Has a website!

Hehe is very excited to announce the unveiling of my sparkly new (and extremely simple) website: BeaulahPragg.com

In other news, I had to deal with my first reporting of 'I started reading your book!''Really? Awesome!' 'Yeah, then I stopped. It wasn't really my thing.'

Sigh. Needless to say, I got really depressed for like a whole hour and started questioning the meaning of my existance... Was I really a writer? Maybe I sucked and should go become an accountant!My Boyfriend persevered and tried to talk me through this insanity, while simultaneously asking me why I, who needed so much reinforcement and approval, had chosen to be a writer in the first place. That stung. Further catastrophization ensued until finally I had a bit of an epiphany. If I give up on writing then I won't have any reason to stick with anything else I choose either. I don't actually have to make every single person in the world happy (at least not with this one book). And finally, I will be way happier, and therefore make the people around me happier, if I start doing things because I want to, not because they fit some crazy algorithm for what will make the most people happy with my choice. *Takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly*... sometimes I feel distinctly neurotic =P

Of course, after I figured all this out, I went to a pre wedding party and one of my close friends said 'You know, I started reading the Lord of the Rings and got a couple of pages in and stopped, it just wasn't really my thing.' So there you go. Even Tolkien got that reaction sometimes.

*hugs*
Love,
B

What now?

So it has been a week since I published my first book on Smashwords and I have sold 19 copies. While this is supremely cool and I am hugely thankful to my friend and family for supporting me, I find myself in a strange and eerie situation of wondering what now? Do I go all out and try to promote the first book? Do I start work on book 2? Do I take a holiday and readdress the question after Christmas? A lot of people have told me that they are keen to get a copy of my book, but want to be able to read it away from the computer, so perhaps setting up Print on Demand is in order.
Lol, I need to relax and learn how to celebrate, don't I?
*hugs*
Love,
B

Amazing Review

Review by: mharward on Dec. 14, 2010 : 5 star
When I was told to read this book, I have to admit I was a little sceptical. The first novel of a new author. However, later that night and over 100 pages later my scepticism was gone.

This book, while clearly written as a young adult text in terms of language and theme, provides an enchanting intertwining of science fiction and fantasy concepts. It deals with issues such as the nature of self, loyalty, immortality, family, friendship, and the wider issues of ethics.

The characters are believable and well developed. In particular I was impressed with the realism of the characters emotions and thoughts. Characters that don't have to take themselves seriously, characters whose emotions are based not just on themselves but the culture and community in which they live.

The plot lines are interesting, suspense is generated and used to maximum effect with some rather nice plot twists. [[Spoiler Alert] In the text, the author plays with the concept of time, using different characters perception of time to move the plot forward. I found this technique a refreshingly original take on plot development.]

My main criticism of the text is that the setting of the story sometimes takes second place to character interaction when it doesn't have to. As the novel progresses the authors techniques in this area are improved, but it still needs a little work.

Having said all of the above, I thoroughly recommend this book. I loved the merging of the science fiction and high fantasy themes. I'm looking forward to the sequel!

[Conflict of Interest: I know the author.]
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Feeling very supported

Hehehe I am so grateful to everyone who has bought my book so far (sixteen at time of writing). It is an amazing feeling to see friends doing shout outs on facebook and making that number climb. Little nervous about getting the reviews in, but even more aware that once people finish this book, they are going to want book two... so time to get cracking!

I've gone and done it!

The Silver Hawk is for sale! Just go to Smashwords (The Silver Hawk), create an account and then use the coupon code XS79A to get 50% off until Christmas!

I know that the book is not perfect, but I realized yesterday that if I wait until it is, then I will be waiting forever. I would rather create momentum, survive any burning reviews (especially if they are well deserved) and just keep going. I have already had one person buy the book since last night!! *Grins* So I'll keep you apprised of how I go.

Wish me luck...

*hugs*
B

Time Capsules and Making Things Happen

Recently I have been hugely privilaged to be a part creating of the 2010 Canterbury Time Capsule, a project designed to collect letters about everyday people's experiences of the recent Canterbury Earthquake and preserve them in a Time Capsule for fifty years. There are many ways of telling a story, and this one feels profoundly meaningful to me as it is the best kind of story there is - a real one.

