Hey FFFers! I'm delighted to have Katie Morford Phillips on today's Manuscript Monday. Katie is an amazing editor for Crosshair Press and she gave me the best rejection I’ve ever received. :) Seriously. Her notes on my proposal helped me a lot. I also had a phone consult with her about my pitch for the prequel for Fairyeater. She helped me tighten my focus and gave me great feedback. Katie has developed an Author's Toolkit that I love, and will help anyone, whether they're a new writer or not, with pitching a story/novel idea to an editor or agent. And we all know that's about the most nerve wracking thing an author can go through.
FFF: hi, Katie! Welcome to Fairies, Fantasy, and Faith! Tell my readers a bit about yourself.
KMP: Um, where to start. I’m a slow writer, a fast fiction editor, and a voracious reader who grew up re-imagining the endings of books I didn’t like. My first published novel was a co-authored romantic suspense novel, Kenan, but I typically trend toward soft speculative fiction. I have a space opera fantasy in revisions and I am currently working on a YA historical urban fantasy (think Harry Potter meets X-men in WWII-era northern England). I married a ballet/swing dancer and love travel, strawberries, and Cadbury Royal Dark Chocolate.
FFF: I am right with you on the dark chocolate! What drew you to the crazy wonderful world of gifting authors with your awesome pitch tools?
KMP: As first an author, then a publisher and fiction editor, I’ve had the unique opportunity to see the book industry (especially the querying/pitching process) from both sides of the table. When so many of my fiction editing clients expressed to me how lost and overwhelmed they felt trying to navigate the pitching process, I knew I had the experience and expertise to guide them to telling their story with clarity and confidence. As one of my multi-published clients said, “This is the toolkit I wish I’d had when I was first starting out!”
FFF: I feel the same way! What’s your favorite tool and why?
KMP: I absolutely love the query letter, synopsis, and one-sheet templates. So many amazing stories are sitting on a shelf because their author is too overwhelmed to try pitching or hasn’t been equipped to communicate their story in an intriguing way. Many writers struggle to condense an entire novel into a synopsis or blurb. The templates are designed to be super simple, plug-and-play resources. They guide authors step-by-step through the process and eliminate overwhelm so they can reach their goals.
FFF: Very cool. What do you want authors to come away with after digging through this toolkit?
KMP: I really want authors to walk away with tremendous clarity as to their story and its strongest selling points, and therefore great confidence in their story. I want to take authors from overwhelmed to enthusiasm, and guide them through sharing their passion with an industry desperate for fresh stories and voices.
FFF: I love that! How long have you been in the editing/writing world? What’s your story?
KMP: I started writing stories with a friend in high school, and then eventually branched out on my own (I’ve finished 11+ novels and novellas, most of which will never see the light of day). I completed the Christian Writers Guild Apprenticeship and Journeyman Mentoring Courses under literary agent Les Stobbe and author DiAnn Mills. After a career in journalism and three years living overseas and doing communications for a non-profit, I returned to my native Kansas to launch my own fiction editing, photography, and brand consulting business. I’m also a co-founder and the managing editor for Crosshair Press, an indie publishing house specializing in adventure stories. My romantic suspense novel, Kenan, released in May 2015 and the sequel is slated to release late this year or early next year. So, I guess you could say I’ve been writing and editing for over 15 years, though it feels like all my life.
FFF: Wow - no wonder you have so much to offer! Where can authors connect with you?
Email: [email protected]
Author Pitch Toolkit: www.storyforhisglory.com/resources
Website: www.storyforhisglory.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/create.explore.illuminate
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/create.explore.illuminate/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthKarisWaters
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/AuthKarisWaters/pins/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silverferncreativeservices/
Crosshair Press: www.crosshairpress.com
Amazon (Kenan): https://www.amazon.com/Kenan-Katiller-Book-Karis-Waters-ebook/dp/B00Y32P47A
FFF: So there you have it. Thanks again, Katie! Can't wait to see you at Realm Makers!
KMP: Me, too! Thanks for having me!
COVER REVEAL - Lament
9/24/2020 7:13:00 AM by: pam
COVER REVEAL - The Soda Pop Wars
8/3/2020 8:03:00 AM by: pam
COVER REVEAL - Azriel
7/8/2020 9:33:00 AM by: pam
Blog Tour for BURN
5/21/2020 6:59:00 AM by: pam
COVER REVEAL - Burn
4/9/2020 8:20:00 AM by: pam
BLOG TOUR - Shadow Light
4/6/2020 6:35:00 AM by: pam
COVER REVEAL - Shadow Light
3/24/2020 9:55:00 AM by: pam
New and Fun Things!
1/15/2020 7:37:00 PM by: pam
Christmas Specials!
12/12/2019 6:15:00 PM by: pam
Blog Tour - DEAR AUTHOR
12/9/2019 10:18:00 AM by: pam
The Great - a truly unique picture book
12/2/2019 8:11:00 PM by: pam
COVER REVEAL - Dear Author
11/4/2019 9:59:00 AM by: pam
FAIRYEATER Birthday Prizes
10/26/2019 7:18:00 AM by: pam
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FAIRYEATER!
