Got my first rejection today

January 26

I got my first rejection yesterday from Findhorn Press - no specific reason was given, just that the readers report did not recommend publication. It would be nice to have a more specific reason, but publishers are busy people, who get sent upwards of 100 manuscripts every day, so don't have the time to make specific comments, other than we loved it, or it is not suitable for our list. Such is life.

I feel a bit disheartened, mostly because there is so much else that I am dealing with, and this is one more thing on top of many. It is though a minor hiccup, and is not to say that the other 6 publishers who are yet to respond will also say no. Even if they do, there are still at least 30 others on my list, and that is just the UK, there is always the US and Europe and Australia, and for that matter, self publishing. I will just have to sit it out and wait, and try very hard to be patient. Patience though never was my strong point.

Acting on instinct

January 23

Yesterday Coran had the feeling that I should email Findhorn Press and Capall Bann to check that my submission and queries had been received, knowing how unpredictable email can be. It was lucky that I did because as it turned out, Capall Bann did not receive my query. They asked that I send it again. The good news is that this one was received, and they like it sufficiently to want to see more. So first thing tomorrow it will be winging its way to them.

They would definately be my first choice of publisher if interested enough to make an offer.
As for Findhorn, it was received fine, and is being read by one of their reviewers. I should hopefully hear from them some time within the next couple of weeks. They would also be near the top of my list should they make an offer. There is a long way to go yet, as they have to request the entire manuscript first.

I am still waiting to hear from Warner Bros re copyright for Babylon 5 quotes, but then they do take their time.

It's a kinda magic .....

January 11

So far today I have sent off one more submission; this time by email to Findhorn Press, and queried a small publisher I found via the Internet called Green Magic. I would have sent the deatils by post, but our Post Office closes early today, so I have printed out another copy of my proposal to be sent to Foulsham Press first thing in the morning. I will probably do a couple of more submissions before the day is out.

There are about 40 UK publishers on my list as possibilities - I will have to check their websites first to make sure they are really suitable, as in the Writers Yearbook many state that they publish non-fiction, but when you look at their catalogues, it is all stuff on gardening, cookery etc, which is not much good to me!

No sooner did I send that email to Green Magic than they got back to me requesting details of the book with a sample chapter. I have then printed it all out to be sent. How nice it is to be able to send a submisson through saying "Please find enclosed Book Proposal and sample chapters as per your request!" I know there is a long way to go yet though.