Shot Down In A Blaze of Glory

Another rejection.

Man...I'm beginning to think e-mailing agents isn't the way to go. Of course I'm only e-mailing those who would like to receive e-mailed queries, but still. They probably get just a tidal wave of e-mails every day. Maybe there's some truth to the idea that an e-mail isn't nearly as intimate as a nice old-fashioned letter.

Hmmm...

Anyway, this one is from Faye Bender Literary Agency.

Dear Author,Thank you for your query, which we have had the chance to review.Unfortunately, your project is not quite right for our list. We have tobe extremely selective about what we represent, and are sorry this isn’t amatch for us.

We're sorry this isn’t a personal letter, but the volume of queries wereceive prevents us from writing to you individually, despite the merit ofmany of the projects. Please keep in mind that publishing is subjectiveby nature, and that taste and judgment vary widely amongst agents.Best of luck with your book.

Sincerely,
Faye Bender Literary Agency

Crap.

In other news, the newspaper article about me came out a couple of Wednesdays ago. It was pretty crappy, poorly written and loaded with inconsistencies. While I know I'm nowhere near the level of people who deserve to complain about the media and the press being inaccurate, I got my own little home-town taste of it.

I'm debating whether to post a screen-shot of the article here. We'll see.

On the plus side, press is press. People who see me around town know what I'm about now and it's kind of cool to have people ask me about it. Of course, when they read I just finished work on a book about the short bus, they look at me kind of weird.

As for now, I've got to get the ball rolling on my next project, which is to finish Book 3. I feel so badly that I've neglected it for so long. I'm trying to tell myself that I won't allow myself to work on any new projects until its done and I've got a couple that're just itching to get written.

Agent Hunt Ver 1.0

Well, I'm on the prowl guys and guyettes.

I'm tryin' my dangdest to find me one of them there fancy-type literary agents to represent mah writin'.

Ahem. Sorry. I've been spending so much time drafting query letters, scouring the internet, books and other resources for reputable agents that I needed to get in contact with. It's not fun and it's definitely not easy.

Yeah. Like you needed ME to tell you that, right?

Here's the good part: It's somewhat easier than trying to pitch my first novel. I don't know. Maybe it's because I've got more of an emotional connection to this work or maybe that it's got (what an agent who will remain un-named said I needed) a hook. In some cases I was supposed to send the first 10 pages along with the query letter and I gotta say, I DEFY any of those agents (that requested it, of course) to stop reading after just 10 pages. Can you do it?

You can? Boy...have you checked your pulse lately?

UPDATE:

Man, some people can even wait a week to hand me a rejection. Here's an e-mail response from Bill Contardi from Brandt & Hochman Literary Agency:

Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, this is not something that seems right for me and so I will pass. I wish you the best.

Well, at least he wished me the best, right? That's saying something.

Anyway, chin up. I've got plenty more out there, waiting for some 'manuscript requested' love.

UPDATE Part 2:

Another rejection. This one is from Rosemary B. Stimola from Stimola Literary Studio:

thanks, thomas, but not quite for me at present.

r. stimola

Yuck.

Been A While, Eh?

You know, it's getting harder and harder to keep up with this blogging thing, keeping the one or two stragglers up to date with what I'm doing in the literary world. Well, I guess I've got some news to share, so I'll do my best to keep it brief.

DELAYED! - My early reader book PATRICK'S SUPER SOCKS was originally going to be published this Fall (September 07) but they company is doing a little restructuring and one of the divisions they want to re-tool is the early readers. Just my luck! Oh, well. It's definitely going to come out in January of next year, so look for it online. Also, they have their eye on two others I've written.

NEWSPAPER - A local newspaper here in Woodbury wanted to do a story on me. The slant is that I'm a firefighter/EMT AND I write children's books. It's supposed to come out on Wednesday, so we'll have to see how it turns out. Hopefully I don't sound like too big of a geek/dork/nerd in it, but you never can tell.

THE SHORT BUS JOURNAL - I've finished the 3rd draft of my newest book and I'm really excited to get it out there into the world. It's gotten rave reviews from my network of writer friends, my resources who are subject matter expert on special needs kids, and there's even a 10 year old girl named Annie (who I don't know!) who loves it so much she hopes I write a sequel AND it becomes a movie some day. No pressure there!

FIRST REJECTION (for the new book) - Although I already got a rejection letter for TSBJ, I gotta admit, it's not too shabby. Check it. This is from Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger Literary Agency:

Dear Thomas: Many thanks for thinking of me for the Short Bus Journal, which does sound good, but I am afraid I don't feel I am a good fit. I am not taking on much middle grade at this moment — and I am sure another agent will feel differently.

All my best,

Sara

I should be bummed, but I'm sort of...not. Sure, I would've liked it if she'd read it first, but hey, at least she didn't just give me a COMPLETELY generic reply, right?

So that's all the news I have currently. I'm looking to switch my blogger over to something a little more substantial and (let's face it) prettier than this thing, so in time, look for a new address, a new look and hopefully some new news.

Hey, I also have a new e-mail address. It's thomas_kingsley_troupe@gmail.com (just remove the _)

Until next time, y'all.