Happy New Year! Wait… are we past the point where it’s okay to say that? Sorry, I’ve been busy. But I’d like to take a moment to breathe and to tell you all what I’ve been up to.

Why haven’t I written a blog post in a dog’s age? Because I’ve been deep in a rabbit hole writing my next book! I’ve proudly written 150 pages in three short months. Inspiration comes at the strangest times when I least expect it. I can’t control it or stop it and sadly, I can’t make it happen on demand either. I wish there was a creative-pill for those days when I can’t seem to string together a sentence. Ideas are never timely, so when they show up I grab them and burrow like a bunny. I forget what day of the week it is, I don’t eat, I dream about my characters when I sleep and have full on conversations with them when I’m awake; the world falls away and nothing else seems to matter.

Is that alllllll I’ve been doing? No, silly. As my hubby’s grandma says, “Gee Raquel, you never let the grass grow under your feet.” I took up a part-time gig at the LCBO for the month of December to break up my pattern. I was incognito, doing book research. Working at a liquor store during Christmas guarantee’s interesting people watching and I took good notes. If you came into my store and met me, you might be a character in my next book. Heads up to the scrawny woman in the 90’s ISPO jacket and raspy voice who was upset that we didn’t carry her brand of vodka (at 9 am), you’re definitely making it in my story.

And to answer the question I’m most asked from well-meaning friends and family… I’ve also submitted my first book HAMARTIA for consideration to several literary agencies and am awaiting responses. I don’t expect to hear anything back anytime soon. These things take time and getting a book deal is very difficult. I’ll end this post with some fun facts about great books and authors who were rejected but never gave up to give you an idea of how difficult it is to get noticed. Maybe you’ve heard of a few;

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks – rejected 24 times

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer – rejected 14 times

Carrie by Stephen King – was rejected so many times he threw the manuscript in the garbage. His wife took it out of the trash and convinced him to re-submit (smart woman).

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle – rejected 26 times

Lord of the Flies by William Golding – rejected 20 times

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by… Ummm, do I even have to tell you the author? – rejected 12 times

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell – rejected 38 times

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter was rejected so many times over a three-year span she went against the grain and self-published. She peddled her own books.

Given these facts, there may be many rejections in my future. I’m in it for the long haul. Thanks everyone for your support and well wishes.

Now back to my rabbit hole I go!