So, I've done it again.

I've been concentrating on getting my things together so that I can send query letters, synopsises(?), chapter samples and everything else from my book to agents and publishing houses. I think I'm getting closer to actually feeling confident about the blurbs and things I'm sending to these ultra-important people. It's a tough thing. You spend all this time writing this giant manuscript and then you're expected to spit out a one page summary of what it's all about.

But wait...that's not enough.

You're also expected to somehow in that truncated space, make it interesting enough that someone who reads bad query and proposal after bad query and proposal will say, 'You know...I'd like to read more of this. In fact...I'd like to read the whole damn thing.' Ah...such is my life for the next month or so. That's all I've been concentrating on and I suppose that once I've sent a bunch of stuff out, I'll wish I was doing it or anything else again...

Anything but editing. But it'll get done. I have some readers who are anxiously awaiting my 2nd installment and I won't let them read anything earlier than a 3rd draft.

So, long story short: I've sent an e-mail query to a Canadian publisher. I'm not expecting much more than: Sorry, you're an American. We only publish stuff written by Cannucks. If so, oh well. I'm still waiting for my artist friend to finish up the drawings of my main character to put on the query reply cards, so I thought it might give me some instant satisfaction knowing I've at least sent SOMETHING.

Here's where my new-fangled query went:

Livingston Cooke

We should hear something in a month or less.

In the meantime, I'm trying to figure out just what to work on next. Something different, I think. At least while I'm editing Book Two. That'll make me very productive and increase my inventory a bit. Plus, when I get tired of editing the bejesus out of my second manuscript, I'll be able to turn to something else and work on it.

Stay tuned...