The death of a book

Every writer knows what this is like, well unless you're one of those people who got their first draft of their first manuscript published (and then, let's face it, I hate you), when you really realize that your book, your baby, is going to go the way of all the earth. It's going to be banished to the dusty back corners of your hard drive, never to see the light of day again. It's not a pleasant feeling, especially as you had high hopes for this book--you wrote it, re-wrote it, revised it within an inch of its life, wrote that fab query letter, researched your list of cool agents, and sent that puppy out into the world. In my case, I got an agent, and left an agent, praying that someone else in the world would give my book some love. That is just not happening. I've had plenty of requests (a few of which are still out there), but something in my gut tells me this is the end of Travelers. I'm raising the white flag and going to try not to cry.

Really, at this point, I just don't get it. What's wrong with this book? Does it really suck that bad? What the hell is wrong with it? Because I just don't get it. I think I may be moving through these phases of grief pretty fast, because I'm hot on the heels of being pissed right now. I. Don't. Understand. It's not that I think it's amazingly wonderful or anything, but it's at least as decent as some of the things I've read recently. Okay, before I start beating my head against my desk, I'm just going to say I don't get it. I'm really sick of this game.

I'm going to sub my novella to the anthology. I wrote my query letter last night. We'll see how that turns out. They'll more than likely reject it. And if they do, well, I think I'm out. I've got too much to do to keep playing at this, and I can just write for myself. There, it's in writing, and I am keeping myself to this!

Bah. Humbug! :)

FML

Children's Books: An Angelic Autumn :

Vampire books may be getting pushed aside by, of all things, angels.

Yeah, it's just one of those days, trolling the web, and coming up with something like this. Gah, why must I always be a step behind??

Okay, back to my editing the translated paper. I need to find a better way to switch from English to Spanish, because right now trying to edit in English and chat in Spanish is totally giving me a headache.

Mexico City

So, I finally made it down here. Ostensibly, to pick up some samples, but also to help out a colleague and friend, and do the tourist thing. It's an amazing city and I'm glad I'm here for a while. As an anthropologist, I love just watching people and noting all the craziness, or at least differences I see around here. There will always be similarities between the states and here, as they're related, but there's a definite Mexican spin on things here. So far, my favorite things I've seen:

• The statue to the street dog. There are a bunch around here (though aparently less than before, as my friend pointed out there isn't as much dog poop all over the place). Someone took red paint to the statue and it's now bleeding all over the place. Very macabre.
• The stall selling random books at the university here. There was a book on fuel injection right next to a gilded bible, right next to a book on how to tell your kids about sex. Awesome.
• There are archaeology magazines for sale at the check-out at the grocery store. Love it!
• Driving. OMG. I've mentioned this before, but holy crap. I don't know how there aren't more wrecks. It's like crazy-taxi all the time.

Okay, there are a million more, but I'm due at dinner. Can't wait for the ruins!

September

And so starts the month of insanity. I'm not sure where to begin with all that I have to do this month. Tomorrow is the start of the in-law (*out-law*) family reunion. Then it's Mexico for sample collection. Then classes start and I have to teach an insanely difficult course that's going to kick my trash. What can I say? I'm not ready for this month!

Needless to say there will be minimal posts this month. I'm praying to keep my sanity somewhat intact, and that someone decides to pick up TRAVELERS before I run screaming from ever writing again. Okay, maybe not, but earlier this week I was totally feeling that way. I almost went though and deleted the book from my hard-drive and backup. Then I got a couple of super nice requests in the email and all was right with the world. Publishing: it's a roller-coaster!

Now, to go pack and try to get a couple of hours of sleep!