During the three-minute pitch sessions to an agent (or several) included as part of the San Francisco Writers Conference fee, one NY agent asked me to send her some scenes from my book, an L.A. agent asked me to send the entire manuscript, another NY senior literary agent asked for a copy of my Book Proposal, and another agent said she would be interested if I could cut the book down from its present 128,000 words to 90,000 words which I’ll think about later if I don’t drum up some real interest as it is.
I’ve sent off everything to the first three and already heard back from two that they want it sent to their specific emails (not just Submissions), one also wants my Book Proposal, and another said she was swamped and I should contact her again next week to remind her. This is ever so encouraging after having sent out some 60 query letters last year and only receiving form “thanks but no thanks” letters. PS Two weeks have passed and no word yet from anyone, but they say it takes time. I just got back to Cliff Cottage Inn, the B&B I have owned now for 23 years in Eureka Springs, Arkansas (a Victorian artist colony)and after being gone almost four months, there is a mountain of mail and bills piled on the dining room table. Soooo, my book has had to be to the side temporarily until I can get caught up with my B&B (which pays the bills so I can spend some time writing!) It’s amazing that while at a conference, one gets all fired up to work on a book, and then after a few weeks pass, the motivation slips away or is stolen by other pressing things like another business. I sure hope I won’t let the B&B steal all my creative time! It will require discipline.