Y'all Done Good!!

When I first joined this website, I ran my debut novel LADY SILVER through for review...twice. When the final edit was done, I'd trimmed about 30,000 words and split the initial offering into two books: LADY SILVER and INTO THE WELL. I'm still working on the final edit to INTO THE WELL, but I've started the arduous process of shopping LADY SILVER around to agents and publishers. So far, I've received 14 form letter "thank you but no thank you" replies from agents. I've received two remarkably similar form letters from publishers.

Such is the name of the game. Engage thick skin shields and party on....

I have had one publisher ask for the complete manuscript, which I supplied. Still waiting on response (only been a couple weeks.) I've received three personal notes from agents, all saying basically that they liked the synopsis, the story looked intriguing, but they were more inclined to go with "less adult-themed" works at this point. If I wanted to edit it down to a YA work, they'd be interested in taking a second look. (Not happening. I'm not a YA kind of girl. I have to be free to drop an F-bomb now and then.)

So, still playing the waiting game.....

A friend sent me a link to a site that does professional editing and proofreading, etc. They were offering a free critique and edit of the first five pages of a manuscript. That's their hook to bring in new customers, I know, but I decided to give it a shot to see what they said. So I submitted the first five for LADY SILVER, which is the catalyst for this posting.

I tried a couple of other writer peer review/critique sites but none rose to the quality of reviews/crits/advice I've gotten here. I wanted to share with you what the editor said about my sample pages, which have had NO editing other than the great input I've gotten from tNBW and a couple of crits from another site.  I quote the editor in his email to me: 

"Regarding your sample, if the first five pages are any indication this seems to already be a more or less completed work of fiction with a vividly described setting, a good hook to kick off the plot, nicely snappy dialogue, a main character with personality, and very clean and polished writing. My changes to the sample are minimal, and I don't think further comprehensive editing is necessary here."

So...a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed my work here and offered feedback. You were and are a tremendous help, and I am eternally grateful to you all.

Pat yourself on the back...y'all done good!!

Bobbie