it is summer, after all

[ritaxis]

1. The hills in Watsonville are turning yellow, even if the ones in North COunty aren't.

2. There's that wind that comes off the bay in the late afternoon.

3. Barbecue.

4. Weekend traffic on Highway 1.

5. Tree fruit from the Valley.

6. Ripe foxtails (dog owners beware).

7. Farewell-to-spring.

8. High fog in the morning and evening and heat in the afternoon.

So why do I have this feeling that the rain is not done?

(Ace rejected Esperanza Highway and I don't know what to do with it next. I'm thinking of online, because I don't want to be a posthumous sensation)

Comments

[papersky.livejournal.com]

The idiots.

If you decide to put it online, I'll mention on my journal and link, for whatever good that does.

But it may be that it isn't a good "first novel", if you know what I mean, from a marketing POV, and you might be able to sell it after you sell another, like John Fowles? I do entirely see your point about posthumous sensation though.

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

Naturally, I'm forging ahead with the other things. I'm seriously thinking about the online thing, though.

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

Sympathies. But can't you just turn around and submit it somewhere else? Wildside if you've already gone through all the majors?

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

I just checked that out, and I don't think it's an angle I'd go for without a reputation befroehand -- the examples they had of the people I'd never heard of were not good advertisement for unknowns (I mean they weren't good).

[pantryslut.livejournal.com]

The hills were still green around Half Moon Bay and further south last weekend, and I was a bit startled.

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, in North Santa Cruz COunty it basically looks like March. Things like the radishes and foxtails and so on are ripening, but they're staying green. South COunty looks seasonal, though.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

Oh, pooh! What a blow.

Have you tried agents? Not that agents can always do any better with a first novel. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the others that you currently have out looking for a home. Perhaps this one would make a better followup novel?

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

I've only tried a couple of agents. I've been heeding the received wisdom that you sell the first book and then get an agent to go over your contract, and then they help you with selling the second one, which I have been told is an even harder sell than the first.

[pameladean]

Those morons. Just you wait, they'll be sorry one day.

P.

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

That's very nice of you to say, but the only reason you think this is that I talk like a good writer. Maybe my books aren't as good as my talk about them? Maybe the reason that they come back toi me is that they aren't any good?

No, I'm more cheerful than that sounds, but it does bug me that I don't have much concrete evidence that I'm doing this right.

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

It's a first sale and that--even if you're selling machine parts--is always hard. Persevere!