My writing room this summer

In March I submitted the first three chapters of THE FOOL’S HOUSE, the first of the Sainte Colombe trilogy, to a well-known agent who was at the top of my list. On the 18th of July they contacted me to say they had enjoyed reading my submission. Could I please send them the whole manuscript? Now, who would say no to that. But it just shows that one has to be patient and not lose that all important self-belief. All this of course does not mean that I can run around the house shouting:’I’m going to have an agent, yoopee!’ Perhaps I will, perhaps I won’t, so I just keep calm and carry on – with THE LAST HOUSE, the second in the trilogy. The first draft will be completed in August – then the real work of editing, hmm-ing and haa-ing starts until I have the structure and the writing as perfect as I can possibly make it.

While that is going on, chapters of the third book, THE RESTING HOUSE are already banging on my mind’s door, demanding to be written – mostly when I’ve just woken up. The note book on my bedside table is filling up.

Since I sent out the above submission, and not hearing from that particular agent after a few weeks, I submitted my work to other agents. Knowing how besieged agents are (some get about 600 submissions each month) it is completely understandable that they send out the standard letter. So I was more than surprised and very pleased to get good feedback, positive comments and, dare I say it, praise. (see under AUTHORS’ AND AGENTS’ COMMENTS at the top of the page.