Thursday, March 7, 2013

NO VAN GOGH



Almost four novels written. The first one I don't usually count, because even divine intervention  couldn't fix that, but novels two and three are pretty good (if I do say so myself, which, I just did). The problem is, I haven't been able to get an agent who likes them enough to sell them. Notice I say 'likes them enough', it's not that those that have read them haven't liked them, just not enough to jump on the Kelly train.

A  few weeks ago, I started thinking of what to do when this fourth novel is complete. Do I start on another? Send out a hundred more queries? Or just stack it on top of the others? Personally, I think four unpublished is enough. I need a hobby that doesn't revolve around rejection. Maybe I'll sit on the porch and count the cars that go by instead. Yes, I'll stack this one on top of the others and shove it in a box.

We all have our own monsters; mine are typed in 12 point font.

Maybe, I thought, I am the Van Gogh of writing. Maybe, after I die, my kids will find a stack of manuscripts, read a few and decide, 'these aren't so bad'. Maybe they will find someone to take them on, and I'll be posthumously famous, my kids earning royalties for the rest of their lives. Vincent, like me, was agentless. He peddled his wares on a street corner and perfected his craft in a mental institution. Not exactly what I had in mind, but after reading thirty-plus versions of "I love the story but..." I decided it was time to embrace my inner Van Gogh.

Last week, while I was hacking off my ear, I heard the notification 'ding'-- Another email from an agent. I didn't want to look, but thought, what the hell. I put down the straight razor and read a familiar first line..."I love the writing, but..." As I continued to read, though, it didn't actually seem like a rejection. Instead, it was a suggestion for a tweak to the manuscript and ended with:

"What do you think?"

"I think I should find an old newspaper to wrap this ear in," was my first thought, but I didn't know if this particular agent would appreciate my dark humor. Oh, hell, of course she would. She just read THEY CALL ME CRAZY. "And she liked it, but...."

So I responded (I left out the ear part), and attached a chapter revision that addressed her 'but'.

And today, I sewed my ear back on.

THEY CALL ME CRAZY
Represented by Svetlana Pironko
Author Rights Agency

22 comments:

Lori said...

Fantastic!

Unknown said...

That's rad Kelly! :D You rock!

Beth Garland said...

Thank, God, you still have your ears -- and an agent. YAY!!! Let's Rock!

Does Air Exist said...

Oh my goodness - that's HUGE! congrats Kelly. You have worked hard (4 books!?) and deserve this.

David S. Rawding said...

Yahtzee!

Natalie Kenney said...

Amazing news, Kel. Good to know you get to keep your ear.

joelyn said...

Woohoo! Congrats KSG :)

Anonymous said...

AWESOME NEWS KELLY ~ I am getting the Band together and we are marching down Military Ave ! In your name ofcourse ! Kudos , Congrats and all of the above ! YOU ROCK GIRL !

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Thank you!

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Thanks, Chris.

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Party with your ears on!

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Thanks, Suzi. I have a few more in me. :)

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Tag me in, Dave!

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

I'm glad of that, too. It was my favorite one.

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Coast Guard for the win!

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Great! I hope the band has awesome uniforms. :) can't wait to see you!

RachelintheOC said...

awesome you! woot woot woot!

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Thanks, Rachel! I feel such a relief to have that side of it off my plate. Now I can focus more on writing again.

Erica Lucke Dean said...

That's the most awesomest of news! I'm so happy for you. Just don't forget the rest of us when you're basking in the glow of Best Seller status :)

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Ha! I hope everyone else likes Crazy as much as I do.

Unknown said...

Congrats Kelly, you and that book totally deserve it. It's not even my genre and I read it in one sitting more or less.

I'm impressed you only have one manuscript which is a write-off. I have four, and another three that can be rewritten but need a lot of work.

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Thanks, C. Just one, so far, but it's a doozie. LOL