrant was related to the disappearance of Robert Joseph Tennison age 42, who was reported as a missing person on 03-19-2009 to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office considers the disappearance of Tennison as suspicious and are concerned that Tennison may be the victim of foul play. The search warrant was served on the property in Rancho Sequoia after new information was received in the investigation.
Several items of evidence where seized by the Department of Justice to be tested a later date for any forensic clues related to Tennison's disappearance.
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office is requesting that if anyone has information on the Tennison's disappearance to please contact, Detective Sam Williams at 707-268-3645 or the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office at 707-445-7251.
A 6.9 magnitude earthquake, centered in the ocean approximately 51 miles off the coast of Eureka CA, occurred on Sunday March 9, 2014 at around 10:18 PM Pacific Daylight Time. The initial quake was followed by around 10 aftershocks which ranged from 2.7- to 4.6-magnitude. According to early reports there was no major damage or injuries. Hear more tonight on the KMUD Local News.
Links to additional information:
USGS Earthquake info.
Times Standard article
Jay Patton online
LA Times
The embedded You Tube video below ( uploaded by RIDAK LUDBA) discusses the earthquake and gives additional earthquake reports:
Excitement was generated on Friday, March 7, when former Eureka City Council Member, Chris Kerrigan, announced his campaign to challenge incumbent, Virginia Bass, for the Humboldt County Board of Supervisor's (BOS) seat. A press release from the Kerrigan campaign said, "As a two term Eureka City Councilmember (2000-2008), Kerrigan focused on economic development, public safety and creating a livable, walkable community. Now he plans to bring these values to the Board of Supervisors."
Many county residents have expressed disappointment and cynicism in the directions taken by the BOS since the last election, viewing the Board as being dominated by special interest agendas. Until Kerrigan entered the race there had been no challenges to the two incumbent Supervisors, Virginia Bass and Ryan Sundberg. Although time is short between now and Election Day on June 3, Kerrigan made his intentions clear on his Facebook page saying, "Four years ago Virginia Bass ran for this office on the position of passing the general plan. Due to her actions on the Board of Supervisors we're further away today than we were 4 years ago. Today, I filed my papers to run for the Fourth District seat. I intend to spend the next 90 days talking to people about tangible solutions to move Humboldt forward."
KMUD News Correspondent, Daniel Mintz, attended Kerrigan's campaign announcement on Friday and aired the report below on the KMUD Local News Friday March 7, 2014.
"Eureka currently has one of the highest per-capita property crime rates in California for a city our size", according to a recent Eureka Police Department press release. The release further states that, "Experience shows that when people commit property crimes, they continue to offend until apprehended." To reach out to the community for help in locating "property crime" suspects the EPD has published "Eureka's Most Wanted" poster as appears below.
Anyone encountering the listed subjects should not attempt to contact or apprehend them, but rather call the Eureka Police Department immediately at (707) 441-4044 or (707) 441-4060.
Update: Feb. 12, 2014 - A duffle bag containing the urn stolen from the Ocean View Cemetery in Eureka has been found, but the cremated remains the urn contained are still missing, according to a post in the Times-Standard yesterday. The article reports that, "The police were contacted around 7 p.m. Sunday by a man doing renovations on a house on the 2900 block of B Street, who said he found the bag in some bushes a few days earlier."
Because the loved one's remains are irreplaceable and precious to the family, the Eureka Police Department is requesting that anyone with information that could help return them to the family call 441-4060.
The original post on this story appears below.
Desecration of the remains of ancestors is a taboo in most societies, including ours, so the question of motivation underlies an unusual theft from the chapel at the Ocean View Cemetery in Eureka. According to a press release from the Eureka Police Department, footage from a camera revealed that last Tues. afternoon a white male in his thirties (shown in the photo below) stashed an urn containing the cremated remains of a deceased individual under a coat he was carrying and removed it from the chapel. The accompanying photo shows an urn similar in color and shape to the one stolen. The public is asked to provide the EPD with any information which may lead to returning the urn and remains to the family - call Officer Harkness at 707-441-4060. The full press release, including a description of the suspect, appears below.
EPD press release:
On 2-4-2014, between 3:00 – 3:30 PM, a male subject entered the chapel at the Ocean View Cemetery and removed an urn holding cremated remains.
The subject is described as a white male in his thirties wearing dark shoes with white soles, blue jeans, a gray hooded sweatshirt with writing on the front and a black baseball cap, when he enters. The subject changed his clothing to a grey short sleeved t-shirt with a checkered pattern on the front and donned a dark beanie cap with a white stripe. The suspect carried the urn away under a tan coat he carried with him.
Attached is a picture of an urn similar in shape and design to the one stolen.
The Eureka Police Department is asking for any information that could lead to the return of the remains to the family. If you have information regarding this theft, please contact Officer Harkness 707-441-4060.
Development Committee
Committee Members:
Jeanette Todd (Chair)
Siena Klein
Kerry Morgan
Marcy Stein
Scope of the Committee:
The Development Committee helps KMUD management with fundraising and outreach planning and execution.
Meeting Times:
1st Monday, 3 pm at KMUD
Policy Committee
Committee Members:
Jama Chaplin
Jeanette Todd
Jack Frybulous
Mark Marchese
Scope the Committee:
The purpose of the Policy Committee is to develop and maintain a complete and concise policy manual, collect policies as they are made by the Board, and assemble other rules and regulations which apply to the governance arena of Redwood Community Radio, for example CPB rules; Board meeting ground rules; FCC governance-related rules; etc. Additionally, the Policy Committee shall review policies, rules, and bylaws, and propose improvements to the Board and assist the Parliamentarian.
Meeting Times:
Old meeting time - 2nd Thursday, 11:30 am, KMUD; New meeting time - TBA
A gathering of Calif. state and federal agency officials presented information and answered questions at a Joint Press Conference hosted by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and United States Bureau of Reclamation. Mark Cowin, Director of DWR, (shown in the photo pointing to the map) opened the press conference by reviewing the present extent of the drought in California, saying, "We should all be clear by now that this is not a coming crisis. This is not an evolving crisis. This is a current crisis." Other speakers included David Murillo, Regional Director for the Mid-Pacific Region of the Bureau of Reclamation, Felicia Marcus Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), and Tom Howard Executive Director of SWCRB. After the presentations, questions were taken from media present at the press conference followed by a round of phone-in questions.
Immediately below is a report on the press conference submitted by KMUD Correspondent, Kelly Lincoln, which aired on the KMUD Local News on Jan. 1, 2014. Below that are players containing audio segments from the press conference. These segments were recorded and edited by Kelly Lincoln. Click here for more photos of the press conference and here for a video of the conference. Additional associated information can be viewed on the SWRCB website.
Press Conference Audio Below:
Mark Cowin, Director of California Department of Water Resources - introductions and opening remarks
David Murillo, Regional Director for the Mid-Pacific Region of the Bureau of Reclamation
Felicia Marcus Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board
Tom Howard Executive Director State Water Resources Control Board
Q&A from media present
Q&A from phone-in participants
Executive Committee (ExCom)
Committee Members: Redwood Community Radio Board President - Siena Klein; Vice President - Noel Soucy; Treasurer - Julia Minton; Secretary - Jack Frybulous; with Station Manager - Jeanette Todd serving as an ex-officio committee member
Scope of the Committee: The Executive Committee sets the agenda for Board meetings and also works on any other task(s) assigned to it by the Board.
