Mythic Island Press: Fiction by Linda Nagata
The Wild
Last fall I finally finished a fantasy novel that I had been working on for a few years. Long after I had started writing this novel, but long before it was done, my agent called to say he was concerned - the market for heroic fantasy had collapsed, and almost nothing was selling anymore. I wasn't too bothered. This was typical of my career - the collapse of science fiction arguably began around the time I started breaking into the market - and anyway, I was writing the book I wanted to write. I hoped to have it published - I thought it would be published - but if not, at least I would have written it.
So I kept at it, through some very stressful years.
When my agent read it last fall, he was ... shall we say 'concerned' again? 'Finely crafted, but doesn't draw the reader in until well-along in the story.' I was surprised, and none too pleased, but after some discussion it went off to market anyway. His premonitions proved accurate, for the novel did not find a home among the few remaining major publishers of fantasy. The general reaction was very similar to my agent's, "Doesn't grab me enough; Doesn't draw me in." Well, okay.
So unless I am struck by a bolt of good sense and persuaded otherwise, it's my plan to self-publish the novel. Not as it is, of course. The book did not garner the reaction I expected, and I want to try to understand why, and re-write it, if I can see a better way to do things. So now the book ? and all the risk of publishing it - belongs to me alone, which is frightening and pleasant all at once. Since no one else can tell me what to title it, or what cover image to use, I would like to finally introduce it to the world, at least by name. It's called The Wild. I look forward to working on it again, and I will do my best to make it a better book by the time it sees print. Look for updates in this space, and at my blog at Hahví.net.