I'm poised on the brink of yet another "first". My first query to an agent. I'm going to shoot the moon and query Trident Media. Not only do they rep several members of my local RWA chapter, but I have worked with them through my office, and so thought I could "name drop" a little - especially as we don't currently represent them anymore, so no one will get annoyed.
I figure that I can still continue to pitch to publishers - and will, though I've had to scratch Dorchester off my "potential" list, seeing as how they look to be crashing and burning - poor Chris Keeslar. A great guy, wonderful editor, enthusiastic dude and I'm sure he'll land on his feet, but it narrows my list.
Since some publishers say they take a year, or longer, to respond to even a query (though Baen wants you to submit the entire MS for consideration as a first step - which I'm a little feared of doing). So I'll have plenty of time while they consider, while I also try to find an agent. Perhaps then my "baby" can find the right editor, at the right house, as the right time!
Kismet!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
August 22, 2010 - Forging Ahead Despite Rejection!
This week I got the rejection from Penguin's Ace/Roc editors. I'd submitted a cold query (i.e., no 'in', no agent, just hubris) to them on March 31 for my urban fantasy, and waited patiently (ok, not so much) for 4 months. I then received a request on July 26 to submit the full manuscript to them because they found my initial pages "intriguing". I was over the moon, beside myself, jumping on Oprah's sofa, what have you. Naturally I had to re-read, re-polish and generate a synopsis, but I sent it off with high hopes.
Which were dashed when I got the "thanks but no thanks" response. They liked some things, but had trouble with the opening pace (even though they liked the very beginning, I guess) and didn't "connect" with my protagonist.
Now, that, I knew, might be an issue. My kick-ass heroine has a potty mouth, is very snarky, and has a spanking fetish. She is tough and has taken care of herself all of her adult life. During the course of the novel I (think) I show her growth and her ability to learn to trust and love and bond with others. I don't know if the editor didn't read all the way through (didn't sound like they read the entire thing - all the comments referred to the beginning, so ...).
Anyway, as I wrote in an article for my RWA/NYC chapter newsletter, Keynotes, while I was disappointed, it did give me impetus to improve, to forge ahead, to submit elsewhere and investigate agents, so that I may have someone going to bat for me who knows just the right person, or the right house, to pitch it to.
Onward and upward!
Which were dashed when I got the "thanks but no thanks" response. They liked some things, but had trouble with the opening pace (even though they liked the very beginning, I guess) and didn't "connect" with my protagonist.
Now, that, I knew, might be an issue. My kick-ass heroine has a potty mouth, is very snarky, and has a spanking fetish. She is tough and has taken care of herself all of her adult life. During the course of the novel I (think) I show her growth and her ability to learn to trust and love and bond with others. I don't know if the editor didn't read all the way through (didn't sound like they read the entire thing - all the comments referred to the beginning, so ...).
Anyway, as I wrote in an article for my RWA/NYC chapter newsletter, Keynotes, while I was disappointed, it did give me impetus to improve, to forge ahead, to submit elsewhere and investigate agents, so that I may have someone going to bat for me who knows just the right person, or the right house, to pitch it to.
Onward and upward!
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