Drowning my sorrows in chocolate…

I’ve consumed approximately 1/4 pound of chocolate caramels. Why, you ask? Because I’ve received the third letter from a publisher (no, not the M&B book–we’re still waiting on that) saying that they like my writing but for whatever reason (historical market, a synopsis that makes no sense, full list for the year, werewolves howling at the moon), they don’t want to see the complete manuscript.

Now see, this doesn’t make sense to me. If you truly like the writing, wouldn’t you want to read more? Okay, so maybe I have a hard time writing a synopsis of a book. Taking 400 pages and condensing it down to a 5 page summary is someone’s sick idea of a past time. And it isn’t as though readers are buying that (Thank God!).

I’ve translated this recent rejection:

Dear Michelle,

I loved the chapters you sent me. They were a real kick in the pants. But as soon as I read your synopsis, it was clear to me that you were smoking drugs when you wrote this garbage. It makes no sense, and does not in any way resemble a publishable book.

Sincerely,
The Editor

:loser: So, to console myself, I’ve baked 7 fruitcakes (mini-loaves), eaten one of them, and inhaled more of my chocolate caramels. It’s not only about the rejection, though. This is going to be the week from H-E-double-hockey-sticks. I have to chaperone a band concert Wednesday night :kneel:, enjoy a dentist appointment on Thursday (my son is accompanying me since he’s freaked out during the last two dental visits and I’m going to make him watch my appointment), and then Friday is the big CHRISTMAS extravaganza. I think I’m supposed to bake cookies. Maybe I’ll send fruitcake. Last year, my son was dressed in black and white and was supposed to sing “I’m a Little Penguin.” He stood on stage, stared at the lights, and burst into tears when he saw me.

I foresee great happenings on Friday. Poor baby.

Saturday night is our office/school Christmas party. There may be some going on….:woot:

Christmas Parties

Last night my husband and I went to a combined wedding shower/wine tasting. What fun! We brought two bottles of Riesling wine from the same vineyard, same year–but one was a Kabinett Riesling and the other was an Auslese. I always get so confused as to which is which. The Auslese was way too sweet for me, but the Kabinett was good. We also tried French wines, Australian wines, and South African wines. Mmmm…:beer:

Usually I’m a white wine person but I actually found a few reds that I liked (BV Coastal Estates Pinot Noir and their Merlot was good, too). In the past, a Cabernet Sauvignon was enough to send me staggering for water (too heavy). But I tasted one that wasn’t bad. They served cheeses, French bread, and all sorts of appetizers with the wines. I tried Drunken Goat cheese. Now, I have no idea how it got the name. Did they get a goat sloshed and then milk him? It was strong, but a great combination with the Cabernet.

We played a game where we had to identify famous couples (answers in the comment section). See how you do:
1. The Kennedys
2. The Von Trapps
3. The Hanovers
4. The Jeffersons
5. The Jetsons
6. The Fitzgeralds

My hubby and I kicked bootie and won a gift certificate. There were 19 in all, and we recognized all but one (I listed it as number 3). Can you name them?

Staying the Course

I’m at an unusual phase of my writing at the moment. I have 80 pages written of a new book and two other completed historical romances in various phases of revision. I have 220 pages out of 378 revised on Wedded to the Enemy and 24 out of 363 pages reviseed on My Wild Irish Rogue. The books are done, but I wouldn’t send anything beyond a proposal at this point. After my rounds of revisions with His Chosen Bride, I found a ton of things in my older (and newer) books that needed fixing.

Revisions are such a necessity for me. I am very good about finishing my rough draft in a timely manner, but the revisions just about kill me. I don’t know whether it’s lack of experience and whether I’ll be able to catch my fatal plot errors in the future, but once I’ve finished a book, I have to practically gut it to make it publishable. I’m having to cut 50+ pages out of my latest work. :loser:

I’ve finished four children’s middle grade novels and three historical romances. I ought to have my “process” figured out by now, wouldn’t you think? Why, oh why, do I have to make things so complicated?

I knew when I finished WTTE that there were some problems, but I didn’t know what they were. I decided I’d figure it out after the book was finished. And sure enough, I did. I left out the FREAKING ROMANCE. Geez. If I can just make it to page 300 without setting the book on fire in a blaze of glory :angry:, that will be good.

On the bright side, the pages I have revised are much, much stronger. I like the way the emotional parts are coming through. When I’m through with it, it will be publishable. It’s just a matter of knuckling down and forcing myself to cut the scenes that don’t belong and adding the ones I’m missing.

In other news, I am enjoying the Christmas shows. Some of my favorites are “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (which was on last night), and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

My son is enjoying Christmas carols. One of his new favorites is Dominick the Donkey. He went around the house singing, “Don’t Lick the Donkey.”