That's the worst-case scenario, Jesse. I'll need to lick my ego-wounds for a bit, though, before I get started on a new outline.

Well, sure. I'm just saying, my worst-case scenario still ends with you selling a book.

Very good idea, This American Life.

Rejection sucks. No getting around that. But you're right to be happy about the compliments on your voice, because that's the thing that will keep working for you, no matter what you write. If it turns out that the publishing world isn't ready for this particular bok of essays, they're stiull going to look forward to reading your next project.

my worst-case scenario still ends with you selling a book.

I love your worst case scenario.

Allyson, Jenn just sent me back a nice stack of rejection letters for one that, honestly, should have sold a good long time ago: "Still Life With Devils". Almost all say variations on the same thing: "Damn, this is fantastic! She's a brilliant writer! We adore the characters, they feel about to walk off the page! The story kept us up all night and when we fell asleep, we dreamed about it! But we have no idea where to slot it, so we're not buying it! Thanks!"

There's rejection ("thank you for submitting this, we regret etc, sincerely, editor with chequebook") and then there's regret ("dude, we love this, that's a good writer you've got there, but we need to go mainstream and this is all the way quirky for us right now").

Yes, both flavours suck. However, if you're getting the second version? Wave pompoms and then go start the second book. Those aren't rejections, they're regrets. And essentially? They're encouragement.

Just to be clear, not giving up. This may find a home at a smaller publisher.

Which one is Still Life With Devils, Deb? And whatever happened to Burden of Memory?

This may find a home at a smaller publisher.

Yup. And there are lots of good ones.

Amy, I don't think you've read Still Life. It's the one about the serial killer who may or may not be human, and the artist who can walk into her own paintings.

Supernatural police procedural. I've got about a dozen "omigod this book is AMAZING these characters are incredible the writing was so good it scared me thanks for submitting it I was blown away by it but I have no idea how we'd slot it tell her to keep up the good work!" letters, from everyone from NAL on down.

Any time you want to read, give a yell. It's a corker, some of my best writing I think, but it's "omigod too quirky!"

I liked it, but, you know, duh. Maybe Kincaid will be so massive there won't be any choice, one day.

Maybe Kincaid will be so massive there won't be any choice, one day.

(same thing I do every night, Pinky.....try to take over the WORLD!)

I know, Brain, but where on the internet are you going to find a wheelbarrow, penne pasta and Walter Cronkite?