Meeting Time: 2nd Monday at 11:30 am at KMUD


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Follow @PennWrestling
COLLEGE PARK – Frank Mattiace kicked off his collegiate wrestling career in fine fashion, defeating No. 10 Christian Boley of Maryland, 12-4, to clinch a win for the Quakers in their season-opening dual at the Comcast Center.
Mattiace was dominant in the match, with three takedowns and a set of backpoints in the opening period of the match. His first takedown came 0:18 into the match, surprising the returning NCAA qualifier for the Terps. Midway through the period, Mattaice would win a scramble on the edge of the mat, powering through for his third takedown. Off that score, he would flip Boley over and search for the fall, gaining three backpoints but unable to get the slap of the mat from the official. Mattaice would go on to add escapes in the next two periods and riding time for a big win to begin his collegiate dual career.
Overall, Penn won six matches in the dual, overtaking Maryland with four wins in the middle weights after the Terps had built a 7-3 lead. Andrew Lenzi, Ray Bethea, Casey Kent and Brad Wukie each picked up decisions to give the Red and Blue a lead they would not relinquish.
Maryland entered the dual with three wrestlers ranked in the Top-10 to anchor its lineup, and each had trouble with a Penn wrestler. Mattiace was the only Penn grappler to pick up a win, but No. 11 Lorenzo Thomas and Steven Graziano put scared into higher ranked opponents before suffering losses.
Steven Graziano scored a takedown at the buzzer to send his bout with 2011 All-American No. 7 Spencer Myers into overtime, and initiated the scoring sequence which ended the match – unfortunately for Penn in Myers' favor. A Graziano shot was countered on a pass-by from Myers, and Graziano fell, 6-4.
Matched up with No. 2 Jimmy Sheptock at 184 pounds, No. 11 Lorenzo Thomas battled through a first period which saw a called takedown for Sheptock and then reversal from Thomas get called back after video review. Thomas would score first with an escape in the second, but Sheptock scored at the 4:36 mark to take a 2-1 lead after two periods. In the third, Thomas rode tough to open the period, but got too high on a half nelson and Sheptock was able to toss him over into a reversal and backpoints for a 7-1 win.
Caleb Richardson picked up his first collegiate win with a 10-5 decision over Billy Rappo to start the dual. Richardson had the match's only four takedowns, opening the scoring 1:05 in. Leading 5-2 after two periods, Richardson opened up in the third with two takedowns to pull away and secure the win.
Ken Bade was unable to get anything going in his match at 133, conceding a takedown early and not finding a way to his escape Tyler Goodwin's legwork on the mat. Goodwin would add a takedown in the second period and a reversal in the third to go with a pair of points via stalling en route to a 9-0 win.
At 141 pounds, Shyeim Brown broke a scoreless tie with Jeff Canfora with a reversal in the second period. That was the only offensive scoring of the match, Brown going on to win, 3-1.
Andrew Lenzi rallied the Quakers with an 8-5 win at 149 pounds over Frank Goodwin. Lenzi scored 0:37 into the match, and worked three backpoints off the sequence to lead, 5-1, after the first period. Lenzi would tack on a second takedown in the second period, but Goodwin would climb in the match with and escape and takedown before the end of the second frame. Lenzi defended nicely in the third period from neutral, holding on and adding riding time for the win.
In his first dual meet for the Red and Blue, Ray Bethea came out firing and scored on a blast double early in the first period against Ben Dorsay. That was all the scoring he would need, adding and escape in the third period for a 3-1 win.
Casey Kent had two takedowns and 2:31 of riding time in the first match out of intermission to score a 6-0 win over Danny Orem at 165 pounds. Brad Wukie was very workmanlike in a 6-3 win over Tony Gardner, taking a 4-0 lead after one period and hanging on for the victory.
125: Caleb Richardson (Penn) def. Billy Rappo (Maryland), 10-5 Penn leads, 3-0
133: Tyler Goodwin (Maryland) def. Ken Bade (Penn), 9-0 Maryland leads, 4-3
141: Shyeim Brown (Maryland) def. Jeff Canfora (Penn), 3-1 Maryland leads, 7-3
149: Andrew Lenzi (Penn) def. Frank Goodwin (Maryland), 8-5 Maryland leads, 7-6
157: Ray Bethea (Penn) def. Ben Dorsay (Maryland), 3-1 Penn leads, 9-7
165: Casey Kent (Penn) def. Danny Orem (Maryland), 6-0 Penn leads, 12-7
174: Brad Wukie (Penn) def. Tony Gardner (Maryland), 6-3 Penn leads, 15-7
184: No. 2 Jimmy Sheptock (Maryland) def. No. 11 Lorenzo Thomas (Penn), 7-1 Penn leads, 15-10
197: Frank Mattiace (Penn) def. No. 10 Christian Boley (Penn), 12-4 Penn leads, 19-10
285: No. 7 Spencer Myers (Maryland) def. Steven Graziano (Penn), 6-4 (SV), Penn leads, 19-13
Penn will host the 19th annual Keystone Classic on Sunday starting at 10 a.m. in The Palestra.


text:
Royal Baby Watch 2013: It's a BOY!
Kate Middleton has made it successfully through the birth of her first child!
Kate and Prince William, 31, have announced the baby is a boy! It is being reported that The Duchess of Cambridge delivered the Prince at 8lbs, 6oz.!
This baby is the third in line for the British throne. Prince Harry is now 4th!
It is being reported that the Duke and Duchess left the palace today for the cooler, secluded Middleton family Bucklebury home where they will have more privacy during these first days as a family of three!
Then have announced that the baby's name is.....
George Alexander Louis.
The baby's official royal name will be "His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge". George is a name that carries historical importants for William who's Great-Grandfather was named George, of which the Oscar-winning film "The King's Speech" is based off of.
1) Check out these pics from the Royal family's St. Mary's debut:
2) #RoyalBaby Twitter Feed --
3) Check out the Official Royal Twitter Account -- @BritishMonarchy


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Monday, August 24, 2009
Agent E-mail Stats
It also explains why you may be hearing from me on the weekend: if I put in some Saturday or Sunday e-mail time it makes Monday oh so much easier. But since I was reading manuscripts this past weekend I didn't get to any queries. So: hello 100+ e-mails! Nice to see you this chilly Monday morning.
As I was working through the e-pile, it got me wondering: how many e-mails do I send anyway? Sure seems like a lot.
Well, as of today, according to Outlook I've sent 11,921 e-mails so far this year. That's just for work -- it doesn't count personal correspondence. Most are responses to queries, but it also includes e-mails to clients, colleagues, editors, you name it.
11,921 e-mails as of August 24th translates to about 50 per day, including weekends and vacation time.
