Alpha Adventures

My agent already has Fusion, the thriller, making second - round subs. She asked if she could send the YA fantasy, Screamcatcher out there. I had my reservations, only because I wasn't sure if it was ready yet. Yesterday I threw caution to the wind and gave her the go-ahead. No sense in postponing the inevitable at this point. I'm too caught up in my regular workload of writing right now to even care how many rejections come in for the books.

chris

Just about everybody has been waiting for Planet Janitor--Custodian of the Stars. Me? I'm just glad it's out of my hair.  The official quality trade paperback ARCs came the other day, as well as the thousands of laminated press release cards. The artwork is just stunning, with the wrap-around cover and 26, count 'em, 26 interior illustrations. Three artists worked on this book--the original cover was done in oil on a huge canvas.  I mean, what's not to like!  It took us seven months to thrash-edit this monster that ran 475 pages. A new front chapter was added, as well as extra scenes and scenes that ended up on the cutting floor.

I've started my email press release campaign by sending out 210 press releases to major review sources, newspapers and magazines. I can't tell you how brutal this is when I have to punch out 1,800 words a day of non-fiction just to make a living. But this book was so extraordinarily designed and formatted, that I would be remiss if I ever let it go and die a slow, lonely death.

So, you can preorder this baby now, or just wait for the hardback to show up right around Xmas of 2010. You won't regret the quality of this book, truly a masterpiece of design and artistic craftsmanship.

Chris

AGENT SUBMISSIONS—DIANE NINE

BENT AGENCY—(JENNY) DIANE—QUERY—10 PAGES—AUGUST 16

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ETHAN ELLENBERG—DIANE—SYNOPSIS—50 PAGES—AUGUST 16

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WRITERS HOUSE (JOSH GETZLER)—DIANE—QUERY—5-PAGES—AUGUST 16

DONALD MAASS LIT (MS. MCCLURE)—DIANE—QUERY—5-PAGES—AUGUST 17—REQUESTED 50 PAGES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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GREYHOUSE—FORM—QUERY—AUGUST 25—REQUESTED 3 AND SYNOP-Still wants hardmail??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

ELISABETH KAPLAN—QUERY—FIVE—AUGUST 25

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SARA CAMILLI—QUERY—FIVE PAGES—AUGUST 25—REQUEST FOR FULL OF DIANE, SYNOPSIS ON DISPOSSESSED, AND PROPOSAL FOR VALLEY OF MASTODONS—CALLING ON DEC 8 TO DISCUSS PROJECTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*RYAN COMMUNICATIONS—QUERY—AUGUST 25—REQUESTED FULL—SENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ROBIN MIZELL—QUERY—FIVE PAGES—AUGUST 25

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DOUG GRAD LIT—QUERY—FIVE—AUGUST 25

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ROB WEISBACH—QUERY—FIVE—AUGUST 26

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MCCARTHY (SHAWNA MCCARTHY)—QUERY—FIVE—AUGUST 26

MARIANNE GUNN O’Connor (MS. GUNN)—QUERY—FIVE—AUGUST 26

JAN DENNIS LIT (MR. DENNIS)—QUERY—FIVE—AUGUST 26

LUSH LIT (MS. JOHNSON)—QUERY-SYNOP—FIVE—AUGUST 26

LIPPONCOTT MASSIE (MR. ANTHONY)—QUERY—AUGUST 26

HHB-HEATHER HOLDEN-BROWN—QUERY—FIVE—AUGUST 26

HALSTON-FREEMAN—(MR. FREEMAN)—QUERY-SYNOP—3-CHAPTS—AUGUST 26

FREDRICA FRIEDMAN—QUERY—FIVE—AUGUST 26

EURO MOTION PICTURE AND LIT (MS. VIJIC)—SYNO10 PAGES—AUGUST 26

SUSAN GOLMB (MS. GOLOMB)—QUERY—FIVE—AUGUST 26

DHS (MR. SMITH)—QUERY—AUGUST 27—REQUESTED 100 PAGES FROM ASSISTANT SHAUYI TAI—SENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WENDY BARNARD—QUERY—SYNOPSIS—FIVE—AUGUST 27

D4EO—BOB DIFORIO—QUERY—AUGUST27

CANTON-SMITH (MS. CANTONQUERY—FIVE—AUGUST 27

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SCOTT MERIDETH—QUERY QUESTION ONLY

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NINE SPEAKERS (MS. NINE)—QUERY—FIVE—AUGUST 28

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FOGELMAN LIT—QUERY—AUGUST--28

FOSTER LIT (TINA)—SYNOPSIS—AUGUST 28

WILLIAM CLARK ASSOC. FORM—QUERY—AUGUST 28

RED RIDING HOOD INK—SYNOP—AUGUST 28

LAZEAR AGENCY (MR. LAZEAR)—QUERY—AUGUST 28

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FRANCES COLLIN—QUERY—AUGUST 28

RENNE ZUCKERBROT—SYNOP—1-CHAPTER—AUGUST 28

JONATHAN PEGG (MR. PEGG)—SYNOP—2-CHAPTERS—AUGUST 28

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DARLEY ANDERSON—QUERY—AUGUST 28

