In the history of my querying agents and publishers, I got the most encouraging rejection today :)…It was from a publisher in south Africa (Penguin Books) and I’d queried her about my manuscript Love at Dawn and this is what she had to say:
Thank you for giving Penguin the opportunity to consider your manuscript for publication. Our editorial team has finished reviewing the material you sent through and unfortunately we have decided not to make an offer to publish. Although your manuscript is readable and engaging, publishing fiction, in a small market like South Africa, is risky. We are only able to commit to publishing five or six new fiction titles a year, and as there are many manuscripts competing for acceptance to our list, we have decided not to pursue publication of this novel. Our editorial team suggested that you get in touch with a literary agent who could possibly represent you overseas as this piece of work would suit their market best, and as you probably already know, the South African fiction market is fickle and complex at the best of times and we are very careful about what we choose to try and publish into it.
The most important thing is that she said that my manuscript is READABLE AND ENGAGING. So I am encouraged, I’ll keep trudging on no matter what! 🙂
Wish me luck!
Lara Daniels 