Deeanne Gist - www.deeannegist.com - Inspirational Romance Author

Join Dee’s Circle for giveaways, videos and VIP privileges

Monday, August 01, 2005

They Still Didn't Want It

**We are on Week Two of my "Journey to Publication." To start at the beginning of this yellow brick road, look at the list of posts in the right-hand column, click on "In The Beginning" and read from there up through today's post.**

Even after three years of honing my craft and after securing a top New York agent, the publishers still didn't want my book. The reasons varied this time, though.

Some said that the setting of the book was at a very unromantic time in history and therefore they didn't think their readers would be interested. Another said he didn't think the two protagonists were truly meant for each other. (I got a chuckle out of that one. Sounded like a parent thinking his daughter was too good for the guy she wanted to marry. Ha!) Another one said it had too many pages. Another said historicals weren't selling very well and had I written any suspense? And on it went.

Now, mind you, this took a great deal of time. Remember, I secured the agent in 1997. Our working relationship ended (very amicably) in 2001. So, what was I doing during all that time???

Tune in tomorrow for the answer to that question and more.

P.S. The winner of our contest has been chosen and the notification has been sent! As soon as I hear back from her I will post her name and the state she is from (assuming she gives me permission to do so).

posted by Deeanne at 11:22 AM

2 Comments:

Barb said...: So considering that these comments were more specific to your particular story, did you try to act on any of them? Or just hold out? (Actually, I understood the individuals of that time in our country's history to be quite romantically passionate. How could someone consider that point in history to be "very unromantic???")
Deeanne said...: Nope. Didn't change a thing. At that point, I'd decided I would change it if they bought it and then had me do edits. Until then, it was better to start on a new project than beat an old one to death.