On Writing : Novelists Onboard. by Chris H Stevenson

I am a new writer as yet unpublished, still finishing the first book of three to start submitting for publication but I think that eventually it would make a fantastic movie. I too am glad there is a section for writers. My book is an urban fantasy that is dark but has a spiritual basis. It is very dark and edgy but brings out the light at the end. Any suggestions to get into the real world would be wonderful!

Welcome, Laurie. I too have a dark urban fantasy called Screamcatcher. To my astonishment, It has been offered 10 contracts, mostly, from the small press. My agent is very, very busy trying to sort all of this out. These are trying times for me, but I love the support here at Stage32.

Chris, thank you for writing back. I would love to read your book. Everything I read gives me encouragement and inspiration to finish mine. The first of three is done except for my co-author's input (my husband), two is done ready for him to start and three is one third done. It's amazing how fast the ideas are coming out.

Yes, it's tough getting motivation sometimes. We need all the stimuli we can get, it seems. I wish I could get ideas as quickly as you. You're to be commended for following up on them. Sounds like you have a lot in the fire. My YA thriller/SF is called The Girl They Sold to the Moon and it can be found on Amazon. I'm rather partial to it; it took the grand prize in a novel writing competition and received six offers of publication. As I write this, my inbox has the final offer in it, so it looks like I'll be signing. My agent handled that one very well. If there is anything I can do to help land an agent or publisher, please let me know. http://www.amazon.com/Girl-They-Sold-Moon-ebook/dp/B00LDFLR0S/ref=sr_1_1...

Absolutely! Thank you. I appreciate any assistance! I will let you know when it is done and maybe if you have time to read it and let me know where to go from there. Thank you so very much!

You're most welcome, Laurie. Glad to meet some novelists in this forum.

Ordered The Girl They Sold to the Moon. Can't wait to read it.

Well, thank you, Laurie. It's kind of a Burlesque in Space, if you get the meaning. Please let me know what you think, and give me a link to your book, I'd be interested in checking it out and reading it.Reviews from both of us would be cool.

@Chris, I imagine your publishing agent has already introduced your books to co-agents? I believe most pitch fests allow novelists to pitch just like screenwriters, though adaptation pitches are certainly far less frequent. For example, I've taken adaptation pitches on Virtual Pitch Fest. To my knowledge, there's no rule against it. If you feel your co-agents aren't aggressive enough, you can certainly write query letters on your own behalf. Break a leg!!

I think that Burlesque in Space sounds interesting! Can't wait to read it. We're going to set up a website for the book this week. We're not finished yet, my husband has to put in his edits - about 80 pages left to go. Once it's done, I will send it to you for your thoughts. Having a review from a published author will help me in my query letter process. The book is Christian Urban Fantasy that has a very dark side to it.

Thanks, Regina. Yes, I'm very proactive with my agent and I'm allowed to submit to sources that I believe are important and popular. I've done a few pitch fests, but only if I can get answers or feedback from publishers. I really don't need a sub-agent since mine handles all aspects of rights and contract clauses, which includes radio, TV and movie deals.

Laurie, that book sounds interesting and right up my alley. I've written several dark urban fantasies, and even changed one for a publisher to give it a Christian bent. YA is difficult to get right because you can't please all the publishers at the same time. Some allow outright sex and drug use, while others want more sheltered characters. All of my passion has been behind closed doors, so to speak. I'm glad you're getting a website for the book. That's something I have to do all over again since my website expired and I didn't want to reenlist with them because they were quite inferior. I need something with a domain that might cost a little per year--I hear it's worth it and a more respectable way to go. I hope you like The Girl They Sold to the Moon!

I might also add that a producer in Stage32 just might give you an option for a novel and assign a screenwriter to produce it for T.V. or movie format. That happened with me, although you really can't expect a lot of money. It's a risk for both parties.

@Chris, should we all be as on top of our projects as you are! Break a leg with all of yours!!

