What is 'Footnote to Youth' the whole story and characters?  

I'm afraid you're not going to get very many 'positive' responses...for one, for some reason a lot of writers just aren't positive...ha ha. But anyway, I think you've answered your own question. There are no hard and fast rules or "pay scales". A publisher will look at the marketability of what you've written and make an offer accordingly. An agent can often negotiate a bigger advance than what you would get on your own, but many times this advance will have to be made up for in book sales before you see any money from books sold. There is a website, Publishers Weekly, maybe? that will often tell about book deals and the advances, etc. Just write the best book that you can (I'm sure you already know this) and market it to the people who make the most money selling books in your genre. Good luck, I hope you make millions and get to ditch that awful job!

Answered by S S at 2:26 PM on December 27, 2008

Footnote to Youth was written by Jose Garcia Villa.

Characters:
1. Dodong-main character of the story who got married at the age of 17
2. Teang-regretted marrying at an early age
3. Lucio-Teang's other suitor who got married after she did and who's childless until now
4. Blas-Dodong and Teang's oldest son who followed their footsteps in the end. Blas contemplated to marry Tona when he was 18
5. Tona--woman whom Blas wants to marry.

Summary:
Dodong wanted to marry Teang and asked his father's permission. Thinking that since they are young, their love would be short, he allowed them to get married. After nine months, Teang gave birth to a child named Blas. For six consecutive years, a new child came along. Teang did not complain even thought she secretly regretted being married at an early age. Sometimes she even wondered if she would have the same life if Lucio, her other suitor who was nine years older than Dodong, was the one she married. Lucio has had no children since the time he married. When Teang and Dodong were twenty they looked like they were fifty.
When Blas was 18, he told his father that he would marry Tona. Dodong did not object, but tried to make Blas think twice before rushing to marriage - because Dodong doesn't want Blas to end up like him.

It simply tells the story of an older person who made a mistake in the past who ended up with a not so pleasurable life. Then he had a son who is like him when he was young. His son is hasty in making the decision to get married, just like he was when he was 17. Despite this, Dodong did not - and could not - stop Blas from marrying Tona. Therefore, he didn't object. Instead, he just reminded him that Blas is still very young and might as well think twice before rushing to marriage. But, as the ending goes:

"Youth must triumph... now. Love must triumph... now. As long ago did youth and love triumphed for Dodong. And then... life.

Answered by Suparna at 6:34 PM on December 04, 2008