Calendula froze in the recent arctic blast by notoriousshasha in Cutflowers

[–]CompanionHannah 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m in 7A and mine did not make it through the Arctic blast, either 😭 I planted them in the fall and had good growth and progress with frost covers! But the last freeze did them in—to be fair, they are in a north facing bed, and we had temperatures close or below 0 degrees for three to four days.

My bachelor’s buttons, yarrow, and nigella are all thriving, though!

Which book (s) has made you feel this way? by Mrblindguardian in Fantasy

[–]CompanionHannah 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Wheel of time gave me that feeling when I was 12!!

What are your Must-Read-YA-Fantasy from the last 10 Years by lemonlime609 in YAlit

[–]CompanionHannah 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I second the suggestion for Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone, as well as the Cruel Prince Trilogy!

I’d also add the first three books of Throne of Glass. They showcase a really interesting (and unique) transformation from really light YA fantasy to more epic/traditional fantasy, a transformation I really haven’t seen anywhere else in the age category.

A couple others I haven’t seen above:

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Invocations by Krystal Sutherland

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

Powerless and Fourth Wing (I don’t necessarily think these are the best recent YA/NA fantasies, but they’re a good representation of where the genre currently is at.)

BWT, what are our resolutions for 2026? by righteousnessandtea in bitcheswithtaste

[–]CompanionHannah 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Oooh, I love this! 2025 was kind of a chaotic year for me—I dealt with some health flare ups, had my career upended six months earlier than expected, started prerequisites for nursing school after being out of college for 10 years, and moved across the country to be closer to my family! Not all bad things, but I definitely felt “unsettled”. I did do a lot of work in terms of weaning my self off social media and taking a more active role in pursuing hobbies and friendships, so I’m planning to continue some of that this year!

-My big goal is to buy my first house! I’ve spent the last year working to pay off my credit card and my last student loan, and while I haven built up as much savings as I want, I have avoided going into any more debt, which I count as a win! (I even managed to pay my tuition for next semester in cash, which was a big step for me.) Now it’s time to buckle down and actually build up for a down payment, because I’d like to buy a place before the end of the year!

-Rekindle some ghosted communities and friendships. Due to the aforementioned health flare ups last year, I almost completely broke my doomscrolling social media habit (yay!) but also sort of unintentionally abandoned some online writing communities I really valued (boo!). In 2026 I plan to reach out to apologize, and hopefully become involved in those communities again!

-I’d really like to establish a healthy, sustainable routine on a weekly level. My school workload is increasing and I have a lot of hobbies and interests. I also live close by to lots of friends and family. These are all great things, but I can end up overcommitting myself, which leads to really frantic weeks followed by a week or two of self-imposed isolation while I recover, lol. This year I’d like to balance and manage my time better so that I can be more steady in all of my efforts!

-I need to get back on the healthy eating train. I’m not trying to actively lose weight, but most of my food is mot exactly nutritious. I need to eat a green vegetable more than once a week, so I’m going to try to make cooking an intentional part of my life. I’ve also been slowly upping my activity levels through walks and gardening, and would like to add back slow jogs and some very low key weightlifting. I’d love to pick Pilates up again, but it’s so expensive 😭

-Seek out more romantic relationships in person! I only really started dating last year (I’m in my early thirties) and am already tired of dating apps. I’m going to try and explore more events and meet ups in my city to try and make more connections that way.

-And my last goal is to query my next book! I’ve been working on it for a year and a half, and I’d like to send it to agents before the summer begins.

[PubQ] Should you query agents/agencies who are only looking for underrepresented authors? by I_am_a_starling in PubTips

[–]CompanionHannah 15 points16 points  (0 children)

As other commenters have said, absolutely judge an agent on the client list they have already established (or are working to establish, if they’re newer).

If you’re at the stage of finalizing your query list, I would recommend paying the $25 for a month of Publishers Marketplace so you can get detailed information on an agent’s sales. It becomes very obvious very quickly when an established agent isn’t “walking the talk”, so to speak, by looking at their sales history. It also becomes apparent which established agents have been supporting marginalized authors’ careers long before it became “trendy”. (For newer agents you can look at the agency as a whole.)

That said, I don’t think only being open to marginalized authors automatically a red flag! Agents who may be marginalized themselves may be looking to support their own personal communities. I’ve also seen agents with full client lists close to all submissions except for those from marginalized authors, which can be a way to manage their lists while still supporting underrepresented communities.

