I just wanted to let you know that I’m not able to read and comment on as much work as I would like to at the moment.

I won’t go into detail but I’m under pressure to finish The Winter House in a hurry so I’m having to concentrate on it. And, typically, it’s not going well…

I feel bad because I haven’t commented much over the past week and I’m missing out on the fun - but it can’t be helped… anyway, I’m still here and will join in as much as I can.

Dee
x

Dee

relax take care and do what you have to no need to apologise we will still love you and you know what they say about absinthe oops sorry absence

david x

Hey, Dee,
For different reasons I know how you feel. I guess at least the 'work' is writing...even if it's not going too well, gotta be better that the real world, and just think of what's to come.
Bottle or two of gin with your name on it in the Brit when you surface again.
x
tc

How come you're in a rush to finish it Dee? Do you have a deal?

I've missed so much recently, working on my own stuff trying to learn Japanese, looking for jobs.

Anyway don't stress, I always appreciate your comments on my work and I feel honoured you found time with being so busy and all.

I guess I'll have to pull my finger out and reciprocate the gesture.

Geoff

David, tc, Geoff,

Thank you so much for your support.

A friend told me this the other day and, oh boy how right she is:-

Getting an agent is like winning the lottery… until you realise that all you’ve won is a ticket for another lottery.

The biggest hurdle is convincing a publisher that you’re worth mega-bucks. You have to give them what they want. So, for the moment, I have to concentrate on work.

I’m not going away and I’ll participate as much as I can. It’s just that I feel a commitment to this site that I don’t want to lose.

Cheers

Dee
x

Hi Dee, good luck with the WH - just do whatever it takes to get it done. On agents, I went to a party tonight and my host said, "Why don't you come and meet X, she's a really hot literary agent," and I said, "Would that be the same X who turned down my book six months ago?"

Funny old world, isn't it?

Adele.

<Added>

Btw, my book is just about finished, and X, although I hear that you probably didn't read what I sent you (far too grand for that) may I say to you, you had your chance, and you blew it :)

Thanks Adele.

This sounds interesting – we could have a guess-the-agent comp, if it wasn’t potentially libellous!

Good luck at the BAC tonight. Let us know how it goes.

Dee
x

Adele, is this the same X we were talking about?

Julie

Thanks, Dee, and sorry for the rant! Hi Julie, no it's not her (crosses fingers in a keep away, vampire, sign). The incident you're referring to was in 1998, and I certainly would never send that individual any more of my work.

At the risk of being massively indiscreet here, but just to show WW members what a ludicrously subjective business we're dealing with, I'll tell you another story. I was chatting last night with someone who had written a sitcom. He pitched four or five years ago to a major TV company, telling them that he wanted Bill Nighy to play a rock star in his show. The TV people said they couldn't see Nighy as a rock star, and anyway, he wasn't famous enough to carry the show. It was cast with someone else, and it bombed. And then Bill Nighy went on to shine as a rock star last year in Love Actually.

S*** Happens!

Adele.

Bill Nighy played an aging rock star in Still Crazy.
He was great and it's a very funny/sad film.

Bugger! I'm supposed to be writing...

Dee

Dee, all the very best creative wishes to you for the book. Go for it.

Awww, thanks Anna.

x