A Sweet, No-Bake Tale of Success
You are a lover of words. One day, you will write a book.
That fortune, cracked free of a cookie after eating my favorite Chinese meal of chicken and broccoli (extra spicy), resonated with me. I did love words. I did want to write a book. In fact, I’d been writing children’s picture book manuscripts for over a year. I wasn’t choosing the right sort of words for children’s books, though—words like “Go, dog. Go.” I liked words that filled a mouth with multiple syllables and a mind with interesting possibilities—words like unbounded and asymmetry and cryptophasia and hallucination.
So, with the fortune cookie slip before me, I began writing a novel for adults. The year: 2002. I intended it to be a romance, because I had a friend who loved the genre. But the story wanted to grow beyond the traditional bounds of romance; there were twin sisters here with something to say—about a tragedy and music and misunderstandings—not to mention a Javanese artifact, an antique dagger called a keris, bent on having a starring role.
Two years later, after hacking 40,000 words off the manuscript and polishing the surviving sentences, I queried agents, still not 100% sure of what I’d written. Turns out, I wasn’t alone.
“The premise of your book is compelling and the writing evocative,” one agent wrote in her rejection letter, “but the tone and set-up make this novel a bit difficult to categorize.”
“The scope of your novel is too broad for a contemporary romance,” said another.
Agent Deidre Knight took the time to explain why the manuscript would be a difficult sell: While the love story drove the plot, the relationship between the sisters provided the most intense emotional moments. “My gut tells me you probably have a part of you that either wants to write women’s fic, or that ultimately *will* write women’s fic,” she said. “My gut tells me you need to write something bigger than romance.”
This? Depressing. I’d worked on the story for so long, making time for it while mothering my two children and between nonfiction jobs (I’d been a freelance health writer). I’d given up sleep. Given up television. My fortune cookie slip hadn’t predicted failure.
I tried to work on something new, but the desire to do my already rejected story justice gnawed at me. Eventually, I committed to a rewrite. I tucked the first incarnation of the tale into a box, and focused on the twins, looking for more. What hadn’t these characters already revealed to me? I cast off my developed notions about who they were, what they wanted, even whose story needed to be told. I decided to interweave narratives to better explore Maeve and Moira Leahy’s unique, magical relationship. I added new characters, left old ones to molder on the cutting-room floor. I turned the plot on its ear. I studied my craft.
Three years and several gray hairs later, I finished writing my 400-page manuscript for the second time and editing it for the 100th. There was still a love story there, along with elements from other genres—mystery, suspense, even mythical realism. But this time when I submitted it, I knew it belonged in the emotionally honest genre that is women’s fiction. Luckily for me, an important someone agreed; Elisabeth Weed became my agent, and sold my story to Shaye Areheart Books, an imprint of Random House, in a two-book deal.
After seven years, this word lover’s “one day” has finally arrived; I have written a book.
I credit the fortune cookie.
To learn more about Therese, please visit her website here.
Therese, great story behind the story! The fortune cookie will look great in the acknowledgments. LOL
Posted by: Edie | June 19, 2009 at 05:03 PM
Love the fortune cookie and am so glad it worked. Sounds like a wonderful story!
Posted by: Mary Marvella | June 19, 2009 at 06:24 PM
A great story, Therese, and a wonderful example of perseverance.
Best,
Barbara
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Posted by: Barbara White Daille | June 19, 2009 at 06:51 PM
While you may credit the fortune cookie, Therese, I credit your talent, perseverance and a lifelong dream. Congratulations!
Posted by: Larramiefg | June 19, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Therese,
Everything in its own season. That fortune cookie was there at the perfect moment, waiting for you to crack it open ... just like THE LAST WILL OF MOIRA LEAHY needed the perfect time for you to be ready to crack the characters wide open ... and now your dream is coming true.
HOORAY, YOU !!!
All best,
Kathleen
Posted by: Kathleen Irene Paterka | June 20, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Congratulations! It's very hard to take something we've worked so hard on and then be told "this isn't what you meant to do - what you meant to do is something else. . . " And then to have to rip it asunder - but it sounds as if this was the right thing for you to do!
Posted by: kat magendie | June 21, 2009 at 11:23 AM
You know, every time I read anything about this book, or about your writing of it, I get a complete goosebumps sensation of magic happening.
I'm so excited for you, Therese, it's just wonderful what you've achieved!
Posted by: Anna Louise Lucia | June 22, 2009 at 02:34 AM
I love this backstory, such great serendipity and perseverance...and I can't wait to read the book.
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Posted by: Dissertation Writing Help | July 06, 2009 at 08:17 AM
This is exactly how I feel about my writing, like it won't leave me alone. Even days when I want to give up, it haunts me. Glad you persevered over the years and have found your voice.
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Posted by: Nero | September 23, 2009 at 06:06 PM
Great to read the background behind the development of your novel. Just shows that it's a hard slog, but if you stick to it (and maybe have the help of a fortune cookie) you can get there :)
Marc
http://www.short-story.net
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Posted by: Dissertation Editing | October 20, 2009 at 05:44 AM
Your story inspired me. I really, really love to write a book someday. Just don't know where to start... I guess, I should start by cracking more fortune cookies... hahaha. Its a joke. But kidding aside, thanks for this very enocuraging post. :-)
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