On Today's Menu -- Eggs Benedict, Fresh Fruit, Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice, and Potato Pancakes.
I haven't had Potato Pancakes in awhile. With warm chunky home-made apple sauce. Yum!
Having never done a brunch before, I'm not sure what I'm doing today other than sharing my random thoughts about things that have happened to me lately in the writing world.
******
On October 9, I recieved a rejection letter from an agent I had sent a query to on April 11 for THE LADY'S FATE. It read in its entirety -- "Nope. Not for me."
Yes, that was all it said. AND, it wasn't even signed. I had to look again at the sender name in my inbox to find out who had been so rude. I've had better form rejections. For two seconds I wanted to write her back and ask her why did she even bother sending me a rejection. Within the six months I waited, the book went through 3 more revisions, two more beta readers, was published and is now making money. Yeah, I wanted to write her and say, "No, thank YOU for rejecting me." Glad I wasn't waiting with baited breath for her reply.
******
Recieved another rejections of sorts last week in my inbox. I've tried to keep up with old friends in other parts of the country, so I sent out a letter informing them of my latest news in the publishing world, gave them the links to my new website, sent off pictures of the covers, and one of The Monster from first grade.
I have recieved one reply. It read -- "Great to hear from you. Good luck." That was all. Haven't heard back from the other four yet. Now I realize I've not been the best correspondant, but I expected to get at least an acknowledgement. And "good luck" is, well, what is that? Sounds like "glad you finally got what you wanted but never want to hear from you again" to me.
******
Monster and I were in the car the other day when she asked why I had so many books in the box on the front seat. I explained that I had just bought them all from the library book sale (saving books, helping libraries).
"Are you going to read them all?" she asked.
"Of course," I said.
"Which one are you reading now?"
I picked up THE REMAINS OF THE DAY. "This one today. This one yesterday." I showed her WOMEN IN LOVE (D.H. Laurence). Then I picked up DANCING IN THE SHADOWS OF LOVE (Judy Croome)(Which had already been in the car). "This one two days ago." Then reached for THE BEND IN THE ROAD (Nicloas Sparks) "This one I just started, and this one is from last week." I picked up STRANGER IN MY ARMS (Lisa Kleypas)
I watched her face in the rearview mirror take it all in. Then she said,
"Doesn't your brain hurt?"
Gotta love The Monster.
Have a great weekend!
25 comments:
I've heard of other writers receiving rejections from months ago too, sometimes after they have an agent! :)
Stephenie Meyer received a rejection the day Twilight was launched. ;)
Sorry about your friend, but I could see her side of it if you did that after you hadn't contacted her for awhile. It's like, "Hi, do you remember me? Okay, now bye my book." But if you had been in regular contact, then that is really rude. Like you, I read 'Good luck' the same way. Sometimes there's a sarcastic tone for added affect.
Laura -- It's funny how things move so slowly in the publishing world.
Stina -- They knew I was writing books (and going through a lot of real life upheaval) which was why I didn't keep up in the first place. Who wants to hear about doom and gloom all the time. I just thought now that I had some good news to share finally, they might like to hear it. I don't expect them to buy my book because none of them read. I just actually wanted to show off the covers. And thanks for stating that the "good luck" is probably sarcastic. I felt so too.
I love your love of books. My husband came back from the library yesterday with a stack off their sale rack. Fifty cents apiece. And yes, I'm reading all the time but my brain doesn't hurt. Some agents are so flippin rude, is it any wonder more writers are circumventing them?
I like french toast and any kind of pancake. Comfort food.
Doesn't your brain hurt? Priceless!
Good job!
Just kidding! Sad response from friends. And I would be tempted to reply to that agent and tell her thanks, but it's already published, and here's the link!
The agent rejection made me laugh. Wonderful timing :-)
OMG Eggs Benedict is my all time favorite breakfast!
LOL! Monster Child is adorable. And please pass the potato pancakes -- yum!
Pfffft on the rejection. Doesn't matter a bit now -- you know you've succeeded. :)
Yvonne -- I think I ended up with 25 books for $13. Not a bad haul. Yeah, just in the last year alone, I've seen more bad agents than before. I think desperation makes them do strange things.
Alex -- Believe me, I'd love to write to that agent. But I won't because I'm just bigger than that.
Sarah -- Yeah, it was kind of funny when I read it. I was like, "Really? 6 months?"
