28
Sep
So, I’ve been meaning to post an update to my post on getting my first request for a full. As you might have guessed by now, the agent took a pass on my manuscript. She stated in her rejection that she’d been really excited to read my novel and, although she’d enjoyed it and thought it had merit, she decided Red wasn’t going to be right for her list.
Bummer.
Naturally, I was disappointed (translation: I was crushed), but so it goes. Considering my pitch at the MWW was essentially my first query involving this particular project, I was still pretty encouraged by the fact it had resulted in a request for a full.
Yay, me!
I’d just start sending out the query letters in the usual way. No big deal! Seeing as how I’d had such fantastic luck so far, I was sure to get loads of requests for partials and fulls, right?
Wrong.
Ten “Dear Author” form letter rejections later, I decided to take a step back and reevaluate. Based on some advice I received at the MWW, I took another look at my query letter, reworked it a bit, and sent out the revised version to the next agent on my list. That was Friday afternoon. Yesterday evening, I received a response.
When I saw the email message in my Inbox, my stomach sank. A response? Already? That couldn’t be good.
After taking a few deep breaths and bracing myself for the inevitable rejection, I opened the message to see:
“Could you send me the first 50 pages and a plot synopsis please?”
Wha-huh?
Well, of course, I can send her the first 50 pages and a synopsis! (Just as soon as I indulge in a little neurotic tweaking of said materials.)
So, today instead of stressing about no one wanting to see my novel, I’m stressing about my @$&! synopsis. Have I mentioned they’re from the devil?
Anyhoo…
As soon as I put the finishing touches on my synopsis (probably tomorrow), I’ll be sending off my partial in hopes that the requesting agent will want to see more. We’ll see how it goes.
In the meantime, I’m going to go take a few Dramamine and strap in for this roller coaster ride I do so love…
25
Sep
I’m not a grammar snob. I’m really not. We all slip up now and then. Hey, I admit to having to grab my copy of Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style from time to time. But I am on the verge of losing my mind when it comes to the recent upsurge in the misuse of reflexive pronouns! When did Americans suddenly decide it was perfectly acceptable to use myself instead of I or me?
I know this technically isn’t a new phenomenon, but lately I’m hearing it everywhere–at my office, in the grocery story (courtesy of loud-talking, self-important cell phone addicts), on TV shows…I even heard it happen on a news program the other day during an interview with a public official.
I completely understand why it’s happening–the grammar police have scared the masses into self-conscious hyper-correcting. I get it. But I’d so much rather hear, “The headless ghost scared the hell out of Joe and I” than “The headless ghost scared the hell out of Joe and myself.” At least the confusion between subject and object makes sense to me. This whole reflexive pronoun thing? Not so much.
Nails on the chalkboard, people. Nails on the chalkboard.
20
Sep
If you’ve stopped by recently, you probably noticed that the site was down for a while. The HH was making some improvements to our server and needed me to take a temporary hiatus. Sorry about the mess!
Now that the upgrades are complete, I’m up and running again and should have a couple of new posts to share in a few days. So check back soon!
Thanks for your patience!
Maura
New York Times bestselling author, Sherrilyn Kenyon, will be reading from and signing copies of her novel, No Mercy, here in Indy this weekend. If you’re a fan of paras and haven’t yet read anything by Sherrilyn Kenyon, you should!
Here’s the info:
Borders – Indianapolis – Greenwood
Saturday, September 11th at 6:00 p.m.
7565 U.S. 31 S | Indianapolis, IN | 317.859.2949
Be sure to contact the store to make sure the date and time haven’t changed before you go. And you might want to plan to get there early so you aren’t crammed into a corner in the back of the store. 
And just a bit of friendly advice: I’ve been seeing lots of discussion in articles and various newsletters about book tours and how they’re starting to fade out, so take advantage of these opportunities whenever you can.
It’s always great to hear a successful writer talk about her work and her creative process. You never know when you might learn a thing or two. And, hey, if you can pick up a few new great reads while you’re there, even better!
6
Sep
A few weeks ago, my musical muses, Apocalyptica, released their most recent album, 7th Symphony.
If you’ve followed this blog at all, you’ll know I’m not only a huge fan of Apocalyptica, but I also have their music readily available when I’m writing and need a little inspiration. Considering how much I loved their previous releases, I had high hopes for 7th Symphony. I’m happy to say I definitely was not disappointed! It’s fantastic!
The music is sweeping and dramatic and haunting…and absolutely perfect for listening to while working on the rewrites of my angels and demons project. I couldn’t have asked for a more fitting writing “soundtrack.”
Although you’ll probably hear the tracks “End of Me” (feat. Gavin Rossdale of Bush) and “Not Strong Enough” (feat. Brent Smith of Shinedown) on your local hard rock/alternative station, three songs you won’t hear are among my favorites: “At the Gates of Manala,” “Beautiful,” and “Sacra.”
As much as I love the radio-friendly tracks, my favorite instrumental tracks really showcase the band’s talent and are a great blend of their classical roots and their heavy metal leanings. And when it comes to the creative process, I can’t help but be transported right into the plot of my story while I’m listening. (Talk about serendipity…)
Okay, so enough of my gushing. If you don’t have the CD yet, get on it, for crying out loud! Or, you know, at least give these three songs a listen. And when you completely fall in love with these particular tracks and hop over iTunes to buy the entire album, be sure to get the deluxe version; the two bonus tracks are worth it!
2
Sep
Writers beware: the minute a hip, trendy word or phrase appears in a commercial for a child’s toy, it’s no longer cool to use (e.g. “That’s how we roll”). When you witness this horrifying phenomenon, immediately go through your manuscript and replace said formerly-cool word/phrase with a more recent entry to the urban lexicon. STAT.
Attempts to stay current aside, what would possess advertising execs to borrow a word or phrase from passe gangsta rap to shill kids’ toys? Sorry, to break the news to you, Major Advertising Firm Executives, but instead of thinking, “Oh, wow–I must buy this toy for my tot,” I immediately pictured a dorky, out-of-touch dude in a boardroom pretending to be cutting edge by falling back on hackneyed colloquialisms well past their expiration date.
*Sigh.*
Or maybe I was just bummed that I’m old enough to remember when some of these words and phrases really were kinda cool to say…
