What's Another Two Weeks?

As I may have already written, I queried a publisher about my novel, Saving Eden, back in September. The editor invited me to send the first 3 chapters, synopsis and my bio, which, of course, I did.

In December, I received a very enthusiastic response from the editor telling me: Wow! great read. A tight, page turner, etc. (Gina blushes).
He asked if I had already sold the story. (I wished). If I hadn't already placed it, he would love an exclusive on the full MS. He said he'd like to take the MS to committee "early next year". He preferred it via e-mail attachement. So, it was out the next day.

I e-mailed him a month or so ago and was basically told, this process takes lots and lots of time and to stop checking my inbox.

Well, I figured it's been over 3 months since I sent the full MS. If I never check on it, I may never hear back. Perhaps he didn't even remember that he had the ding-dong thing.

I e-mailed him the other day and expected to get a quick rejection letter just for bothering him, but luckily did not. (I've noticed a pattern when I request an update on work an agent/editor has had a long time I usually get a quick rejection. I think it makes their life easier that way. But have I learned my lesson? Obviously not.)

The editor answered and said an outside reader had just finished the MS and he wanted to send it out to one more. I should drop him a note in 2 to 3 weeks. May as well be 2 to 3 years. That's the way it feels.

He didn't give any indication whether reader 1 liked or hated it. That can't be a good sign.

But, it can't be a terrible sign that he's sending it out to another reader. Can it?

God willing, I'll be going to a writer's conference in April and a representative of Westbow will be there. I think they too would be a great fit for my work. So, I'll wait until the last minute to bug him again. I'll need to know if I should be pitching my book at that conference.

Last year at the same conference, I felt sure that next conference, I would be up at the podium sharing my success story. Maybe I still will be. Maybe not.

It seems in life, things start to happen when I let go and let God. And I have in a sense. I've finally handed it over to Him. He knows what's best for me. This publisher may reject my book, only to have it picked up by a bigger publisher. Or, it may not be for my best to have this book bought at all.

Only God knows and His plans for me are always better than those I've made for myself.