Successful Adoption

by Raelene Gorlinsky

Good Writer = Like. Good Writer + Chocolate = Love.
http://editorialanonymous.blogspot.com/2008/10/good-writer-like-good-writer-chocolate.html

Editorial Anonymous is a children's book editor, but much of her advice is applicable to authors in any genre. This article is about the all-too-common reality that editors leave their jobs (for many reasons), and their "orphaned" authors must be adopted by other editors at the house. So now the person editing your book is not the one who initially fell in love with and acquired it. What can you as author do to get this new relationship off to a good start, and be successfully adopted? (And yes, chocolate - or some other tasty edible - helps.)

Please go read the full article, but here's the core of it:

"The first and most important step is to send good chocolates. This will get her attention, even on a hellishly busy day. With the chocolates send a very friendly letter that conveys:
1. your enthusiasm at working with her
2. your interest in developing a good working relationship with her
3. the development history of the book with the other editor
4. all of your contact information"

Yes, the editor should certainly reach out and make contact with you. But your book is just one of many on her plate, she has to spread her time and attention around. Whereas you as author want to get her to focus on your book - so you definitely should have incentive to help your new editor realize you are a wonderful person to work with and that editing your book will be a joyful experience.