To put that in perspective, let's say I worked nine hours every single day, including weekends, and didn't take any vacation or break for lunch. 11,921 e-mails translates to an e-mail every ten minutes. Somewhere in that time I also theoretically have to read manuscripts, have meetings, talk on the phone, and, you know, read the queries I'm responding to, while still maintaining that e-mail every ten minutes pace.
Oh, and in real life I really do take vacation and try to break somewhat on weekends... and thus have to work considerably more than nine hours a day during weekdays.
What does this all mean?
First of all, I'm not complaining. I love my job, even if it means I'm staring at a screen (computer, Kindle or iPhone) for the majority of my waking hours. Please don't ever hesitate to e-mail me.
But here's what it means for writers: the next time you wonder why agents send form letters or why some don't respond to queries altogether... please remember these stats.
It also means that I necessarily have to make snap decisions when I'm reading queries. I don't really have time to sit down, contemplate, and absorb the aura of a query. There are tons more in line and I have to move quickly if I'm going to get through the day. So if a query is needlessly long or doesn't include key details (published authors, once again: PUBLICATION DATE AND PUBLISHER DON'T MAKE ME GO TO AMAZON ARGH) hopefully this puts into perspective why literary agents turn into lunatics about certain pet peeves that end up costing precious time.
So there you have it. I would write more... but I need to go write some e-mails.
137 comments:
- Kiersten said...
I solemnly swear I will never email you again : )
Thank heavens I don't need to...
- August 24, 2009 at 1:14 PM
- Bane of Anubis said...
My immediate thought after reading: why not hire an assistant to help wade through the slush?
Three immediate answers pop to mind:
1.) CB doesn't want to pay an extra grunt (at least not for a junior agent)
2.) An unpaid intern wouldn't have enough experience to know what works and/or know your preferences.
3.) b/c you're a masochist ;)
Since you added the '1st 5 pages' clause to your query instructions, have you noticed a great shift in your time requirements?
- August 24, 2009 at 1:16 PM
- Vegas Linda Lou said...
The "snap decision" nature of agent responses also explains why good projects can easily fall through the cracks. So much of the query game is a crap shoot--all the more reason why writers shouldn't read too much into the rejections they recieve.
- August 24, 2009 at 1:16 PM
That's why agents are so detailed about how they want things sent to them. They have a million items on thier to do list and rather not waste time deciphering sloppy queries.
- August 24, 2009 at 1:17 PM
- Vegas Linda Lou said...
Yikes--I spelled "receive" wrong! That's the kind of thing that can ruin my day!
- August 24, 2009 at 1:17 PM
- TC Laverdure said...
Hey Nathan we all respect and admire you so much for all you do. The blog is great and you are obviously a great person. One of these days I will send you a query and I am fully prepared to see it as business and not personal. You have prepared me well for all possible outcomes...so cheers to Nathan Bransford...may you live long and prosper.
- August 24, 2009 at 1:20 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
Yeah, an assistant isn't in the cards.
Things definitely fall through the cracks, which is frustrating considering how much time I spend caulking!
- August 24, 2009 at 1:20 PM
- Natalie said...
I had a mini panic attack just reading that. I really don't know how you do it.
- August 24, 2009 at 1:21 PM
- Sarah Erber said...
Hmm... So would you prefer to be e-queried during the weekdays?
(I'm starting the querying process next week) *Wink*
- August 24, 2009 at 1:24 PM
- Susanna said...
Phew! And I thought I sent a lot of email at work. (maybe only 15-20 a day on a busy day).
- August 24, 2009 at 1:24 PM
- Marsha Sigman said...
So does this mean I shouldn't forward you random funny emails?
Ok I don't.....but I want to.
- August 24, 2009 at 1:26 PM
- Elaine 'still writing' Smith said...
If this is the not complaining post I don't want to see the other variety.
- August 24, 2009 at 1:26 PM
- Meredith Turits said...
Thank god for this blog, and for helping a young, first-time author get a bit of perspective on what the scene is like on the other side. As someone who is just on the verge of beginning to query, you have no idea how insanely helpful it is to come home to an itemized list of things that make agents want to lose their lunches.
- August 24, 2009 at 1:27 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
Thanks for that, Elaine.
- August 24, 2009 at 1:31 PM
- Rick Daley said...
I was going to comment, but then I realized that it would probably get emailed to you so I decided against it.
- August 24, 2009 at 1:32 PM
- Dawn VanderMeer said...
Thank you for taking the time to blog. We really appreciate it. :)
- August 24, 2009 at 1:33 PM
- Lisa said...
Nathan -
Question. With all of this on your desk, how long does it usually take you to read a client's manuscript?
- August 24, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Well, it's obvious your "query me first" strategy helps contribute to the deluge -- I noticed on QueryTracker that you're the number one queried agent in the US>
- August 24, 2009 at 1:38 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
It usually takes about three to six hours for me to read a manuscript, depending on the length.
- August 24, 2009 at 1:39 PM
- josiah said...
Hey Nathan remember Master of Demon Valley said working against long odds is one of the seven skills of personal success and leadership.
And don't worry about sleep. You get enough rest when you're dead.
- August 24, 2009 at 1:42 PM
- Steph Damore said...
Anon, really?
Wow, the #1 queried agent in the U.S. - that's crazy! Go Nathan.
You know Nathan, you could technically take a break from queries. I know that's not your style, but if you ever get overwhelmed...
- August 24, 2009 at 1:51 PM
- Margaret Yang said...
You'll never hear me complaining about a form letter. I love the form! It's a great way to get the exact information the writer needs: the agent read the query, the agent is passing. Nothing else is needed so why say anything else?
- August 24, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Nathan, I am repeatedly amazed that you have any time to keep up this blog.
On the manuscript-reading note: I recently speed-read through mine and found the experience helpful. Agents seem to have perfected the art.
Do you think that good manuscripts work regardless of the reading speed? I wonder about dense novels being hard to digest that way, for example. Do the relative differences between types of work condense equally for you, or do you find some styles don't lend themselves to fast assessment?
Even six hours seems speedy to me!
- August 24, 2009 at 1:54 PM
- Amber Argyle-Smith said...
Kind of daunting for those of us sending out queries.
It's also why I recommend meeting agents at conferences.
- August 24, 2009 at 1:58 PM
I know you you'll never say it, because you really don't, but let me say it for you, I hate my job, I hate my job, I hate my job...you're welcome.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:00 PM
- Ryan Potter said...
All the more reason to sculpt a query letter to perfection.
Hi Nathan,
I'm new to your blog, so forgive me if the answer to this can be found in another post, but for every 100 queries, how many get your "yes" vote to see the partial or full manuscript?
Just wondering.
Ryan Potter
- August 24, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Yep, and that's exactly why I have no problem with form letters!
Hang in there! Tuesday will be here before you know it.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Ryan, you can see the answer at QueryTracker (at least, as reported by those who upload their responses) under "Agent Statistics".
- August 24, 2009 at 2:08 PM
- Ryan Potter said...
Ah! Thanks!
- August 24, 2009 at 2:12 PM
- Robert McGuire said...
