The agent said No.

baconsmom

She said she loved the book, and does think it's *probably* saleable, but she's not confident enough to take me on in a vampire-saturated market. 

<kicks rock> Oh, well. Now it's on to publishers or self-publishing. We'll see. 

TheDuckis

I still think that's a good sign. I'd shop to a few other smaller/just starting out agents and boutique publishers.

hmonkey

i agree with td.  this is a speedbump.

mrsconn23

Onward and upward!!

6fsn

The agent is stupid.  Youdon't want a stupid agent anyway.

thatgrrrrl

I still want my copy!

TheDuckis

Meg Cabot, who wrote The Princess Diaries and has an obscene number of books (mostly YA, but also Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, and a couple of graphic novels) to her name, has kept every rejection letter she ever recieved. They fill a US Post Office mail bag.

Rejections are a badge of honor. Keep collecting )

baconsmom

I've queried just about every agent I can find. I'm going to comb through the online Guide to Lit Agents again and double-check, but I've pretty much exhausted agencies. 

I know it's a good sign. I'm thrilled that she liked it - I mean, it's one thing for your friends to like it (even when they're readers and writers, too), but it's some awesome validation to be told by a pro that I can write. 

And self-publishing isn't what it was. I could very well sell a bunch of e-books and then land an agent or a traditional publishing contract. I just have to knuckle down and work. 

zsazsa-stl

Totally a badge of honor!  Keep going!

There was just an article in last week's Entertainment Weekly about people building their own fan bases while self-publishing. 

thatgrrrrl

you can e-publish and put in the kindle store. I'd totally buy your book.

NOLABridesmaid

You hang in there and keep working on your book. Ditto on the self-publishing.

TheDuckis

Do you have writer's market? I've got the 2010, but my online subscription just ran out.

baconsmom

I just got the online subscription last month, Duckis. I'm also going to go to the Rocky Mountain Writers' Conference and pitch in person; I might do better that way, especially since they bring in local agents, and I'm a local writer with a novel set in Colorado. 

There's options. I'm not down about this - it's a little disappointing, but only a little. 

Thatgrrrl, do I have your email? FBmail me and you can have a word doc. 

nicoleg1982

My friend mentioned the Pike's Peak writers or something like that.  IDK much about them, but said I would pass along the reference to you.

ETA:  Friend says he knows the president of that organization.  Let me know if you want a hook up.

TheDuckis

Have you checked out KT Literary? She's in CO. She leans a little YA, but "Women's Fiction" is kindof a catchall. Not sure how she feels about vampires, so you might want to stalk her blog a bit before you submit.

http://ktliterary.com/submissions/

baconsmom

They already rejected me, Duckis. 

Pikes Peak is down in CO Springs; Rocky Mountain is held up here in Denver, about a ten minute drive from my house. If I had the money, I'd hit up both, but conferences are expensive, and I don't have a day job. 

Thanks for the support, guys. 

TheDuckis

I must say, I'm askeered of conferences. Good for you for going.

baconsmom

I'm askeered, too, but I'm going to have to get used to talking about myself and my books no matter what I do, and especially if I self-pub. I have to do readings and signings and stuff, so I might as well dive right in. 

6fsn

Good luck Bmom.  I have every faith you can do this.

GBCK

I'm sorry.

But the fact that she liked it taht much is HUGE, IMO.  

(I 'know' [read, went to college w/] someone who is, reportedly, very good in the ebook world who has written stuff on how to do it...but he's the dude I did a FB post on about his ex-wife alleging rape so I don't think I'm comfortable saying 'buy his stuff' right now...)

On an anti-libertarian front, I was listening to something (NPR I think--see, very anti-lib) on a publishing house that is self-publish and gives the books away as a way in for writers and its' ben dang successful.  I thought of you, giggled at the irony, made a mental note to mention it and now can't find the flipping link again.

GBCK

FOUND IT:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128775487

http://www.concordfreepress.com/

baconsmom

Ha! Yeah, no. I want some cold, hard cash for my efforts, yo. Besides, Grant (one of my main characters, who works for *gasp* profit, even though he's dead) would never forgive me. 

GBCK

Yeah, I liked the 'pass it on' aspects of it but the thought of GIVING away a novel just pains my poor soul.