Anyway, I'm so tired of waiting for things, lol. The artist my publisher picked to do my cover art is busy promoting her own book, and as far as I know, has been too busy to do anything about my cover. It's been a month since she emailed me to apologize for getting behind, and that's the last I heard from her. I'm trying to be patient, but I'm not a very patient person, lol.

I sent the second book to the publisher, but they had about a ten week backlog, so I'm still waiting to hear from them about it. As far as I know, though, everything else is going great.

I understand not being patient, but you were patient enough to break into the publishing market, weren't you? I'm sure the artist will get around to it...

If not, maybe you can get one of your more artsy fans to propose a cover? Surely the publisher will get annoyed, too, if the artist doesn't produce anything soon.

I remember reading the release date for Magebound somewhere, but I can't remember when it is... next spring, right? I'm impatient to read the final version!

I suppose so, though it didn't take nearly as long as I expected to get my first book accepted. I started writing Magebound in March, 2006 and got my acceptance letter in December, 2007. From what I gather, I was uncommonly lucky. And I know she will. I've seen some of her other work, and she's really good, and I want her to do the cover--I'm just being negative, I guess. Writing is giving trouble right now.

I'm rewriting Magebreak, and I'm to the point where I have to change about 50 pages of work, and it looks like the stupid thing still isn't going to be long enough. *grumble*

Yes, the hopeful release date is next spring--around March, I think--but they've gotten a bit overwhelmed and most of their other releases have been 3-4 months later than expected, so it could be summer before it comes out.

You were extremely lucky. Most people try for years before they get accepted for publishing.

I've decided there's a summer slump for all writers. Inspiration flies out the window. No one I know ever manages to produce anything. How many words do you need for Magebreak and how many do you have?

Summer might be a good release time... lots of people picking up things to read on vacation and such.

Believe me, I know. I think I read that Stephen King had Carrie rejected like 20 times, or something. I hit the market at the perfect time, when homoerotic fiction was on the rise after the success of Brokeback Mountain, and when my publisher was in the market for some gay fantasy. I believe my book is the only one they have that fits that genre.

I've been doing okay, really. I finished Wererise and I wrote all the new scenes for Magebreak, it's just the rewriting that's got me down, because it feels like I'm not accomplishing anything. Right now, it's at 61,000, and if I want it to be comprable to the other books, it should be at least 75,000. Wererise is 78k, Magebound is 81k, so I'm hoping to get it somewhere around there. I'm not going to fluff it up with extraneous crap, though. That's what ruined it last time.

That's an excellent point. I hadn't considered that. Summer could be very good for me.

So how have you been?

I love Stephen King's Carrie story. Tells me there's hope, if he can get rejected multiple times. I was just talking to another aspiring writer the other day about the publishing market. The problem is, we can't do what King and other writers of his generation did to break in. Literary magazines aren't terribly popular anymore - which used to be the in road - and the world is not a good place for career writers.

I guess you really did hit the market at the right time. Did you use an agent or send direct to the publisher?

I've been well, but I don't seem to be accomplishing much right now. Between summer classes (3.5 hours a day, plus another 2.5 studying) and work (5 hours), I hardly have time for anything else. Wasn't too much better during the school year. I think I've only managed 30k words since January on all of my projects combined.

I have a couple friends I'm going to recommend Magebound to when it comes out. I think they'd like it.

Yes, times certainly have changed. I noticed that about the literary magazines when I was trying to get my writing noticed. It just didn't seem worth it (plus, I'm not real good at writing short fiction).

I submitted directly to the publisher. I tried to get an agent, but none of them were interested. I've been thinking about trying again, not that I have a publishing credit, and maybe I can get in with a bigger publisher for Breach. Not that dissatisfied with the publisher I have, but they're a small press with a lot of authors, and I think I'd rather not have all my eggs in one basket.

I'm glad you're doing well. It's a shame when life intrudes on writing. I'm lucky, I work for the school district, so I get the summers off.

Thank you so much. I'd really appreciate that. I'm hoping, if Magebound does well enough, maybe I can get them to get the second book out a little faster. It would be nice if everyone didn't have to wait a year+ between books. I should know in a couple weeks whether or not they even want to publish the second one.

Well, you wouldn't be the first author to publish under more than one publisher. I understand wanting to go with someone bigger.

Glad someone got published without an agent. No one seems to think it's possible.

I don't mind waiting for an author's next book. Builds some of the suspense. I'd be nice not to wait more than a year, though.

A lot of the authors with my publisher also have books by other publishers.

Agents do make things easier, if you can find one, but I think a lot of people do give them too much credit. Of course, if you want to get a major publishing house, an agent is the only way to get read.

Personally, I hate waiting for the next book in a series But then, I'm not a very patient person, lol.

Ah, but the waiting builds anticipation!

I hate waiting too...but it's inevitable. Authors usually don't have the sequel written when they publish the first book, so you have to wait while they write the next book.
The wait can also be harmful to the author if they have the next couple books written. Like what happened with Stephenie Meyer, she'd written her first book from a different perspective (still unfinished) and gave it to a couple trusted friends and one of them leaked it. x.X

Waiting makes me irritable, lol.

