Purgatory's Pit of Doom

Red-Green · Jun 24, 2009

Wow. That is just totally shitty. What an asshole.

AKB said:
"This isn't anything I would represent, ever."

And let me add--I got not one complimentary rejection while querying my book. Not one, and I got two in which I felt like the agents were politely handing me back a dog turd I'd mailed them. So there's that.

Fire, I'm so hoping that you'll get good news from Immigration. What a nightmare. (And I wish your blog didn't hate me, but it never will let me leave a comment.

)

firedrake · Jun 24, 2009

Redzilla said:
Fire, I'm so hoping that you'll get good news from Immigration. What a nightmare. (And I wish your blog didn't hate me, but it never will let me leave a comment. )

To add insult to injury, even my attorney's secretary is on vacation this week. I'm going to try and speak to a human being at USCIS tomorrow and see if they'll tell me what's what.

Sorry about the blog...I don't know why it doesn't like you. I have no idea how the buggers work. Feel free to PM me with any comments

Signed,
Shameless blog comment whore.

mario_c · Jun 24, 2009

AKB, my condolences. Agents, even talented and resourceful ones, can be humongous a$$#*les - you have to keep putting that work out, working hard, believing in yourself, and fighting like Rocky to prove to 'em all that you're the greatest. As to the one who recycled another R letter to print yours on...wow. That's just a loser agency, be glad they turned you down.

Sorry about your husband getting loaded. He should have invited you, at least.

Branwyn · Jun 26, 2009

Stoking the fires. It's cold.

What month is it? Still June? I hate June. It should be warm and sunny, filled with the scent of lilacs. Instead, it's dark and dismal and full of death.

I should be celebrating the fact that I finally got an agent. Unfortunately I haven't got one.

alias octavia · Jun 29, 2009

Think I will hang out here today. Just got an R on a full. This was a full request off a partial. Somehow this stings even more than I was expecting. Crap.

firedrake · Jun 29, 2009

alias octavia said:
Think I will hang out here today. Just got an R on a full. This was a full request off a partial. Somehow this stings even more than I was expecting. Crap.

(((((((Alia))))))) What a bummer.

Did you get any feedback or was it a form?

Red Letter Day for us, Immigration Attorney back from vacation, so we should find out what's going on.

Querying issues with Kestrel. Hard to know where to pitch it. WW2 not a"trendy" subject. Not a forumulaic romance, but too romantic for straight historical, probably.

Off to chain smoke and bang head against wall. At least I have the week off.I intend to stay out of heat, 107+ and humidity rising because of Monsoon.

alias octavia · Jun 29, 2009

Thanks fire. No feedback, just "didn't fall in love with it" sort of thing. Blergh.

Have you pitched Kestrel to KN yet? She mentioned recently she was looking for a literary love story. I think you could pitch it as commercial - it has all those elements of well written, plot driven and a touch of love that everyone wants in a good page turner.

I will join you in banging my head against the wall. I'm reaching the end of my query list and it is depressing as hell. Nice that you have the week off, I'll bet you will burn through some writing -- you've been on a roll recently!

Branwyn · Jun 29, 2009

Sorry Octavia. :LilLove:

Do you have anymore fulls or partials out there?

I've pretty much run out of agents. It's so strange because with Blood Destiny, I knew it was a sappy love story and really wasn't surprised that it didn't snag an agent. (Vampire love story set in the 1700's) But Devil's Angel...this was edgy and NO vampires. Oh well, what's the use in beating a dead vampire. It's incredibly disappointing.

Fire, I hope your attorney gets everything straightened out pronto.
June, you really SUCKETH. SO much death and rejections and rain. Blech.

alias octavia · Jun 29, 2009

Thanks Bran. I do have a couple of fulls and partials out there. So, there is hope and everything. This one just sort of took the wind out of my sails. Plus, I just hate being at the point where each R is just one more nail in the coffin of this book. It makes it hard for me to get motivated to work on the WIP.

OL · Jun 29, 2009

You can't beat a vampire. You have to put a stake through its undead heart...

Sorry. Could not resist.

Bran, sorry June has been sooooo full of teh suck. The agent search is the worst. I just think it's a soul-crushing process in a lot of ways. Hang in there. You'll get one. It sucks that it might not be on this book but that doesn't mean the book is dead in a drawer forever. It's just that you are trying to hit a constantly moving target, which is one of the suckiest aspects to the whole search.

Octavia, re: editorial submissions: you never know how things will turn out, honestly. You've still got lots of options and one of them could still pay off. It's just soooo hard to stay on an even keel during the process. I felt like the closer I got to a "yes" - editor wants it, passed the ed board, on to second readers, but someone up the food-chain said no, the harder it was. The thing is, somebody saying no doesn't affect the next person who's looking at it. It's a fresh start every time the MS hits an editor's desk. I know it doesn't feel that way though!

Another writer friend of mine just says, "it's a brutal business" and she's right.

Why do we do this again?!

Firedrake, fingers crossed that your lawyer has some good news!!!!