It's a miracle you blog this much.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:12 PM
- Dara said...
I completely understand why agents need to send form letters and can't respond to each query personally after seeing that!
I'm amazed you're also able to write all these wonderful blog posts too, on top of reading manuscripts and working with your clients. Absolutely amazing! I think I'd be huddled in a corner somewhere. :P
- August 24, 2009 at 2:13 PM
- Flavio Q Crunk said...
Dude. Get a job in IT. I send that many emails A MONTH. PLUS I have to do my job. You're a lightweight, Bransford.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:13 PM
- Mira said...
Okay, first of all, I don't have enough room in this little box to say everything on my mind, so I'll e-mail it to you.
Ha, ha. Little joke there.
Secondly, you have an amazing work ethic. Damn, you work hard. I hope your boss(s) know how lucky they are to have you.
Thirdly, I do want to remind you that not only have I offered to BE your assistant, but I believe I offered to pay you for the priviledge of it. Just in case you forgot.
Fourthly, and please don't kill me for saying this, Nathan, but have you thought about slowing down on queries alittle? Snap decisions are good; I've noticed that you have really good judgement, but still. But what's the point of the whole thing if you let a good one fall through the cracks?
Okay, I know. That was outrageous in it's lack of understanding of your situation, because it would ADD work, instead of taking it away.
Sorry (note: see paragraph above about assistant hiring.)
- August 24, 2009 at 2:14 PM
I had nothing better to do so I looked up the stats. According to QueryTracker, of queries sent to NB, 8% get a request for a partial, 1% for a full MS.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:14 PM
- Mira said...
Um, how does Query Tracker know that? Does Nathan report every query to them? Every time he requests a full or partial?
If that's true, I think he should stop doing that and save some time.
I'm alittle suspicious of that data, I'll admit it.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:17 PM
- Patrick said...
I was actually thinking about emailing you this morning with a question not in your FAQ. But since you get so many emails maybe I can just pose my question here instead.
I started querying last week and I got a request for a partial from an assistant to a literary agent this morning. When formatting my response to the assistant should I still have my salutation to the agent or should it be to the assistant.
I am sure I am just nitpicking but I would still like to be proper and correct to an assistant or an agent who has taken time to ask for and to read a partial of my work.
Unfortunately I have already responded to the assistant and sent the requested partial so this would be for future reference. I was so excited to send out my first request for a partial that the question of who to address the letter to didn't occur to me until afterwords.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:20 PM
- Bane of Anubis said...
Mira, I'm gonna answer you assuming you're not being sarcastic...
querytracker stats are created by the users... e.g., I could report that I queried Agents A,B,D,E, & F and that A,B,D,F rejected me, but E asked for a partial...
Of course, people could lie, but b/c it's done anon, that's not gonna happen too much, IMO and 8% sounds pretty close to NB's PR rate.
Patrick, address it to the person who requested it (unless he/she explicitly stated something like 'I'm requesting this for [agent you originally queried]'... and good luck.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:27 PM
- Mira said...
Bane - no I wasn't being sarcastic, and I still honestly doubt the results.
In order to have an accurate reading, that would mean all queriers would have to report to querytracker. Otherwise you're getting a skewed sample of those who know about QueryTracker in the first place.
I didn't even know about it, and I'm on the blogs alot. So, I would guess that a high percentage of queriers don't report their responses from Nathan.
That said, 8% seems high, from what I've heard in the industry, so that's cool.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:31 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
Please don't ever hesitate to e-mail me. Like I said, I'm not complaining, it's my job! Unfortunately I'm not able to respond to all questions (and hopefully this will shed some light onto why that is), but no one should ever feel hesitant about e-mailing me.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:32 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
Unless the assistant specified that they're the ones now considering send it to the agent's attention. But you really can't go wrong either way, they just want to see the partial.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:33 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
Also, for my query stats click on the "query stats" label under the post. The Query Tracker people have a higher request rate. My guess is that it's a self-selecting group - if you're on Query Tracker you're probably more plugged into the publishing internetosphere and thus probably more likely to be writing a better query.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:34 PM
- Bane of Anubis said...
Mira, if the sampling size is large enough, it's probably a halfway decent estimate.
WV: sproggle -- boggle for sprogs... what is a sprog, you ask... you don't want to know, trust me.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:36 PM
- Patrick said...
Thanks Bane its been an interesting learning curve week that's for sure. The first couple of queries I sent out I didn't notice that gmail changed my formatting for them and I agonized over that for hours. I have since clicked that remove all formatting option every single time now that I send a response. My query letter was written in Word and while the formatting was just slightly different it still drove me crazy and you almost wish you could have those first couple of queries back.
Then of course reading these posts I wasn't aware that Nathan had started asking for the first five pages to be included with queries and that has bummed me out too. I actually wrote and formatted my query letter for Nathan months ago when he wasn't asking for the first five pages as he was the agent I wanted to work with. I got a rejection from him (my very first rejection and if I ever get published I am framing it) but you just have to wonder in the back of your mind if you had included the first five pages would he have been more inclined to ask to see more. Now it's too late to go back and do that as it would be rude and downright annoying to resend the query with the five pages and the agent you wanted to work with the most if off your lists.
I should have waited to query Nathan until I had the kinks worked out and the learning curve was over to better my chances even if the result might have been the same. You always want to give yourself the best chance at succeeding.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:38 PM
- Bane of Anubis said...
Or a decent trend at least -- using Nathan's reasoning, it may be a bit high, but if you compare it to other agents, you can at least get a sense of where that agent stands (there's one agent on there who requested 1 out of a 132, I believe -- as Joey Lawrence used to opine, "Whoa!")
- August 24, 2009 at 2:39 PM
- Mira said...
Bane - Nathan agrees with me.
Ha! I win.
But I don't want to rub it in. Bane, let me just say I've noticed that you're an intelligent person with many fine qualities. Truly. You can't help it if I'm right and you're wrong. Really. You have much to offer the world, don't let this depress you too much.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:40 PM
- The Writing Muse said...
You're amazingly sane for the amount of reading and responding you do.
Very impressive.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:41 PM
- Mimm said...
I'm exhausted reading that - and feel vaguely sloth-like.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:45 PM
- Bane of Anubis said...
Yeah, I think we've all been in those hole-riddled dingies before (i.e., the email fackocked our formatting boat and we thought our query was polished, but now we hate it or realize it wasn't up to par boat)...
Try not to worry over it too much (easier said than done). As Nathan and many others have pointed out before, the query doesn't have to be perfect (though close ;).
Also, regarding Nathan, I'm sure he'd be a great agent to work with, but I think a lot of us on here have a bit of idol fever b/c of his generosity and thus assume he'd be the best agent for us even though his preferences may not be in line w/ our writing as much as we'd like.
Of course, if you queried him awhile ago and did some polishing and didn't include pages and you really think you're right up his alley, maybe you can try him again. I know he doesn't encourage it, but w/ ~12000 emails, his memory's bound to be clouded some ;)... and what's one more query to the mountain?
- August 24, 2009 at 2:47 PM
- Bane of Anubis said...