CREATIVE CULTURE (MR. ELBLONK)—QUERY—AUGUST 28

HEACOCK (MS. LEBAIGUE)—QUERY—FIVE—AUGUST 28

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NOVEL IDEAS (MS. HELLMAN)—QUERY—1-CHAPT—AUGUST 29

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FIELDING AGENCY (MS. LEE)—QUERY—AUGUST 29

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COWLES RYAN (MS. COWLES)—QUERY—AUGUST 29

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FAIRBANK (MS. SORCHE FAIRBANK—QUERY—FIVE—AUGUST 29

LAURA GROSS (MS. GROSS)—QUERY—AUGUST 29

KRISTA GOERING—QUERY—AUGUST 29—REQUESTED FULL—WANTS TO SEE 100 PAGES AND OUTLINE OF VALLEY—SENT--!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UNITED AGENTS—SYNOPSIS—3-CHAPTERS—AUGUST 29

ISABEL WHITE (MS. WHITE)—QUERY—10 PAGES—AUGUST 29

TLA TRANSATLANTIC—(MS. HAYWOOD)—SYNOP—1-CHAPTER—AUGUST 30

MUSE LIT (MS. CARTE)—SYNOP—AUGUST 30

JULIA LORD AGENCY (MS. LORD)—QUERY—AUGUST 30—NOTICE FAILURE********

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AMB (MS. BENSON)—QUERY—AUGUST 30

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AEI (MS. POPE)—QUERY—AUGUST 30

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ALLEN O’SHEA (MS. ALLEN)—QUERY—AUGUST 30

NY CREATIVE MANAGEMENT—SYNOPSIS—AUGUST 30—REQUESTED FULL FROM JEFF SCHMIDT—SENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SHEREE BYKOFSKY—QUERY—SYNOP—1-PAGE AUGUST 30

PETER LAMPACK—QUERY—AUGUST 30

BOOKS AND SUCH—(MS. LAWTON)—QUERY—AUGUST 30

CSG (STEVEN HARRIS)—QUERY—AUGUST 30

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THOTH LIT—SYNOPSIS—1- CHAPTER—AUGUST 31

DEFIORE AND COMPANY (MS. GARRICK)—QUERY—AUGUST 31

DAVID BLACK (MR. MORRIS)—QUERY—AUGUST 31

HOWARD MORHAIM (MS. BOWLES)—QUERY—SEPT 1

CREATIVE WORD MANAGEMENT (MS. SPRINGER)—QUERY—SEPT 1 NOTICE FAILURE***************

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LIVING WORD LIT (KIMBERLY) SYNOPSIS—1-CHAPTER—NOV 20—REQUESTED THREE CHAPTERS—has just offered contract, but clean up text for Christian market.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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ANDY ZACK—FORM—QUERY—JAN 18—2010—8-turnaround

I should have said "pleasure" instead of woes.  But it sure can be tedious at times, multi-tasking, writing new material, banging out edits on mulitple books, trying to stay updated with your agent and marketing your Bermuda shorts off.  I wonder when I'll take a break at times, but that inner life-clock of mine keeps on ticking and taking little snippets of juice out of me.

I think I've spammed the world, but the world is snoozing.

I don't take breaks, and I guess therein lies the problem.  For the past five years, it's been eight to twelve hour stints at the screen, with no let up and no vacations.  I never leave the house, except to do chores, and even resist going out in public, knowing that my time is better spent splashing ink.

This is the toughest mental vocation I ever got myself locked into.  And locked is the correct term.  It CAN be like a self-imposed prison.  Honest to God, I can't see how anyone has the time or energy to write when they have a full-time job, kids, and a loving spouse who requires their attention.  I'm glad I'm single.  I'm lonely, oh yes, but I wouldn't  put a household and loved ones through the mess that is my life.

Loving rant over...

Chris--red-shifting.

Out of 450 agent queries, I received four solid contract offers, and one offer from a marginal agent.  So I guess that brings the total to 4.5.  I'm now with the Sara Camilla agency, and very happy about it.  I went over my thriller Diane Nine and the Fusion Machine two more times and sent it to her.  I should be on major submission at this time.  The next up in line is Valley of the Mastodons, a true account of the Ice Age discoveries in Hemet, California.  Then Dispossessed Incorporated, the ghost fantasy.

The Lupus Strain, the werewolf thriller will be published sometime in early 2011 by LBF books.  I haven't started the editing process on that one, since I haven't been assigned an editor yet.

I've been working incredibly hard on Planet Janitor--Custodian of the Stars, for Engage Books.  I will be their debut author for SF.  We've been on this book for months, doing numerous structural edits, revisions and changes.  This book is really begining to shine from all the hard work.  I'm ready to turn in, probably, the last major strutureal edit today.  We'll copy-edit next.  Target date for publication looks like late 2010, perhaps December. 

PS:  Had to switch to Verizon Wireless Broadband.  Wild Blue are deceitful crooks, and deserve to a class-action suit against them.  I think Satalite internet is a waste. 

