July 3, 2012
“I’ve just finished writing a novel,” I said to the
telephone operator at the big New York publishing house. “Who should I address
it to?”
There was a pause and I had the distinct impression the lady
was trying not to laugh. “What kind of book is it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, where would it go in a book shop?”
“Erm …(On a shelf? No, the question surely couldn’t be that
simple. What did she mean? I didn’t want to appear ignorant. Best to be
honest.) “I don’t know.”
“Well, is it a love story? A thriller? A murder mystery?”
By now I felt she was only continuing the conversation
because of my British accent. “It’s none of those.”
“What’s it about?”
I gave her a rundown of what THE PERFECT PARTNER was about.
“Are you speaking from England?” she asked.
“No, I’m speaking from Florida. My wife and I live in
Orlando.”
“Then what I suggest you do is to go to your local library
in Orlando and get hold of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook and find
yourself a literary agent. The Yearbook will tell you everything you need to
know.”
“I will,” I said. “Thank you for your help.”
“You’re welcome. And good luck with the book.”
“Thank you. Perhaps we’ll talk again at some point.”
“Who knows?”
This was in 1992. My wife and I had just returned to Florida
after a year on Grand Bahama; a year in which I had invested far more money
than was good for me in a condominium hotel property with a female French
Canadian partner whom my Nassau attorney was to later describe as an
out-and-out criminal.
Liz had been telling me for years I should write a book, but
I had never known what to write about. “Now you have something to write about,”
she said. “What happened to us in the Bahamas would make a great story.”
She was right. It would make a great story, and – in my view
– a great film. Now, twenty unpublished years later, with the book rewritten
for the umpteenth time and now entitled ANOTHER BORING DAY IN PARADISE, the
book sits with three of my other books on our website: www.booksthepublishersmissed.com
Blog written by Maximillian J Emmenegge, creator and
founder of booksthepublishersmissed.com
Having just met you on twitter this morning, I am already captured by the voice and personality of your blog. I am sitting over morning coffee, and beneath a California sunrise, on my patio: ignoring both. I am instead reading your blog aloud to my perfect partner and caregiver. We can't wait to read what happens next. So, let's read on, shall we?
ReplyDelete