Mira, I have been wrong many many times before (or so my wife keeps telling me).
- August 24, 2009 at 2:49 PM
- Sun Up said...
Nathan, can I have your iPhone?
- August 24, 2009 at 2:52 PM
- Mira said...
Aw, well, Bane, I'm sure you've also been right many, many times before. For example, as I'm sure your wife would point out, when you married her. :)
- August 24, 2009 at 2:53 PM
For real dude, if you're really spending that much time sitting in front of a computer, I hope you're also doing some back strengthening exercises.
Sciatica is no joke, believe you me!!
- August 24, 2009 at 2:53 PM
- Patrick said...
I wrote my query letter after I finished writing my novel. And the first query letter I wrote was for Nathan. I have since spent several months polishing and editing my novel and just last Monday I began the querying process. I believe I finished the novel in April or May so that would have been ween the query was written and I waited tell I was done editing before querying.
And your right Bane with 12,000 emails this year so far I may just seem vaguely familiar. Wait haven't I read this query before, I could have sworn I read this query before but wait look five pages I haven't read well darn it I should ask for more. Or who does this egotistical writer think he is how dare he query me again I am calling every agent I know and we are blacklisting this writer.
I was expecting rejection so I haven't taken it too hard, yet. I am buoying myself with thoughts that the author of the Time Traveler's Wife was rejected more than two dozen times and the book has sold more than three million copies.
- August 24, 2009 at 2:57 PM
- caboozie said...
This is clearly why people should not get freaked out by how long it takes to get a response to their queries. I'm a procrastinator by nature, so I'm in awe of the how agents get back to people in any way that is reasonable. I'd be going bonkers. Kudos to you Nathan and your fellow brethren
- August 24, 2009 at 3:02 PM
You've got ten minutes between emails, Nathan: MAKE the time to "absorb the aura of the query." Is it that difficult to print out a hard copy on handmade papyrus, set it on fire, then stare at the flame for the telltale emanations of marketable prose? HINT: No, it's not. Somebody's cutting corners.
- August 24, 2009 at 3:09 PM
- Abby said...
I love that you calculated it down to email/minutes. That's great! I would do the same thing :)
- August 24, 2009 at 3:13 PM
- scott neumyer said...
I implore to spend a few days tackling my work inbox, sir. LOL I'd be THRILLED to only get an email every 10 minutes. hehe
- August 24, 2009 at 3:18 PM
- Steph Damore said...
Bane - I guess there is a bit of an idolish following. What was that word that's been floating around the Internet? Bransfordites? Was that it? Rick D. - help me out.
Nathan, you have groupies with a label. Bransfordites - it sounds so Elizabethan (or perhaps Jane Austen'ish) - anyways, how cool are you? It would explain the emails.
- August 24, 2009 at 3:28 PM
- Amanda said...
In addition to your e-query followup, meetings, manuscript readings and so forth you STILL found time to blog. Impressive :)
- August 24, 2009 at 3:30 PM
- Dan said...
When I saw STATS in the post title I became excited at the prospect of some query data - but I suppose the email data is interesting as well.
I guess it's sort of like hoping your team drafts the player you want instead of some French born player you've never heard of... meanwhile, the real steal of the draft just floats on by. Oh NBA GM's, why do you torture me so?
- August 24, 2009 at 3:30 PM
- Tamara Hart Heiner said...
so very fascinating. sounds like fun. where do I sign up? :)
- August 24, 2009 at 3:33 PM
- Anita Saxena said...
I felt tingles of carpal tunnel after reading that
- August 24, 2009 at 3:33 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
Sorry to serve up Alexis Anjica instead of Courtney Lee. Hope the next post is at least a Mario Chalmers.
- August 24, 2009 at 3:35 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
Whoops, meant Ajinca. Sorry Alexis!
- August 24, 2009 at 3:36 PM
- Mira said...
Nathan, I do have another comment here, and I'm serious about this one.
One of my pet peeves is the query itself. I think it's a hugely inefficient way for an agent to get the information they need.
Although I've posted about this before, no agent has ever agreed with me about this, and I'm confused.
It seems clear to me that a form-filler would work better and save the agent, not to mention the writer, a ton of time. It would be so much easier to read and interpret. The sorting capabilities alone would be awesome.
All the other information - can the author write a summary, would they be easy to work with, etc. can be ascertained later. Why bother getting that information for authors the agent will never work with?
The benefit of this system, too, is it takes the focus off the query and puts it back on the writing, where I believe it belongs. It would significantly reduce tension betweeen agents/writers as well.
Maybe there is something about the query that I don't understand.....But I have to admit to being confused.
- August 24, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Thank you for making the time to respond to queries. I appreciated hearing back from you about mine.
The whole "No response means no" option other agents employ is driving me crazy.
- August 24, 2009 at 3:48 PM
- iamfrightenedtoo said...
i hate only one thing other than a rejection it self.
agents say "make sure to personalize your query do not send us a form query."
the same agents send form rejections. i understand the time issue i really do. but please at the very least give out what you ask for.
- August 24, 2009 at 3:53 PM
@Steph Damore,
I believe the word you're looking for is "BranFans."
- August 24, 2009 at 3:55 PM
- Marilyn Peake said...
Nathan, your post might explain why some agents seem to be snapping angrily or sarcastically on a daily basis about queries and writers in general. I like your tone: informative and humorous, along with a mention that you love your job. Probably one of the main reasons that so many writers seem to snap angrily or sarcastically on a daily basis about literary agents is that their workload is equal to or greater than the one that you described. Writers who work full-time jobs as busy as yours have it really tough trying to write and submit manuscripts before or after work. I once worked 60-hour weeks, often sleeping four hours per night. When working on book promotions, I've sent and received so many emails, the sheer number of emails crashed my computer twice and my computer guru husband had to work some kind of computer magic to straighten it all out. I love writing, though, so I don't mind the long hours and I deeply appreciate all the hard work that agents do. Every day, though, I find myself wading through angry Twitter messages and blog posts within the writing community, mostly agents and editors complaining about writers and writers complaining about agents. I think that perhaps the Internet, email, and computers have made life much more stressful within the publishing community. When I was in Alaska, life was extremely relaxed. Native residents talked about how many things just can't get done quickly there, and so daily life includes great patience and appreciation of the beauty of nature that is all around. I took over 2,000 photographs and my husband took over 1,000 photographs in Alaska. I plan to look at them often to avoid stress. :)
- August 24, 2009 at 4:13 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
Yeah, I think you make good points all around. First of all, I know a lot of people reading this blog are writing novels while also holding down full time jobs. We're all busy!
I also agree that e-mail may be making things difficult. For one, it may just be too easy to send an e-query, so agents get a lot of frivolous ones -- and that's frustrating. I also think people are snippy because the Internet kind of tends to do that and Twitter especially doesn't lend itself to very nuanced discussion.
- August 24, 2009 at 4:19 PM
- Michael Pickett said...
I'm almost afraid to ask this because it might increase your workload, but it's something I've been wondering for a long time. How do you find time to write such a great blog with all of the other stuff you have to do?