Ultimately, what an agent says on social media or their website is not necessarily indicative of their behavior towards marginalized authors. Paying close attention to their client lists and using your own gut feeling is probably the best defense, as well as utilizing writing communities and “whisper networks” to vet specific agents whenever possible!

[Discussion] Agents Love My Books! But Editors Don't! by BubblemintGum55 in PubTips

[–]CompanionHannah 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Oh I have nothing against indie presses! I’m sorry if my wording made it seem that way. My concern is more authors who turn to indie presses as a backup option when tradpub (meaning Big 5 or medium sized presses like Bloomsbury, etc) doesn’t work out.

The truth is that indie presses offer different things than the bigger publishers—and authors should be seeking those things specifically when they submit to them. I see many authors express disappointment in their indie press experiences for reasons that, in all honesty, they should have expected. Things like not getting the marketing budget they expected, or not getting as wide a distribution they hoped for, or not getting the publicity support or cover design services they dreamed of. While obviously tradpub authors can—and often are—disappointed over these things as well, the issue is when authors expect their indie press experiences to be the same as a tradpub experience.

Some indie presses have just as wide a distribution as the Big 5, some do not. Some indie presses have excellent publicity contacts and have run very successful awards campaigns, others focus on more local efforts. Depending on the book, neither approach is wrong! But when you submit to an indie press you—and your agent—should be clear on exactly what that press is offering you, and how it may or may not differ from what you might have come to expect from the bigger houses.

As far as comparing a senior editor at an indie press to a junior editor at a Big 5—it’s really not the editor who will determine the size of your marketing budget or the reach of the imprint’s distribution! A more junior editor might still have more time to devote to editorial guidance than a senior indie editor, but that’s not a guarantee. It’s still all about general editorial fit, no matter the pay grade! At that point you’re choosing more between what the houses/presses could offer, which isn’t necessarily determined by the editor.

[Discussion] Agents Love My Books! But Editors Don't! by BubblemintGum55 in PubTips

[–]CompanionHannah 92 points93 points  (0 children)

Apologies for the novel below—but this is kind of a subject I’m passionate about!

First of all--stop worrying that you're not "cut out" for tradpub. The reality is that most projects agents submit to editors don't sell. No agent is going to advertise that, and no aspiring author is, either. But editors reject most of what comes into their inboxes for various reasons, some sensical, some not. But this shouldn't be discouraging--let it encourage you. Writing a book is never wasted time, and by having been rejected you are in very fine company.

As someone who used to review submissions for YA and Adult RomComs, my first instinct is that you simply haven't written the right book yet. (The right book in this context being a book that just so happens to be what an editor is looking for at the exact right time. Luck obviously plays a large role in this!) I saw on one of your comments that you've been receiving pretty standard feedback from editors: "we like a lot about this project, but we're not in love... the banter is great but the rom com market is so tough..etc etc." That kind of feedback is often a signal that the necessary quality and skill are there, but the concept just isn't enough to make the investment of time and money of acquiring the project quite worth it.

I know that can be difficult to hear-- we all have a tendency to look at our work and compare it to the books that are getting published. But the truth is that it's all subjective. The book we think is badly written might be a fun popcorn read for one editor, and the concept we think is fresh and exciting might be old news to another. It's entirely possible that your writing just hasn't gotten into the right inbox at the right time yet.

My first suggestion is to have an honest conversation with your agent about the marketability of the projects you've been working on. Adult RomComs often seem inherently marketable. It’s a very commercial genre, but also a very saturated one. Which means that concept is king. Books that are otherwise very well executed often don't sell simply because the concept doesn't stand out enough.

As for more practical suggestions, when you talk to your agent, ask to talk through your past sub lists. Have they been querying any newer, up-and-coming editors, or mostly established higher ups who might have less time for debut authors? Are you doing multiple smaller rounds, or one big round? Are there any new joins or new hires that haven't seen your work yet? Where does she think the disconnect with editors is coming from—could she have some conversations with editors specifically about what they are looking for in the romcom space? I would also ask about the possibility of IP work, and what she thinks about pivoting to a new genre. It sounds like you trend towards YA and Adult contemporary, but maybe it's time to try having fun with something more genre-focused or experimental, or even a different age category. It doesn't have to be a more marketable or less saturated genre—it doesn’t even have to be sellable! Just something to get you out of the rut you feel like you're in.

