Inagural Post

Hello everyone. I'm going to do a little historical reposting and updating from my more personal journal.This one is supposed to make me look professional, and I'll be taking some pains to preserve that. Um...yeah.

 At any rate, it will be all about writing, so bear that in mind if you've come over from my other journal because you like to hear about my cats, or say other interests I have. You'd best go back over there.:)

For now, what you need to know is that after an amazing experience at Wiscon 2007, meeting great people and editors from small presses that were interested in my work based on a reading, I decided I really could build a writing career, much like I managed to get the teaching job of my dreams. Sure, that might also take me (what was it?) 12 years, but I'm game.

Okay, onto the retro entries!

Catherine

Every Writer's Dream

...is to not have to sell yourself via publicity, but have someone stumble across your work, which is so good it speaks for itself, and then opportunity falls into your lap. That's my fantasy anyway.

It just came true tonight.

***

Here I am at Wiscon. Lalala, I've been enjoying myself, going to panels, volunteering at the Broad Universe table, pimping the anthology. Good karaoke party tonight, although I had to leave early because I had to go read, and so I didn't get to sing. It's okay. Everyone here wants to sing.

I've met Ilona Andrews and her friend Sonya Sipes. I've read with some cool people. Here's the best part of the story.

So, I brought along The Initiation Rites and Incantations of the Vampire Killers' Junior Auxiliary to read, as it's in the anthology. I was torn between it and reading part of the faerie story, but it turned out that there was a zombie story and a monster killer story, and it fit.

They laughed. They cried. Well, mostly they laughed when I read. Many people will want to buy the anthology (okay, a few, but that's good!)

I also mentioned that I was working on the Monte Cristo retelling, a story about demon binders, and a faerie soap opera set in Iowa as a quip in my introduction. After a reading, a guy came up to ask me if the Abby/Vince story was part of a longer work. I had to confess it wasn't. Then he asked me about the demon binder story.

Turns out that guy was this guy:

http://www.deliriumbooks.com/insider/?page_id=151

and he's going to talk to this guy

http://www.deliriumbooks.com/insider/?page_id=149

about me maybe publishing something for these people.

http://www.deliriumbooks.com/insider/

I think I've also seen this guy around the con, and I'll hear more about having me submit a query/treatment of the first Klarion novel via appropriate business channels. There it is. Me doing what I do, and having someone walk by and say, "Man, that's good, without all the schmooze and bullshit.

To get this off my chest, let's just say

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And now back to my pragmatic self. This is all about the first step. This could come to nothing. I smell rejection in the wind. Etc, etc. But it's a cool first step, and it's on my terms.

I'll update you when I find out more. I'll let you know how and if this changes the course of my summer. I'm too tired to be happy right now. It's almost one in the morning. But there is a deep sense of satisfaction.

Catherine

ETA: And another offer of work today. A Gothic Romance Novella for a (very small) press. sonyamsipe's company Cat Scratch.  I'll see what I can come up with.

Do you remember what I said about the universe opening doors a few days ago? Um...yeah. Just...wow.

Must...nap...now. Shouldn't stay up until one and get up at six.

CMSS

Delirium Outcomes

Why you have to live in the moment...

Substance is too fantasy for Delirium, which makes sense. (See, tapestrymlp, you know your genres.) They still have Blood, and it's not like my wellbeing and future self regard depend on them taking Blood on. It would be nice to catch a break, but what will be, will be. However, goooooo Blood!

This still doesn't change the fact that I was invited to send something, and that I'm a good writer. I'm disappointed, but I'm not surprised. David said something really great. He said that he wants to read the book when it is published. It's a good story. It's just not what they do.  And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what we want to hear in rejection-ville.

So, now that I have some sample chapters and a treatment, who has ideas on where I should send Substance next? 

ETA: Boy, am I working on that!

Catherine

Marking Submissions: Vince and Abby

Marking that The Initiation Rites and Incantations of the Vampire Killers Junior Auxiliary has been submitted to

http://www.strangehorizons.com

Speculative Fiction Foundation

Something New from the ever cool scieppan, back from her own wonderful writing conference experience.

How's about: The Speculative Literature Foundation?

Go on, visit! You know you want to.

Catherine

Marking Submissions: Mistoreth's Eyes

To mark to self: Mistoreth's Eyes out to sonyamsipes at Cat Scratch Press.

Catherine

Writers Digest and Agent Query

Tonight's sleepless excursion into the publishing industry has taught us:

1. Writer's Digest is king! Here! Look at all this work they saved you!

http://www.writersdigest.com/101sites/2007_index.asp?secondarycategory=Get+Published+Subhome+Page

2. Agent Query is king too! Co-kings!

http://www.agentquery.com/default.aspx


3. The favorite color of literary agency website backgrounds is red. Yes, red. I don't know what this is about. If I am lucky enough to get an agent with a red site, perhaps I will find out.

Catherine

Sister Night, Sister Moon Scene

I am sending sonyamsipes another story, Sister Night, Sister Moon, for consideration for her anthology for Cat's Scratch Press. She'll only take one, if she takes either, but I had another story that I though might suit. This occurs after our man Ted has performed Romeo and Juliet with Rumor.

( Rumor and Xiao Ping )

Catherine