Understanding how the same event can lead to such a huge variety of experiences is vital for an author. For some people, it signified the destruction of everything they had worked for - while for others it meant the ability to rebuild something better. The other important thing I have realized is that the meaning is not static - what might have started out a bad thing can morph into a positive experience or vice versa.

In the past, I have usually thought of myself as a small person - I am only 22 years old, I have no real connections to the business world, I work in a cinema selling popcorn, but last week, when I got to stand in that ceremony, supporting Argene's project and then afterward, shaking the mayor's hand and talking to people about what we are up to... well that definitely reinvented my self image! I am starting to see that we are all just people, doing the best we can with the resources we have. Making something happen just takes passion, hard work and a good dose of faith.

It is the same thing for my book. The most important component is the ongoing faith that it will happen, and when it does, it will be wonderful.

All the best with whatever you are up for.

Love,
Beaulah

New Cover!!

Just finished a new cover in preparation for my eBook release - it is made up of all original images that I own the copyright for. The foreground is Juli and in the background, you can see Tasya doing her martial art and the hawk, which is the symbol of Kam's house.

Nano-ing has begun!!

Today is the first day of Nanowrimo and I am excited to have successfully woken myself up at 6am to write 1700 words of my crazy Nano novel. It was easy because I have written part of this story before. It's about a woman who used to be a spy for the interstellar agency before she started having black-outs, then after a particularly bad one, she wakes up on the operating table to discover she is giving birth to a child she never knew she was carrying. She breaks free, with the child, killing anyone who gets in her way and then escapes the station on board a sentient ship named Val. Together, they search for somewhere to hide from the Agency and keep the baby safe, not knowing that he is an asset the Agency will go to any lengths to retrieve.
Anyway, I have no idea what this will morph into through Nano-ness, so I'll keep you posted.

Ruined, Youtube Trailers and a wonderful program called Q10

I just finished reading a book by a New Zealand author called 'Ruined: a ghost story'. I loved the tone and the setting (in New Orleans) and I also rather enjoyed its Youtube trailer of all things. I am quite keen on the idea of creating YouTube trailers for my own books - it seems like fun and would give a very visual synopsis. I liked the way you found out about the author's inspirations for the story and it made me want to read it (even though I had just finished reading it and writing the review).

As for Q10 - my friend Rochelle introduced me to the wee beastie and I like it because it is so simple. It is a word processor without any bells and whistles. It is full screen so you can't get distracted, it counts your words down the bottom, you can set a timer and just relax into writing. I sense it is going to be perfect for Nano.

On matters of the supernatural, pop culture and one particularly adorable steam punk novel

I have just finished reading Blameless, the third novel in a series by Gail Carriger about Werewolves, Vampires and Soulless ones set in a rather exciting version of Steampunk Victorian England. Not only has Carriger brilliantly designed and thought out the mechanics of these supernatural beings, she has created a thrilling plot filled to the brim with wit, fun technology and all the ingredients of a yummy romance. There is the requisite insufferable hero (big, brawny and adorable), Alexia, the sharp-tongued heroine (unfazed and full of dignity) and heaps of utterly unique and lovable minor characters (the flamboyant vampire with a heart of gold, the air-headed best friend with a penchant for rather terrible hats and the forthright inventor(ess?) who insists on dressing like a man).

It was the humor and the details which first drew me to the book. I loved Alexia's matter-of-fact view of the world. Her 'souless' state makes her entirely devoid of creativity and prone to being circumspect about life. In a world where most females of her class are rather silly, her practical approach is wonderfully refreshing, even as it scadalizes most of her contemporaries.

