Sorry for no comment replies at the moment – two things have been happening.
Firstly, my wife gave birth to a baby boy last week – James. It seems apt at these junctures to indulge in levels of sentimental tosh that should normally see a man keel hauled, so I’ll just say he’s lovely and we are all delighted to have him aboard.
Secondly I’ve been negotiating with publishers about my latest novel, which everyone seems to love but everyone thinks should be marketed slightly differently. You have to pick the one who has the clearest vision of how the book will work, or at least the one that most appeals. We had some debate over whether it was best to approach it as a crossover novel – in the manner of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel, or sell it as straight fantasy. Both approaches would require minor changes to the text – less gore for crossover/mainstream novel, untwining the plot (it’s set in two different times) as a straightforward fantasy.
This may sound cynical but there’s no point in writing it if bookshops aren’t going to stock it because they don’t know how to market it. The potential rewards of a crossover novel are large, but so is the risk. If the general public don’t get it then it sinks without a trace and, as a writer, you find yourself unemployed. Bad news. Hence I have gone for the option of simplifying the book, letting the modern story appear at a later point in the series and beginning at the beginning, in the ancient world. That means the first book is pure fantasy and will appear in the fantasy section of bookshops, rather than the general reader area. It’s impossible to overestimate how much these decisions mean to the success or failure of a book.
Anyway, the good news is that I’ve sold it, it’s a fantasy novel and all I’m really going to say about it right now is that it’s about a werewolf. Growl. It’s sold to Gollancz, who are a big fantasy publisher over here and I’ve got a three book deal with the hope that it will expand into a series.
I will respond to all your comments, but it’s been a bit hectic.
Thanks for making them, even those of you who think I was too down on D&D. Most of the reviews have thought I treated it quite fondly and, so far, so good, we haven’t had one stinker in the mainstream press yet. It will come, I am sure, but it’s an unusual position to get a book published to such a good reception and I’m grateful for it.
Out to celebrate the deal, so pip pip for now.
Mark