Hello again!

After 7 people in one week asked when this blog was coming back, I decided it was time to begin posting again.
I can’t believe it’s been 4 months since my last blog post!

I originally took a break so I could focus completely on my first novel. I’m glad I did, because the last four months have seen a lot of changes.
I finished the editing process and began trying to find an agency to represent my book to publishing houses. The process has been excruciating. I wrote a million drafts of query letters, which introduce my book and myself to the agency. Query letters are THE means of communication between authors an agents; it has to be perfect. I finally decided on a query letter to use, and found out that some agencies require a synopsis. A synopsis is a one-page layout of the book, telling the overview of the plot. However, you can’t just write this in bullet points, people. You basically have to speed write the entire novel in one page, like a horrible short story that butchers your precious project of 10 years.

Some agencies want only a query letter. Some want a query and a synopsis. Some want a query and a sample of the work (which can be measured in page lengths or chapters, depending on the agency). Some want a query letter, a synopsis, and a sample.
Some agencies have a lot of agents and only 1 or 2 accept fantasy work. Some agencies close for a couple of the months in the summer. Some agencies stay open, but the one agent who accepts fantasy submissions is not currently accepting new authors.

It’s been a lot of homework.

Then, once I get all my ducks in a row, it takes them forever to answer. Anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks, IF they write back at all – some only answer if they are interested in representing you.

All this to say, I’ve been losing my mind.

Then, I received this email:

 

 

As is fitting, I immediately fell on the floor and cried.
Of course, I sent them the sample in under an hour. It’s been 7 weeks and 4 days since I sent the requested material. They said it would be at least 6-8 weeks.

Not that I’m counting.

In the meantime, other than watching my sanity slowly slip away, I’ve had two surgeries.
I had compressed nerves in my right forearm – cubital tunnel and carpal tunnel at the same time. It caused my fingers to go numb, so (along with my queries), my hand was quite literally out of my control. I actually snapped our swiffer handle in half because I couldn’t feel what I was doing.

The damage to the nerves was mild, but the problems would persist probably off and on my entire life. So I opted for double surgery 3 weeks ago on Monday to permanently correct the problems.
Here I am with bandages and a severely swollen hand:

 

My right hand and arm is very weak, which is evidently normal. I couldn’t even pump soap to wash my hands. It took almost a week after getting the stitches out before I could hold a pencil.

It’s getting stronger, just taking some time.

Last weekend, S and I took a spontaneous, last-minute trip to Washington DC.
It was decidedly our most fun trip yet! Granted, they just keep getting better and better.

Here he is in DC being picture-perfect and wonderful:

 

One important change to note is that I will begin this blog by posting 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) instead of 5 times a week for a while.