DO check out Gail's blog (it is just as wonderful as her heroine)

Professional editing for self-published books

I really want to put my story up on Smashwords, but I am aware that I am not my own best editor. I have had a lot of my amazing friends look through previous versions of my book, but I will need another 'final' edit before this version is ready to go. I think it might be time to offer payment (there are only so many favours one can ask after all!!) My mum was a technical writer until recently, so maybe she'll let me work out a contract with her :P Being that I don't have much money... maybe we can do a 'half of whatever I earn on this book' sort of deal? It would be fun having mum as my agent / editor (since she kinda does that stuff anyway). We'll see what she says =P

Smashwords looks awesome

So I contacted Kobo Books about self-publishing and Stephen was hugely helpful. He suggested I check out Smashwords and / or Authorsolutions if I wanted to go through a digital aggregator that already has a pre-existing contract with them. I was thrilled by what Smashwords had to offer and the spirit in which it was provided. Reading their style guide and marketing guide made me feel like Mark Coker (the creater) really had us authors in mind and wanted to make it as easy as possible to get ourselves out there (while not setting up any false expectations). I know that self-publishing is going to be a lot of work, but for once it feels like fun work. I am looking forward to setting everything up and hopefully the Silver Hawk will be available in eBook a lot sooner than I had expected. Perhaps in time for Tehnuka to have something to read down on the ice this Christmas!

And now for a little story

I was thinking that I have not been doing anything about my book for the last couple of days and I imagined myself coming up against a wall, so here is a story about the wall...

I am standing on a road paved in gold. It is a long road and most of it stretches away behind me, but ahead there is a wall. It is made of huge, solid gold coloured stones and I have stopped on my journey, looking back with pride at how far I have come. Then I glance furtively at the wall. I know the end of the journey is only a few miles ahead. I could climb the wall or walk around, I have the magic in my veins to disappear the wall completely, but I fear what I might release. What if a vicious beast or torrential river lie on the other side? They would surely eat me alive or sweep me away. For lack of knowledge about the terrain ahead, I wait and wonder. I am too scared to cross. But this is my path and whether I reach the end is in my hands alone. No one can check ahead on my behalf because the path appears differently to all who walk it.

There is a crow perched in the branches of a nearby maple. She speaks with the voice of a woman rich with experience.

"Courage, my dear," she says. "You have made this road too big in your head. It is only your first and when you reach the end there will be many other paths to chose. You will have a hundred grand adventures, so let go your fear and rejoice. The wall is no more substantial than a shower of mist. Go. Walk through. Let us finish this and reach the place of new choices."

I feel the wall and realize it is as she says. The wall is only mist. I walk through to see a wide river and on the other side, a dog chained to a post. He is growling at me.

I wade into the river and it is not as deep as I thought. It rushes around my ankles, pleasantly warm. As I approach the far bank, the dog begins to bark and tries to jump and me, only his chain holding him back. I turn to look him in the eyes and say, 'Sit', but I have never been much good with dogs. I am more of a cat person. I glance over my shoulder and laugh to see my pet cat, long sleek and black, looking thoroughly put out as he daintily crosses the stepping stones which were not there a moment ago. He feigns superiority, but I am glad he has come to my rescue. The dog tries to intimitade Mister Cat, but Mister hisses back at him and the dog shrinks to half his size and runs away to hide in his kennel. I am free to complete my journey with Mister Cat trotting along at my side. Ahead are the crossroads and I am thrilled to be arriving here, where I am allowed to make a new choice and take on a new direction. Some of these roads lead back in time while one has a space ship and suit ready for extraterrestrial exploration. There are yet other hazier paths which I know will be clearer when I return to this place next. For now, I choose to enjoy the cross roads and take my time to choose. I am proud to have this first journey behind me, but I do not need to dwell on it, there are too many new adventures to contemplate.

Methods to our madness

I was reading an interview with an author by the name of Mary E Pearson (yes, the writer of the Adoration of Jenna Fox) and I was fascinated by her method for writing books. Essentially she opens the file on her computer in the morning and doesn't close it again until bed-time. She will come and go and do bits between showering and dishes and such, which seems like something that might actually work for me. It would keep me from doing other distracting things like looking at email or facebook while I am supposed to be working. I am going to give it a go over the next week and see what happens.