Matt -- Mine too. I don't make it often enough.
Linda -- Yeah, she's pretty funny. And what is that saying -- Succeeding is the best revenge. Yeah, I'm thinking that.
I love brunch, and this one sounds incredible! So funny about the agent's email. Geesh! And I smiled at your response. Maybe some time ago it would have ruined your day, and now you just laugh and go on. Love that!
Yum! Brunch sounds fab!
For someone who writes as much as I do, it's painful to admit I'm a miserable correspondent. I can't very well blame anyone else for being the same.
I had several partials and fulls out when I signed with my agent. I wrote a nice personal note to each agent explaining to him/her that I'd signed. Never heard a word back. Not even a one word congrats or a thank you for letting me know so I didn't waste my time. That really surprised me.
back to the old blog heading?
Why no pictures of the breakfast. I need a graphic....
oh man, i love eggs benedict.
And what is up with that query response? I mean, why even spend the time responding after so long? Weird.
Does Monster like to read?
Seriously---doesn't your brain hurt? Haha. That's a lot of reading while you're so busy with other stuff. Impressive.
But hey, at least that agent and friend are freeing up your reading time by being so brief. *shakes head*
Hey, I'll get my review of Lady's Fate up at Amazon this weekend, and are you going to put it up at Goodreads?
Mmmm, D.H. Lawrence. :)
I wouldn't know what to think about that friend reply, either. For me, a measure of a friend isn't how often we correspond at all. It's support and other factors that usually transcend time.
Oh yum, eggs benedict! I commiserate with your other rejections. I sent my debut publication announcement to eight old friends. Only one bothered to acknowledge it. Fortunately, she ended up buying two copies of my book, one for herself and another for a gift, and has become a "fan".
That brunch sounds so good, I wish I was eating it right now.
What a strangely rude rejection! Good thing it wasn't an offer of representation - would you really want to work with someone like that?
My brain hurts if I *don't* read all the time [g]
I love how multitasking, even in reading, can put people in a state of awe. Thanks for the eggs benedict! (*nomnom*)
Karen -- I know, gotta laugh about it. I figured she was a no at least 3 months ago.
VR -- You know, what's up with the rudeness of agents these days? I mean, I realize the world isn't what it used to be, but have they in particular forgotten about common courtesy?
Mac -- Sorry, if I "look" at eggs benedict I gain 10 pounds. Besides, you're a writer, you get to imagine...
Sarah -- Monster does indeed like to read. I think she was bowled over that I was reading so many books at a time, when in her world, one at a time is enough. That's why Mommy's brain hurts.
Nicki -- It's not impressive. It just sounds like it. I only have 45 minutes in the pick-up line at school to read, so every day I read a different book. Makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something grand. And no, I'm not on Goodreads. Should I be?
Michelle -- Thank you for the solidarity. I know you know where I'm coming from.
Linda -- Well, at least you got a "fan" out of it. And like Michelle says, if they're not excited for you, then they're not really friends are they?
Deniz -- I'm so glad I'm not associated with that agent. She reps some pretty famous authors too. My brain hurts too if I don't read a lot.
Lydia -- Monster thinks I am kind of awesome. She doesn't realize it's just a "Mommy" thing. And congratulations again on your fabulous news. I'm so happy for you.
I love potato pancakes...with sour cream!
Writers have to have nerve, imagination, perseverance and above all...tough skin. Be proud of what you've accomplished and forget rude people. They. Just. Don't. Count.
I'm blog surfing during my lunch - and you just made me hungry all over again. There goes that "plan" for dieting (lol). I read your plan too, sounds highly organized *shivers*
Sorry I missed your website launch day, I've been pretty much sticking to the Rule of 3 blogfest and beta reading this month. I'm glad to see your novel is doing so well. Congratulations :) Nice to see your tough decision turned out so well.
Have a good weekend Anne.
.......dhole
That sounds yummy! :)
I'm like that, too--with a whole bunch of books that I've started, finished, or am in the process of reading.
Hi Anne. You made those rejections sound almost so funny in their rudeness. Hmm. Glad I came by. The food sounds delish and so do the books. Just finished Nicholas Sparks' latest, The Divide. It's really great as are all his works. Such a storyteller.
Hope you keep on smiling! The Monster should see to that!
Denise
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