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Butterflies or 'How I took the first step on the road to getting published'  

19/4/2013

4 Comments

 
No, not the Carla Lane sitcom with Wendy Craig, as Ria the dissatisfied housewife with a pageboy haircut, one son who grew up to be Rodney from Only Fools and Horses, and one who ended up as a transvestite in Corrie. Although I do enjoy it, especially now one of the high numbered digital channels is repeating it endlessly, so I may return to Ria later....No, I mean in your stomach, those butterflies.

Picture
Ria and family in Butterflies (I don't claim ownership of the picture btw)
Clare London and I had dinner and discussed her feedback and suggested next steps for Best Friends Perfect. I left a cold and wet south London with a to do list and butterflies in my stomach. For those who don’t know, I’m a big fan of to do lists, and have at some points, had lists of lists. Whatever floats your boat (or rather keeps your boat organised) is what I say to those who are shaking your heads.

Clare recommended I approach a potential publisher which does a broad range of gay fiction which may be interested in the manuscript. Best Friends Perfect is neither a category romance, nor gay erotica. Don’t misunderstand me, there’s plenty of ‘action’ as one of the characters, Grace would say, but the sex is subtly written and it's more of a coming out story. And as for the ending, is it a happily ever after? Well, you’ll just have to wait and see.

I introduced myself to this potential publisher, and although he isn’t accepting unsolicited manuscripts at the moment, he said he’s happy for me to send mine, based on Clare’s introduction! ::looks to camera:: I know, so not much pressure then! I guess the worst he can say is, thanks but no thanks, no harm done.

Over the next few weeks my writing to do list looks like this: write some back cover blurbs; write a synopsis of the book; wave my grammar and spelling fairy wand over it; take a deep breath and submit it to this potential publisher; wait, with everything crossed.

Yes, it’s scary, and yes it’s giving me more butterflies in my stomach, just thinking about it. But I think butterflies in the stomach are good, healthy, they mean you’re excited and care about something or someone. Remember the first months with a new boyfriend/girlfriend, those butterflies?

Let’s hope it’s not like one of Ria’s attempts at cooking, and more like one of her floaty, brightly coloured kaftans, so favoured by the middle class housewife in the seventies.

Do you have any interesting stories about doing things which gave you butterflies? Or any tips and hints on publishing? I'd love to hear from you.

Until next time.

Liam x

4 Comments
Clare London link
26/4/2013 08:57:02 pm

Congratulations, and courage, mon brave! :)

I may have earned you an introduction, but I confess I can't do much beyond that, it's all up to BFP itself now :). Whatever happens, good luck and enjoy the journay as much as you - and your butterflies - can! Keep us posted x

Reply
Liam Livings
26/4/2013 11:54:38 pm

The butterflies and I will certainly keep you posted!
x

Reply
Elin link
4/5/2013 04:59:42 pm

What Clare said! :)

It's exciting and worrying at the same time, like taking your driving test. Or worse. But the BIG butterflies come for me once the story is put to bed and I have to face the harrowing process of trying to persuade people to buy it.

Back when I had a waist I did things like rock climbing and caving and once lost my footing on a snow slope and glissaded all down the side of Lord Hereford's Knob [it's a place] screaming all the way, and even that isn't as scary as sending out ARCs.

BEST of luck with the book and, when the time comes, you're welcome to some space on my blog to promote it.

Reply
liamlivings@gmail.com
4/5/2013 06:34:39 pm

That's very kind of you Elin. I did laugh at the name of the place you slid down (simple minds and simple things...) thanks for the offer of blog space when the time
comes, noted, so be prepared for a request in the future. Liam

Reply



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    Gay romance & gay fiction author

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