Dramatis Personae - Josh Getzler Part Two

Tell us the story of how you first came across T.K Roxborogh. Give we fans a reminder of why this trilogy is something special.
OK, so here’s the Tania-specific part of my responses, and I have a feeling that most of the folks reading this will already agree with me about how special a writer Tania is, and how marvelous Banquo’s Son and Blood Lines are. But it’s nice to tell the story and make Tania blush…

I first heard of TK Roxborogh from her former editor, the redoubtable Vicki Marsdon, now of HarperCollins. Vicki was the editor of another of my then-clients, and emailed me that she might have another author for me to try, whom she thought would be up my alley. I then, as happens, got crazy-busy (stop smirking, Tania!), and it took a prod or two to get me to start. But once I did, I couldn’t stop.

I simply thought that Banquo’s Son was fantastic—it incorporated so many elements I love: Adventure, history, Shakespeare, epic storyline, True Love (or is it!), chivalry…really everything. And it was a trilogy, and I loved it and took it on. We’ve been trying to sell it in the US, and are encountering an interesting phenomenon: Banquo’s Son is truly a crossover book. It appeals to women and men, young and old. My wife’s 62 year-old assistant loved it, and so did my 13 year-old niece. I have had SIX interns cry during the last fifty pages of Banquo’s Son, and they are all in their twenties. But we’ve come up against a desire to pigeonhole books into categories, when sometimes that simply isn’t the way to go. Now I understand the need to do so: publishers’ sales forces and (generally) editorial staffs in the US are divided into children’s vs adult books, and it’s efficient that way—book buyers are divided in the same way, and order books accordingly.

So it’s been frustrating, maddening at times. But through it, Tania has been steadfast in moving ahead and satisfying her ever-growing legion of fans. Blood Lines, written at an incredibly intense pace, reflected the urgency of the story, hurtling toward what is going to be a stunning conclusion in Birthright. All the elements are here—and the writing is evocative and the story MOVES!

I’m terribly proud to represent Tania Roxborogh. We exchange emails (at odd times of day and night, given both time differences and odd sleeping habits on both our parts), and have heard much in the way of triumph, tragedy, delight and adversity over the past several years. We are friends and business associates, and I look forward to delivering her (hopefully huge!) advance check IN PERSON to New Zealand—once US publishers wake up and join Team Flea!

Thanks Josh. Not blushing, it's just warm in Dunedin for once *grin* And, New Zealand is the best country in the world to visit so I look forward to your visit and the cheque enormously.

Go here to read Josh's latest post about the waiting game in publishing.