Revising with a Shovel

TheBookThatWouldNotDie got an agent request for the full manuscript. Yes, this is the Victorian Wedded to the Enemy which I truly love because it has my snarky little historical writing voice.

I love deep, dark medievals. But for some reason when I write in the 19th century, something happens to my writing voice, and I get quirky. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe not. But quirky just doesn’t go with medieval times for me. Regency and Victorians–absolutely.

It’s probably because I get tired of the same old drawing room Regencies that I inhaled like M&Ms as a kid growing up. I could read 4 or 5 of those at a sitting. Could. Not. Get. Enough.

Now, if you give me another bluestocking heroine who’s in love with a brooding hero, I’m more inclined to toss the book against the wall. But when I write in that time period, I love twisting the genre to make it my own.

Problem is, my writing voice gets out of control. I’m like a two-year-old in a candy store. The characters’ emotions are ping-ponging all over the place. So even though this book is already with another agent, I’m going through it one more time to see if the emotions are working. Um, yeah…not so much. I see places where I let the conflict drop. There are emotions that just don’t match the scene. I think it’ll be minor changes on the whole, but I’m forcing myself to read the whole thing in one sitting while making notes, in the hopes that I can see the overall picture.

So, revisions with a shovel.

In the Ireland plans, I’m pretty sure we’ll be going in August. I’m researching B&B’s. I’m excited about it, but B&Bs make me nervous. Some are just wonderful while others make you feel like you’re invading someone’s house. I’m hoping I can find the right ones that give us the private retreat we’ll want at the end of the day and yet not feel like we’re taking over someone’s guest room.

One thing I love about the Irish people is their hospitality. I have such fond memories from my last visit. Our host families would pack us lunches, and I swear they must have thought the Anglo-Normans were invading again. Instead of one sandwich, they packed six. Instead of a slice of pie, it was half the pie. Such wonderful people. It’s a good thing I only stayed there for two weeks; otherwise I’d have been the size of a barn.

So, in a way I’m hoping to find the right places. I’m checking out Town and Country, Fodor’s, and a few other places. Can’t wait!

In the meantime, I am really really hoping I hear a decision soon from Mills & Boon. I’m dying here, people. 8 months on the second round of revisions, 2 months since it was passed to the senior editor. I am a little puddle of nerves here.

Guess that’s a good reason to go visit Bushmills, huh?