- August 24, 2009 at 4:26 PM
- Literary Cowgirl said...
That's a lot of email. Dealing with those volumes wouldn't even be possible for me. Yup, still on dial-up.
- August 24, 2009 at 4:27 PM
- Kristi said...
Nathan - I wish I could write my ms in the time it takes you to read one. :)
- August 24, 2009 at 4:32 PM
- Marilyn Peake said...
Nathan, I agree with you that Twitter doesn't allow for nuanced discussion. Actually, it's often difficult to find that type of discussion anywhere on the Internet, even within writing communities where you would expect vigorous intellectual discussions to be going on 24/7. I think one of the main reasons your blog is so popular is because you introduce intriguing topics and then allow discussion to go off in all different directions. For discussion to be meaningful, I think it has to be allowed to go off in various directions even only vaguely tangential ones, in order to explore new areas related to the original point. Too many Internet discussions repeat the same points over and over and over again, in order to stay on task.
- August 24, 2009 at 4:40 PM
- Ink said...
Wouldn't it be funny if Mr. Ajinca was a devoted NB blog follower? Maybe he's writing From France to the NBA: A Life of Pine...
- August 24, 2009 at 4:44 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
He was probably going to query me first too until I misspelled his name. Argh. BLEW IT.
- August 24, 2009 at 4:45 PM
- J.J. Bennett said...
Have a great day, sip your drink of choice, and enjoy the weather. It's the little things that help get us through the day. :)
- August 24, 2009 at 4:48 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
Some agents have submission forms. I just prefer e-mail.
And I still haven't seen a better submission system than a writer sending a brief description of their work in their own words. If I find one better I'll use it.
- August 24, 2009 at 4:49 PM
- Melanie Avila said...
That's a lot.
- August 24, 2009 at 4:49 PM
- T. Anne said...
Ok, I won't take my rejections so personally now. :)
- August 24, 2009 at 4:49 PM
- Lis Garrett said...
Wow! This does help me to understand why the one literary agent to whom I spoke on the phone talked so quickly I could barely understand her. She was busy!
- August 24, 2009 at 4:51 PM
- Ink said...
It's okay about Ajinca. I mean, he plays for the Bobcats... No platform. The publishers will look at those attendance numbers and give you the thumbs down. Maybe if he gets traded to Chicago or New York...
- August 24, 2009 at 4:53 PM
- L. T. Host said...
I will never, ever, complain about my job again.
Gosh... are you SURE a gift basket of mini-bar bottles won't be appreciated with my query?
- August 24, 2009 at 4:56 PM
- Mira said...
Thanks for your response!
I did mean an e-mail submission form, actually.
I've commented alot already on this thread, and I don't want to take up too more space. So, as briefly as possible.
The advantage of a fill-in form is you don't have to wade through a letter to to find out what you want to know. Just a quick form and the 5 pages.
Sample form:
Publishing Credits (if any):
Address and Phone number:
Title of work:
Word Count:
Description of Plot, Main conflict and Resolution:
(limited to 4-5 sentences. You can force this on a computer form.)
Reason you are querying this agent:
(limited to 2 sentences.)
The beauty of this is the computer can sort based on the subject lines. For example, all screenplays and poetry could be set up for automatic form rejection. All word counts over/under a certain amount, etc.
I'm not an agent, so maybe there's something I'm not seeing. But this seems very simple to me. The hope is not only would this save time, but make it less a good book will fall through the cracks. It let's the writing will shine through more than the query.
Okay, I've posted way too much today. I appreciate your patience and opportunity to present this, Nathan, thank you.
- August 24, 2009 at 5:07 PM
- Mira said...
Oh, you could use check-box answers on genre and word count. That could help you sort.
Okay, I'll stop now, sorry.
- August 24, 2009 at 5:12 PM
- Patrick said...
I love email queries, the response times are so much faster and a lot cheaper. Too send an query via snail mail and include a SASE you are looking at a dollar a query. Then if you get requests for partials or full manuscripts your out a lot more money. It cost me $20 to print a manuscript and I printed two and bound them for me to hand edit instead of doing all computer editing. I think I could trim it to $15 a manuscript without the binding but then there is postage on that and I am back up to $20.
I am trying to stick with all email queries right now, it's cheaper on me, saves trees and I can still contact agents. I bought a copy of both Writer's Market and Jeff Herman's Guide to Literary Agents and it amazes me how many agents are still requesting only snail mail queries.
- August 24, 2009 at 5:13 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
I think it's definitely an interesting idea, and I've been meaning to ask agents who have submission forms how they like it.
It may be counterintuitive, but I actually think giving people the freedom to formulate their own query helps. It's extremely easy to weed out the frivolous ones because they're much more likely to be crazily formatted and have wacky fonts and such. It's a visual clue that I don't need to spend much time thinking about that particular query.
In some sense, helping the writer figure out what's what might make it more difficult to sift through the ones I'm not really interested in, rather than easier.
- August 24, 2009 at 5:16 PM
- Patrick Rodgers said...
Oh so Nathan you are saying I should requery you now that I have worked out my learning curve on querying ;)
I didn't have any crazy fonts or what not but gmail did mess up my formatting making some paragraphs a different font and I missed the change to including five pages since I wrote the query months ago and only emailed it last Monday. Plus I removed a paragraph that I thought sounded too egotistical.
Maybe I will wait another week tell you forget me a little more and read a couple hundred more emails.
- August 24, 2009 at 5:20 PM
- J.J. Bennett said...
It amazes me daily how many of you write post after post to this poor man (Nathan). He posts today how busy he is and yet you all still post over and over and over again. He is too kind...really.
- August 24, 2009 at 5:21 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
I don't mean fonts mismatching, I mean really really badly formatted. I can't obviously share these, but everyone should just let their imagination run wild about how they'd write a bad query and then multiply that by two or three.
I don't mean to pick on these types of queriers because, as they'd say in the South, bless their hearts they just don't know any better. But these comprise anywhere from 10-25% of all queries and they all have to be responded to as well.
- August 24, 2009 at 5:24 PM
- Rick Daley said...
"Um, how does Query Tracker know that?"
The same magic that tells a thermos to keep the hot stuff hot and the cold stuff cold.
- August 24, 2009 at 5:26 PM
- Patrick Rodgers said...
I know I was mostly joking Nathan, I was more bummed I didn't notice the change to including the first five pages because I wrote the query months ago and I was a little too over enthusiastic to finally begin the querying process. I honestly don't think having one paragraph in ariel while all the others were in times new roman would make as big of difference as not including the first five pages of the novel.
I think you should post a few of these crazily formatted queries removing names and information of course (heck you could even change the content and just leave the formatting) to give us a better idea of what you have to sift through.
- August 24, 2009 at 5:30 PM
- Rick Daley said...
I think a query letter is a better showcase of a writer's style and voice than a submission form.
And I'm not just saying that because I started a query critique blog. I've opened it up to sample pages and synopses, I could just as easily allow submission form responses into the mix. No bias here. Move along, folks.
- August 24, 2009 at 5:35 PM
- Mira said...
