Query about to go...again!

I have been silent because this year has been so great for learning. Many new things to think about in a writer's life. Ebooks are coming of age and so is the tempation to market one's self and see how it goes. For me most of the year was about completing the book. It took about seven rewrites to get it where I wanted but finally in January I sent out five books and put it all behind me. I know there will be more but for now, I felt book two needed to start. So, for the last several months I have worked hard on it until this last month. I spent time really going hard on the query I have been working since March of last year. It is ready to send out. Now...just setting up the blogs and web site to make room for comments. (feel free to comment about the excerpt at www.authorjeffbaird.com Anyway, the feed back was serious and very pointed. It was a dicotomy though, many wanted more. I enjoyied my 640 page book better but it did need some word dieting. Now, it is still considered a long book for woman's fiction but it is very descriptive. I have worked hard on that query and am ready to pull the pin and send it. In a way, it is scarey. If I get shot down this time I will loose (I think) a great opportunity to be represented by a great agent. But, I have decided to move on. Maybe, that's the best. Now with much more knowledge and self-confidense, I am ready to enter the match. I may not write the best but the many comments about the book prove it is much better than many they've read. It is my best work to date and I guess that is all one can do...their best.

Reworking Book

It has been a year since I posted a blog. I sent in my query letter and it was shot down in flames. It was my fault but I was tempted to put in early. A article from my favorite and (hopefully my agent) suggested now would be a great time. So I had not given the query the same attention I was giving the book. Big mistake because the query is the door opening for the book. It is probably more important than the book.

For a year I have edited the book with two full rewrites and cut a 100 pages out of it. It is leaner but still a sizable book at 540 pages.

It is odd because I like large books. If you read say, 75 pages a hour then in a rainy evening you can suck down 250 to 300 pages. Seems odd that agents want something like 140,000 words. That is ruffly 425 pages. It is clearly a commercial consideration. I have to chance it because I believe in writing in a style that paints a more complete image for the reader. Something that has been greatly appreciated by those that have read my first book.

I hope it flys!