SHARON JARVIS


Prisoners Of The Night

Sharon Jarvis has worked in the print media for more than thirty years for newspaper, magazine and in publishing companies. Ms. Jarvis has been a sought-after editor from her days at Ballantine where she helped promote the billion-dollar science fiction boom. At Doubleday she was the acquisitions editor and worked with some of the biggest names in science fiction, including Isaac Asimov, Marion Zimmer Bradley and Harlan Ellison, and of course, Jacqueline Lichtenberg. At Playboy Press, Ms. Jarvis developed, instituted and promoted the science fiction line which helped sustain the publisher through many a setback in other general lines.


In 1983 Ms. Jarvis left the field of publishing to start a literary agency. She is one of the few agents who has sought out new and untried authors. Her finds include Melanie Rawn, one of the most highly paid authors today, Vernor Vinge (winner of the Hugo Award), W. Michael Gear (best selling pre-history series), Thorarinn Gunnarsson (author of the Dungeons and Dragons line of games and books from T.S.R.) and Kevin Randle (whose book has been made into a Showtime movie ("Roswell") later shown on Network TV, and on video release; and with Robert Cornett whose Vietnam: Ground Zero series now includes over thirty volumes and is still going strong. In a declining publishing market, Sharon Jarvis has continued to make money for her clients.


In her off hours, Ms. Jarvis teaches stage combat and choreographs fight sequences for regional theaters. She is expert in rapier and dagger, broadsword, quarterstaff, and hand-to-hand combat. She studied under weapons master Richard Rizk of the Chekov Studios in New York City and with T.J. Glenn, a professional stunt man.




Welcome to our spotlight of Sharon Jarvis and her work.

Below is an interview Karen MacLeod conducted with Sharon Jarvis. You will be able to read about her and get to know a little about her through this interview. At the bottom of the page you will find a cover of one of the books she has either published or is available through her company. As well as links to any reviews of these books that might be at Sime~Gen.





AUTHOR INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY KAREN MACLEOD

Karen MacLEOD: Would you tell us a little more about your background in the literary field?

Sharon Jarvis: From 1969 through 1983, I was primarily an acquisitions editor although I also wrote cover copy and promotional copy. I worked at:

1. Ace Books, when it was an independent full-line publisher (it is now a science fiction division of Berkley paperbacks).

2. Popular Library, when it was an independent full-line publisher. It was absorbed into a larger publisher and then killed.

3. Ballantine, when it was an independent full-line publisher (it is now a division of Random House.)

4. Doubleday, when it was an independent full-line publisher (it is now merged with Bantam and Dell.)

5. Playboy Books, when it was an independent full-line publisher; it no longer exists.


I worked extensively on original manuscripts and specialized in science fiction, fantasy, horror and occult, although I also handled every genre and non-fiction as well. I worked with Isaac Asimov, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Harlan Ellison, Roger Zelazny, Phillip K. Dick (who once asked me to marry him sight unseen), Phillip Jose Farmer, F. Paul Wilson, etc. I discovered John Crowley, Octavia Butler, Eric Van Lustbader and others.
In 1983 I went into full-time agenting.




Karen: What are you currently working on?

Sharon Jarvis: Two projects: (1) a revision of PITCHING YOUR PROJECT #1: HOW TO SELL YOUR NOVEL TO AGENTS AND EDITORS. This explains all about query letters and how to write a synopsis;

(2) THE COSMIC COUNTDOWN, a paranormal account of my move from NYC to Pennsylvania and why other people have made similar moves.


Karen: Who or what has been a major influence on your career and why?


Sharon Jarvis: Science fiction, fantasy, & horror writers and movies.

Karen: What are your favorite and least favorite words?

Sharon Jarvis: Least favorite: "Dear Sharon" from people I've never met, along with "I've written a bestseller" and "You can't pass up my book." My immediate thought to the latter is, "Yes, I can."

Karen: Is there a book or story you wish you had written?

Sharon Jarvis: I'm still planning to write them....

Karen: Is editing and publishing your full time occupation, if not what is?

Sharon Jarvis: About two thirds of my time is devoted to that; the rest to buying and selling antiques, collectibles, and vintage clothing.

Karen: What brought you into the line of editing and publishing? I know you from the Doubleday work you did years ago with Jacqueline and Jean's work being accepted. How did you get that editing position?

Sharon Jarvis: Actually, I wanted to be a reporter, but I ended up working for a publishing company (Ace) and that was that.

Karen: That position started you on the road to Toad Hall, Co. (http://www.laceyville.com/Toad-Hall/) and Belfry Books. What prompted you to open your own publishing house?

Sharon Jarvis: I had worthwhile authors for whom I couldn't find a publisher. So when I came into some money, I decided to start publishing these books. In 1995 I started publishing books under various imprints such as Toad Hall Press and Belfry Books. Toad Hall Press specializes in how-to books for writers such as YOU CAN WRITE A ROMANCE AND GET IT PUBLISHED! by Yvonne MacManus and EVERY PAGE PERFECT by Mary Lynn, both in their third printings. Belfry's lead title was THE AMITYVILLE HORROR CONSPIRACY by the Kaplans, now in its second printing.

