Still Working!

I realize it's been almost a year since I posted, but I'm still trying to market my Nephi Newman novel. I had a lot of life-changing events since about July, but I think I'm back on track again.

This week I will be sending Nephi Newman to the next publisher on my list. I met this editor at a writing conference over the weekend and told her I would be sending it this week. I'll post here when I know more.

Too Much Like Harry Potter

Hmm. Okay, I got word today from the LDS publisher that requested that I resubmit my novel. They said that it is "too much like Harry Potter" for their company to publish it.

Hmm. There is no magic, no witchcraft, and it's set mostly in Utah and a bit in Idaho.

Hmm. I'm still trying to figure out why being "too much like Harry Potter" is a bad thing. Nothing in the novel really copies the plot from Harry Potter, aside from a group of kids struggling against an evil antagonist.

Hmm. Well, I believe I'm going to take the week-long BYU Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers Workshop in June to see if I can get pointers to improve my story and maybe make some contacts into the national market.

In the meantime, I may submit to another LDS publisher, just for fun.

New Blog: LDS Writers Blogck

There's a group of new LDS writers on the block. LDS Writers Blogck is a new blog that details the struggles of a group of unpublished LDS writers in their quest to become published in the LDS market. Come read what we have to say and even make a comment or two if you feel inclined!

LDSWriters Blogck is Sponsored by AuthorsIncognito.com and can be found at:

ldswritersblogck.blogspot.com

The following aspiring LDS writers are featured:

Darvell Hunt
Danyelle Ferguson
Heather Justesen
Connie Hall
Wendy Elliot
Nichole Giles
Cindy Beck
Marta Smith

Do we have something usefult to say? We don't know. Come read our blog and you tell us!

Darvell Hunt

Accidental Rejection

All right, now I'm really confused.

The person who evaluated my Nephi Newman novel at a publisher who recently rejected the manuscript was trying to get in contact with me on Tuesday. She finally got in contact with my wife and told her that they had accidentally rejected my novel, when they had every intention of making an offer to publish it. Apparently this employee has been watching for my novel in the pipeline and still hasn't seen it, so she went looking to see what happened to it.

When she finally got in contact with my wife, she was appalled to find out that they had sent the manuscript back with a rejection letter. She now wants it back! Six months or so after they rejected it!

Okay. So right now I'm very excited and very confused. It's now at another publisher, but I must admit that I would rather have this other publisher who wants it back to publish it, because they have better distribution network established.

This whole story sounds too bizarre to be comprehended. I could write a story about it, but nobody would believe it. I now find myself in a very bizarre situation.

In any case, I sent the copy back to the employee at the publisher who requested it and now I guess I'm back to waiting. I'll post more when I found out more information.

Still Trudging Along

Well, it's middle of February and still I don't have an acceptance on my novel, NEPHI NEWMAN AND THE LEGEND OF CRATER CITY. The publisher I last mentioned did not accept it. So now I'm onto another one, where it's been for a couple of months. I sent this publisher a query, with the first chapter and a synopsis, and they requested the full manuscript. At least I got a bite, but I haven't been able to reel one in yet. Maybe soon.

I did, however, have a story place as "Honorable Mention" in the 2005 AML Short Fiction contest (see www. irreantum.com). I won $50, which I donated back to the organization who awarded it. (Frankly, I just wanted to frame the uncashed check!) This story is called FATAL BROKEN HEART and is an excerpt from an as-yet unpublished novel called THE KUMINA MAN. I will be doing a partial reading of this story at an event scheduled by the AML organization at the Orem (Utah) Public Library either on February 24 or March 31. I'll update here when I get more information.

I've also been continuing to update my author web page, which I hope to use soon to promote the publication of my new book. I'm currently working on a new feature that I'm adding to www.DarvellHunt.com that will allow people to "chat" with the main character of my book, Nephi Newman, in real time. It's called "AskNephi" and should be up and running next week, using AIM/ICQ and MSN Messenger. Watch here for more details.

I also expect to soon post that my book was accepted and when the publish date will be. Watch here soon!

Why do I do this?

I don't know why I do it. I've stopped doing it for long periods of time, but I always seem to come back. Few people care that I do it. Sometimes I don't care that I do it. I know that some people who see my results don't care that I do it and apparently don't think that I do it very well.

I write.

At least some of the time. And I don't really know why. I feel that somehow I can magically communicate with others in a way that's not possible in any other way. Both the Norse and the Ancient Egyptians felt that there was actual power, maybe even magic, in the written word. The Egyptians even thought part of your soul could be trapped in the written word. Perhaps they were right.

The last publisher who rejected my most recent novel is apparently no longer accepting new fiction writers. The current publisher where I have my novel submitted often asks for co-publishing fees of up to $3000 to publish new authors. 90% of all books submitted to publishers are rejected. Print-on-demand publishers cost a lot of money and receive no respect in the literary world, so it's hard to get your book into stores if you self-publish.

I write and I write and I write, but who is out there to read?

If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around, does it make a sound?

If I write a fantastic story from my heart and bare my very soul in my written word, does it really make a difference is nobody ever reads it?

I don't know. I really don’t. But yet I continue to write and continue to be rejected by those who are considered to be experts in knowing what is good and what is garbage.

The spirit of the human soul is powerful under considerable adversity and extreme stress. To continue amidst such overwhelming rejection in doing something in which you really believe is an extremely hard thing to do. Sometimes I just want to quit. Again.

But if you really believe in something, you must continue. Besides, I know if I quit, I’ll be back to do it again. And again. And again. Even if no one is reading.

