The journey toward publication: WHEW!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

WHEW!

I entered Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Contest for 2010 today.
Here's to hoping I make it past round one.

Went to work...unfortunately no one else showed up, so I had to therapize myself. It must have worked. I entered the contest.

Recieved comments today about the manuscript from a friend of mine who was kind enough to help me with some edits. I hadn't realized the painful quandry I'd placed him in when I asked him to read it. Guess he doesn't know me well enough to know he wouldn't be getting utter slop to review. Following are some of his comments from emails as he was reading, and his final comments:

First comments:
While I'm only about 1/3 of the way through, I wanted to say that I am really, really enjoying your book! In spite of the ergonomics, I keep forgetting that I'm reading a manscript and not a published novel. I just got back from a short work-out in our gym (on the recumbent bike at work) and I got funny looks when I'd burst out laughing at certain passages.

Danny is really coming into focus for me; in her own quirky way, she makes some kind of sense. Should I be worried?

Later:

Well, I finished the book. The bottom line, I suppose, is I enjoyed it immensely. I looked forward to the next opportunity to pick it up. I'd love to discuss the book with you whenever you'd like. IMHO it's definitely publishable, in Canada and/or the U.S.

And today, through email for this blog:

Being somewhat of a purist and a snob, I was measurably apprehensive about reading a friend's manuscript. My misgivings quickly turned to delight as I came to know Danny, Laurie, Andy, Bonaparte (the monumental turd) Haggeth the Shrew, Bryan, Alex, even Icabod! Such real people, such believable circumstances, such satisfying outcomes! Please tell me there's a sequel in the works -soon!

Thanks for the comments and support Rick, as well as your editing finesse. ( It turns out the dude is a hard-core (no, not porn) reader, willing to drop a book if it's at all dull or unsatisfying) Little did I know this when I asked him to read. I just knew he was really smart. And he wants a sequel to my manuscript. Can somebody please hurry up and publish me so I can help the guy out? Gotta go back to work. Hopefully this time someone shows up. I've had enough of my own therapy. Stay tuned. I'll probably put the pitch on here that I posted on Amazon for the contest. I was quite happy with it. I'll be happier when it gets past round one.

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manuscript reader comments and critiques

I was hooked on this book from page one. The author tackles some heavy issues with the right mix of tenderness, irony and laugh out loud humour. The main character is someone you want to know - intelligent, witty, strong and imperfect. Witnessing her struggles and triumphs leave the reader at times cringing with embarrassment, cheering with joy and ultimately feeling rejuvenated and hopeful. A terrific read for anyone who relishes some absorbing alone time and loves to root for the dark horse. Jen K.
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What a fabulous book! It is a hilarious and captivating read. The main character is so wild and unpredictable one cannot wait to find out what she will do next, either on purpose or accidentally. The personalities of each character are well developed... and I could picture each one. The unexpected twist at the end was very clever and everything came together quite beautifully. Just enough romance to make it interesting without overpowering the theme. The animals added much to the humor and the characters who own them. Very, very well done. I think the audience for this book will be quite wide and enjoyed by many. This book MUST get published. I hope it is the first of many. Go Lisa!!

Once I got to the middle I couldn't stay away from it. I actually got grumpy when other things got in the way. I really enjoyed it. Do you have doubleday's number?? Donna R.

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Okay, I have to tell you right off that I loved it, Lisa. I genuinely mean that. I honestly sat with an overwhelming feeling of something almost spiritual after I finished it....it was like I could almost feel …{ ***}(as crazy as that sounds)… It was beautiful.I think this book should be on the "Required Reading List" for new therapists. I learned a lot just in the session with the "good shrink" (an oxymoron?) alone. I laughed out loud when you wrote about how shrinks should be called {***}...hilarious. I loved the {***}thing. Powerful stuff reading about how …{***}.The book has a good flow to it, you segue so beautifully. We see Danny metamorphose from…{***}. And throughout the entire process of that character development you make the reader fall more and more in love with Danny with your use of humour. The {***}…was powerful for me. I'll remember that metaphor for the rest of my life. I'm finding it hard to explain the feelings I was left with after finishing the book....a sense of possibility, hope....that it's okay to let go of certain people and situations in our lives if they are no longer working for us. To find humour in even the darkest times...that if we just open our eyes to it we'll see that there is no such thing as coincidence, that everything happens for a reason. Thank you for writing this, Lisa. I'm proud of you beyond words.Now let's get the {bleep} published. Dianne G.