Well, it looks like my days in Hemet, California are numbered.  I'll be hopping a flight to Alabama on the 28th of Sept.  I have three books under contract and I don't even know if I'll have internet access to fulfill my editing obligations.  This couldn't come at a worse time.  I'm hoping my writing days are not over, and that I can somehow get through this transition.  If not, it's been a gas these past five years.  I'll truly miss all of my friends at Absolutewrite.  Especially a very good buddy, Jim Melvin, who wrote the Death Wizard Chronicles.  Gosh, I hope he makes it.

Until later, dudes.  Bless you all and good luck with your writing and publishing life.

Yours,

Chris aka Tri

If you're thinking about giving up, consider this letter to a friend:

Dear One, I've been close to packing it in myself. And I'm repped! Nothing has come easy for me it seems--a struggle all the way up that hill. I know you've been trying to snag that dream agent, and the odds are just so crazy. I know that POD small press is distasteful to you, as it is with a lot of us. But there are some gems out there that I think you should at least try--give it a shot. (Honest, I think I'm becoming the king of small press like veinglory is the queen of e-pubs).

Gawd knows publication with the smaller outfits won't give you that MMP deal you've been looking for. Dawg knows that you won't get an AW thread praising you for your accomplishments to the high heavens, nor hundreds of members buying your book. But what it will give you is vindication that somebody, anybody, read your book and loved it--believed in you--believed in that story. It's all about positive reinforcement--that drive to keep you going, pushing for that next step.

Just taking one example: I landed my agent with Planet Janitor, a SF survival tale--kind of a cross between Robison Crusoe on Mars and Starship troopers. Oh, did I have high hopes for that one! After it went through two rounds of agent subs over a year's period without selling, I was totally crushed.

Until I sent it out. Three editors at one small publisher loved it and requested minor changes. Contract came. I got an advance and a wonderful contract. I thought it was fluke. I kept thinking author mill. It was later that the publisher came under some terrible discrimination. I voided the contract but kept the advance. I sold it again to a larger e-pub/print publisher. Two editors there said they loved it. When I tried to work the contract in my favor they wouldn't budge. So I pulled the book from them.

My final sale was to a newish pub house that specialized in SF. They praised it up one side down the other. The CEO shared the manuscript with a "name" SF author. Yep, done deal. This was a hot one. They wanted some medium changes--which I made happily.

That was not a fluke.

My point is, eight fuckin' people couldn't be wrong. Nine, including me. The big houses made a mistake, probably cutting me off at the knees at the synopsis stage or the first chapter. I was dismissed out-of-hand. But I'll tell you something very important I learned; I knew that my instincts were right all along. I had something very special there, but for whatever reason, those big name igits didn't catch it, couldn't see the gold in there. Bad timing, bad luck, bad breath, the stars out of alignment, some damn evil force conspired to get me and hold me down.

I think you need to so something similar for YOU. And I have to admit that handing out rejection slips to publishers sure did something for my ego.

I'm reminded of Kimi, and the hassle she went through trying to find a publisher. She finally landed with one and, turned the small press on its ear by selling more books than anyone expected. Wonderful reviews, TV and radio spots--it all came into place for her. I'm positive that she never regretted that decision. A great story will find its way to the readers, inspite of all the obstacles.

But that means you can't give up on it. Listen to your heart. Fuck the establishment.

FWIW

Chris

I've opted out of the Eternal contract in favor of going with Engage Books, who are much more enthused about Planet Janitor.  Not only that, but Engage Books specializes in SF, and have suggested some very good pre-house editing.

Well, two-thirds of the way through my Lyrical edit and everything seems to be going fine.  I did have one other publisher contact me at the very end and say they're really enjoying Planet Janitor.  Now, Eternal wanted that one, but I haven't sent the contract in yet.  So I held off.  This new publisher will beat the snot out of the previous contract, so I'd be in better shape.  I'll wait for the decision.

Chris--red-shifting

Okay, it's been a triple bagger season.  Three contracts have been offered:

LBF Books offered for The Lupus Strain.  They are a print and e-book publisher, with a recommended on P&E.

Lyrical Press offered for Gate Walker.  They are primarily an e-book publisher, with the option to print if sales warrant.  Nothing disturbing here.

Eternal Press offered for Planet Janitor--Custodian of the Stars.  They are print and e-book.

However, we're talking about small press here.  Unlikely that there will be any bookstore  placement or advances.  I even had to turn down two others, who offered.  I still have to finish and negotiate two of the contracts.  I'm on house editing with Lyrical at the moment, and I must say it's smokin', which means it's tough and thorough, which means that's great and the sign of a real pro.

I should be happy and bouncing on the bed.  I'm just "meh." 

I was expecting, at least one semi-major deal from a large commercial house.  I'm at my wits end for income.  This is not what I was expecting.  It seems I can sell to the small/independants all day long and into next week.  Meanwhile my friends are bagging three-book deals.

If you're out there Jim, bag one for us buddy.  I'm not out of ammo, but lately, I can't shoot straight.

Chris--red-shifting