Congratulations x2

HB: congratulations to Huw Morgan whose fantasy MS Dark Age has been taken on by Tina Betts @ Andrew Mann, a very good agency. I'm always pleased when one of our babes gets taken on, but I'm extra pleased in this case. Dark Age was a fantasy MS that had everything, including intelligence, wit and good writing.

Now if I'm honest, I do understand why so many agents just close their doors to fantasy material. Too much of it is just too bad. That's not to diss the good stuff, just to acknowledge that people who are more interested in Massively Multiplayer Online gaming (have I got that right?) than books aren't likely to make great writers.

But when an MS comes along which is good by any standard, not merely by the standards of its genre, then shouldn't the agenting community be falling over themselves to represent it? For a long time Huw had problems being taken on, but he stuck at it and got there in the end. For him, no doubt, delight. For me, relief. I've always believed that (as long as you don't breach the iron walls of genre & market) good books will always sell. Huw's experience with Dark Age made me doubt that for a while, but I'm a believer again. Good books sell! Hooray!

Oh, and Louise Berridge has had her novel taken on by Penguin. That's great for her; great for Michelle Lovric (her WW editor); great for Victoria Hobbs @ AM Heath .... and in due course great for readers too, especially those as likes a little swash with their buckle.