Join my chat with Cherry Weiner as we go over…

📝 How our editing process works📖 What the big publishers are looking for🧭 How long it REALLY takes to go from book deal → bookstore shelf💡 Smart moves that help authors build lasting careers

I finished my first novel, City Lights to Country Nights, last February and signed with Cherry Weiner at Superstars 2025 last year. (This year’s con starts Feb 4 in Colorado, but I am missing it this year.)

The only way to query Cherry is to meet her in person, and she signed a few of us from last year’s convention! It’s been a year of trying to sell my book, and here’s your chance to eavesdrop on our conversation as Cherry talks about me through the realities of the publishing world and the best way forward to success for an author.

Join the next tier and read my cold email to Cherry before the con and the winning query letter!

AF: A lot of writers imagine you write a book, get an agent, sell it, and a few months later it’s in stores. What’s the real timeline from book sale to publication?

CW: Much longer than people think. First, editors can take months just to read submissions — three, six, sometimes nine months. If they love it, they still have to take it to an acquisitions meeting where sales, legal, and other editors weigh in. If it passes, we negotiate the deal, which can take a week or even months. Then, contracts take weeks to process. After the manuscript is accepted, publication is often scheduled up to 24 months later because publishers buy books years in advance.

AF: I didn’t know about the acquisitions meeting. Does this mean an editor can love your book and still reject it?

CW: Absolutely. An editor can be passionate about a book, but if the acquisitions committee says no, the deal is dead. Publishing decisions are business decisions as much as creative ones.

AF: How has publishing changed since you started?

CW: It’s much harder now. I used to be able to sell a book on three chapters and an outline. Today, especially for new authors, I need a complete, polished manuscript before submitting. Publishers are taking fewer risks.

AF: How many major publishers are we really talking about now?

CW: Very few. There are about four or five major houses left, plus some big independents. And many imprints under the same umbrella consult together, so if one says no, that often closes doors within that house.

AF: What does a manuscript need today for you to say yes?

CW: I have to feel like I’m not reading — I’m there in the story. If I can put it down easily, it’s a no. It has to pull me in completely and make me want to turn the page.

AF: What’s a common character mistake you see?

CW: Weak protagonists. Today’s readers and editors want strong, capable main characters — especially women. Not “wet noodles.” Growth is great, but they need strength from the start.

(Authorial note: Cherry originally thought the main character in my cowboy romance was a “wet noodle” and was going to say no. But I convinced her to let me take another crack at it. And hired Bruce McAllister to help me. DM me if you want to learn more about hiring Bruce.)

AF: Do editors still buy series from new authors?

CW: Not the way they used to. I try to pitch series, but most editors will buy one book first and wait to see how it performs before committing to more.

AF: How long will you keep submitting a book before giving up?

CW: I keep going as long as I believe in the author and we have options. Sometimes we pause and try another project. I once worked with an author for six years before selling the right book — but it was in the genre she truly loved writing.

(Authorial note: This eased my mind greatly. I was panicking about my book not being sold after a year of being pitched to editors. Cherry won’t give up on me if I don’t give up on writing. I am considering creating book #2 in this world. After I complete a million other projects, of course. Squirrel anyone?)

AF: How important is an author’s platform now?

CW: Very. One of the first things editors ask is about social media and audience. Discoverability is a huge issue, and having a following helps prove there’s a readership.

AF: When does it make sense to use a pen name?

CW: If you’re switching genres and don’t want to confuse readers, or if previous sales were weak. Editors can see sales history, so sometimes a fresh start with a new name helps.

AF: What makes a great agent–author relationship?

CW: Trust, honesty, and communication. It’s like a business marriage. You’re trusting me with your work, so transparency is essential.

AF: What’s your best advice for writers pitching agents or editors?

CW: Be natural. Don’t read a script. Put your best foot forward — and ideally, have a complete manuscript ready.

Curious how I found my agent? Read my cold email and the winning query letter.

Cherry Weiner only takes queries from authors she meets in person. I knew she was going to be attending Superstars Writing Seminars in 2025, and I finished my novel in the summer of 2024. (Or I thought I had.😂)

I researched all the agents taking pitches at the con using Publishers Marketplace and found that Cherry represented some very interesting authors. Tim Waggoner. (I am a huge fan of his horror.) And some very successful Western genre authors. Hmmm. And I wrote a cowboy romance. This might be a fit.

