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Good news and even better news.

Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 9:11 pm
by Vandal
First the good news:

I got an agent! It took me two years and four books, but I finally snagged one for The Dragon's Song. I am now repped by Mel Stinnett of the Starlight Literary Agency (http://starlightliterary.com/). She loved The Dragon's Song!

This is a new agency and the agent has a background in TV and film, so her experience with editors is a little different, but I was impressed by her knowledge of the business. Plus, no one else would touch this story (over 200 rejections). I mentioned here when I first started writing it that having a main character who 11 years old and Vietnamese is going to be a tough sell. We've gone over the manuscript and it's even better than before. Now all she has to do is find a major publisher who loves it.

Here is the premise of The Dragon's Song (a middle grade adventure):

With only a change of clothes, eleven-year-old Bao Dang begins his journey out of South Vietnam to escape the oppressive government, circa 1980. Years earlier, he watched in horror as Communist soldiers dragged his parents from their house and sent them to a re-education center.

He covertly travels at night by small boat down the Saigon River to the South China Sea, where he and over 100 other "boat people" pack into a trawler designed to hold fewer than thirty. For six grueling days they avoid police and pirates and face the constant threat of capsizing while living only on rationed rice and water.

Bao and the others find refuge at a camp in Indonesia. Bao harnesses the power of music to endure months of harsh living as he awaits word from relatives in the US. Finally, he is united with them in Rhode Island, leaving behind everything for the ultimate gift: freedom.


Even better news:

I've been in writer mode the past several months, so I wasn't sure if I could pull it off. Now, it looks like a go...
Spoiler
Decades returns next month!
All new and better than ever.


Where are those crappy promos when you need them?

Re: Good news and even better news.

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 7:07 am
by Bucket of Warm Piss
Vandal wrote:Where are those crappy promos when you need them?
Sorry, Chachi, but I'm still trying to find out whose bodily fluids I'll have to accommodate when Biden leaves.

Re: Good news and even better news.

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 7:50 am
by geoffil
Congrats!
I am very glad you didn't give up. Why is it that so many great writers have had so many rejections before they become breakout stars?

Re: Good news and even better news.

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 9:21 am
by Bob Juch
That would make a great movie!

Re: Good news and even better news.

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 4:40 pm
by Catfish
YAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On both counts.
Love,

Re: Good news and even better news.

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 6:25 pm
by mrkelley23
Congratulations, oh writer man!

And, YAY for Decades!

Hope I"m here to play.

Re: Good news and even better news.

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 6:42 pm
by MarleysGh0st
Congratulations!

Re: Good news and even better news.

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 10:38 am
by tlynn78
WooHOO!

Re: Good news and even better news.

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 4:08 pm
by T_Bone0806
Will continue to follow your progress with interest and support... :D

Re: Good news and even better news.

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 6:46 pm
by BackInTex
and I'll be able to say "I met him when....."

Congrats on the continued success.

Re: Good news and even better news.

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 8:07 pm
by SportsFan68
Yay, Vandal!

I know I'm gonna like this one even better than the other two, which were very enjoyable. I especially loved April's kick-butt baseball knowledge and read those sections with the most enjoyment of all.

Re: Good news and even better news.

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 11:07 am
by Vandal
The Dragon's Song update: Agent had no luck getting an editor interested during the first round of submissions. I've spent the last five weeks re-writing the story by making it first person point-of-view and by adding more scenes that make life at the refugee camps a little more harsh (added over 4000 new words).

We'll polish it up and send it back out again. A few editors from round one want to see the updated version.

I haven't forgotten about Wheelhouse. I have two BB lists complete and many more in various stages of completion. We are still on track for October if all goes well.

Such is the glamorous life.

Re: Good news and even better news.

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 6:40 am
by gsabc
Glamour is overrated. Being able to do what you love is much, much better. Congrats on the continuing nibbles, and best wishes for at least one big bite.

Re: Good news and even better news.

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 10:30 pm
by christie1111
You know you have my best wishes. Keep the fight alive!