One Fan at a Time

I spoke to a retired literary agent that stays informed about today’s market and he read the first chapter, character bios and novel summary of "Jacmuir" in one sitting and told me I have a real jewel on my hands.  For a moment I thought he was just saying that because it’s important not to crush the dreams of an aspiring author but he was really excited.  I mean REALLY!

We spend a few hours talking about the characters I developed over the last five years and the world I researched and plotted for about ten years when he said, “Is this your legacy?”

His words stopped me mid-sentence because I’ve been thinking about my contribution to the literary landscape since my college days.  So I steadied my jaw, looked him in straight in the eye and said, “Yes, it’s keeps me up every morning and most nights.”  He grinned the way a grandfather beams at a child.

He gave plenty of writing advice and cautioned me to keep my characters as captivating as they are in their bios.  I told him, “If I’m not interested in what’s happening in the world of Jacmuir I KNOW one else will be.”  (Yes, I’m very hard on my prose.  So a literary agent’s tirade pails in comparison)

I can’t describe how wonderful it was to see someone excited about my novel.  It was great to hear the questions about the characters and plot.  Part of me wants to put the first chapter online for your feedback but published authors have warned me against it.  What do you think?