I think I'm hearing your concerns....You need to know if the writer is 'workable.' I think that's what you mean, and that's legitimate. My question, though, is do you need to know that about people you'll never work with?
So, I'm suggesting: to save time, reverse the order. Weed out the writing first, then find out which of those people you want to work with.
Whether the writer is easy to work with you can get that at any point in the exchange, and decide not to offer representation.
And who cares how easy a writer is to work with if you don't like their writing?
And just think of the time saved!
Anyway, thank you Nathan. I really appreciate that you're not tossing the idea out and for the chance to discuss this with you.
- August 24, 2009 at 5:38 PM
I agree with Mira about the form query. It seems a shame we spend days writing the "perfect" query, send it through the e-mail which I 'swear has a blender in there somewhere and maybe even turns the words a different color, only to have the agent give it one glance and flip off a rejection.
I'm just glad some agents didn't decide to become doctors!
- August 24, 2009 at 5:52 PM
- Gina said...
I must admit my heart sinks when I see a submission form on an agency´s website. It just seems kinda counter-creative. With a query the challenge is similar to that of writing a novel: do something original within a tight format. Submission forms on the other hand just seem too... formulaic for an industry whose bread and butter is creativity.
Also, it often seems to me that a submission form goes hand in hand with a policy of ´no reply unless interested´. Which leads me to wonder if the forms really do get read.
- August 24, 2009 at 5:56 PM
- ~Aimee States said...
It literally took you six minutes to reject my query, which still cracks me up a little. But you have a great reputation, and deservedly so. I'm a fan and I think the world of your efficiency and tact. You have a great attitude.
- August 24, 2009 at 6:01 PM
- Chuck H. said...
11,921 e-mails?! Mr. Bransford, I heartily apologize for the two I sent you. You obviously don't need that kind of aggravation. Sorry.
Word Ver: bleat - kind of what I'm doing now.
- August 24, 2009 at 6:31 PM
- Lydia Sharp said...
Content to be an author. Never want to be an agent. Thanks for reaffirming that for me.
- August 24, 2009 at 6:53 PM
- iamfrightenedtoo said...
yeah it took Nathan about ten minutes to reject me. i hadn't even opened a new window before my email box showed me a new message.
but he lets down easily. and doesn't apologize which i like a lot.
- August 24, 2009 at 6:57 PM
- Robin said...
Well with all the e-mails (and e-mail responses), and manuscript reading, and phone calls, and breathing (you do breath, right?), I thank you for continually keeping those of us in the writing community updated and informed.
(sound of hands clapping)
- August 24, 2009 at 7:58 PM
I'll never understand the crazy fonts that people use for professional communications.
Last year, my company posted a job ad on Craigslist. Some of the e-mails we received employed huge fonts, vibrating colors, and ALL CAPS FOR IMPORTANT TEXT—WITH EXCLAMATION POINTS AND MOVING SMILEYS!!!
All of those went on the "no" pile immediately.
- August 24, 2009 at 9:26 PM
- Reesha said...
Thanks for all the hard work you do. You didn't even mention in your stats writing and posting stuff on this blog! Whewie!
I shall endeavor to do my best to not waste your time and let me thank you in advance for giving any kind of response to me when I actually do query you. (It'll be awhile though because my book's not read.)
Soldier on with your wonderful but challenging job! The publishing industry would be a little darker to people like me without you.
WV: psers = people who write "ps" after a letter, and then write "pss" after that thinking they're so clever when what they're really saying is "post script script". It really should be "pps": post post script.
- August 24, 2009 at 9:44 PM
- JenD said...
That you read and respond to all those emails is pretty amazing. That you write this blog and read every comment is simply awesome. You may just be the nicest agent in cyberspace! You can bet I won't be querying you (or anyone else) until I am absolutely ready to. Rock on!
- August 24, 2009 at 9:45 PM
- PurpleClover said...
No one is doubting your mad skills. You're most definitely a type A. But I guess most agents must be.
Do you ever have a moment where you don't need to be doing ANYTHING but you feel that urge to check your cell or Kindle because you're not used to NOT checking it?? lol.
I'm right there with you.
- August 24, 2009 at 10:46 PM
- Terri said...
Wow . . . in the time it took me to flip through the comments, 2 more emails lands in Nathan's inbox. . . .
Remember the old movie where every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings? Actually, it's anytime a bell rings, anywhere, it's another email landing in his inbox.
PS: I agree on the query letter over the query form. The query is an artform in its own right and can give a lot of info on content and style in a very short bite of time.
word verify 'fackrop'that is so cool that words escape me . . .
- August 24, 2009 at 11:11 PM
- Andrew Ross said...
way to be transparent! hustling and authenticity is key. hustle=win
- August 25, 2009 at 12:44 AM
- J.J. Bennett said...
Have you polled sexs before? What percentage of followers are men or women? Or maybe sex and genre before? Just wondering...
- August 25, 2009 at 1:00 AM
- J.J. Bennett said...
Since I've been blogging (Not long at all...) I've made friends with mostly women here blogging. I wondered what the real percentages were...and if women in general wrote more of one genre than another. I wondered if you felt that may be the reason for so much of one genre.
- August 25, 2009 at 1:06 AM
- Neil said...
One day Nathan you'll be some kind of corporate agenting Kingpin with a team of scurrying, eager-to-please assistants and a raft of professional readers and sorters to do all the hard graft for you! You'll just concentrate on repping the massive names and will spend most of your day planning where next to go on vacation and how best to spend the pots of cash you have made. You'll lounge in highly exclusive gentleman's clubs, strike million-dollar deals with just a handshake and a sly wink, and will probably never have to do anything more strenuous than ask, "may I see the wine list?". And when those days roll around, which they will, and you sit in the back of your sleek limo puffing away on fat cigars (and checking profit reports on the latest Apple gadget)... part of you will miss these times, the good ol' days, when you were just starting out and barely had time to run a blog, answer queries AND take care of your clients all at once. Then of course TIME magazine will call you for an interview and you'll snap out of your nostalgia!
- August 25, 2009 at 4:55 AM
- Gina said...
Neil can you please look in your crystal ball again and see if I´m one of the ´massive names´? ;-)
- August 25, 2009 at 6:43 AM
- Neil said...
Oh Gina, you're totally on the list. That book you write, about that thing? Huge.
- August 25, 2009 at 7:07 AM
- Hat Man said...
I have to say a couple of things. First of all, I cherish every email I get, and I get 50-100 every day. They are one of my lifelines to the wider world. I wish I would hear from more people.
Secondly, my impression is that agents want manuscripts. Yet too many agents complain about all the manuscripts they get. But THEY WANT MANUSCRIPTS. This used irritate me about agents when I tried to get them. I got two, but to no avail. Call me jaundiced, but I stopped trying to get an agent, and I feel a lot better. :-)
- August 25, 2009 at 7:32 AM
- Gina said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- August 25, 2009 at 8:36 AM
- Gina said...
Thank you so much, Neil. I used to rely on word verifications to get messages from the future, but this is MUCH better.
- August 25, 2009 at 8:45 AM
- Oscar said...
