So, I have done what I promised myself I would not do, and that is to let my author’s page blog go unattended for more than a month. But please understand, Dear Reader, I have a fantastic excuse.

As you may remember in my last post I talked about sending my manuscript off to an agent and how  pressing  the “send” button was like diving off a diving board. Hold my breath, let go, and know there was no turning back, no putting the toothpaste back in the tube.

Well, I dove. And it was not into a crystal clear, refreshing pool, but I landed, or should I say belly-flopped, into a marshy bog full of unnamed critters and smells not identifiable. Agents do not look at or care to see or have a sliver of interest in a manuscript that is considered too long. As a new, unknown author, my historical novel needs to be under 100,000 words.  I KNOW!  I KNOW!  There are many very long tales out there. The list is endless. AND,  I know that if it takes more than 100,000 words to tell my story, then that is how many words I should be able to use.

But that is not how this game is played. It comes down to money. It takes more money to get a long book out there than a short one, and no publishing company in its right mind is going to gamble on an unknown writer, possibly ending up with boxes and boxes of unsold, unread long tomes, The first Harry Potter book was under 80,000 words, and only because of JK’s enormous success, Ordeal of the Phoenix could be as long as she wished.  

So, back to the reason I have not been posting.  I have been editing. I had to take over 40,000 words out of Reluctant Greatness. This took more than deleting. It took tears, sweat, counseling, tantrums, nightmares, sleepless nights, and great despair.  But it is done. A little over 97,000 words. Believe me, there were great tears when that number appeared in my word count at the bottom of my computer screen.

So where did those 43,000 words go? I saved them. I will share them with you eventually, on my author’s page, just before my book is released.  Reading little snippets of Martha Washington’s life will greatly entice you to purchase my book, recommend it to others, and choose it for your book club’s latest selection. 

I do believe everything works out for the best.

My job now is to do some final editing and then start my process of re-sending my manuscript off to agents. Oh, one more sad, frustrating note. I cannot send it out to any agent or agency that I previously submitted to. One is  allowed only one rejection per book.  But I know the right person is out there, just waiting to read and fall in love with my sbubmission. 

Hope you are waiting too. Believe me. I am. 

My job now is to do some final editing and then start my process of sending the manuscript off to agents. Oh, one more sad, frustrating note. I cannot send it out to any agent or agency that I previously submitted to. One is  allowed only one rejection.  But I know the right person is out there, just waiting for my book.