*wish me luck*

eBooks, readers and lines on a map

I am an avid reader. I borrow books from the library, spend my birthday money at Borders and rack up embarassing sums on my credit card from buying eBooks (at about $4.99 US each). It makes me incredibly sad, therefore, that all these awesome eBook readers are religiously excluding little old New Zealand. How many thousands of dollars could I spend through the nook or the kindle if only they didn't go 'What, New Zealand? Sorry, no. You live outside the US and therefore must pay the price for your crimes... ... ... ??"
Even the iPhone / iPad bookstore library thingy doesn't want to know us. I know its all a legal copyright protection thing, but doesn't this make the problem worse. I mean if people can't get what they want through legal channels, won't it increase the rates of piracy?
As for me, I am off to put my name on the public library's waiting list... let's hope there's a copy of 'the Adoration of Jenna Fox' available before NCEA exams so that I can tutor my student properly.

Another 'No'

This is the email I got back from TFS (the very next day...)

Dear Beulah

Thank for you sending the extract. Though it shows you're a promising writer, I don't think we would be able to sell this. I'm afraid we can't take the time to go into detail when we say no to manuscripts and any brief comment can be misleading. My feeling is that you just need to keep trying.

With very best wishes

Barbara

---

Sigh. There is the inevitable 'why'? Is it my book? My style? The subject? Does this mean publishers won't want it, or just that these people don't want it? Maybe I should just go write a new book! Or, yes I know what you are going to say Tehnuka, I should take it as a sign that this particular agent and I are just not meant to be together =P

Still, it is a weird feeling. I have gone to so much effort, changed everything, revolutionized the flow of the story. It's simpler, more logical, funnier... but it's still a flat line no. I love these characters and the story they have to tell so much, but I'm scared the whole world is going to say no to them. What do I do if that happens? Self Publish? I guess I am catastrophizing. One no is not the whole world. I've just got to keep trying. Faith is hard.

Getting back on the horse - so to speak

Well, I've done it. Sent off my query letter along with the first five thousand words of the Silver Hawk (version 3) to TFS Literary Agency this morning. When I checked the file I had attached, it was corrupted and had replaced all of the quotation marks and apostraphies with Chinese characters :S So I had to go back and fix it and send another copy with my deepest appologies. I think Open Office threw a mini tantrum when I tried to convert it to a .doc file? Anyway, it is all good now and I am going to wait for a reply from TFS before deciding what to do next.
It would be really cool to have an agent in NZ - feels a lot less scary =D

Revised Synopsis of the Silver Hawk

Mikael and his twin sister Maat graduated from college over a thousand years ago and still havn't been promoted from their mission observing human social evolution in a rather dull corner of V-Sector. At their age, their mother was already exploring the universe and making significant contributions to the Great Narain Database. All Mikael needs is one big discovery and he knows the Scientific Advisory Board will sit up and notice him. But when an unidentified alien life-form enters the human princess Juliana moments after her birth, the twins begin an investigation that will change everything they thought to be true about their people and their place in the universe.

Affairs on the planet below, meanwhile, are turbulent. Tyria is ruled by women who worship the Maat. Out in the Desert, a scattering of male magicians worship Mikael and are plotting their return to power. Within Tyria, a secret society known as the Guild hopes to recreate the harmony described in the ancient forbidden scrolls - a time when both Mikael and Maat were worshipped equally and men and women lived in peace.

The princess Juliana is the last of her bloodline, heir to the throne of Tyria. Every one of these factions wants a hand in her future. The Order of Priestesses provide Andrea, a spiritual guardian and surrogate mother for the princess. The Desert builds their army, ready to attack when she is most vulnerable, and the Guild send Tasya, disguised as a handmaiden, to serve the princess and open her mind to the road of peace.

But Tasya is only a child when she arrives in the palace. Alone and haunted by the memory of her mother's murder and her twin brother's abduction by the priestesses, she does her best to fulfill her mission and befriend Juliana, but her mind is never far from her brother's plight. The priestesses think that experimenting the few boys born with magic inside Tyria's borders will aid in the war effort against the Desert Magcians and for Tynan, his telepathic link with Tasya is his only escape from the pain. Tasya promises she will use her influence with the princess to help him escape, somehow, but his time and sanity are wearing thin.