Belfry Books publishes non-fiction books on the paranormal and supernatural.

I also attend numerous conferences each year in the fields of publishing, the paranormal, and holistic topics. I am a member of the Independent Literary Agents Association, Publishers Marketing Association, Small Press Association, etc. I am a Facilitator Emeritus with the Holistic Consortium of Northeastern Pennsylvania. I am a longtime member of the International Fortean Organization and have attended their annual conference for the past ten years. For nearly thirty years, I have gone to numerous science fiction, fantasy, UFO, and New Age gatherings, the annual Book Expo, annual writers' conferences around the country, small press symposiums. I have friends and acquaintances in the media.


Karen: What kinds of material do you look for?

Sharon Jarvis: Saleable!!!

Karen: .What makes something "saleable?"

Sharon Jarvis: Saleable. Okay, here goes. A book has to be at least 50,000 words long. However, most major publishers want a specific type of book to be a very specific length. Such as an historical romance of at least 100,000 words. So if you write an historical romance of 75,000 (and it's not a Regency) then I can't sell it.

Not saleable is: a coming of age novel, any kind of novel that can't be categorized, a novel that crosses several categories, satire, humor, religious parody (any book whose humor or point of view is very subjective), a book that you can only label as "fiction," a collection of short stories (unless you are a famous short story writer), and any book whose plot or hook cannot be described in three sentences or less. And I'm not interested in hearing about the few authors/titles that break these rules. There are always exceptions, but the chances are you will not be one of them.


Karen: I know there is an art to editing and to finding the right material so that the book sells. Any advice there for people who want to edit and make a career of it?

Sharon Jarvis: You have to learn to read material not for fun but for analysis. What makes a book "work" or, conversely, fail.

Karen: I learned through you, Jean and Jacqueline basically at your feet. In this electronic age, what can you tell people who will read this interview spotlight, that will help them become a good editor, or author, wanted by publishing houses for their skill. I surely can't put it into words - perhaps you can.

Sharon Jarvis: You only learn through practice and by reading everything you can get your hands on.

Karen: If you could give one piece of advice to a would-be author, what would it be?

Sharon Jarvis: Read!

Karen: When did you first decide that you wanted to be an editor?

Sharon Jarvis: After seeing what my bosses decided to buy and publish.

Karen: When did you first feel that you were an editor?

Sharon Jarvis: The minute I got handed a manuscript and was told, "Here, fix this."

Karen: What is your position on e-books?

Sharon Jarvis: This is still in its infancy and, while it will become a mainstay, it is not the best place to start a career.

Karen: What's the one question you have never been asked in an interview that you wished you had? And what would be your answer?

Sharon Jarvis: Gee, I think I've been asked them all. Except, "If you were a tree, what tree would you be?" I'd probably choose redwood.

Karen: Because of my work with A COMPANION IN ZEOR, and helping edit the earlier drafts of the Sime~Gen novels you later had published at Doubleday, I have been asked to edit for an electronic publisher who is opening their doors in October. How should I go about doing this editing work? What should I look for; how should I handle it? The advice you give may be helpful to others who find themselves in such a situation.

Sharon Jarvis: Editing an e-book is no different than editing a print book. The novel structure, the pacing, the characterization are all of paramount importance.

Karen: Do you have a favorite type of literature for personal pleasure?

Sharon Jarvis: I used to read Regency romances to numb the brain. (no nasty letters about this, please). Now I just plop down in front of the tv for the same effect.

Karen: What book are you reading at the moment?

Sharon Jarvis: The Christ Conspiracy by Acharya S. I'm into extremely esoteric topics at the moment.

Karen: How does your approach to the editing role differ from that of a potential writer?

Sharon Jarvis: Writers usually write what they feel and edit afterward. I have to read for commerciality first.

Karen: What's your main ambition?

Sharon Jarvis: To remain part of the information highway.

Karen: Is there something you are particularly proud of?

Sharon Jarvis: I discovered John Crowley, Eric Van Lustbader and Octavia Butler. I furthered the careers of lots of other writers as well, and enabled them to keep on writing.

Karen: Plug away - what do you have coming out?

Sharon Jarvis: The two books I'm writing personally. (see above)





Titles published by Sharon Jarvis & Toad Hall.

Ragged Angels
TOAD HALL PRESS


You Can Write a Romance and Get it Published! --Suzanne Barclay

Every Page Perfect --Kathryn Fanning, Managing Editor

Getting Your Acts Together--Tim Kelly

With Alex by My Side--Joel Davis

Puppy Kisses are Good for the Soul--David Tayman

Confessions - How to Write Sell True Stories--Tina Pappalardo


Belfry Books


MO-KAN Ghosts--Dale Kaczmarck

Haunted Pennsylvania--Troy Taylor,

The Amityville Horror

Teachings of the Winged Disk

Dancing With Devas -- Trish Telesco

The Biblical Tarot #1--Never Cross A Palm With Silver, Jacqueline Lichtenberg


Other Titles


Prisoners of the night #10

Ragged Angels


 

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