Since many of you have asked, things are proceeding apace with the manuscript. I haven’t really pulled the leftovers into a new book, but it’s on the schedule to do that.
My most excellent friend is working feverishly on copyeditting the book. I have collected factual edits from my uber-kind sister, B.J., and am anxiously awaiting the rest. My goal here is to have the cleanest possible copy of my manuscript to send to possible agents.
I want to disabuse you of the notion some of you may have that all of this has been sewn up. It hasn’t. In fact, I feel I still need to work on spit and polish before I begin to sell the book. Many of you have said “I can’t wait for a copy.” I appreciate that. Some of you have said, “When can I read it?” Again, I appreciate that. Probably even more than those of you who can’t wait for a copy.
But there is this delicate dance I’ve described in earlier posts that I haven’t even learned the steps to. It involves writing query letters, pitching the book, developing a one-liner, working on “firsts” … like first page, first chapter, first impressions (like the title). And then the sell-in begins. I expect to have plenty of rejections. (I’ve already started a list of very kind agents that have politely turned me down.) I plan to give myself a set time period to sell this book the “traditional” way. Let’s call this the Pulishing Polka.
If I master that dance, I win! But you are going to be delayed of the gratification you so richly deserve. My understanding is that once a book is purchased by a publisher, it can sit as long as three years before anything actually happens. (It’s a harsh reality, this part of the Polka, kinda like getting your feet stamped on by an overzealous dance bully.)
If I become bored with the Polka, I plan to learn the Self-publishing Shottish. If that’s the case, you Kindle owners, online shoppers, and the like … those of you into non-traditional folk dancing … will be the first to know when and where to go to get a copy.
So far, it’s been a journey of conditioning my muscles, learning to take feedback and advice from the masters, and putting one foot in front of the other.
We have a long way to go before we even hear the music, but I thank you so very much for hanging in here with me.