As Tyria barrels towards a three way civil war, both Maat and Mikael are drawn in and find themselves caring enough to begin to question the Board's rules about non-interferance.

The Question of Writer's Block

Without a deadline, it is easy to get caught up in the other 'important' events of one's life and simply avoid your novel because thinking about where you left it last is difficult. I have done this quite a few times in the past, taking such extreme measures as getting extra jobs (so I can work from dawn till dusk and have a legitimate excuse for not writing) or, on in a bad week, watch a whole television series (Babylon 5 is my newest discovery in this regard). The problem is, I have a very personal relationship with my characters and if I do this for too long, I find myself becoming depressed.

Solution?

Set aside time to appologize to my characters for ignoring them and, once forgiven, stop trying to tell them what to do and actually listen. Sounds weird I know, but I suppose it is each to their own in the eccentric world of authorship. The truth of the matter is I really love interviewing my characters. I know that the story is working when it is their voices and actions turning up on the page and I am just the hands at the keyboard so to speak.

Here is an example of an interview with my lead human character, a young woman named Tasya:

How do you really feel about Kam?
Tasya rolls her eyes. "It bugs me that everyone keeps asking me that. For starters, he is NOT my cousin. He was adopted by the woman pretending to be my aunt. Even if she really was my aunt, we still wouldn't be related..."

But that's not what I asked. Do you love him?
"No?" She folds her arms and looks away. "Definitely not. I mean maybe I used to like him when he was younger, before he went away. Back then he was sweet, and used to walk around with his head stuck in a book. He could talk about geography and history with the same passion that Mel and I used to fight about necklines on the princess' gowns. Now? His eyes are empty. He has shut down his personality and does everything my 'aunt' tells him to."

And you didn't feel anything when he kissed you?
Tasya blushes a deep crimson. "I... I didn't expect that to happen. Well, I mean of course I could see it coming, but everything happened so quickly. My heart was pounding and all I remember thinking was telling myself not to screw this up - oh and telling Tynan, my twin brother, to stay out of my head."
She takes a deep breath and then sits down on the edge of the couch, her head in her hands. "Why does my heart still race when I think about it? I shouldn't want him to do it again. He belongs to the princess... I don't know that I even like him... but my head is swimming and a part of me wants to be back on the balcony, staring up at his beautiful face and just knowing that he wants to be with me instead."
She sighs and looks up. "Sometimes I think the goddess is testing me."

Are you passing?
"It depends," she says carefully. "If we are judged by our thoughts, then I am surely damned, but if it is actions that count in Maat's eyes, then perhaps I still have a chance."

---

Knowing what characters are thinking in the scenes preceding a 'blocked' area can do a lot for inspiration, and of course it doesn't hurt to develop your rapport with them. I have found some of these conversations incredibly educational in the past, and not just for story development.

Best of luck with whatever you are working on,
B.

Getting a Manuscript Assessor

After nearly eight months of ignoring my novel and generally treating it very badly, I realized I missed my characters. I pulled myself together and decided to implement the changes suggested by my good friend some time ago. When I sat down to do this, however, I realized there was a lot I wanted to change. I opened a blank document and re-wrote my whole book from the beginning.

Then my city had a rather huge earth quake. It was brilliant. No work for a whole two weeks! (Hehe, someone has to look on the upside!). I poured myself into the re-write and acted like a complete hermit, except for emerging one Tuesday to help shovel mud, and twenty four days after that first blank page, I had my new finished draft (I call it Silver Hawk 3.1).

The problem then was who to give it to. All my friends and family have read some draft or other, so I was out of fresh pairs of eyes. Besides that, I also wanted a professional opinion. Was my book worthy of the 'real world' or am I way off the mark?