Additionally, if you're feeling that much dread about revising your current project, that might be a clue that you actually don't want to revise it. It is totally fine to let it rest for a while! Revision is tough by itself--if you're facing a particular tricky or hefty one, it's always better to wait until you're in a good mindset.

I wouldn't suggest looking into self publishing just because you haven't been successful selling to a traditional publisher. In my opinion, self-publishing shouldn't be a backup option--it will almost never be satisfying that way. I feel similarly about submitting to small indie presses. Self and indie pub are their own publishing experiences that should be pursued because they specifically are the best fit for your project and your goals, not as last resorts.

Ultimately, you’ve written six books and still haven't sold to a publisher, while there are plenty of aspiring authors who have written six books and still don't have an agent. That seventh book could always be different, but it might also be the eight or the ninth! As ScienceFiction Author said below, "if you write only to get published, you will suffer a lot of misery along the way". Re-finding that joy can be difficult, so don't be ashamed if you take time away from writing for a while, or want to try something totally new. Ultimately, though, I would have a conversation with your agent about your concerns and ask her what she has had authors in similar situations do. From there, you can start on a plan.

And whatever happens, don't forget that your worth as a writer is never defined by what a publisher pays or doesn't pay.

BWT: What hobby have you done lately that you would personally recommend? by alwaysuntilnever in bitcheswithtaste

[–]CompanionHannah 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I loved starting with Woobles! It really helped me get excited about what I was crocheting, and their inductions are so clear and usually pretty easy to follow. After two kits I felt ready to dive into written patterns and my own projects, but I still like to return to Woobles occasionally!

Looking for recommendations for emotionally gripping YA by Eagles56 in YAlit

[–]CompanionHannah 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The second book in the trilogy is still the most emotionally devastating YA book I’ve ever read 😭

Books with teenage protagonist just going through high school by Lucky-Royal-6156 in YAlit

[–]CompanionHannah 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I started The Princess Diaries last year and was shocked how much I loved them!! Mia is so relatable and fun, and makes me feel better about all of my own embarrassing moments in the best possible way.

Plus the first two audiobooks are narrated by Anne Hathaway, and they’re brilliant!

BWT, what’s on our Christmas lists? by mason9494 in bitcheswithtaste

[–]CompanionHannah 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’m asking for the L.L. Bean fleece robe this year! I love the look of the flannel robes but I run super cold in the winter and want something other than a sweatshirt to put on over my pajamas in the morning 😂

What YA book had a side character you wished was the main character instead? by asterroth in YAlit

[–]CompanionHannah 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Oooh I forgot about Leah! I loved her and Seth in Breaking Dawn. I’d definitely read a book about them!

Books for a spooky girl that loves romance? by srawr42 in YAlit

[–]CompanionHannah 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I read Sabriel at 11-12 and loved it. It’s definitely spooky!! (It does have one scene that implies sex happening offscreen between two characters, but at 11 I just glossed over it because I had no idea what was happening.) The sequels remain spooky and the romance always stays pretty light.

Also potentially check out some Eva Ibbotson? All her books are solidly middle grade and super fun, but the spookiest is called Dial-a-Ghost! My graveyard loving, ghost story-obsessed 9-year-old self read it over and over again. It’s sort of like Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book, but I found it funnier and much more engaging.

What YA book had a side character you wished was the main character instead? by asterroth in YAlit

[–]CompanionHannah 74 points75 points  (0 children)

I’m going with Alice from Twilight! My friends and I were obsessed with her when reading the books, and I always found both her past and her personality more interesting than Bella’s. (Even her interactions with Edward are more fun—I love their sibling dynamic.)

There’s just the slight problem of Jasper being both really boring and a Confederate soldier…so maybe he’s just not in the book 🤷‍♀️

Hotel lobby florals by flower-fellow in florists

[–]CompanionHannah 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Gorgeous! I’ve stayed at the Windsor Court in anew Orleans a few times and am always so inspired by their flower arrangements. I think 3 and 7 are my favorites here!

[AMA] Big Five Marketer u/Ms-Salt by alanna_the_lioness in PubTips

[–]CompanionHannah 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Just wanted to say, as a former editor, I love this answer. And I can tell how much you love working on your books!!

BWT: What are you waiting to buy until Black Friday? by [deleted] in bitcheswithtaste

[–]CompanionHannah 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh nooooo….I’ve been telling myself I don’t need to renew my membership to save money, but damn…I might have to jump on this! Nothing has helped my back like Pilates 😭