Starting to send out queries to independent publishers!

Well, I sent out several queries and I’ve had a few rejections. I’m going to start to send queries out to some independent publishers that I know about. I’m hoping that I can drum up some interest in my latest book. I have a feeling about this book though. I had a dream a couple of weeks ago that I had an offer for representation. Maybe an independent publisher is the way to go with this. If I could just get my foot in the door then I would be able to work with someone that is willing to take a chance and help me fine tune my work into something spectacular.

I just really want to find my book on a book shelf in a mainstream bookstore. It is a dream to have strangers read my book and recommend it to someone else. I want people to enjoy my writing and not just friends and family that might feel obligated to tell me it’s good when it’s not. I know that i can write well enough to get published i just don’t know if I’ve gotten there yet. Here’s hoping that I have arrived.

Started to Cold Query for my Book!

Well, I started to cold query for my book. I’m hoping that it won’t take to long to get someone interested in it. I have been dragging my feet do this because I was hoping that the publisher that I sent my pages to would get back to me. Right now I’m taking her silence as an answer. It may just not be right for her. I have been told that it’s really violent and some people can’t handle that. As a result of that I’m sending my book to agents that enjoy horror as well as mysteries. I’m thinking that they may be able to handle the violence in my books.

I sent out 3 queries today. I will send out more tomorrow. I figure if I don’t give up and I keep writing then eventually I will have someone that wants to represent my with one of my books. In between querying on this book, I have causally started to write another book. I’m not writing in it everyday but here and there. It will come together in the end. At this point I don’t even have the first chapter finished. I will keep you apprised of where I am with it as well as how my querying is going. Until we meet again in the wonderful world of fantasy, keep reading!

We made it through the holidays.

Hello, I made it through the holidays unscathed. I hope all of you did as well. It was a busy time. My wife’s best friend come to stay with us through Thanksgiving. It doesn’t bother me we get along great. My step-mother’s birthday fell on Thanksgiving this year so we didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving as much as we celebrated her birthday. It turned out to be a fun time. When the night was all over she seemed to be pleased with her celebration. Then I had my Army buddy come for a couple of weeks. We hung out and worked on home improvement projects and got ready for Christmas. My wife likes him just as much as I do.

That’s one of things that I love about our relationship. We both love each other’s friends so it’s not a problem when they come to visit. Christmas was a great day. We opened presents and she loved everything that I got her. Then we had people come over for Christmas dinner. We all had a good time. My wife cooked up a big meal and it was so good that everyone wanted to take some home. So we weren’t bogged down with leftovers. Everything was eaten within a couple of days.

I still haven’t heard from that publisher. I’m thinking about sending a nudge to see if she is still interested. I’m hoping that she is. It would be nice to get this one published. I’m hoping that it’s good enough and not to violent for her. One of the publishers that I went in to talk to at the conference said right off the bat that she didn’t do disturbing themes. So she was out. Then when I sent the agent the pages she said it was too violent for her. Now, I hoping for the last one. I’m waiting to hear from her before I start doing cold queries for this book. Here’s hoping that the new year brings me good news when it comes to my writing. I hope you all enjoy your reading time. Happy Reading!

I haven’t heard from the publisher yet!

Well, I haven’t heard from the publisher that I sent my book to. I have been trying to be patient and I’m getting a little anxious waiting to see what she thinks of my book. I’m hoping that she doesn’t pass on it like the agent did. I know that there is a market for it because I have had people read it that really enjoyed it. I just need to find the right publisher or agent for it. I figure that after 2 months I will send her a nudge to see if she has had time to look at it. I figured that she had several authors sending her their books after that conference.

I think this is the worse part of writing a book, the waiting! I hate waiting fro someone else to read and respond to my work. Everything that you can imagine goes through my head. Is it good enough, do I have any talent at all, should I even be attempting to publish a book. I feel like a fraud sometimes and I am faking writing a book. I want to make it as a writer. I think that it would be fun to make up stories and have other people read them for fun.

Well, all i can do is keep putting myself out there and one day I will find the right agent or publisher and I will get published. I am determined to keep trying until someone sees the value in my writing that people close to me sees, that i see. I just wish my dad and step-father were both here to see me trying to do this. I’m sure that they both would be proud of me and what I’m trying to do with my writing. My step-father was writing a book himself so I know that he would be proud. My dad was always proud of me. Well, I’m going to sign off for now. Happy reading!!!

Heard from the Agent

I heard from the agent that I sent my book to from the conference. She said that the plot and characters are intriguing but the violence and some of the themes put it a bit out of her wheelhouse. She passed on the book. I am still waiting to hear from the publisher that I submitted to, from the conference. I am hopeful that I will hear something positive from that. I am encouraged that there is a market for my book I just have to find it.

If the publisher doesn’t work out then I will go back to cold queries. I figure that the right person is out there somewhere. I will find them even if it takes a long time. I am not going to give up on my publishing dreams. That agent made me feel like there is a place for my book on the shelf. She toid me to find an agent that deals with violence and domestic suspense.

It appears that my journey has just begun. I will keep at it until my book finds a home. I am determined to find that home hopefully in the next year if not sooner. Only time will tell if this publisher that I am waiting on will come through. I am hoping for good news on that front within the next month if not then in time for my birthday in January. It would be a great 50th birthday present to find out that I’m being published. I will keep you posted on my journey as it unfolds. Happy reading!

Waiting for a response

I received an email from the agent that requested my material. I sent it in and she emailed me back and let me know that she received it. I thought that it was very thoughtful of her to take the time out of her busy day and let me know that. I thought it was very professional. I know that she likes a professional attitude because she said so at the conference that I met her at. She is really nice but professional. I just hope that she likes my writing. I hope she sees enough in my writing to work with me to make it good enough to send to a publisher. I know that she will find some mistakes. I tried to find every single one I even had other people go through it, but no body is perfect.

This is the first book that I’m getting feedback from an agent on other than cold queries on a different book. I’m expecting a response from a publisher too. I haven’t heard anything from her yet though. I’m sure she got my material I’mm just waiting to find out what she thinks of it. I’m hoping that they both like what they read and request more, perhaps the full manuscript. Well, here’s hoping that someone will take me on and either publish or represent my book. Until next time….

Sending off my first 50 pages

I came home from the conference and thought about sending in my first 50 pages to those that asked for them. I thought better of it. I have spent this week going through my book with a fine tooth comb and boy am I glad that I did. I had way too many mistakes in my manuscript. I looked as hard as I could to make it as good as I could for this publisher and agent.

I finally sent it in today. I hope that I can get a bite. I am teetering on this is going to get published and am I good enough to be published. I have written a few books now and I haven’t been able to get anywhere with at least the one that I have submitted. I will keep writing no matter how long it takes to be published. I’m just hoping this thsi is the one.

I think that I have come up with an idea to make this book a series if I can just get this first one published . I had a friend over today that helped me iron out some details for the new books I just want to know that this first book is being published before I write the rest of the series. If i need to move on I will. I know what you are thinking, I’m not putting all my eggs in this basket. I’m just giving the people that I met at the conference the first chance to publish the book before I contact anyone else.

I am looking forward to the adventure of the journey of publishing a book. I know that there will be times when I’m frustrated that I have to do another rewrite but it’s going to be fun in the long run. I know that I won’t change the experience for anything. As always I will keep you posted as things develop.

Atlanta Writer’s Conference

        I went to the Atlanta Writer’s conference this last weekend ( Nov. 3rd - 4th ). It was an eye opening experience. I met a lot of new people some I will keep in touch with. I pitched my book and I have an editor and an agent interested. It was nice being around fellow authors and seeing their publishing journeys. It’s nice to know that I’m not alone in this endeavor that I am undertaking. I feel like I am on a new journey in life that is going to take me into a wonderful career.

        It was a weekend to remember with the classes and pitches. there was a mixer where I met some interesting people. I was a little shy about approaching people at first but then I got up the courage to walk up to groups of people and start talking. Like my uncle said I have gone into combat twice this should be nothing by comparison.

        I will keep you posted on my publishing journey. I’m sure it will entail it’s own twists and turns, just like my books.