another rej… oh, wait…. whats this?
When I saw the letter, I said to myself, “Oh look, another rejection letter.” It was from House of Anansi, the granddaddy of Canadian small presses, where Atwood and Ondaatje published some of their early stuff. Really, it is my top choice of Canadian small presses. And I think, just about the last rejection that hasn’t come in yet … the letter weighed about right for a “thanks for giving us the opportunity…” letter.
I opened it and yes indeed, that’s what it was:
“Dear Mr. McGuire,” it read, “Thank you for your submission to House of Anansi Press.” (same format as the rest of them). “We’ve been experiencing a backlog in submissions that has caused considerable delays in our evaluation process. We apologize for the long wait.” (translation, we’re really busy, and you are lucky to be getting this letter: now that we have buttered you up, the next sentence will crush your dreams of becoming a published author). “However,” (what’s this? however? oh, right however, we don’t see a fit for your novel in our catalog, correct?) …
“However, we are interested in seeing the full manuscript for Blind Spot for the purpose of further evaluation.”
What? What? What?
A yes! Sort of… for those that don’t know, in the publishing world you send a sample and if you get past the first gate, they want to see the rest. This is the first publishing house that wanted to see the rest.
Very happy.
Though, I have read through the first quarter of the book, and I think its got some real weakness. Still. Toe in the door. And since I am writing another one, one I am much more confident about, well … this is just fantastic news any way I slice it, even if it doesn’t get published.
w00t!! Congrats on this new step :)
Comment by Patrick — October 18, 2006 @ 9:19 pm
thanks!
Comment by hugh — October 18, 2006 @ 9:45 pm
Fantastic news indeed! Good luck for the next step!
Comment by Martine — October 18, 2006 @ 10:44 pm
Hey hey! Great news, Hugh
Comment by skinner — October 19, 2006 @ 10:11 am
Excellent Hugh! Congradulations! I hope it works out gracefully if not perfectly. Small Press > big press.
Comment by jer — October 19, 2006 @ 10:12 am
Yay! Congratulations!
Comment by fling93 — October 19, 2006 @ 10:33 am
congrats hugh!
Comment by mtl3p — October 20, 2006 @ 11:23 am
Hurrah! Fantastic news, and I will knock wood until I’ve splinters on every last knuckle. And stop being such a hardass on yourself — read Beckett’s first novel (flawed in the ways first novels almost always ARE, but still wonderful), and be pleased! Hurrah Hugh!
Comment by mtte. — October 20, 2006 @ 11:38 pm
hey.. congrats! everything is possible!!
Comment by m-c — October 21, 2006 @ 9:12 pm
Go for it and keep the positive attitude!
Comment by Alexandre — October 23, 2006 @ 12:57 pm
Gosh, I wish I’d read this just a tad earlier, I could have congratulated you in person!
Comment by Seb — October 23, 2006 @ 7:09 pm
thanks for the congrats everyone!
Comment by hugh — October 24, 2006 @ 10:58 am