The Rose of the Winds
The Rose of the Winds - m/f I've just heard from Samhain that they don't want this. A most charming rejection, very complimentary, but again having some issues with the male rape. This is the third time this has been mentioned as an issue, first with Black Lace, then when Deanna kindly looked at it for me, and now Samhain. I'm going to give it a rest, then I think I'll see if I can rework it without the rape. It isn't essential; I just liked it!

Hey, at least they said *why*. :) Good luck with it, hun. :)

Yeah, feedback like that is priceless - and at least it's something relatively easy to take out. Presumably. And not central to the plot. Good luck with the re-working. :)

Feedback is always helpful, at least now you have something to concentrate on. Good luck.

I've posted the rape scene from the Rose of the Winds in the Secret Workshop and would welcome your views.

Seen it, posted my 2c worth....

stay true to your artistic vision lamia. that's the most important. but it is a good idea to let it sit awhile. that always helped me.

Thanks Persephonate. I have to decide now if I abandon it altogether or do a comprehensive rewrite. It can be fixed, but I'm quite discouraged. Mind you, it was an early work, written about three years ago, and the later stuff is better (I think...) I think I'll do a complete overhaul and then send it off to someone again and see what happens.

I've had to do that twice with Lord Carabas. Eventually, you find a market (still haven't with that but hoping)

Hi James, Thanks for encouraging me to persevere with this one. Looking at it with hindsight I can see it's less that technically perfect. But it was (I think) only the second novel I wrote, and I have a sort of protective feeling about it! Probably worth salvaging then, but it goes to the bottom of the pile...

Yeah, sometimes you have to sit on them for awhile.

It can be useful to put something back on the shelf for a few months - there comes a point where you can't see the book for the words. I did that with Roses and when I eventually looked at it again it was with a much clearer eye - and I think it was vastly better as a result. Besides, you should never throw anything out because you can always salvage something from it, even if it's only to cannibalise for other novels. ;)