Here is my cold reach out email sent on July 18th, 2024:

Dear Cherry,

I’m hoping to see you this February at the Superstars Writing Seminar in 2025. (I picked you for my career counseling and pitch session!) Last year I won the Eric Flint scholarship, and took everything I learned and wrote my debut novel, CITY LIGHTS TO COUNTRY NIGHTS.

Perhaps I can be your next Brett Cogburn?

CITY LIGHTS TO COUNTRY NIGHTS is a complete 80,000 word cowboy romance wrapped up like a Hallmark Christmas movie. Think BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY meets YELLOWSTONE.

Emma believes nothing makes for better feel-good television than a hot cowboy, fuzzy alpaca sweaters, and a Hallmark-worthy Christmas market.

After a tragic accident derailed her dream of growing Christmas trees, she’s reinvented herself as a Morning Show Host. Now she lives in a trendy city condo and is engaged to an accountant. Life is great until her decision to feature artisan alpaca sweaters –instead of a corporate holiday story –gets her fired. Heading home early, she catches her fiancé cheating with her best friend. Worse yet, the condo is in his name!

Devastated, betrayed, and homeless, Emma remembers how the owner of the alpaca ranch, Melissa, said she needed some help. And her head cowboy, Cliff, did look devastatingly gorgeous in his fuzzy holiday sweater, even if he rubbed her the wrong way. Emma secures a job on her ranch. Accommodation included.

Now Emma’s dealing with stolen alpacas, winter storms, ex-con cowboys, and stampeding cattle. Through it all she grows to love her newfound family. Not to mention that irritating cowboy, Cliff Waters. The stakes escalate when she discovers Everwood Ranch is in financial trouble and faces foreclosure if the mortgage isn’t paid by New Year’s.

Emma is in for the ride of her life, and she just might find love along the way.

CITY LIGHTS TO COUNTRY NIGHTS is my debut novel. Themes include enemies-to-lovers, rom-com, small-town romance, and spirited independent heroines. An LGBTQ+ romantic subplot also sparkles in the story.

There is definite series potential and a dynasty of tales waiting to be discovered at Everwood Ranch. I have 30 years working as a television producer/writer in downtown Toronto and live on a ranch with far too many animals. My family competes on the RAM Rodeo circuit. I have more than 60 short stories published in places like Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Amazing Stories, and Mystery Tribune. I’m prepared to write short stories in this world and aggressively help market the book.

If interested, I’d love to send you a sample of the novel!

Thank you, Angelique.

Angelique Fawns socials: www.fawns.ca

Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07ZHJGCX1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amfawns

https://twitter.com/angeliquefawns

This was her response:

Hi Angelique

Sounds interesting.... and I can see you don’t want to wait until February.

Why don’t we arrange a phone conversation?

Email me a good day and time for you to call me -- and please quote east coast time ( a la New York. I am

in Georgia). I will see if that day and time will work for me, and we can go from there.

Best

Cherry

Cherry Weiner Literary Agency

As Cherry says in her interview, she always talks to an author on the phone first. It’s definitely a chemistry thing.

In retrospect, my response to her is HILARIOUS. And shows how green I was:

Hi Cherry!

I can’t wait to talk to you. If you like my work, I can write you a complete second -and maybe even a third -novel before February.

I’m available for a conversation at your convenience. Or even a Zoom if you prefer. We are both Eastern time.

Tomorrow morning works for me from 7am-11am.

Or anytime Monday- Friday next week.

My first novel was the cowgirl romance— and now I’m almost done a dark fantasy/romantasy that I’ve cowritten with Rachel Luttrell (Stargate Atlantis fame). She has a large cult following that may help market that book!

Thank you so much for your prompt reply.

Angelique

647-206-0840

Like, I was actually going to be able to write 2 more novels before February. (Even though, at that time, I believed I could. Little did I know that Cherry would have me completely rewrite my first novel before the conference.

Trust me, it needed it. And I’m still not done with novel #2, and it’s more than a year and a half later.

But I’m still working on it. With a new respect for the ACTUAL hours that go into creating a truly professional novel. OMG. Why do we do this?

That’s right. For the love of writing and story.

PS> Here is my first interview with Cherry:

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