The Story I can't Sell

MY friend Jennifer does the most fun thing on her blog on Tuesdays-- Tuesday Teasers. http://jenniferloweryauthor.wordpress.com I love to go by, and this morning I pulled a teaser from an old manuscript, Mississippi Blues, the story of my heart.

Summer recognized Trey at once. No one else sounded like him. Genetics gave him a voice that sounded like it had to crawl across gravel to get out of his throat. She blinked the rain out of her eyes. Maybe she was seeing things. What was he doing on her doorstep in the middle of a rainy night? Of all the places she’d expected him to reappear, this wasn’t it. All the days and months she’d waited for him to show up and explain why he’d turned his back on Jace–and her–and he’d never bothered. Then she heard through the grapevine he joined the marines and took off for parts unknown.

For this manuscript to be the story of my heart is kind of funny. There's not a cowboy in sight. It's not set in the west, it's in the south (the title kind of gives that away), and I can't give it away.

Nope. Every editor I've ever subbed to hates it, two agents didn't want to represent it.

But I love it. I love Trey with his husky voice. I love that Summer is older. I love that Jace and Sammi find each other, when they are both broken.

It's the story I hope someday sells more than any other...

What is yours?

Comments

  1. I love how much you love your work - that's a sign of an awesome and talented author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love this sentence-->Genetics gave him a voice that sounded like it had to crawl across gravel to get out of his throat. Fabulous!

    Why can't you sell it? Just from this teaser I'd read it!

    Yes, I have a book like that too. Funny thing is, its the 3rd book in a series and my editor doesn't want it. Doesn't even want me to do revisions on it. AND readers keep asking for it. I LOVE the book. I'd been building the hero up during the other two books. He's mysterious, he's haunted, he's suffered a huge tragedy in his past. But nope. No go.

    If I ever self-publish, this will be the book I do it with.

    BTW, I love the new template!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Sharon~
      I do not understand the mind set of editors.

      Delete
  3. I just can't associate a non-western themed book to you! Because you love this book so much, I'm right there with you - I hope it out sells every other book you publish!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, Sheri! For me to not write a western is crazy, and for it to be the story of my heart, weird. But there you have it!

      Delete
  4. Love the new look, WW! D'Ann, you are so sweet to mention me :) I love this teaser and am certain I'm going to love the book. So when do I get to read it? Definitely self-pub this one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jennifer. Kristi did the template. I think I might SP this one eventually.

      Delete
  5. Mississippi is my Dave of your books, D'Ann...here's hoping it sells. Soon!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. There goes autocorrect again...it's my FAVE of your books...not my Dave, that's just silly!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think this is a great paragraph to hook potential readers. Just enough description to get my attention.

    Yeah, that was The Treasure Hunter's Lady. The book that I knew would do it for me and the agents hated. Forget them. I'm happier on my own.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I DO NOT understand this. You have the most wonderful story in the world.

      Delete
  8. OMG - are agents nuts! That - what 125 words - of total awesomeness.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Have you tried Belle Books? They love southern stories.

    I liked what I saw, but I'm not an agent or editor, so what do I know? LOL - I'm just a reader who buys books.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynne~
      Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a go.

      Delete
  10. I followed from your tweet because don't we all have books we can't sell? I have not given up on my current fantasy novel, but at 200,000 words it's not only truly "epic," but it's the first in a trilogy!

    I love the way you describe Trey's voice, and love tortured heroes. Sounds like a winner to me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pooks~
      Thanks for coming by. Wow! 200K! Good luck with that!

      Delete
  11. Your excerpt was fabulous. I can't imagine why editors hate it. Here's to hoping it sells!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Shawn. They hate it b/c it has two complete, entertwined love stories, not just one.

      Delete
  12. D'Ann, I predict this will be your highest selling story. My reasoning for this is it is THE story of your heart. Your love for this story and the characters will come out in your writing and the readers will fall in love with it too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Can't say since I self-pubbed both novels, but here's a couple of suggestions for you: look for publishers that are looking for a southern slant. Change the characters names--they sound too western. I'm not saying you having to go with Billy Bob but we have a lot of names like: Zendal,Vonnie,Hayden,Sanders,Coy,Jesse,Clayton,Hobart,Lindell,along with common names that most always have y or ie on the end: Bob is Bobby, Ron is Ronnie, etc. Ladies names: LaVada, Willow, Brooke, Rhonda, Vanessa, Joette,
    Maybe if I read the ms I could tell you what's off.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Since I self-published my latest, I don't know how hard of a sale it would've been. But I suspect I would've received a lot of rejections because it's not a typical fantasy romance with a super-powered, ass-kicking heroine.

    Great post. We should never give up on the stories of our heart!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Lisa. I love your books, so glad you've stuck to your guns.

      Delete
  15. I have all the confidence in the world in you D'Ann. With all the avenues now available to you, I bet your story will sell :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Christine. I'm really hopeful that this ms may sell now, eventually.

      Delete
  16. That's why self-publishing is becoming so popular.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, and I've considered it with this ms, Jacqueline.

      Delete
  17. I self pubbed my story I couldn't sell. And I"ve had wonderful reviews! So take that NY!!! LOL
    Karen Ritter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YOu've really made the right choice...proud of you!

      Delete
  18. LOVE it! I can't wait to see you rise! Oh, and did you change your site? It looks great!

    Congrats again!!! Love how you stuck with it for so long.
    XO

    ReplyDelete
  19. Self pub that thing. There's nothing to lose.

    Maggie O'Malley

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wonderful teaser! It definitely made me want to know more.

    ReplyDelete
  21. D'Ann... I only read a few chps of this story but I loved what I've read. You will find a home for this book OR you'll make a home by self-pubbing it and it will become a senation like THE HELP. She couldn't sell that story either. And it too was set in the South.

    PS... I love the new look!!!

    And HUGS.

    ReplyDelete
  22. It's too good not to be published. I'm sure, as talented as you are, it will be. Just keep them alive!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment