Well, No Book Deal This Time

[teddy_radiator]

I got my first rejection letter for Her Minder today. At least they went so far as to read it in its entirety. They felt the more violent themes (espionage and an assasination attempt) were a little too intense for their readers.

I told myself I would be a very, very lucky person indeed to get a book deal first time out. I told myself I would be rejected.

I didn't tell myself how disappointed I'd be. I feel like crying. On top of it all, Ashwinder misread my updated story and rejected it, thinking it was the same one I'd done before. Sigh.

I'll be okay.

Comments

[justpinkpastel.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry, Teddy. My heart breaks for you.

But there are plenty of other publishers in the sea. If they liked it enough to read it in its entirety, then I know it will be liked enough to be published. Just keep your head high and keep on truckin'.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thanks, pink. I'm going to submit it again - I promised myself I would if it got rejected.

[laurielover1912.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear that, but all good writers are turned down at first, if not many, many times. Try not to let it get you down. You should be encouraged that they were initially very positive about it.

Do you mind me asking if it was erotic or not? I am at last writing something original and have stuck to what I do best (sex) ... so I'll be heading down the same path as you at some point! There are plenty more publishers out there! Chin up. :-)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

It is VERY erotic, Laurie, and full of D/s and BDSM themes. I don't think they minded that part, but there was a kidnapping and rape chapter, but the strange thing was that the most violent parts of it were in the first chapter, which I originally sent to them and then they asked to read it all!

I think I need to look to other publishers first. There is a website: http://www.writing-world.com/romance/erotica.shtml

I used this, and I'm going to try again. I think it's a damn good story, and the two male leads are Hawt deluxe. I have seen published stuff very similar in nature and I'm actually going to write to one of the authors and get some advice. I'll let you know what I find out.

[laurielover1912.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that link - that's brilliant. I guess you can never be sure what publishers want exactly - it certainly doesn't mean it is a bad story, just that it isn't quite right for them. Try try again. :-)

[droxy.livejournal.com]

Hugs. Considering Updike wrote about nothing but sex ses sex and more sex and bed jumping in suburbia, I'd have issues with the publisher's comments. =)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I'll keep trying. I promised myself I would when I got rejected. I just was a little surprised at WHY it got rejected. I thought they'd protest more over the length than the subject matter.

[darklotus1211.livejournal.com]

Chin up, my dear, and just keep plugging away - it's very disappointing, I know, but it's very rare to have your work published at first try.

The fact that they read it all the way through is a good sign, though - I really hope you get a deal.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thanks, dark. I really didn't expect to get it on the first try and I said that it would give me confidence to try other publishers. I'll keep trying.

[mimimanderly.livejournal.com]

Mercury is still in retrograde, love... communications are bound to get botched.

I agree with the others; it's a good sign that they wanted to read more after the first chapter. The publisher undoubtedly knows its readers, and knows that although they may like the sex, they would squick on the violence. Just submit it elsewhere. It doesn't mean that it is a bad story, just that it wasn't right for that particular demographic.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Yep, they know what sells for their readers. I'll keep trying.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I will. I like the story; I'm willing to give it a few more tries!

[sandlappershell.livejournal.com]

I promise, that book will sell...just keep plugging along!! Let me know when I can buy my copy!!!

[shellsnapeluver.livejournal.com]

bummer. At least you wrote a book and I'm sure you are proud of it! Someone will like it...

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

They read the whole thing! That's way better than most authors manage!

[andyissadangel.livejournal.com]

I agree with dickgloucester. They liked the whole thing and they read it, but felt that it wasn't the book for their readers. And I believe you will be published =) Just don't give up.
- BlueRavenAngel

[lemonade8.livejournal.com]

I know this is old, but I was checking out your fics and ran across this. I just saw Charlaine Harris (the author of the series that inspired True Blood on HBO) and she talked about how her initial Sookie book was rejected over and over. Now her signings are as big as Harry Potter releases if the one I just went to was anything to go by. So you have one rejection down, 49 more to go!! go for it.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for your encouragement! I won't give up - I'll keep sending it out. And in the meantime, it can be bought on Lulu.com, and I've sold copies there, so it's being bought through there for now. It would just be great to publish it with a real publisher, so I'll keep submitting it. Thank you for that!