I have five books in the series written and may manage to pound out a sixth before my first book hits the shelves. I'm not worried about anyone leaking anything. I post my rough drafts online--it doesn't get more leaky than that. But if I have something important, some big secret or revelation (and I have a few), those don't go in the rough draft. I don't tell anyone about them. So there will still be some big surprises, even for people who have read the first drafts.

And guess what? I finally heard back from my publisher and they have accepted the second book! The earliest they can get it out is February of 2010, which I think isn't bad at all. It's less than a year after the first book is scheduled to come out.

I'm so excited

That's pretty awesome! Especially since the first one isn;t even out yet, so they don't know how sales will be. I'm pretty sure most publishers usually wait until the first book is released to accept the second. Which makes it even more awesome for you!

So, just read the Lucifer short on FPC (which was really interesting). I always thought he was chestnut, not blood bay. Must have missed part of the descrïption  somewhere. :-/

Thanks. I've been thinking about that, too. A publisher takes a big chance when they accept a book. They must have a lot of confidence in it, though I'm not sure it's deserved, lol. I love my books, but I doubt they'll be the "next big thing" in literature.

I got hooked up with my editor this week. She commended me on the cleanliness of the manuscrïpt. It usually takes her 2-3 weeks to do the first-round edit of a MS, but she was able to get through mine in four days

Still no word from my cover artist, though. I'm tempted to fill her inbox. I mean, I know that I'm impatient, but she got the commission at the beginning of May, still hadn't done anything mid-July when she contacted me saying she'd lost my earlier emails, and she hasn't responed to the last three messages I sent her. ... Okay, I feel better now. Sorry to rant, lol. She better not delay my publication date, though.

Lucifer's always been red. Here's the descrïption from the first time Lark sees him: An elegant red stallion peers at me over the door to his stall, huge brown eyes watching my every move. He’s beautiful, his coat a deep, glossy red, except on his muzzle and from the knees down, which is black as soot.

And I owe you a cookie

They really do take a chance. I've been reading up on the publishing world. My chances of ever publishing myself frighten me.  

Your books may not be the "next big thing," but they'll probably have a pretty loyal following in a select fanbase - especially since you've already found a readership online.

Your work is always clean! Wait... you know what I mean. There are rarely any serious spelling and grammatical issues, which always makes reading so much easier.

Has your artist even proposed a cover? Or are you still waiting on that? You could always send her suggestions, if she's having trouble with it. I'd wait just a little more... though it's almost been six months, hasn't it?

I knew Lucifer was red, but you have chestnut red (no black points) and blood bay red (with the black points... that's what makes a bay). The colors are usually slightly different. I just had to re-picture him. I like the new picture even more.

Yummy cookies.

That's true, and I think I'd rather have a loyal fanbase than a best seller. I love my readers

Lol. Thanks. I guess I always just assumed that since I had no higher education, my writing mechanics wouldn't be as good as other writers.

She asked for ideas in May, and I came up with three, which is what she lost when she emailed me in July. I'll have to just wait, I guess. I don't know what else to do.

Ah, got you. I've always loved bay horses. So pretty.

I'm a firm believer that creative writing is an inborn talent, not an acquired skill. And you seem pretty competent in grammar and vocabulary. Have more faith in your own abilities!

A loyal following is the most important thing. You have a set audience, no matter what.

Don't know what to tell you about the artist. Wait, I guess. The editor will do something if it gets too close to production time. I think...

I love horses and bays are my favorite (since my last horse was a bay and the best partner I ever had). They hold a special place in my heart. I'm seeing Lucifer in a new light. :P

Thank you very much. I have always been my own worst critic.

Yes, it is nice to know that I'll sell at least a few copies

I just hate waiting on people, hate having to rely on someone else. I have major control issues, obviously, lol. I've done what I can and I'll just have to wait (possibly in a padded cell).

Growing up, I always dreamed of having a horse someday. I was one of those girls who read every horse book I could get my hands on. But I'm a city girl, so Lucifer is probably the closest I'll ever get to having my own horse.

My mother always was a horse person, so it was kind of a given that horses would be part of our lives when I was a kid. Even then, I still read all the horse books. Hello, Saddle Club. And what was it? Pony Pals, or something like that...

I'd say "have patience," but that might get annoying after a while.

So, how'd NaNo treat you? If I ever get a chance, I'll read Broken Wings over on FP. Well, I know I'll get a chance... just don't know when. :-/

Wow, I need to check this thing more often

I still haven't heard from the artist. Less than three months until the (scheduled) release. I may try contacting her again. I don't want to seem like I'm harrassing her, though.

*Sigh* I failed. I only made it to 43k. I'm still working on Broken Wings, though. It's up to 100k and I might have as much as 25k to go, which would make it my longest novel to date. I think it's getting close to being the smuttiest, too, lol. Horny college boys *rolls eyes*

What about you?