Thus I contacted Barbara at TFS (http://www.elseware.co.nz/NZAMA/) who put me in touch with Fleur Beale. Best move of my writing career to date! It was relatively expensive (for me on Cinema Attendant Budget) but so totally worth it to get her feedback. I sent it all off in a really big envelope along with a cheque for $500 and recieved back a ten page document outlining the ups and downs of what I had so far as well as specific pencilled comments through the manuscript. Some of the plot problems were easily addressed - I had simply forgotten to include that detail from a previous draft, but others provided a real challenge. My villian was weak and had no decent motivation... I had to acknowledge that this was true, and, in the process of delving deeper into that character's head, I realized I was thinking way too small. This completely revolutionized my ending and made everything about fifty times more exciting.

Conclusion: I am definitely getting Fleur to assess my future novels! (If she will take me back =P)

Now that the new final draft is completed (yes, 'final' is a running joke in my family), I am about to embark on a new round of queries to agents. I sent my first to TFS this morning and I'll keep you apprised along the way.

Making a 'yes' happen

I actually don't know what I did any differently, except that this short story was more grounded and realistic than my usual fantasy genre - that and I found it kinda inspiring (plotwise).

Here is the email I wrote and the one I got back:

Dear Rebecca Huggins,
My name is Beaulah Pragg and I am twenty one years old. I recently graduated from Canterbury University and I am working towards getting some of my writing published. So far, I have completed the draft of my first novel and one of my short stories, Bastet, recieved an honorable mention from the online magazine Allegory. Please consider my flash fiction - The Jacket with Wings for inclusion in your next issue of Black Lantern Publishing.
Regards,
Beaulah

---

Beaulah,

We have received your submission "The Jacket With Wings" and are pleased to inform you that we have accepted it for publication in Black Lantern's summer issue (available for viewing in early May). We appreciate your choosing Black Lantern, and we look forward to working with you,


Rebecca Huggins
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Black Lantern Publishing

---

So there you go! That's what it looks like :)

A yes! At last...

I wrote a flash fiction piece yesterday inspired by the work done by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and an exercise in Brian Kiteley's book 3 a.m. Epiphany. It was called 'The Jacket with Wings'. Two friends checked and edited it, I read it to my dad, and then tossed up whether to submit it to Black Lantern which was a magazine I had just discovered and really liked. I thought it would be a waste of time, because the stuff the magazine published felt so much cooler than what I could write, but my friend convinced me to do it anyway - worst that could happen was that they said no.

But they didn't.

So now I am grinning like a fool and contemplating my very first YES.

Thank you to whichever awesomely force of universal goodness thought I deserved a break at this point :)

Is incredibly happy.

*hugs*
B

P.S. I will post my emails tomorrow, once I have had some sleep. (Daybreakers is not the best movie to go to bed on!)

More Rejections for Bastet

Ah sigh, four out of the five magazines I sent my short story to have said no now. Still waiting for the final response, but time to move on and try some new projects.

Response for Bastet 2

I just got this email :)

--

Dear Beaulah,

We really enjoyed "Bastet."

Our submission period ended on February 28th, and once we get through the
first round of submissions, we will read our way through the stories that
made it through this first tier.

Once we have all of our "maybes," your story will be compared to the
others, and the best eight will be selected for final publication. The
runners-up will receive an Honorable Mention on our Main Page.

Please let us know if you have any problem with this. I hope you don't.
This is a really entertaining story.

In any case, congratulations for making it past the first tier!
[Editor]

Yay!

NZ Writer's College

I just enrolled today in a course called, "the Basics of Creative Writing" through the New Zealand Writer's College. I am hoping it will help me polish up my writing and form to a professional level and help me recognize my strengths and weaknesses. I'll keep you apprised as to how it goes :)

Giving it another go

So I sent off my short 'Arabian Nights' story to the anthology competition which closed on Sunday. I was happy enough with the story in the end, after some serious edits from two close friends, however I think it is one of the pieces I feel most critical about. I guess having so little time, I didn't really research middle eastern society in that period particularly closely and relied almost entirely on stereotypes from Aladdin and One Thousand and One Nights, which made it sound like many other stories in that genre, but perhaps not as original and genuinely 'me' as some of my other writing. Moral of the story, try and pick projects with slightly longer deadlines? Oh, and forgive yourself and keep going.

