Last night I finally sent my fifteen year old "child" to be loved or hated or plain ignored. Well, I didn't technically send "him" off; just the plot synopsis with a little bit of added quotes from important people. I got great feedback from some of the friends and family that I shared my query letter with, couldn't do much without their wonderful support.
I'm still wondering if I should have added that one of the editors once said that the book gave her literal nightmares. Which is like the biggest compliment I have possibly ever received from someone who has read The Great American from page one to whichever page it was at when I sent it to them.
I'd like to think that anyone who reads it will be blessed with nightmares, but that could be plain fanciful hoping on my part. Is that overly sadistic? Or just sadistic enough? :)
Whichever the case may be, I have eight weeks to either hear back or to be left with no response. From past experience I've learned to expect "no answer". But that was then, and this is now. And I do feel better equipped now that I'm in my late 30's. It feels like I'm finally on to something. Like I reached the path and I just have to stay the course, wherever that may lead me.
And putting out positive vibes never hurt anyone, that I know of. My proof for The Great American is coming to me tomorrow, or so says Amazon. Here's hoping that it all looks formatted correctly. Two months is definitely long enough to read through it again and stitch some of the scenes together a bit more cohesively, in case he would send back an email asking to see a few chapters. Fingers, toes, eyes, legs, are crossed that the literary agent finds it worthy of a look.
