Sunday 10 February 2008

The Battleship & The Emporium

There's a poll up on Neil Gaiman's blog, where you can vote for one of his novels to be made available free online for a month. Though I couldn't personally read a whole book online, it is a reminder that I need to go out and pick up some of his books. I've only read Coraline so far. Correction, and 'The Wolves in the Walls', which has to be one of the all-time best picture books. Apologies to anyone whose pb is just as good, but quite frankly, I haven't read it.

All nine (was it 8 or 9, jeez I can't remember how many I sent out now) of my submissions for Lucy B and The Evil Emporium have been rejected, with the final one a personal rather than the typical form letter. I need to formulate a new plan of attack, just haven't figured out the logistics of it yet. I also need to work on changing the title, more on that in a future post.

There was a fabulous Royal Navy battleship docked outside the office on Friday. I took some photos on my phone and a wee video but have no idea how to get them onto my computer. Grr Argh! for the seven-hundreth time, I so need a digital camera. Apparently a group of sailors also came into the office... I'm sure it's a vicious rumour as none came past reception (unless they were very, very small and concealed behind my are-they-trying-to-hide-me counter) and I so, no-way-jose, moved from my desk. They were giving out tickets to go on board. Damn!

Two short stories completed this week - The Collectors (2200 words) and Yee-Haw! (a flash at 736 words), and I am now two-thirds into The Poisoned Apple, which also may be undergoing a change of name...

Oh, and there's something else I want to tell you, but as I don't want to tempt fate (who has so got it in for me), I'm not going to...

9 comments:

colbymarshall said...

Gaiman's Stardust is one I enjoyed. They made a movie out of it, but I can't say (as usual) that the movie was as good as the book.

Hunter said...

A personal note is so much fun.

Did it say anything encouraging or helpful?

All the best,
Darilyn

Cate Gardner said...

Thanks for visiting Colby.

Darilyn - Not really, but at least it wasn't a pre-typed compliment slip.

Angela said...

Congrats on the personal note!

Cate Gardner said...

Cheers Angela - there's always a silver lining.

Rich said...

Check out Anansi Boys - I reviewed it on my blog and thought it was amazing.

You've inspired me into starting a novel and all I have is a title, but it's a start!

Cheers
Rich (aka Rocket)

Cate Gardner said...

Hi Rich

Will check out Anansi Boys.

Cool I inspired someone - you've made my day.

Anonymous said...

I like your title Lucy B and the Evil Emporium. If I was looking for a book for my ten year old daughter and saw that title, I would check it out for sure. Don't give up anyway until you have 30 rejections. Harry Potter had 27 or something like that.
Jennifer

Cate Gardner said...

Thanks for your vote of confidence re the title Jennifer - I can't seem to come up with another that I like as much.