By the way, don't you think this thread should be in the lounge too?

Just to add my two penn'orth:

I have a YA novel that was rejected by about ten publishers (I think - I have lost count of who my agent sent it to) before being accepted by - me too - Faber. It will be published on 1st March amidst much trumpeting, lol.

So, Roger, do you go to the Faber parties? I went to the one in the summer and didn't know anyone except my editor. It would be nice to have a party buddy for the next one!!

Jb is definately right about one man's meat, anothers poison. When my friend and I sent our book to publishers (this was in NZ) the first one wrote back such a vitriolic and hideous reply I almost thought it was a joke. She basically said we were denegrating women? (we were and still are 2 women) and insinuating that they needed a man to get by in life?! In fact I've kept that letter to this day because the only thing she left out was "You are two total scumbags and I hate your guts." The book, by the way was a humourous tome entitled 'A Kiwi Girls Guide To Catching A Bloke' which totally took the piss out of the macho kiwi male , incidentally no male seemed to take great offence and nor did the next publisher who said it was great, got back to us within 2 days and we had a Christmas 'light hearted', 'in no way meant to offend', 'let's laugh at ourselves for Christ's sake' seller. We could only assume that this particular publisher and her partner (also a woman) genuinely believed we'd tried to produce a self help manual for desperate women who 'needed' a man. Our eventual publishers laughed their guts out at the letter and asked for a copy! SO DON'T depend on one persons reply, some people are soul destroying.

Faber parties? What Faber parties? I wasn't invited!!

I imagine that, sensing I would be totally out of my depth and ill at ease, they kindly chose not to put me through the anguish of feeling obliged to go and then being very uncomfortable. Extremely considerate of them, I say.

Many congratulations, Moondance. I just followed your bio link to your website and see that your book is called Red Tears. Sounds very interesting.

And yes it would be great to have a party buddy at any future faber parties that I may, or more likely may not, get invited to.

I really am not very good at those sorts of things and would have probably said something very stupid to someone important. They probably sensed that too, and just wanted to avoid the whole unpleasant scene.

R

Hi,

I've just checked out your book as well, Mondance. It's about time someone tackled that issue in YA fiction. Great.

Sarah

Congrats on your deal, Moondance. Had a look at your excellent website. Your theme is something I'm touching on in the YA novel I'm currently writing for NaNoWriMo, so I shall be really interested to read your book and I wish you all the best for publication day.

Emily

aww, I feel all fluffy! Thank you all for your kind words - did the websites myself (using idiot-proof software) so it's really nice to have such positive comments.

Roger, I am so sorry. If it makes you feel any better, my picture book with Andersen meant that I was invited to the first Xmas party and have since dropped off their mailing list completely. I had an email from my illutrator last week saying 'will you be at the party on Thursday?' and I was like - what party?! So I know EXACTLY how you feel. I don't suppose Faber is having a Xmas party because I haven't heard anything (except maybe it's time to get paranoid?) but when I hear about the next one (next summer) we should definitely meet up there (perhaps wearing a red carnation so that we can easily identify each other?) and then we can be incoherent and ignorant in the corner together.

Don't worry moondance. I think it's more funny than anything actually. I have no complaints with Faber. I'm not really paranoid. But when you were at the last one, was there anyone there slagging me off? You don't have to name names.... just give a description.

Only joking, really.

Your website is very cool, by the way. I really have to get my shit together to do something for Gentle Axe. I have studiously avoided mentioning it in my blog. Don't know why really. It just feels a bit awkward as the blog has been all about Taking Comfort, which Macmillan published. It's almost like I'm pretending the faber book doesn't exist. However, publication is getting closer and closer, so I ought to at least mention it. I think I'm trying to be tactful.

I think publishers have got much less inclined to give parties (as with book launches) unless there's very clear publicity value to them within the trade. It's all part of running a tighter fiscal ship, I guess.

Besides, as authors, it's a bit like being invited to the zookeepers' annual bash: they need you there to prove what it's all about, and they admire your glossy coat and fangs, but you don't talk the same language, and only your own keeper/editor actually knows your name...

Emma

And when they do give a party, they clearly have to be very choosey about who they invite.

Well, I'm going to the Random House Children's Books party in a couple of weeks. Anyone else here? Will anyone take pity on me and talk to me? Help!

Jo, I've already emailed you but I thought I'd add my congratulations to you here to join in with the others! I loved your website too and I'm really looking forward to reading your book!

Luisa

The publicity director at Headline is famous throughout the trade for a party she organised a couple of years back. I've lost count of people who've said, 'Is she your publicist? Get her to tell you about the Exposure party...'

Fortunately or unfortunately, the 20th Birthday party I went to was fun, but rather less dramatic.

Emma

I would love to have my fangs publicly admired.

Roger, I know it's not the same as a Faber do, but really, you have been invited to a pub in Paddington with WW, and I really think you should jump at the chance.

Is publication as isolating and weird as writing the book in the first place? Cos I was kind of hoping that if I made it out there to the big kids' playground, I might not feel like the only person I know. But then, it's true that agents and publishers speak an entirely different language to us (my agent has never spoken to me in rhyming couplets, for example, and I do wish she would), so maybe I should just forget the idea of friends in the industry and shut myself away for another two years. My friends who don't write have become increasingly more offended at the amount of time I insist on spending with people who aren't even real.

You got me there, Sappholit. I'd love to come along and will try to arrange things so I can. But thing is, weekends tend to be family time so I can't make any promises.

I think it is isolating in a different way. A different set of anxieties and insecurities come into play. Or maybe that's just me.

Roger, dahling (as they say at publishing parties), it's not just you at all...

Hope you can make it on the 10th.

Emma