Some time ago, I wrote about the trouble I was having with a manuscript for a short novel entitled The Burning House (TBH). This was a sequel to another short novel from 2009 thatI had been calling A Perfect Wife. I had shopped A Perfect Wife around to a few agents — about ten — and at least one was interested enough to ask for the first 100 pages, and then the entire manuscript, before saying no dice. I then kind of gave up on marketing it — not officially, mind you, but I didn’t send it out again. I intended to, but didn’t. Story of my life.
I had read some advice somewhere (probably in Betsy Lerner’s book) that the best approach to submitting a manuscript is to get deeply involved in a new project at the same time. That way, when the rejections come in, you have something else to think about (other than killing yourself). With that in mind, I started one project and then another, but never could find any traction. Finally, I followed the only course that made any creative sense: I picked up the story of the characters from A Perfect Wife a bit later in time. That turned into The Burning House. Which, for those keeping score, was a sequel to a novel that no one wanted in the first place. As futile as it seemed, I felt good about what I was writing. I resolved to finish it in 2011.
And I did! I sent the manuscript for The Burning House to my proofreader, a lovely friend from graduate school, and finished the edits on New Year’s Eve. In addition, I received some thought-provoking feedback from a reader, to the effect that A Perfect Wife didn’t have a very satisfactory ending. In addition, people disliked the title.
So, enter the new and improved The Burning House — not a sequel to anything, but one longish novel (about 150,000 words), which contains the former A Perfect Wife as “Part I” and the thing I just finished up as “Part II.” It has a better title. It has an ending. It has an arc.
And it has probably zero chance of finding a place on a bookshelf at your local retailer. But here’s the plan: I’m going to try the whole traditional marketing thing (i.e., querying agents and maybe some small presses). If that doesn’t work, I’m going to put it out myself through Amazon or some other service. Maybe this time next year, you can read it on your Kindle! It’ll be cheap, I promise.
And suddenly, I’m brimming over with ideas for another installment in this series, if that’s what this is. Stay tuned.
Add zombies and you’ll be golden! Good luck!
I know, right? Unfortunately, no undead in this story.