I write. Perhaps I need therapy. Perhaps my writing is my therapy.

Six Word Story Contest Winners Announced!

Winners Announced on DarvellHunt.com

I had a great response in my Six Word Story contest, receiving 99 entries! Some were more like story ideas or introductions, but many were just what I was asking for. In fact, I decided to offer prizes to the top five entries instead of just three.

Here are the top five entries, in order:

1. Electricity's current struggle finds light resolution. By Daniel E. Clyne
2. They died. They came back. Run! By Jeff Savage
3. "Okay, where's the unicorns?" Noah asked. By Teri Anderson & Anna Maria Junus
4. Husband walks out. I let him. By Heather Wardell
5. Invisible man seeks counseling. Finds himself. By Daniel E. Clyne

Each of the first top five winners will receive a "shrunken guardian stone" from the world of Nephi Newman. (See description at www.DarvellHunt.com.)

There were also some excellent honorable mentions, which I've grouped in no particular order into "cable TV channel" categories. Here they are:

Lifetime Channel Honorable Mentions:

One affair. One bullet. Verdict: Vindication. By Krisann McFarland
Boys loved me, until my pregnancy. By Heather Wardell
Sadness abounds, love comes, happiness returns. By Beth S. Moore
Passion. Knife. Chase. Plea. Blood. Funeral. By Emily Huff
Empty pill bottle; cold limp hand. By Justin M Cole
Clean house, children born, messy house. By Christine Jensen
"John is dead!" she exclaimed, laughing. By Meredith E. Holderbaum
Carrie killed Porlock, avenging Daniel's murder. By Elsa Neal
Edna smiled over Floyd's stabbed body. By Kim Justesen
Dinner for one. Clock ticking slowly. By Holly Horton
Baby kidnapped. Years searching. Teenager found. By Carolyn Ann Aish
Until Saturday night, he lived alone. By Meredith E. Holderbaum
MURDER! Grief. Revenge sought. Forgiveness. Peace. By Carolyn Ann Aish
Winter, Snowman built. Spring, Snowman melts. By Brieanne Gerritsen
Son departed. Experience gained. Son returned. By Carolyn Ann Aish
Dad? Not now! Son? Not here. By Jeff Savage
She laughed. Tears were his goodbye. By Douglas Brown
Lost one mother. Last seen February. By Louise.


TLC Channel Honorable Mentions:

Florida alligators, purses, boots, cash, endangered. By Mary Ann Duke
"Charlie, your leg! How?" "Bit off." By George Trudeau
Lifelessness. Water, molecules, lightening: miracle. Life. By Gene Berger
Three . . . Two . . . One . . . Ignition! Pieces . . . falling. By Jeff Savage
The hawk sees. The rabbit runs. By Holly Horton
Unconquered mountain. Mentor. Learning. Struggle. Victory. By Emily Huff
Insomniac drinks warm milk. Good night. By Daniel E. Clyne
Einstein's report card: Albert is lazy. By Anna Maria Junus

Court TV Channel Honorable Mentions:

Screech. Bash. Creak. Curses! Click. BANG! By Douglas Brown
Man. Woman. Betrayal. Vengence. Murder. Justice. By Gene Berger
Burglaries stopped after carnival left town. By Justin M Cole
Found: wedding dress, Cross Bronx Expressway. By Meredith E. Holderbaum
Trap set. Victim approaching. Villain trapped. By Carolyn Ann Aish

The Sci-Fi Channel Honorable Mentions:

Earth. Alien visitation. Fear. Trust. Revelation. By Gene Berger
Hungry, thirsty, lumbering Dilpodocus among skyscrapers. By Lora Reynolds
Alien Grabs Human. Human yells help! By Andrew Cheever
Princess abducted. Prince searches universe. Reunion. By Carolyn Ann Aish
Oops! Mushroom cloud. Earth no more. By Alice Berger
It found them, although they hid. By Meredith E. Holderbaum
Woman dreams. Awakes. Or does she? By Gene Berger

CNN Honorable Mentions

Planes. Smoke. 9/11. She weeps. By Krisann McFarland
Roe v. Wade, A lifetime later. By Steven O'Dell
Twin Towers. Three planes. Patriotism. Vengeance! By Alice Berger

Disney Channel Honorable Mentions:

Students playing. Teacher comes. Students stop. By Andrew Cheever
Teenager sleeping. Mother cooking. Teenager awakes. By Andrew Cheever
"Sure, I can ski," I lied. By Anna Marie Junus
"I can so fly! Watch me!" By Anna Marie Junus

Comedy Central Honorable Mentions:

"Just one bite, Adam," Eve pleaded. By Anna Marie Janus
Her concise writing won the contest. By Trina Boice
What? No dinner thawed? Cold shoulder. By Shirley Bahlmann
Old age is fine. Alternative death. By Beth S. Moore
Used parachute for sale. Never opened. By Carolyn Ann Aish
Barbecue stolen. Hamburger gets grilled. Confesses. By Daniel E. Clyne


Those are what I considered to be the best entries. A different judge may have
different winners, but these are the ones I liked. Thanks to everybody who entered. It
was a lot of fun reading them all. If you didn't win or didn't have your entries posted,
try again next time. I'll be offering another contest soon. Check back later!

I'd also like to thank Heather Justesen, Mary Greathouse and Kaitie Parker for helping with the judging.

Entries were judged on six words making a complete story, including having at least one character (not necessarily human!), some sort of conflict, and hopefully some sort of resolution. Creativeness and cleverness were also rated highly during judging. Entries posted with permission (which was given as a requirement for submission). Copyright retained by individual writers.