I am under no illusions about the nature of the climb ahead of me to get Persistent Spirit and the rest of the Table Rappers series published and out on bookshelves. (Why I have swung a u-turn back from online publishing to traditional publishing is for another post.)

The chances of me landing an agent without already having some kind of publishing deal, or at least an offer, is very slim. But not impossible. A superb post on advice in finding a literary agent can be found on Neil Gaiman’s site.

It has to be the right one

Last weekend I waded through a database of Literary Agents and was surprised how straightforward it was to filter out those clearly not suitable for my submission. It took about 3 hours of research to pin down three possible candidates, carefully assessing the requirements and tone of their websites, and, of course, their current author list.

The principle criteria for me is to find an agent that understands a long running series of connected novels and associated online and offline elements. One that will respect my career experience and how that can be applied to promotion ongoing is also important.

This begs the question: If I get an offer from a agent who I feel does not properly fit those criteria, will I turn down the offer?

I hope the answer will be: yes, I will walk away for a more appropriate deal. But unless I am actually in that position, I don’t think I can make that decision ahead of time. There is too much to weigh-up.

Waiting for rejection

Sending the three submissions in the post this afternoon was an interesting experience. There is no nervousness, no fears, no nail-chewing whilst listening for the rejection letter response to pop through the letterbox in six to eight weeks.

Thankfully, the notion of rejection is something I came to terms with very early on, when I began venturing into writing. Fear of professional rejection is irrational and as a guaranteed stepping stone on the usually long, winding path to be published, is something no-one can side-step.

I do not lack confidence in my work. I know there is an audience for it, and I’ll just keep hammering at doors until I find someone who understands where that audience is.

What’s next?

Agents, like publishers, quote around six to eight weeks for a response. I’ll not confuse the issue by submitting to more agents in that time, but may make some direct to publisher submissions if I feel it is necessary.

Work on the final chapters of Persistent Spirit continues, and work on the second book, A Shot in Time, is accelerating in the background with story structure and planning starting to kick-in when there’s the time.

This one will be an exciting project for me coming to a new novel after my experience with the first – there will be less mystery, and less trying to work out just how to make it happen. This is a good thing because the story is promising to be more complex being split into two distinctly different locations (I’m not giving anything else away on that, it’s a surprise!).

In addition to completing the final chapters of Persistent Spirit, I am in the process of the third draft of the first ten chapters. These will be off to some enthusiastic friends for proofing.

The opportunity to submit to a publisher has motivated me to start the third draft before the second is properly complete. Opportunity is never a bad thing, but timing could be better.

It is good to re-visit these early chapters after anything up to a year since I last read them. It has been a satisfying experience re-reading work and genuinely liking what I have written. The text is fairly straightforward, and I think the characters are colourful. But what will other people think?

Questions, questions

I have a number of questions I am hoping my initial proof readers will be able to answer

Too much or too little information?

Getting the balance just right between how much information to reveal at a particular point in the story, against how much to leave out, is a constant struggle. The author, of course, knows all about everything, making it virtually impossible for him to spot gaps in a reader’s understanding of what is going on.

Most importantly, I need to understand what questions a reader might have at the end of each chapter. Controlling that flow of information and maintaining high anticipation, whilst feeding just enough to allow the reader room to take guesses as to future developments (deliberately misleading them up the wrong alley, of course!), is vital in maintaining page-turning momentum. 

Is the dialogue believable without being tedious?

I have stopped reading books where the dialogue has such high realism that exchanges between characters are tedious and mundane. I have also stopped reading books with such condensed dialogue that it is difficult to grasp true character, motivation and relationships. 

Is there enough description of the settings?

Again, a tricky balance between too little information about an environment, leading to incomplete imagery, against too much that threatens the intended pace of the storytelling.

Does the text flow?

I have consciously written in a late Victorian / Edwardian language style, with a little more colour than modern texts, and indulging in long, run-on sentences. 

When creating the audio book version of this novel, I was able to intone my own rhythm to the words. my concern is whether I have been able to apply a similar rhythm to the written version.

I should be afraid, right?

In the back of my mind a voice keeps repeating that I should be afraid of the moment of letting my work out there for other eyes to see. But I am not at al concerned, in fact I am struggling to hold back.

This may come down to having already released the work into the world as an audiobook. Having received very positive feedback over the past year, reminders when episodes are released late, and the audio downloads (several thousand each month and growing). 

That is certainly a significant element in building confidence, but there is something deeper, stronger and more personal wrapped in this project. I have been with these characters and this story, in its various guises, for so many years now. I have no doubt it is something that could find enough of  an audience to make a successful series of books. 

Does that sound arrogant at this stage? I hope not. Confident, yes, but I am under no illusions as to the tree root riddled path before me. But I remain confident that I have a good chance to get this work published. Far, far worse has found its way into print.

For now, it is time to get some real world feedback and make TableRappers into something people will buy, read, enjoy, and thirst for more.

Book one is in the early stages of its third draft. Well, to be more accurate, it’s second novel draft as the physical second draft was written with the serialised audiobook in mind. Confused? No matter, so long as I can keep track!

In October last year I announced the title of Book 6. The announcement defined it as Book 5, but since that time I have restructured the sequence of books following the current unfinished Persistent Spirit.

