Here's Your Sign

Karen Scott's blog is well-known for pot-stirring. And yes, I read it weekly. Usually when I'm bored or during my lunch hour. She's good for gossip and trainwreck-i-ness in the publishing world. *shrugs* I also read TMZ -- daily -- for trainwreck-i-ness in Hollywoodland and abroad.

Anyway, an author's romantic suspense novel was rejected by Samhain Publishing. What does the author do? BLOGS about it! AND mentions the editor by name!! (BTW, Karen is questioning the use of a villan's POV in a novel, not whether the author made a error in judgment with her blog.)

If the internet has taught us nothing, one should always remember Google is King. Here's a tip (or two): If you send a submission my way, I'm going to Google you. If you have a blog, I'm going to read it. (I hope I'm not the only person who does that.)

I'm also finishing a novella which -- guess what -- starts with the villan's POV. But I LOVE this villan. So, I'm going to include his POV at least 3 times over the course of the novella. If my first-choice publisher rejects it, I'll be sad, yes. Then I'll send him somewhere else ... once I stop pouting.

Rejections suck. I receive 'em; I write 'em. Both sides of the coin are difficult to deal with. Seriously. Does that get easier? I don't know.

Everyone has an opinion. What works for one editor or agent may not work for another. Same goes for readers. Same goes for authors. Frustration, waiting, cruddy cover art, deadlines, and even drama are all part of the business. I think business may be what's forgotten in the equation. It's not personal; it's business. Of course, it is difficult to remember that mantra when something isn't going your way.