So Shadow Mountain, the publisher I've been working closely with, provided me a glowing review of my middle grade manuscript, Lizzie Peterson and the Places of Naming, and said it's definitely a book they would consider publishing. Unfortunately, their slate for series is full through 2013. They will keep this book on their 'wish list' and stay in touch, but encouraged me to actively promote it to other publishers. Both exciting and a little disappointing. Gearing up for the next step. I'm going to target more national markets and research ePublishing.
So, what do you think? What should the next step be? How would you move forward?
5 comments:
That is fantastic news that they gave you such a glowing review. Have you ever thought of submitting to agents? If you are serious about looking toward national publishers, I'd consider querying some agents to help get your work to them. There are SO many agents looking for really good middle grade right now, and they just aren't finding it. Publishers are asking those agents to submit middle grade as well. I know agents get swamped with YA, so I bet your manuscript would definitely stand out. And since you got such a good review from Shadow Mountain, I'd give it a shot! If all else fails, start writing something else and wait for Shadow Mountain to contact you. They obviously saw something great in your manuscript, and it sounds like they'd be extremely interested in a few years.;) Whatever you decide to do, someone will pick it up. The title alone makes me want to read it! Good luck!! :D
Sorry about the novel I just wrote... LOL
Check out literary agent Nathan Bransford's blog - he has a bunch of stuff about epublishing.
Sorry about the "sort of"rejection. Super bummer. I really haven't found a way to "handle" rejection other than being sad or depressed. I just have to tell myself that I'm gonna be sad for a few days. The good news is that you got farther than most I know. And you got a review from a publisher. Feedback is golden. Use that review to strengthen your book.
Other than that, I just keep working on improving my craft, writing my next books, and submitting the finished ones. Eventually something will happen - but it took many of the writers I know many years and several books written to get published and see success. Hang in there.
Do you have tough enough critics? My alpha readers don't let me get away with anything.
I'd take this as a positive thing. Remember, you are still on their wish list. Keep sending it out and keep writing in the mean time.
Chantele: I've queried about 10 agents, but I've not had any luck yet. I think the problem there is implementing the great lessons I've learned about how to write queries. My pitch is weak. Oddly, I feel really strongly that I know how to do it, and am still learning with some excellent materials I've gathered, but the actual writing is a slow progression to something quality.
Fiona: Thanks for the tip on Nathan Bransford. I've been following him, as well as Joe Konrath, who really is the guru on this.
Cathy: Will do. In fact, I'm doing that while preparing a master e-pub plan. It's very exciting and very ambitious--if I can pull it off! I'll keep you guys posted as things move along. Right now I'm in the 'gather as much data as I can' phase, but I can say this: I'm considering a broad media-rich blitz that will have multi-layers and interesting components. Yeah, pie in the sky thinking!
Post a Comment