Response for Bastet

So I got a letter back from the Online Magazine about my short story Bastet which read as follows:

----

Hi Beaulah,

Thank you for your ideas. We've discussed them, and after some thought,
we feel that the changes we'd want would probably clash with what you
are trying to do with this piece. I'm feeling that the story is pretty
closely tied to the concept of the Garden of Eden.

I wish you success with this story and with your writing career.

[Editor]

----

*Sigh* oh well. The funny thing is, if they had told me what they wanted I would have compromised 150% for the chance to be published... which is probably why they didn't. I guess something is still to be said for artistic integrity. The important thing is that I keep going. Every experience has something to teach, and from this one, I learned that it is important to have a reason why you are doing things in your writing. 'Just cause' doesn't quite cut it unfortunately.

Duotrope

I discovered the website 'Duotrope' the other day and immediately fell in love. It has listings for so many online publications and deadlines for upcoming themed competitions etc. I think I will have a go at some of these to keep my creative juices going!!
Definitely a short story writer's best friend. I highly recommend it.

Short Story Query: Bastet

So about a week ago, I sent off a whole stack of query letters regarding a short story I had written called "Bastet" - a flash fiction post apocalyptic view of the world through the eyes of the famous egyptian cat goddess. Today, I got the following response:

Hi Beaulah,

Thank you for your submission to [Journal]. We have read your
story, "Bastet," and we like it. I'm just a little confused why the
woman is named Eve, since since that name's from a different religious
tradition than Bastet. Thoughts? Clarifications? It seemed to stick
out a bit for us.

[Editor]

*big grins* This is a step up from the responses I have recieved so far and by far the most positive feedback I have had to date. Even if they don't go with my piece in the end, I feel extremely happy with this little snippet of communication!

My response was as follows:

Hi [Editor],
That is an excellent question. In truth, it was because there was no female godess figure within the Christian religion nor famous enough female human within the Egyptian mythology to be able to consolidate. I also liked the idea that the two could coexist - would it work if I changed the 'Osiris' reference at the end to 'God' i.e. 'God could keep his humans?' Or would that be a little too challenging? I am completely open to suggestions and more than willing to work on this issue if you would like.
Thank you very much for your feedback,
Regards,
Beaulah

Dealing with a 'No'

Here is the final reply I got from the agency about a month later:

Dear Beaulah Pragg:

Thank you so much for sending the [Agency] sample pages of THE SILVER HAWK.

After a careful reading, we are sorry to say that we don't believe this project is right for our agency.

Because this business is so subjective and opinions vary widely, we recommend that you pursue other agents. After all, it just takes one "yes" to find the right match.

Good luck with all your publishing endeavors.

Sincerely,

[Agents Name]

So that's pretty much my list of email-able US agents exhausted for now. I had a talk to my muse (Tehnuka) and I am playing with the idea of turning the book into a web comic or serialized web novel... I am okay at drawing, so with a little work, maybe that is an option - it would look very cool... hehe. Other than that, I will keep working on my Authonomy rating and move on to writing other projects for a little while until inspiration strikes as to what to do with this one...

Query Letters: My first try

This is the Query Letter I sent out to 19 agents in the USA a week and a half ago:

Dear [agent's name],

I am an avid reader of your blog - Pub Rants - and I really appreciate the example query letters you post there in particular. I have noticed that several of the successful queries were in the fantasy or romance genres and I was hoping you would consider my book, the Silver Hawk. It is a story about a 'god' who must learn to love, and a girl who is much more than she seems and is an upper young adult Scifi/Fantasy novel, complete at 83,500 words. The synopsis is as follows:

A thousand years is a long time to be cataloguing souls, especially when they have the same stories to tell, over and over again. Unlike his twin sister Maat, Mikael has never found it difficult to keep an emotional distance from the human population they are studying, but with the birth of the blind princess, Juliana, Mikael finds himself unable to look away and, unexpectedly, beginning to care.

