Wednesday 13 June 2012

And...it's gone

Polished, corrected, tidied, the manuscript is off on its journey to editors. My lovely agent, and she is kind, she phoned me just to reassure me today, is writing the pitch, phoning around to get the book to the right people, and tidying up my biography. She also wanted the synopsis of my next book, just to prove I'm not a one book wonder, I suppose. It's going off to many people, people she's been talking it up to for months. Most will 'thanks, but no thanks', it's not an easy book to place, with elements of a historical novel and a fantasy edge too. Hopefully one (or better, two) will like it.


My job is now to forget about it and let her show it around. It may all come to nothing, but it's out of my hands, which is a huge relief. On days like this, I remember all the negative messages you hear about how impossible it is to get published. While I'm actually working on it, it seems more likely. Time will tell.


Meanwhile, the poetry collection is having its final polishes too. There comes a point when you have to say, for novels as well as poetry, it ain't perfect but I'm out of time/patience. I'm tired, sad and unwell, so it feels a bit uphill at the moment. But in a few weeks, I'm off for the rarest of treats, a whole week on holiday with my husband. No kids, just the two of us, in the Lake District. 


All the frustrations of the last weeks, from UCAS cock-ups with no.1 son (now resolved), having to declare an elderly relative no longer able to cope with her finances, and the sheer tiredness that comes with being ill, will be left behind, and we can get a bit of the perspective that comes from looking back at your life from a long way away.  

10 comments:

  1. LUCK!

    I've gone all hot and cold for you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm a bit hot and cold myself, also nauseous, shaky and shattered. I thought it would be more fun!

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Thanks! This time next year we could all be published!

      Delete
  3. Oh good luck - I've been finding this process really nail biting - even though I know there's nothing I can do about it. Fingers crossed for anyone out on submission at the moment!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I keep thinking, 'this next bit will be the easy bit', but each stage is more nerve-racking than the last! So fingers crossed for all of us, and good luck!

      Delete
  4. Stop worrying, it's ready now and its your time!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do hope so, Gilly! When are you going to write that wonderfully evocative novel?

      Delete
  5. You have published an incredible site.
    Also visit my web page : Dj adelaide

    ReplyDelete
  6. Maybe when I believe in myself!

    ReplyDelete

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.