June 10, 2011

Made It Moment: Arthur Levine

Filed under: Made It Moments — jenny @ 8:24 am

Johnny Oops

I love the way the world wide web breaks down into small, intimate communities that can still truly be world wide. I don’t even know exactly where some of the people I’m now lucky enough to call friends hale from, although Siberia, Germany, England, and Missouri are some of the more exotic (to me) places.

I met Arthur Levine through one of the busiest, most active places on the web–the Amazon discussion forums. And I loved his concept of Almost Made It Moments because we’ve all had some of those, no matter where we are in this journey. Please read on–and judge for yourself whether Arthur’s tag of “almost” is too modest.

Arthur Levine

I’m relatively new at this so I’m afraid all I can offer is some Almost Made It Moments. The first was when I got to a well-known agent through my wife who asked for an outline of my manuscript. She was a non-fiction agent. I didn’t have an outline so I went back over the finished manuscript and created a 42-page outline, one page for each chapter. Turned out funnier than the book I think. I laughed like hell. Her assistant called me to say she loved it, would be back to me within a week to firm up a deal and was thrilled I’d taken a whole new approach to the subject. I didn’t have any idea of what she was talking about. What approach? What subject? I was just writing a novel about unwanted side effects of herbal supplements on my principal characters who ended up inventing a magic pill that cured cancer. After waiting 2 weeks I called her back. She was no longer working there and her boss said, “I told you I only do non fiction.”

On my current self-published novel – Johnny Oops I tried going the traditional route first. Was told by one famous agent she really liked the concept and the story, but wasn’t about to take a chance on an unknown author. How does one become known? Another agent told me he really liked the book, especially the scenes about Johnny and his first love Alice and thought I was a new voice who with the right agent and editor should be published. Unfortunately he only did non-fiction how to books. What’s with me and non-fiction agents? I only do fiction.

I’m going the self publishing route in the hopes that someone will discover me and I will have an honest to God Made It Moment with a major publisher offering me bundles of cash and a team of editors at my beck and call. Till then I’m concentrating on the six novels I’m editing and hoping I don’t get another bright idea before I get the others out, but to tell the truth I’ve started writing the sequel to Johnny Oops. I just can’t help myself.

Arthur Levine is a freelance copywriter with a passion to write novels and how to books.  He’s been interviewed by Kathy Reinhart in her Ink Drop Interviews. When not writing fiction, Arthur likes to write articles on his favorite topics: The New Middle Aged Group (of which he is proud to be a member), advice on how to find a husband, and much more.






8 Comments »

  1. Hi Arthur: I too am a fan of your posts on Amazon and Johnny Oops. Good luck with your publishing goals. I’d really like to hear more about The New Middle Aged Group topics as its a category I only too easily fit into to. Cheers, HL

    Comment by H.L. Banks — June 10, 2011 @ 8:38 am

  2. Hey Arthur! Great story! I’m also a fan on Amazon posts. From what I’ve seen and read, a “made it moment’ is not far away!!

    See ya at the Spinning Wheel,
    Mountainmama

    Comment by mountainmama — June 10, 2011 @ 8:55 am

  3. Hi Arthur,

    I hope all of your publishing dreams come true. And what’s this New Middled Group all about? It sounds like something I should be a part of.

    Good luck!
    Nancy

    Comment by Nancy Morse — June 10, 2011 @ 9:25 am

  4. Hi H.L. Banks and Nancy. You can find out more about how to feel young and Johnny Oops and The New Middle Aged Group at http://newmiddleagedgroup.blogspot.com.

    Regards,
    Arthur

    Comment by Arthur Levine — June 10, 2011 @ 10:03 am

  5. Oh, I dearly wish you the very best. I had an agent drop me to do NF only so I can kind of identify. How frustrating for you! I hope you hang in there and have success.

    Comment by Savvy — June 10, 2011 @ 1:37 pm

  6. Great post! That searching-for-fame-and-agents thing can be a bore, can’t it??? :-) Good luck, Arthur – you’re a great guy with a wonderful sense of humor and talent to boot. I expect your Made it Moment is right around the corner.

    Comment by Karen Cantwell — June 10, 2011 @ 2:56 pm

  7. Thanks Karen. From your words of wisdom.

    Regards,
    Arthur

    Comment by Arthur Levine — June 10, 2011 @ 4:22 pm

  8. You’ve had some really super ‘almost made it’ moments, Arthur! Great post. :)

    Comment by Kristie Leigh Maguire — June 10, 2011 @ 6:50 pm

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