Juliana is unique, isolated, and considered cursed by her own people. When her grandmother dies, she is on the verge of absolute power and more than a few people would rather have a civil war than a cursed monarch. Mikael watches as she struggles to earn respect, support and love, all the while, knowing her darkest secret – the soul she carries is not human. His genetic experiments altered her bloodline generations back and now it is his responsibility to find out who, or what, is hiding inside her. The truth, he finds, is more than he could have ever hoped or feared…

In the end, Mikael saves Juli’s life, breaking the most fundamental rule of his profession: never interfere with death. The consequences could be catastrophic, both for his career and the planet's entire human population...

The Silver Hawk is the first novel in a projected trilogy and I am currently 10,000 words into the second instalment. I also have many other stand alone story ideas with the same characters. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Please contact me if you would like to view the whole manuscript.

Regards,
Beaulah Pragg

I got two requests for more pages and i am still waiting for the responses to those.

An amazing review!

Beaulah...

Finally got the time to complete reading of the entire story. LOVED IT! Absolutely loved it.

Never a huge fan of the fantasy genre, I found the oh-so-casually-included super-science appealed to my sci-fi soul, enough to keep me reading what became a stunning story in it's own right, and a brilliant lead in to a trilogy... though where you plan to take the tale from here I can honestly not predict... which for me is a major bonus as I HATE predictable plots.

If ever you need a pre-publication review, you have but to ask, and I will be happy to supply one. Amongst the awesome talent coming out of New Zealand, you stand out as a young author with mature ability. Well done!

I would wish you luck, but I think the luck is better wished to the publicists, because whoever snaps your contract up will indeed be lucky to have you onboard.

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Karl
Senior Reviewer
www.KIWIreviews.co.nz : NZ's top ranking dedicated product review website
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Wow! Thank you so much Karl =D

The story so far...

As of right now, I have completed one novel ( The Silver Hawk ) and sent away queries to 19 agents based in the USA. I have had 2 requests for pages so far and one of those politely declined, so I am waiting on feedback from the second. I manage a blog based on the brilliant book "The 3 a.m. Epiphany" by Brian Kiteley called, surprisingly enough: "3 a.m. Epiphany Project" which was inspired by the film "Julie and Julia" with Merryl Streep. Today, I felt so inspired by the lack of disaster at recieving form rejection letters that I went out and submitted a short story of mine called "Bastet" to five different online magazines - Niteblade, Allegory, Expanded Horizons, GUD and Daikaijuzine. I'll keep you apprised on how that goes.

On a more personal note, I am a 21 year old New Zealand chick living in Christchurch and working writing into the spaces between being a Hoyts Cinema Attendant, a Psychology Tutor at University and a part-time Graphic Designer. I have a degree in Psychology and a diploma of Graphic Design. I have been with my Chinese boyfriend for five years now and I'm still trying to learn the language. I'm a lot better since taking a course in Chinese at Uni last year, but I have a long way to go.
I'm still living at home at the moment, but hoping to move out as soon as it is financially feesable (mum already has plans about what she's going to do with my bedroom!!)

I owe a couple of people a lot for giving me the confidence to write. First would have to be my English teacher at High School - Mr Brock. I thought I sucked at English until year 12 when I had the privelage of being a big fish in a small pond for once. Second equal (chronologically) would have to be my Aunt Kristina (who lives in the USA) because she told me after my very first National Novel Writing Month that she thought I could be a real author. Not saying what I wrote was anywhere near descent, but her absolute faith has been there since then and never faltered. Also my father, who still reads everything I write and thinks it's cool - love you papa! Thirdly, would have to be my friend and muse, Tehnuka. She listened in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens when all I wanted to do was talk about this story idea... for hours! She has listened ever since then, falling in love with characters entirely irrelevant to the story who suddenly become central because of her appreciation... telling me when I was making a mess of things and always keeping it real. Would you believe her degree is in Vulcanology?

Oh dear, I really could go on forever. My mum, who used to be a technical writer and is the most amazing editor. My good friend Karl, who manages Kiwireviews and gives me the most amazing opportunities to read, review and be seen.

I guess the moral of the story is: We are who we are because of the amazing people around us. I feel incredibly privelaged in that regard.

Thank you so much guys! I love you all =D