Published!

I am very pleased to tell everyone that I have published my new novel on Kindle. "Unwanted Visitor" by Trish Finnegan. ASIN: B004VTC2ES
     I got fed up knocking on the doors of agents, so I decided to do it myself.  It is only available on kindle at the moment but perhaps I'll bring it out in paperback if there is enough interest.  Now, I have to think about marketing.  I've told my facebook friends and all my family, perhaps I can put a notice in the local paper?  I must research this, it's not like I can go to my local bookshop and leave a few copies.  I wonder if local radio would be interested?  Perhaps, if there is enough interest, I can advertise nationally, or perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself :-) I must see about getting a webpage.  I might try to self publish the other novels I'm working on.  Snowman is almost ready to go.  Hmmm.  Busy days ahead. I can't wait.

Unwanted

Another day, another rejection.  It was a friendly rejection but still a rejection.  Apparently my manuscript failed to ignite the imagination.  Hmm, I think the manuscript is a good as I can get it so perhaps it is time for me to think about publishing to Kindle or using a local publisher, which is going to be pricey.      
     The problem is that a writer is reliant on the opinion of someone who is probably rushed and distracted.  I could write a masterpiece and wouldn't even get a look in.  It's annoying to think that if my name was well known, I could write any old rubbish and  agents and publishers would be falling over themselves to take my novel, they would even edit it for me.  I must research self publishing.

Chicken Soup

I've caught another cold, not good for weightloss.  All I want to do is lie on the sofa and eat chocolate and toast.  I've heard chicken soup is good for colds but I can't be bothered making any.
     I decided that the literary agent that I sent my novel to doesn't want it so I have sent it out to another one.  Again, this one takes email submissions and will let me know within 30 days.  So much better than the old way of sending off your precious bundle and waiting months.  Perhaps I should look at epublishing?  Has anyone had any experience with that? 

Holding my Breath

Hmm, another long break between posts,  I've nothing to report actually.  I sent off my updated novel but haven't heard anything yet, I haven't heard back from the short stories I sent out either.  I wonder if I should send out some more? The agent I have sent out to sent an acknowledgement email saying if I didn't hear in three weeks, it wasn't for them.  That seems much better than the instructions I have read on other sites. It surprises me that some places expect you to wait months for a reply, if you ever get a reply at all.  I think I'll give it another week then try somewhere else.
     The weight loss is not going well.  No more to be said on that.
     I have been to Center Parcs again, with my daughter this time.  We had a great time.  My daughter is disabled and everyone was really helpful, even clearing the footbath so she could take her electric wheelchair poolside.  We had to visit a local GP when her asthma started to play up. They gave us an appointment that evening and put her on steroids, which averted a hospital visit.  I forget how spoilt we are having a major hospital ten minutes from our house.  The hospital near Center Parcs is forty minutes drive away.
     I'll try to have more news next time.  I feel like I'm holding my breath waiting for things to happen.

Fingers Crossed.

I went to my writers' group anticipating hearing the last chapter of the novel one of our members has completed, but he wasn't there!  I'm going to have to wait another two weeks to find out how he manages to pull all the threads together.  I've finished the rewrite/editing of my own novel and it's gone out to an agent, so fingers crossed. 
The weight loss isn't going so well, 1.5lb on this week.  Oh well, at least I'm lighter than I was but I am beginning to doubt I can reach my goal weight in time for Number 2 son's wedding.  I think I'm going to have to do something drastic, like the microdiet (remember that?)  Onwards and upwards.

Good Feedback

It's been a few days since I last posted.  A week was taken up by a nasty virus that laid me low, then we went to Center Parcs with our small grandsons.  We had a great time, just what I needed to perk me up after feeling so ill. 
    I got the feedback from Bubblecow and I'm really pleased with it.  My novel isn't as awful as I imagined, it needs several tweaks and a bit of reworking in a couple of places but all in all I feel pretty good about it.  Somehow, the formatting went crazy during the sending and the indents and line gaps adopted a pattern all of their own.  I have no idea why that happened.  I have an essay to submit this week but after that, I will get to work on editing my novel.  I have to think of a way for Martin to be thrown into the sea then get rescued a day later, without ruining the photos in his pocket.
    The weightloss is going well too, another 3.5lb this week.  I wish I could eat more sometimes as I feel hungry quite often,  but I need to lose weight for September, when number 2 son gets married. 

Marking Time

I feel like I'm marking time. I stayed the same weight this week and I haven't had the feedback from the literary consutancy, although to be fair, they did say I'd hear by the 7th and it's only the 3rd. 
Number 2 son had his birthday but celebrations were muted as the house is full of chicken pox.  Oh well, I hope next week is more interesting.