Silly Mistakes

I had an interesting conversation with my editor at Kensington Friday. Of course, there was a slightly embarrassing snafu along the way. He e mailed me and said there was a possible plot problem with NOBODY'S SAINT. Considering I had done the page proof edits weeks ago, I was pretty surprised. He also asked when would be a good time to reach me by phone. I e mailed him back with the passage in the book that addresses the plot issue and told him I'd be home all afternoon. Then I decided to forward his note to my agent and ask what she thought he wanted. I told her that I felt kind of like the good kid who has just gotten a mysterious summons to the principal's office.

Just one problem. I didn't hit "forward." I hit "reply." Yes, that little bundle of insecurity went flying through cyber-space straight into my editor's e mail in-box! Thank goodness Miles has a sense of humor and doesn't mind easily rattled writers.

The conversation was useful, but frustrating. Word all over the genre is that historicals aren't doing so well. Comtemporary is much hotter and pays much better. My problem is that my heart is in historicals. I'm far more likely to buy one, when I'm looking for a romance novel. I love the total escape. I also really enjoy taking what most people think of as contemporary issues and placing them within a different historical context. I like having my themes revolve around the idea that human issues are human issues, and while they may change on the surface, the underlying causes and emotions are the same. As Miles says, right now, that's my niche, if I could just make a lot of people aware that I'm out here.

So in the meantime, I really need to finish the book I'm working on. I have a self-imposed deadline of the end of the year. I've also revised the first few sample chapters of another proposal for my agent . If that one flies, then my next stop is New York in the 1870's. If not, I have a possible contemporary in my mind, but it's just the germ of an idea. No guarantee that I can make anything more of it.

Of course, essays come in tomorrow, so it's all moot for a while!