Blood, sweat and tears

Many of you know that I’ve been waiting to hear from a couple of agents and a publishing house. No there hasn’t been any word yet! However, it makes me wonder, is there some special secret or formula to getting an agent and ultimately being published? Many say no, just hard work and persistence. Well, I’m both and still nothing.

We as writer pore our blood, sweat and tears into our work but sometimes it doesn’t seem to be enough. I think that it’s hard to stay positive all the time. Especially when you feel it in your heart that you have a really good product and that it would sell. The worst part is waiting a long time to hear the long awaited words, ‘I would like to offer representation.’

Query for Heaven & Hell Series

This is a rough idea of my query. Let me know what you think of my story idea.


Demons beware! Diana, daughter of Archangel Michael has been sent to Earth to begin her final trials. As the only woman in training to be an Archangel, she must prove her worth. When she comes across Byleth an Arch-demon, he puts her skills to the test, by raising the dead in the middle of Sin City. Diana must stop him and send him back to Hell before the humans learn of their kinds. (Diana has a hell of a time following the rules.)

Filled with humor, action, stomach-turning scenes and love against the rules, THE TRIALS will appeal to fans Laurell K. Hamilton and Kim Harrison. This 70,000-word dark fantasy novel is filled with fighting, demons, angels and walking dead. The ultimate Good vs. Evil and the training ground is Earth.

My published work appeared in NEW CAMP HORROR and DESCENDING DARKNESS. My memberships are BACKSPACE ORGANIZATION and KELLEY ARMSTRONG’S WRITING GROUP. A participant of NaNoWriMo 2005. A review appearing on the BACKSPACE ORGANIZATION homepage.

Do you think, THE TRIALS sounds heavenly sinful?

Planning for the Future

I’ve noticed that after you first book sale there are a lot of decisions that have to be made to help further your career. Maybe your editor will want your backstory. I would suggest starting to where writing became your life. Will you have a book launch party? The Marketing Department may want your ideas to help sell your book.

I never realized how much has to be decided. As for me, I take a lot of notes from my friend JA Konrath, which is very knowledgeable on many subjects. However, I plan to take it one-step at a time and that is to get an agent.

Life

For the last week, I haven’t been able to work on my WIP. It has been an awfully busy time around here. In the evening when everything has died down, I’m too tired to work.

One thing that my daughter and I had to do was create an invention. The idea was so good that we are going to try to get a patent for it then market it. We also had to replace the roof on our garage, which sucked.

Finally, things have died down at least for now so I can get back to work. How has everyone else been? Do find that life some times stops the flow of your WIP?

Being Published

After one signs with an agent, do they change? In the last year, I know several people that have signed with an agent and sold their books. Some of these people’s egos have become so large that they think they are bigger then they really are. It is a total turn off to see people write about how great they are as if we should envy them. What makes anyone think they are so great, an agent or a nice deal with a publisher?

I watched a documentary on Stephen King and the childhood friends say ‘he’s still the same’ is great to see.

I think when you’re an author being polite and putting a mature image out there for all to see is the most important for your career. I don’t think when I become a published author that I will change at least I hope not. I always want to have the reputation of being mature and professional that is very important to me. I wish all the new authors out there many years of success.