My DRAFT books arrived on Monday!! I was super excited.
The full manuscript of Siren Song is under request by one amazing Australian publishing house. While I wait for their decision (and then carry on pitching to other publishers), I'm doing my own market research.
I've asked some savvy teenage beta readers and five gorgeous mums from Canada, Britain and Australia to read my draft. (Did you know that women often read Young Adult novels?)
Yep, 55% of YA (Young Adult) books are purchased by adults.
Siren Song is the book I wanted to read when I was in high school.
Why? It's about female power, guilt and jealousy. It's about feeling like you're both strong and wrong. It's about making peace with the pieces of your life. (Oh, and it's also about poetry and skiing and Canada and crystal galleries and perfection and families. And why we hurt the people we love.)
So far, one teenager read into the night to finish it. Her verdict? LOVE.
I'm excited to see what the rest of my beta-readers think!! I've created a reader survey to gather reviews and get some feedback.
Yay for feedback. And yikes!
When you offer your work to world, you have to expect that some people will like it and some won't. For me, fear of rejection lives in my head with jealousy and scarcity. Three UGLY sisters. It's way too easy to spiral down and let them have a food fight in my brain.
That's why I love these words from the daughter of Diana Ross (of the Supremes):
Yes, there's enough sun for everybody. Even in publishing. (Repeat, repeat, repeat!)
Wish me luck, and have a fun weekend...
Love, Catherine
ps. If you want to hear Diana Ross and the Supremes sing it, click here. I adore these amazing women. That. Yellow. Dress. And Diana's sleeves!