I was wondering where all that spam was coming from, hahahahaha! I enjoy your blog!
- August 25, 2009 at 9:08 AM
- Mira said...
Neil, that's a horrible life. I think Nathan has much better things in store for his future than THAT. Ugh.
I don't know Nathan, but I care about him, and I believe he has a much more fulfillng life in store; one where he takes pride in the positive impact he has had on the world, both through bringing books to an audience, and through his own writing.
Success and greed are not equivalent. Success and power can be transformative, when held in the right hands.
- August 25, 2009 at 9:51 AM
- Neil said...
Aw Mira, I think you may have missed my tongue - it was firmly in my cheek, I promise. I too hope (and fully expect) many more great things from Nathan, and super-greed certainly isn't one of them. But I think my point remains: life moves incredibly fast, and this is an exciting time for Nathan and us, his loyal readers and would-be client list. Never before has there been an agent so open and transparent about his process, and Mr Bransford enjoys a frank and unique dialogue with a great number of net-users. These are times to be enjoyed on both sides!
- August 25, 2009 at 10:15 AM
- Mira said...
Oh I see. Your point was to enjoy this time with Nathan now, because once he becomes more successful, he may become less accessible? These wonderful dialogues will stop?
Hmmm. Maybe. Honestly, I think it will be the opposite. I think Nathan has....goals. Maybe that's the wrong way to put it. I think he's drawn to leadership and building groups. I also think he's very good at it.
I could be wrong, of course. I don't know and wouldn't presume to know Nathan's personal goals. But you're right. This is a time to be enjoyed! :)
- August 25, 2009 at 10:33 AM
- Falen said...
i have to say - i just recently found this blog and it's awesome.
I'll never understand people who query without doing research into what constitutes a good query...
- August 25, 2009 at 10:47 AM
- Backbone said...
Nathan --
I greatly appreciate your blog and I know you're one busy agent, but examples of poorly-formatted queries would be instructive. Surely, a few stand out.
Thanks again.
- August 25, 2009 at 11:02 AM
- Chuck H. said...
Just re-read this post and have a quibble. Roosters don't cry, at least none of the ones I've known (hello, country boy here) have ever cried. I guess if life just got too difficult for them they might squeeze out a tear or two, but not on my watch. Just sayin'.
Word Ver: essess - phonetic spelling for that most despicable branch of the Nazi military - Sturm Soldaten.
- August 25, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Dear Nathan
You have to learn to pace yourself.
I have 10,231 unread messages on this fairly new box. What me worry?
Any day now....aannnnnyyyy day now.
- August 25, 2009 at 11:39 AM
This is fantastic Nathan! You have one of the most popular blogs I've seen, and not only among those of the publishing industry.
The discussions here are really interesting, and of course, the content is educating and sort of fun at the same time.
So, to make all that happen, and deal with clients, and read both the clients and the incoming mss, of course you'll have to work like hell. The good thing is that you love what you do, so that's ok, right?
Right, I wasn't even going to comment on this one, but I couldn't resist. Just keep the good work! =)
- August 25, 2009 at 12:04 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
chuck h-
I know my roosters and have loathed them ever since Sunrise the Rooster pecked me on my hand when I was three years old, drawing copious amounts of blood. After that I wouldn't go near chickens unless my dad had a shovel, which he used to scare Sunrise into the corner so I could feed the hens.
I don't know if Sunrise cried per se when he was squawking in the corner, but I'm pretty sure I saw some tears tears.
I still hate chickens. Way to go, Sunrise.
- August 25, 2009 at 12:07 PM
- Laura Martone said...
Gee whiz, Nathan. You're one busy dude. How DO you juggle it all - and still manage to maintain such a personable persona?
You're a Man of Mystery, that's for sure.
- August 25, 2009 at 1:14 PM
- Bane of Anubis said...
Nathan, guessin' that you hated 'Chicken Run' -- Rocky probably epitomizes Sunshine (seriously, though, did you name that fella, cuz maybe he pecked you for giving him such an effete name)
- August 25, 2009 at 1:50 PM
- Laura Martone said...
No doubt, Bane. What self-respecting rooster wants to be called SUNSHINE?!?
No wonder he cried in the corner.
Okay, I can't resist... what a chicken!
- August 25, 2009 at 2:18 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
The foul beast's name was Sunrise. And no, I didn't name him.
- August 25, 2009 at 2:20 PM
- Laura Martone said...
Oops. That's what I get for listening to you, Bane... argh.
I meant SUNRISE! What self-respecting rooster wants to be called SUNRISE?!?
Sorry, Nathan. For the memory - and the misspelling.
- August 25, 2009 at 2:20 PM
- Bane of Anubis said...
Sunrise, Sunshine -- whatever the case, evidently he wasn't fond of the name... or that wee tyke Bransford.
And FTR - Sunrise ain't a whole heck of a lot better name there, Sunshine ;)
You gotta do what I did -- when I was about 3, I went a bit a dog that I thought was getting too aggressive w/ me (though my parents say it just wanted to lick me) -- gotta show the little buggers who's the boss.
- August 25, 2009 at 2:26 PM
- Lydia Sharp said...
So I checked back here to see if Nathan put up a new post and...no new post, but one heck of an awesome rooster story! I'm shedding tears now, too, from laughing so hard.
And I can relate to the term "foul beast." My mother has a farm in NC. Love the fresh eggs. Hate the damn rooster and chickens. 'Nuff said.
- August 25, 2009 at 2:44 PM
- Mira said...
I'm sorry that happened to you. That would be pretty scary for a 3 year old.
And not taking away from that, I do feel sorry for the rooster. Maybe that was his way of saying: I want to be friends. Or possibly: you look edible, I'm going to eat you.
All I know is forever after, he was chased into the corner with a shovel, where he cried. Alone. Mocked for his name. While you, Nathan, had your own lifelong trauma, and now hate all chickens......
This is so sad.
Well, if you had couples counseling with The Hills, would it be too far off to have it with a rooster? Just wondering. If not, I think he actually is edible. I'm just saying.
- August 25, 2009 at 3:53 PM
- Diana said...
Just think what it would be like, if all those were short story submissions instead of queries. *wink*
- August 25, 2009 at 5:03 PM
- Jeanne Tomlin said...
As a "querytracker" I thought I'd fill in a little information. There is no doubt a certain amount of skewing of the statistices since there are people who don't bother to enter results. But there are also a lot of people who use it giving it a large sample and many who are religious about keeping track to increase the knowedge base. It has the advantage of tracking personal results which many of us watch. Querytrackers also have been known to help each other with critiquing queries. And the database is kept as free as possible from the bad guys out there. (Nope, I don't own stock lol)
- August 25, 2009 at 7:08 PM
- Rogue Mutt said...
I guess this is why it's better to go to conferences and such. Get the more personal touch.
- August 31, 2009 at 10:47 AM
- Alicia R. said...
I have read through your blog many many times, and maybe I missed this, but I just have a quick question. How do you feel about receiving a query and manuscript that has also been submitted to a publisher, not another agent, but a publisher? Is this something to be avoided?
- September 4, 2009 at 3:21 PM