Here is the list of books as it stands today:

1. Persistent Spirit
2. A Shot in Time
3. The Casebook Files: Volume 1
4. The House of Mrs. Benson
5. The Diabolical Seven
6. The Casebook Files: Volume 2
7. They Wear Black

There you have it, book 7, entitled “They Wear Black”. I’m giving nothing away of it’s content at this time as to have any relevance a number of events planned throughout several of the other books must first be permitted time to play-out.

As I have described in the past, titling a novel – or any project for that matter – solidifies it in my mind and enables me to attach and organize ideas around it. The title brands the concept, and offers me the bare-bones upon which to gradually nurture the flesh.

What is notable about this plan is the appearance of a “casebook” volume every third book. These casebooks will each contain a number of short stories, some set before the events of Persistent Spirit, some intertwined between all the above books, and a few set well after this period.

They provide an opportunity to explore additional scenarios, different times and societies, and help to complete some of the unanswered questions regarding Keynes’ past which are deliberately omitted from Persistent Spirit in particular.

Persistent Spirit re-write

Persitent Spirit is currently undergoing a re-write of the initial ten chapters – while simultaneously completing the final few chapters. These will form a submission to a publisher who is experienced with publishing series works in addition to individual novels.

I have no hopes, fears, or expectations regarding the submission, but there is always a lingering optimism that someone will enjnoy the work enough to want to work with me in bringing TableRappers into print.

CHAPTER 25

Keynes finds himself face to face with the threat of Nathaniel at the seance. The following day, Merrick is looking for a confrontation.

Story running time 19 minutes

Available from TableRappers.com or here:

Download audio file (persistentspirit-121854-08-10-2008.mp3)

If you have a podcast or a website, please play the audio promo and promote Persistent Spirit. Send me your promo and I will play it in return. TableRappers audio promos

CHAPTER 24

The guests are gathering for Martha Benson’s public seance, but one guest is far more concerned about what might be discovered behind the scenes.

Story running time: 22 minutes

Available from TableRappers.com or here:

Download audio file (persistentspirit-118619-07-13-2008.mp3)

If you have a podcast or a website, please play the audio promo and promote Persistent Spirit. Send me your promo and I will play it in return. TableRappers audio promos

Tags: audiobook, edwardian, Persistent Spirit, seance, Table Rappers

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• Process, process, and more writing process (0)
• DRM-free audiobooks from Random House (0)
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• Persistent Spirit Chapter 23 (0)

CHAPTER 23

When Keynes learns from Merrick how long he has been missing, his fears rise to the surface and he reaches out to an old friend for help.

Story running time: 22 minutes
Total running time: 28 minutes

Available from TableRappers.com or here:

Download audio file (persistentspirit-117823-07-06-2008.mp3)

If you have a podcast or a website, please play the audio promo and promote Persistent Spirit. Send me your promo and I will play it in return. TableRappers audio promos

PLEASE VOTE FOR PERSISTENT SPIRIT in the European Podcast Awards!

Tags: audiobook, Persistent Spirit, Table Rappers

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• Process, process, and more writing process (0)
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CHAPTER 22

Keynes wakes with confused sensations and in a very strange place. Heading to recover from his ordeal, he is questioned on his whereabouts.

Story running time: 22 minutes

Available from TableRappers.com or here:

Download audio file (persistentspirit-116406-06-22-2008.mp3)

If you have a podcast or a website, please play the audio promo and promote Persistent Spirit. Send me your promo and I will play it in return. TableRappers audio promos

Tags: audiobook, conspiracies, Persistent Spirit, Table Rappers

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CHAPTER 21

At Martha’s request, Chief Inspector Rickard requests the help of others to deal with someone who may cause trouble, and gets more than he bargained for. Featuring the guest voice of Martin Devaughan (aka Green Dragon of BiteSizeBonus) as Admiral Alasdair Strayhorn.

Total running time: 23 minutes
Available from TableRappers.com or here:

Download audio file (persistentspirit-115729-06-15-2008.mp3)

If you have a podcast or a website, please play the audio promo and promote Persistent Spirit. Send me your promo and I will play it in return. TableRappers audio promos

Tags: audiobook, Persistent Spirit, Table Rappers

Related posts

• Persistent Spirit Chapter 25 (0)
• Process, process, and more writing process (0)
• Persistent Spirit Chapter 24 (0)
• DRM-free audiobooks from Random House (0)
• TableRappers and the European Podcast Awards (2)

CHAPTER 20

Martha faces a further test of her will in the bowels of Municipal Holdings Ltd., while Lady Katherine and Merrick head to the less desirable parts of London to seek out Keynes

Story running time: 22 minutes
Total running time: 28 minutes

Available from TableRappers.com or here:

Download audio file (persistentspirit-115001-06-08-2008.mp3)

If you have a podcast or a website, please play the audio promo and promote Persistent Spirit. Send me your promo and I will play it in return. TableRappers audio promos

Tags: audiobook, Persistent Spirit, Table Rappers

Related posts

• Persistent Spirit Chapter 25 (0)
• Process, process, and more writing process (0)
• Persistent Spirit Chapter 24 (0)
• DRM-free audiobooks from Random House (0)
• TableRappers and the European Podcast Awards (2)