Today, after more than three months, I finally got the 'breaking news' from the publisher I had sent my manuscript to. She wrote the following:
'I have read your book with pleasure. It reads quickly and easily. I think it is a thrilling story. Especially the passages that are set in 1963 are lively and well written. As we do more literary works, it does not fit within the fund of our publishing house, but I am sure that you will have no trouble finding another publisher keen to publish it.'
Needless to say that I am on cloud 9! It means that I am on the right track, my whole new 'project' is viable and the manuscript has the potential to become a good book. A big encouragement, not only to continue writing, but also to improve myself as a writer again. She was kind enough to also give me some tips on style plus names within other publishing houses, offering to use her name as a reference (something that is crucial in this world). But back to earth again, as there is still lots of work to be done, apart from writing the other 2/3rd of the book!
Last weekend I pushed myself to think about the 'urgency' of my manuscript again. Why would people want to read my book? Why does it need to be published? What distinguishes this story from others? To give you a 'sneak preview': one of the story lines is the life in a tiny village, where everyone is like one big happy family. As long as everyone gets along fine... That specific atmosphere needs to be more anguished, more grim, more alarming then it is now, I decided. Something the publisher pointed out as well. Anyway, as you can imagine, enough great, challenging goals to be met this coming period! Love, M.
