Twenty Submissions

Well, I've submitted my first book to 20 literary agencies so far. And so far 6 have already rejected it. Which leaves 14 possibly still looking the idea over. Some of the agencies I sent the first 50 pages, while others were also sent a synopsis or just a query letter of interest. Each agency has different stipulations on what to send them initially-so I tried to follow their guidelines. So for now I'm waiting to hear back from at least one that seems interested and wants me to send them my full manuscript.

Rewrite Complete

  I am totally finished with my rewrite of book one. It took me about a week or so. So now I have a completed manuscript saved in Word doc format, double spaced and ready to go when an agent asks for me to submit it. Spell check and all. I still need to submit query letters of interest to more agents, and I'll start doing that in the next few days. So far I've only submitted anything to one agent, and the chances are good that one submission will be only the first of many. But who knows? Maybe I'll be the luckiest guy on the planet. (ha ha)
I just hope that whatever happens, it will be accepted by someone within a few months. Cross your fingers I guess.

Made my first submission

  I've begun submitting my first novel to literary agents. The first to receive it is John Rudolph at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. His interest in middle grade fiction piqued my interest as well, and so I thought he would be a good candidate for it. To him I sent, by email, a query cover letter, along with attachments of a synopsis of my book and a sample chapter (the prologue). We'll see what becomes of this in the following weeks. I'm now working on converting the book over from what I wrote it in (single spaced, OpenOffice) and into what the agents prefer to accept (double spaced, MS Word format). It's not difficult to do so, just time consuming.

Remaking my first book

   So, I've decided to pull my book Wyrmewood and the Forsaken Orb out of publication and make a few changes to it in order to make it ready for submission to literary agents. The changes include; moving the original prologue into chapter 2, making a new prologue from chapter 3 of Tymespell (from the chapter Carpaggio Sole), re-editing the entire book, and also even renaming the book itself.
   The new name is: Andy Brighton and the Dragons of Wyrme, book one, The Forsaken Orb. Book two will be probably named: Andy Brighton and the Dragons of Wyrme, book two, Magic & Dragons. I am almost half-way through the second book now, but want to get the process of finding an agent out of the way first before proceeding further with it. I haven't come up with a title for book three as yet.
   I've designed a new cover for the first book, and you can see the difference between them here:

                                 Original book                      New design

    We'll see what happens. I know that the submission process will take a while and it may be very frustrating. All I can do is try though and I know that even the best books in the world sometimes get rejected many times before finally being accepted. (J K Rowling's Harry Potter was rejected many times, but it turned out okay in the end).

Happy New Years (A couple days late)

2012 is finally here. And who knows what it'll bring? Let's hope only good things!
I captured the Bing! homepage image of the day to ring in the new year...

Finished Chapter 10

I've completed chapter 10 of book2 of Wyrmewood. Andy and Fay explore the depths of the Undermine and the many dangers therein. Here's an excerpt;

The raging river heaved wildly as it seemed to come alive, like it had transformed into a great dark serpent, and in an instant they were swallowed up and being carried downstream at a considerable speed. At times they bobbed along above the waves bounding into the tunnel walls in their bubble, while finding themselves underwater at others. Fortunately, within the globe there was enough air for them to breath, though the ride was both simultaneously frightening and exhilarating with how bumpy it was and not knowing where they'd end up. And when they'd had nearly more than they could take it ended, dumping them into a deep pool, and then the dark watery serpent vanished, slithering quickly through an adjacent tunnel exit. They floated and bounced about within the pool and tried for the next several seconds to regain their composure.

So, I'm nearly halfway done with the second book now. It's coming along nicely I suppose and I hope to be able to keep up the pace. By the summer of 2012 it should be done.

Book 2 of Wyrmewood

  I've finished chapter 9 of book 2, Wyrmewood of Magic & Dragons. Here's an excerpt:

The day was cold and gray. A gathering gloom was rising from the west to cover the land and the wind was freshening with the smell of rain. The darkening clouds, rippling to the flashes of faraway lightning, grew heavier by the hour as morning passed into midday. A wicked storm was brewing over Wyrme the likes of which even the bravest of dragons would shun.

In this chapter Gratoly meets the Mermydians-one of the more curious species of Dragons on Wyrme. They give him his mission, whereby he heads off to begin but runs into a little problem. After a talk with Murme, his former mentor, he continues on his journey. Far to the west, out over the Endless Ocean, he finds what he is seeking, though it isn't like anything he's seen before or quite what he expected to find. There his very faith is tested by a choice he is given. Enjoy.