10/25/2019 8:09:00 AM by: pam
FAIRYEATER Birthday Week - Day Four
10/24/2019 7:10:00 AM by: pam
FAIRYEATER Birthday Week - Day Three
10/23/2019 8:15:00 AM by: pam
FAIRYEATER Birthday Week - Day Two
10/22/2019 7:29:00 AM by: pam
FAIRYEATER Birthday Week - Day One
10/21/2019 7:54:00 AM by: pam
SECOND BONUS POST for the Children's Book Scavenger Hunt
9/15/2019 8:47:00 AM by: pam
FIRST BONUS Post for the Children’s Book Scavenger Hunt
9/14/2019 7:41:00 AM by: pam
Children’s Book Scavenger Hunt: Stop #8
9/12/2019 8:46:00 PM by: pam
BLOG TOUR - World Building in Curse Bound
7/10/2019 7:10:00 AM by: pam
BLOG TOUR - KEEN
7/4/2019 7:54:00 AM by: pam
COVER REVEAL - Keen
6/6/2019 7:43:00 AM by: pam
COVER REVEAL - Heart of the Curiosity
5/24/2019 7:05:00 AM by: pam
Interview With Spencer Meadow Press
5/17/2019 10:52:00 AM by: pam
Happy Half Birthday, Fairyeater!
4/25/2019 8:20:00 AM by: pam
ENCIRCLED Blog Tour
4/10/2019 7:22:00 AM by: pam
Blog Tour - FLARE
3/5/2019 7:56:00 AM by: pam
February is Fairyeating Month!
2/6/2019 8:35:00 AM by: pam
The INSPY Awards
1/29/2019 9:54:00 AM by: pam
Cover Reveal - FLARE
1/18/2019 8:39:00 AM by: pam
Rothana Blog Tour - Mythology
11/27/2018 7:22:00 AM by: pam
Black Friday/Christmas Sale!
11/23/2018 6:24:00 AM by: pam
Cover Reveal - Rothana
11/6/2018 3:05:00 PM by: pam
Release Day for Fairyeater!
10/25/2018 7:28:00 AM by: pam
Blog Tour for Fairyeater Starts Today!
10/22/2018 9:29:00 AM by: pam
Blog Tour - Paws, Claws, and Magic Tales
10/1/2018 2:49:00 PM by: pam
Blog Tour - Kill the Beast
9/17/2018 7:45:00 AM by: pam
COVER REVEAL DAY!!
8/31/2018 7:03:00 AM by: pam
Almost Cover Reveal Time!
8/24/2018 3:35:00 PM by: pam
Willoughby's New Bling!
8/2/2018 3:22:00 PM by: pam
The Realm Awards Finalists' FB Party!
6/15/2018 3:54:00 PM by: pam
Mechanical Animals, Mechanical Animials, Mechanical Animals
6/5/2018 7:37:00 AM by: pam
Book Review - SINKING
4/23/2018 10:03:00 AM by: pam
Author Spotlight - Imani Ariana Grant
4/16/2018 7:41:00 AM by: pam
Blog Tour - Exordia
4/10/2018 7:22:00 AM by: pam
Willoughby Wednesday - The Realm Awards!
4/4/2018 9:41:00 AM by: pam
Willoughby Wednesday - Cover Reveal!
3/28/2018 9:14:00 AM by: pam
Blog Tour MYTHICAL DOORWAYS
3/27/2018 9:30:00 AM by: pam
Willoughby Wednesday Sneak Peek!
2/28/2018 12:52:00 PM by: pam
Blog Tour COMMON by Laurie Lucking
2/5/2018 6:40:00 AM by: pam
Manuscript Monday - a new beginning
1/22/2018 7:17:00 AM by: pam
Realm Makers, here I come!
7/25/2017 7:41:00 AM by: pam
Katie Morford and her amazing Author's Toolkit!
6/26/2017 1:29:00 PM by: pam
Willoughby In New York!
5/31/2017 9:31:00 AM by: pam
Willoughby's Illustrator is Having a Map Drawer Clean Out!
5/25/2017 3:44:00 PM by: pam
Blog Tour - Jill Hackman
5/24/2017 6:41:00 AM by: pam
Willoughby Wednesday 5-17-17
5/17/2017 7:19:00 AM by: pam
Manuscript Monday, May 15, 2017
5/15/2017 8:13:00 AM by: pam
Fantasy Fhoto Friday 5-12-17
5/12/2017 3:45:00 PM by: pam
Manuscript Monday May 8th
5/8/2017 3:32:00 PM by: pam
Blog Tour - Rachel Lopez
5/4/2017 6:51:00 AM by: pam
New Schedule!
5/1/2017 2:02:00 PM by: pam
Willoughby's Dragon Party
4/2/2017 3:45:00 PM by: pam
Willoughby Loves to go Visiting!
3/24/2017 8:26:00 PM by: pam
Fun Facts about Willoughby
3/16/2017 3:49:00 PM by: pam
Willoughby's Facebook Party!
3/14/2017 8:01:00 AM by: pam
Cover Reveal Day!
3/6/2017 7:44:00 AM by: Pam
Willoughby's Coming!
2/27/2017 3:25:00 PM by: Pam Halter
Those pesky revisions
10/2/2014 1:14:14 PM by: pam
Contract signed!
8/16/2014 7:20:41 AM by: pam
My Writing Process Blog Tour
5/26/2014 12:48:35 PM by: pam
New Location
5/19/2014 12:17:30 PM by: pam