The book is definitely not YA. It's too dark I think for that. That is also my dilemma - how far can I go and still be appropriate for Christian audiences. Or maybe it won't be. I don't know. I take a lot of my influence from Ted Dekker - he gets pretty dark too. I'm also talking to another author like us who also publishes Christian scifi -Jeff W. Horton who is also going to read it. I very much will value your thoughts. I'm so glad you are in the same frame. Can't wait to see what you think of it. Hope to have it done in the next two weeks. I should have the website in the next day or so. I can't believe how wonderful this site has been to be able to talk to such experienced authors like you and Mr. Horton!

Chris, this is the synopsis: A young free-lance artist named Henry discovers a beautiful woman apparently washed up on the Florida coast on his morning jog. She is naked, frightened, alone, and as helpless as a new born baby. Henry is immediately enchanted by this tragic vision and is compelled to help her. He takes her home to care for her, and finds that she learns at an amazing rate, how to eat, walk, talk, and what it means to become a woman. He names her Anne after his mother. Their days are filled with joy and discovery, as they seek to find the answers to Anne's elusive past, while their nights are plagued by her nightmares of black dragons, fire and death. When a forgotten enemy resurfaces and threatens to take the life of her new love, she is faced with a terrible choice.

Laurie, I like that synopsis. It very open to a mystery element, ie, the awakening and true identity of Anne. She seems to be totally alien or suffering from amnesia--that's the question. I have a very, very similar plot in my Wolfen Strain, where a girl has DNA wolf in her and she escapes from a laboratory to land in the custody of a forest ranger. Their time together is spent caring for this poor wretched girl, nursing her back to health, and indoctrinating back into human society. Alas, she is being chased by a pack mate that is a monster bent on finding her for evil purposes. I hope you finish it and polish it. It sounds very intriguing.

Thank you, Regina. It just take time and a lot of effort. It's taken me the last 10 years to rack up my books in print, and I'm still holding on to three of them for my agent. We'll submit them one by one. Fourth one just sold, and the third one is currently in negotiation. I have my fingers crossed for a good deal. But my fingernails are gone from stress and pressure. Hah!

Your story is very close to mine. I will have to read yours. We obviously think along the same lines. You're right, the question is what is her true identity and why do the dreams of golden and black dragons have such significance. The climax of the story is the choice she has to make because of her love for Henry. It is based on the scripture no greater love has a man then to lay his life down for his friends. Or her, in this case. Wow. I am so intrigued by your story as well to see how you deal with the subject matter.

Oh, gosh--they are very close. My ranger must decide that this wayward, strange girl is the love of his life. When she runs away after finding out what she truly is, he embarks on a cross-state venture to find her (rescue) and tell her his true feelings. Meanwhile, an insane cryptozoologist, the local police, the State Militia, the monster and professional hunters are hot on her heals. My theme is Beauty and the Beast, only with the gender reversed. It was one the best books I've every written and it has now gone out of print except for third party editions. I'd love to find a publisher to do a reprint on it. I did find one so far, but their terms of publication were very bad. We both seem to have "who is this woman" and what are her torments. I love it!

Different enough though. Her dreams turn out to be memories she is one of the golden dragons killed by her uncle who turned to evil. During their time together they write a children's book based on her dreams. But the real turn is she is really an angel who took the dragon form like her father and uncle to watch over the dragon world. It is her uncle who comes back to take her again so he can regain the power to change his appearance. He is stuck half dragon half man. He uses Henry as bait to lure her to the warehouse where he will take her heart and her power.

Hey Chris, this is Julie from the Stage 32 team. I just wanted to let you know I moved your post from Read a Good Book Lately? to Authoring & Playwriting, as it fits much better there. Let me know if you have any questions, and all the best to you!

Yes, Laurie, that is marketable different and unique at the same time. I love the dragon aspect of it, and so do a lot of other readers. Keep writing and polishing; it sounds like a very enticing read!

hope to have it done in a week. What is the best way to send it to you for your review?

The best way is by email in an attachment that I can open. I'm at stevenson_333@msn.com

Thanks. I'll send it as soon as possible. Thank you so much for your help. Anxiuos to see what you think

Sending book. It's done! Thanks again for your assistance. Can't wait to see what you think.