Branwyn · Jul 1, 2009

Thanks, OL.

I need good news. Need it.

It's too much pressure just trying to survive, get an agent (and fingers crossed--published), build a private clientele, raise kids :LilLove:

and take care of an elderly parent. Not to mention the other million things that fall into the catagory of surviving.

I need some good karma, bootay shakes and vampire dust, in bulk.

alias octavia · Jul 1, 2009

Good news vibes being sent your way Bran.

June is gone, Hooray! May that wet, dark month be the last of its kind for a long while.

*hugs July and whispers "you are so pretty" into its ear*

Branwyn · Jul 1, 2009

alias octavia said:
Good news vibes being sent your way Bran.

June is gone, Hooray! May that wet, dark month be the last of its kind for a long while.

*hugs July and whispers "you are so pretty" into its ear*

Thanks--right back atcha.

cate townsend · Jul 1, 2009

Branwyn said:
... build a private clientele, raise kids and take care of an elderly parent. Not to mention the other million things that fall into the catagory of surviving.

Your life sounds like the plot of my book, Bran. Hang in there!

Got three rejections in the mail yesterday, but one was personal, off a query! That was nice, but still a no. Better luck today, maybe.

ink wench · Jul 1, 2009

Back in the pit, stoking the fire. I've got marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers, plus plenty of booze to go with them. Home sweet sucky home.

alias octavia · Jul 1, 2009

(((Ink))) (((Bran))) sorry about the Rs today. I've got nothing today, good or bad. I was really hoping July would turn the corner for us all. It is still raining here and only 68 degree today. It feels damp and ugly.

I sent a reply to agent who rejected the full asking for feedback. What the hell, right? I mean a partial to a full to a form R? I figured it couldn't hurt.

Am I right in assuming tomorrow is probably the last workday for the week... so long weekend ahead and deluge of GOOD responses on Monday

Ah, a girl can dream!

Calla Lily · Jul 1, 2009

Branwyn said:
I need some good karma, bootay shakes and vampire dust, in bulk.

You called?

*beep* *beep* *beep* *beep*

That's this truck

backing up in your driveway. (Sorry about the flowers on the right-hand side there!) The WHOOMP you are about to hear is that humongous load of vamp dust bedecking your house.

Branwyn · Jul 1, 2009

So that's what was making that noise. Thanks, Lil. I shall bathe in it, and sparkle like those teenage vamps.

Octavia, I like the way you think. Yes, Monday...or tomorrow.

Cate, maybe I should write that story. Hmm, mine would be like The Idiots Guide to Survival.

:Hug2:

Ink. I'm on an eating marathon. Salty-sweet-salty-sweet. And all the tension makes me clench my jaw (then I get the headache), which is not helping my attempt at eating. Guess I'll have to drink through a straw. A nice shot of Parrot Bay should loosen the joints.

It has to get better. I did get a call from a client who wants a reading. Yay! :Shrug:

OL · Jul 1, 2009

SNORK! I love the dump truck!

I think things are gonna be pretty dead until after the weekend, at least. And I wouldn't be surprised if lots of folks are out of the office all of next week. So I'd say, stock up on salty, crunchy snacks, chocolate and booze.

Branwyn · Jul 2, 2009

Ya know, it seems to me half of the year is slow, or they're off.
We're approaching a holiday--two weeks off--another holiday--more time off. The summer--forget it. Then you have Sept/Oct and part of Nov. THE Holidays arrive--no news til after the New Year. And of course all the conferences tossed in. :poke:

Get to work!

Branwyn · Jul 2, 2009

Looky here...another R!!! July--I'm not liking you.

I need booze and chocolate. Godiva liquor.

cate townsend · Jul 2, 2009

Okay, two words for everyone: aged tequila.

Sorry about the R, Bran.

firedrake · Jul 2, 2009

I have chips and home made guacamole to go with that tequila.

I have I don't know how many queries out and not a sodding whisper.

If you don't like the sodding story just email me, don't ignore the bugger.

Branwyn · Jul 2, 2009

firedrake said:
I have chips and home made guacamole to go with that tequila.

I have I don't know how many queries out and not a sodding whisper.

If you don't like the sodding story just email me, don't ignore the bugger.

Thanks Cate. Actually, I made myself an iced coffee with banana ice cream. It's quite yummy.

I know, fire, I prefer the "not for me" over Silence of the Query.

Tasmin21 · Jul 2, 2009

"I ate his query with some fava beans and a nice chianti..."

Purgatory's Pit of Doom

KoalaKoalaKoala!

practical experience, FTW

Your thoughts are not real...

Print release:Sept.1,'09

smooshed

practical experience, FTW

smooshed

Print release:Sept.1,'09

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Still a beach bum...

Print release:Sept.1,'09

smooshed

Print release:Sept.1,'09

ray of motherf#%&ing sunshine

smooshed

On hiatus

Print release:Sept.1,'09

Still a beach bum...

Print release:Sept.1,'09

Print release:Sept.1,'09

practical experience, FTW

Print release:Sept.1,'09

They will come from below...