Aww, man!

[annathepiper]

I just got word back from Le Agent regarding my submission of Lament of the Dove to her, and the word is no. However:

"There was a lot to like here--not least of all is your very original premise for your characters Kestar, Julian, and Faanshi. Your world felt real to me as well (which is often my complaint when I read fantasy on submission). Ultimately I just didn't fall in love with the story or feel emotionally connected enough to take it on. I do hope another agent feels differently.

We'd definitely be open to seeing future work from you since the talent is certainly there."

So, a no, but a very encouraging no. I'll take that. I just sent her back a note thanking her for her time looking at the manuscript, and noting that I do have other work in progress and that I'd be delighted to keep her and her agency in mind.

Comments

[kathrynt.livejournal.com]

Aw, man! But at the same time, wow yay!

[annathepiper]

Yeah, "I just didn't fall in love with it, even though it's original and you're clearly talented" is a very fair no.

[starfallz.livejournal.com]

Wow, very nice note for a rejection. *hugs* Good luck next time!

[annathepiper]

*hugs!* Thanks! Need to think a bit about what to do with Lament next, and to whom I'll want to submit it. I'll find it a home yet!

[seimaisin.livejournal.com]

Awwwww ... but, that really does sound like the best of any possible rejection, because it sounds like your story is good, the problem was just that it wasn't quite her kind of project. So, there's a good chance that there's someone else out there who WILL connect with it!

[annathepiper]

Yeah, "not my cup of tea" is totally fair, especially taken in conjunction with her saying my three protags are original and the world feels real. I'll take that, definitely. :)

[annathepiper]

Thanks. :) Here's hoping!

[grian-ruadh.livejournal.com]

That was one hell of a glowing no! Congratulations on the effusive encouragement. :D

[annathepiper]

Thanks! And yeah, that's about as golden a no as one can possibly get. I'm keeping this agent on my short list, and will be seeing about sending her Queen of Souls maybe, once it's sendable.

[flashfire.livejournal.com]

Sucks, but that's not a bad start. Something to build on.

[annathepiper]

Yeah, that's definitely encouraging. :) We'll see what happens next!

[framlingem.livejournal.com]

What they said. I'd take that letter and frame it!

Even if it didn't get the nod, that's about the best possible way to get a no. I'm proud of you.

[annathepiper]

Thank you very much. This is the second time I've gotten this positive a no on a book, which is telling me I just need to think a bit about how to push past that barrier, and make a book really shine. We'll see what happens next. :)

[annathepiper]

Heh (she said nervously), indeed.

I just fired off an email query to another agent I'm eying, to see if I can get a nibble with her!

[gerimaple.livejournal.com]

what everyone else already said. *HUGS*

[annathepiper]

*hugs back* Thanks!

[llachglin.livejournal.com]

This is definitely a huge step forward, and very encouraging despite being a no.

[annathepiper]

Thanks! This, I think, is almost better than the positive no I got out of Luna--because in this instance, the feedback's actually better than what Luna told me about Faerie Blood, which seems to support my instinct that Lament's a stronger work. I can work with this. :)

And I just fired off a query to another agent on my list. Let's see if I can get another nibble.

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

Oh, maaaan! That's a wonderfully positive rejection. Maaaan! *HUGS*!

[annathepiper]

Yeah, I'm taking some consolation there out of the words "original", "real", and "talent" appearing in that rejection. ;) I can deal with "... but I just didn't love it, ultimately". That's fair 'nuff.

[shaylith.livejournal.com]

Bummer on the no! But as you said, a very encouraging no. Wishing you all the best luck in the continuing search for the people who will recognize your greatness for what it is and put your words to print. ;)

*hugs!*

[annathepiper]

*hugs back!* Thanks! And heh, yeah, one of these books is going to be the one that does it, sooner or later. ^_^

[raise-a-jar.livejournal.com]

Wow...that's a very nice 'no'. And very encouraging words. Sorry it didn't pan out, luv. ::hugs::

[annathepiper]

*snugs!* Thanks! Yeah, it's a fabulous no, and I take quite a bit of consolation from the good things she had to say about the book. I mean, she didn't say a single negative thing there, just "... but I didn't love it". I can live with that. :) Agent's got to really be in love with a book to be an advocate for getting it published, after all.

[waterowl.livejournal.com]

Definitely very encouraging! I'm sorry it didn't work out for you! Good luck!

[annathepiper]

Thank you very much. :)

[sosayethallie.livejournal.com]

Great rejection, hon. I'm sorry that you didn't get the acceptance you were looking for, but she read carefully and that's a really really good thing.

Keep up the good work!

[annathepiper]

Thank you very much. :) Yeah, as rejections go, this one is gold.

This agent will be getting the next thing I finish, I think, soon as it's queryable. We'll see if she likes that better!

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

HUGS, but that's an impressively positive 'No'.

[annathepiper]

*hugs back!* Thanks! It's rather reassuring, yeah. Arguably even more positive than the one I got for Faerie Blood, and as I was posting before, this tells me I've got at least two entirely unrelated novels capable of generating really good rejection letters. So I just have to figure out how to kick it up another notch. ;)

[auntmonkey.livejournal.com]

That was the kind of no I got so many years ago. More power to you for being able to stick w/ it and keep writing despite that encouraging no. I really wasn't able to do it, so I stand in admiration of anyone who can - including you!
Keep writing!
:)

[annathepiper]

*snugs!* Thanks, hon, very much. I resolved some time ago that if it takes me five or six novels to get to the one that makes an agent or editor fall in love, well, clearly I shall just have to write five or six novels.

Besides, I just like writing, and I have all these stories clawing their way out of my head anyway, and I have to write them down so all the involved characters will shut up. ;)

[auntmonkey.livejournal.com]

I've found copious amounts of alcohol and/or pharmaceuticals (or both!) work well to shut them up... just kidding. *grin*

[annathepiper]

*snicker* I suppose that is an easier route than throwing a hundred thousand words at them, but then, that wouldn't satisfy me as to how their stories end either. ;)

[leian.livejournal.com]

Wow.. that's a great 'no', don't you think? :D

[annathepiper]

I take quite a bit of reassurance from it, indeed, and I'm thinkin' she's going to be at the top of the list of query targets for Queen of Souls.

[leian.livejournal.com]

Which means I can look forward to reading the rest of that mighty tale soon? ;)

[annathepiper]

*giggle* Yes. I need to get off my duff and resume writing it--this week's been distracting what with trying to get a bunch of computer stuff on the house network worked out. And I've been short on sleep as well and too damned tired to write.

I hope to change that this weekend. More as it happens!