I just keep thinking it can't be good news. I do realize I am a pessimist.

No news is no news. I don't think it's good or bad in this case. Good luck!

I got my critique done just in time. The rest of the is soccer and painting. Tonight maybe I'll start on 23, my favorite section of the story is here finally.

Hang in there, Allyson-- hopefully she'll get back to you today.

I had The First Talk with my new editor yesterday-- it was a lot of fun. Just a ton of mutual squeeing and OMG! We've both been wanting to work together for ages and the stars finally aligned just right. I'm excited about this manuscript in a way I haven't been in a long, long time.

Agent says she loves it and is proud of me, asked for two very small edits to a couple of pieces of dialogue....and that's it.

I have no idea if that means she'll send it out. She said it's sweet and funny and I did a marvelous job. Need more information.

Sometimes I think my agent is dating me but is a Rules Girl.

I have no idea if that means she'll send it out. She said it's sweet and funny and I did a marvelous job. Need more information.

Why didn't you ask her?!

She sent an email, that's all it said. I sent the question, am waiting for a reply.

I'm frustrated.

Ah! Well, good. Not on the frustration, obviously, but on asking.

Hey, the email was really positive, Allyson. I can't imagine she would have said all that with no intention of sending it out. But always good to ask and clarify, that's for sure.

I just opened the Carmen manuscript for the first time since I finished the revisions Adrienne had requested before she sent it out. Immediately, I zeroed in on a chapter that's been giving me fits since revision #2 way back when. I like what's in the chapter and the emotion and attitudes it's supposed to convey, but I'm still twitchy about the execution. However, I will resist doing ANYTHING until I receive the revision notes from my editor. It'll be interesting to see if it jumped out at her in any way-- if it didn't, I'll probably still ask her about it, just to get her take and see if anything jumps out at her or if she has any suggestions for making the chapter work better.

It's really exciting to be looking forward to the revision process again. It's one I really do enjoy when it's a good back and forth of ideas and brainstorming.

Totally, I don't think she'd be asking for the two dialogue edits just so it would be a pretty pile of paper. I just need more, "what comes next" information.

With Vampire People, I had an idea of who would be a good target (indie publishers), what the process was, etc. This is my first time with fiction, sending an entire completed manuscript off without all the attendant paperwork (market analysis, bio, annotated bibliography, blah blah non-fic cakes).

Submitting fiction is a different animal, to be sure. But she'll still include your previous book in her cover letter, which is a plus. It's always nice to find an author who has some experience and knows at least a little bit about how the process works.