Small Press Publisher Gets Creative

I’m impressed with the way Rhemalda Publishing handled the piracy of their author, J.S. Chancellor's debut novel, Son of Ereubus. How creative! One more reason why I’m thinking seriously about a small press publisher…

Check out their press release…

As a writer, ever feel like this?

Story for a Shipwright: The Soundtrack

There seems to be a music posting thing going around the blog-o-sphere recently, and since I have absolutely nothing better to post while I'm waiting for rejections responses on the requested material I have out, I thought I'd post some of the music that puts me in the mood of Story for a Shipwright. Not in any paritcular order...

This fits The Shipwreck stories very well, and I love the nautical theme of the video.

Lyrics and feel are just right with this one:

Again, it's both the lyrics and music. Wish I could re-name it Sophie's (or Marlena's) Lullaby. and the fact that the main female character, Marlena, looks a lot like Norah Jones doesn't hurt...

Okay, my story has no lighthouse, but this is very nautical and wonderful storytelling. Everytime I listen to it I get choked up...

I like this better than Cyndie Lauper's version. The music and lyrics fit perfect...

This is the perfect song for the end of the novel.

It's more the feel of this song that really fits...

 

In a weird and quirky way, this works, especially as an introduction to Marlena. Try not to be distracted by the video, which definitely does not fit!

...and of course, sounds of the ocean...

 

A Contest & Some Progress

While I’m waiting for responses to my one full and two paritals out with agents, I thought I’d entertain myself with the "Dear Lucky Agent" Contest over at the Guide to Literary Agents Editor's Blog. It is for "Literary Fiction," defined there as:

"...fiction that falls outside the categories of genre fiction. Much fiction falls into the so-called popular commercial genres of romance, mystery, suspense, thriller, Western, horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Writing that falls in none of these categories is often called "literary."

By that desctiption, Story for a Shipwright definitely fits, though I have found that many agents' opinions of what constitutes "literary" varies greatly. For some, it seems to get tossed in with General, Mainstream, and Commercial fiction. I queried Story for a Shipwright as Literary at first, but found it didn't fit what agents who represent Literary fiction required. I queried it as Commercial, only to be told, 'I don't represent Literay fiction.' Go figure.

 
So, I adjusted my approach.
 
Now I'm querying it as Commercial fiction with a literary bent or Literay fiction with commercial appeal. Honestly, sometimes the whole querying gig feels like a crapshoot, and that's okay. The worst an agent can say is, "I'm sorry, this just doesn't sound right for my list." And that's okay, too; at least 8 agents have felt like my novel had/has enough potential to ask for more.

New Header

Okay, unless you're looking at this in your Google Reader, it's pretty obvious that I have a new header. It sure took me long enough to finish it! Now if I can figure out some of the more subtle changes I want to make...

Oh, and since you can't really see it in the header too well, here's a glimpse at the title of the book!

Yes, it's completely gratuitous, but...well...what can I say, I'm feeling pretty desperate...

Header Artwork Complete...

Just thought I should post something on my header progress…I finally finished the painting that I will incorporate into it!

If you care to see the process, from idea to finished work, it’s on my Unsupervised & at Large blog (the name fits me more and more these days…) Hopefully, by midweek, I’ll have a new header designed and up…