Time Passes…Weeks Turn Into Months…

I’ve been ignoring my site (and this blog) for months. Okay, so part of the time I was sick, but mostly I’ve been busy working on (editing) my latest cozy mystery novel (and sending it off to publishers (having found it difficult to locate agents who were both open to queries and interested in cozies.) I had one publisher request a full [which beats the silent treatment from many agents when they are either too busy or simply not interested in submitted content. (Was the rejection due to the story? The query letter? Not what the agent is looking for? Unknown. And no way to know, no response is forthcoming.)] After 2 months, the publisher requested a major rerite; after another 2 months, they finally rejected it. (FOUR months gone! Sigh.)

Of course, I don’t write NYT “Best sellers,” preferring to work in specific genres, like science fiction or mysteries. I was gifted to acquire an agent with my firsst screenplay. I even received a call from both New Line Cinema, who told me they only produce 12 movies a year and my script was the 13th chosen. And Paramount let me know they would distribute the film if I could get it produced. (Which after another year, I found I couldn’t) Finally, my agent (bless her heart) suggested I novelize it and then require ‘first right of refusal to adapt it for the screen’. Possibly a good idea, but decades passed while I earned a living, had a family and even began teaching college. Eventually I self-published the novelization (now available on Amazon as “Panda Bears From Mars.”) No bites on the screenplay idea, but, then, I haven’t spent time promoting the novel.

I’ve written a half dozen other novels in the interim (and self-published one of them: Pitch Black-Reentry) and even gotten novel excerpts short-listed in contests. I might have a flare for comedy, as I do have a humorous mystery short story in an anthology (as noed else where on this site). Maybe I don’t write enough funny content. [shrug]

I’m a pantser, but maybe I should have outlined at least a little, as I found a couple of Middle Grade novels petering out midway.

Well, I’ve just finished submitting my Cozy to six more publishers. While they chew on my content, I’m going to go back and edit a time travel novel l really like (hoping it’s salvageable) and look for a new critique group. Maybe some authors readily find an agent and publisher, but maybe many have had their own long journey. If you have a story to tell, let me knoe.