THE HURTFUL EIGHT

Yes, I acquired my 8th rejection of the new novel yesterday. In actual fact, this was the first agent I sent it out to on 23/5 but they had IT problems and never received it, so last week I sent it to them again. They turned it around quickly even though the agent I spoke too was ill for most of the week. Unlike most rejections which these days are by silence – if you don’t hear anything in X weeks assume we are not interested – or a simple – it is not right for the agency – there was a smidgin of feedback this time

“I spent time last week reading THE PUZZLE and again over the weekend and while I enjoyed it very much I am afraid I have had to concede that it’s not right for the list here at the agency right now. I think the premise is brilliant and a great hook to start a thriller from but I didn’t connect in the way Camilla and I would have to for us to be the best advocates for your book.”

What dos this mean? I am thinking – good idea but not written very well.

In other news, my attack on Twitter continues. Four weeks in, 86 followers and 41.4K impressions (but none of them to Mike Yarwood standards). No corresponding increase in books sales though so I tried an experiment. I did a two day free promotion on Rewind (the best selling one – which isn’t saying much), Once Upon A Week (kiddies book) and Pratt, Pratt, Wally and Pratt. Now the one regular reader of this blog – you know who you are – will remember that on a reveiwer’s advice I split Trouble Cross into three and Pratt, Pratt, Wally and Pratt is the main story, with T is for … the much shorter back story and Doctor! Oh No! my Bond spoof from the 80’s.

And the results are in! Over the two days I only made 8 sales – can you call it a sale if you are giving them away for free? Day 1 – 3 sales in UK all Once Upon A Week. Day 2 – 3 sales in US (one of each) and one each in UK and, wait for it … Japan, both Once Upon A Week. Are people saying I should stick to writing kids books? I don’t think David Walliams has anything to worry about if I did. Further, it transpires that two of the UK sales were nothing to do with my Twitter campaign but were bought by somebody I used to work with. He and his wife both took an e-book but his wife also wanted it in paperback.

The same two people enjoyed Rewind because they both gave it a review in 2014.

“I stopped reading books when my children were born nearly 25 years ago. I’ve picked up the odd book over the years but have rarely got past the first chapter. I was then recommended this book by my wife, and very soon got hooked, I didn’t want to put it down because I just had to know how it finished.”

“Great book. Kept me guessing.”

It is comments like these, few though they are, that still lead me to believe there would be a market for my writing if an agent or publisher would __________________________ (insert ABBA song from 1978.)