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Friday 20 June 2014

Delivering my Baby

Um, I'm a bit past that now, but that's what my agent said she'd do for me. And believe me, I'm the one who has really experienced all the labour pains.

I have had a few miscarriages with my manuscripts. I have come close, but failed at the committee level. Unlike a baby coming whether ready or not, our little novel babies require a great deal of perseverance and hard work to actually bring the delivery to pass.

First a well written query, then if accepted comes the BOOK PROPOSAL which causes most authors to shudder. It's very demanding. In it you must persuade an agent, then a publisher why they should read a chapter or two of your book.

Here's what I wrote and maybe you can use it as a guide:


Title:              The Testing of Taylor Jones   Historical Romance with Quest subplot 

Hook:             A venture into the unknown. A step of faith or an incalculable blunder?

Late 1890s: As members of a covert expedition in search of a creature thought extinct, Dr. Garrett Steele, veterinary professor of the New England Museum of Natural History and reporter, Miss Taylor Jones, are thrust to the limits of their courage and endurance in the rugged outback of Australia. He wants to make the find of the century and she wants to write an account that will make her a household name. When betrayed by a rogue team member, danger escalates their passionate clash of personalities into a relationship neither had bargained for. Will each find what they crave, or will they fail the final gut-wrenching challenge?

Then follows a one or two page SYNOPSIS, PROMOTION,  MARKETING and COMPETITION


Uniqueness:
v  The fascinating subject of cryptozoology: the study and search for animals thought to be extinct. Many naturalists were involved in this well over a century ago.
v  The huge but elusive Burrunjor has been depicted in cave paintings, rock carvings, and in reports by early Australian colonists. And bones of large carnivores have been located in remote Outback caves. Also the fascinating, mysterious Aboriginal culture.
v  Along with her speleologist brother, Rita has been on a few caving jaunts and these experiences gave her real insight into the feeling of aloneness in the cave depths. 

This is followed by ENDORSEMENTS, CHRISTIAN THEME, INTENDED READERS, and the MANUSCRIPT STATUS - length and whether completed.
A full AUTHOR BIO, PUBLISHING CREDITS and FUTURE PROJECTS.

I was also urged to get a TWITTER a/c. Would you also like to follow me? @RitaSGalieh

Even at this stage with my agent promising to spread it around her editor contacts, I can only continue praying my novel will eventually find the right home.

      So, as soon as you can, begin working on your Hook and Synopsis for your Book Proposal. It helps by planning ahead.
                               
    *  Rita Stella Galieh is a scriptwriter and co-presenter on Vantage Point, a 5 minute program broadcast throughout Australia. She has contributed to several US Anthologies by Adams Media and has two Historical Romances published by Ark House Press. Each year she and her husband minister in Buddhist Government schools, prisons, hospitals & churches in Thailand


18 comments:

  1. Well done, Rita, on finding an agent and writing another great book proposal! You certainly have chosen interesting subject matter to write about, so here's hoping and praying your agent finds STACKS of publishers out there who will have to FIGHT to publish this novel! Love the title you have chosen too.

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  2. Oh thanks, Jo for such encouragement. I need it right now as the first email I opened this morning was from my agent. She's a wag. She called it, BABY IN BIRTH CANAL. She just sent it out to some publishers so it's all happening as I write. I just feel grateful that it's being looked at. Only the Lord knows whether it will be accepted, but I have a quiet confidence that I have done all I could. And I feel I have pleased Him.

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  3. Sounds like you have a great agent - and a engaging book proposal Rita. Wishing you all the best. I can certainly sympathise - some days it can be hard to believe that I will ever see my books in print. Most first time novels have something like a 10 year gestation period, slightly longer than it took to adopt our second child (at 5 years). BTW welcome to Twitter & thanks for the tag. I'm following you now :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Jeanette. I'm holding my breath as just before answering you, my agent emailed me and told me she is at the ECPA conference and a host of the ("big boys"- her words) actually requested my proposal. Right now I feel like the token "little Aussie battler." Never give up hope and keep WRITING, never forgetting to ask the Lord's guidance. Like Ian said, it's a God thing when it happens.

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  4. Rita, the premise for your story sounds fascinating. All the best with selling your proposal and I hope we'll hear good news from you soon :)

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  5. Thanks, Narelle. Attending your seminar with the Eastwood ladies last year was such an encouragement for me. You broke through that glass ceiling and I dared to believe it might happen if I kept persevering.

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  6. You have to do more writing for your writing than you do writing.... it's hard work promoting your baby.
    .. but.. id definitely buy your book.. it sounds like an Aussie Indiana Jones type of thing. Im not a professional reviewer.. actually not good st English and stuff.. but if you'd like a person to read it.. put me on your list

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  7. You have to do more writing for your writing than you do writing.... it's hard work promoting your baby.
    .. but.. id definitely buy your book.. it sounds like an Aussie Indiana Jones type of thing. Im not a professional reviewer.. actually not good st English and stuff.. but if you'd like a person to read it.. put me on your list

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    1. Thank you doubly for your encouraging words, Brian.

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  8. Congratulations, Rita. As Narelle says the premise of your story is fascinating. May it find a good home in the near future without too many birth pains.

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    1. Birth pains are over now, Ian. PHEW!!! Just sitting in a waiting room hoping my baby will be adopted by a nice publishing house.

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  9. Such a good post, Rita, for visual learners like me. You've made it very clear what needs to be done and the effort required. As for your 'baby', he/she sounds just perfect! May your labour be short and sweet :)

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    1. Thank you Andrea. My labours and trails are over, for now. It's up to the publishers. My agent tells me it's fifty/fifty either way as far as foreign authors go. Any way I'm just praying for the Lord to open the right door.

      BTW thanks for your endorsement but I just can't fit time to give Linked In any more, I'm stretched with the radio ministry plus my writing.

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  10. Hi Rita,
    Wow, that blurb sounds intriguing. You've been extremely busy and productive. I hope to great news about this baby finding its home with a good publisher.

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  11. Thanks Paula. It's taken a lot of time and work. And every one of us are involved in the same work of presenting our faith-based fiction to our readers. It's our passion and a labour of love.

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  12. Wonderful post, Rita. Full of hope and direction. Thanks for sharing the journey of this particular baby on its way to the rest of us. Looking forward to hearing more great author news from you. :)

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  13. Thank you Dottie. The latest email from my agent says she gave it to ten editors who requested it. But now is the waiting game, "publisher time" is usually six months before you hear anything. Oh, my. More patience needed this end.

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