Rejection is often such a horrible thing, stirring those deeply held feelings of just-not-good-enough and what’s-wrong-with-me. Usually I’m all on board with that and would happily seek out a tub of expensive ice cream to replace one queasy feeling with another.

Image: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

However, recently I got a rejection from a publisher for my manuscript and while it was a little disappointing not to get picked up, I can’t say I’m shattered by the experience. If anything I’m buoyed by it.

The publisher had requested a full of my manuscript, The Beckoning Blood, in 2010. Unfortunately, due to a lot of things going on, I wasn’t able to submit this until November 2011. With Christmas fast approaching, I was informed that I’d have an answer in January about what would happen with the book.

Last week I received an email in my inbox whose subject line set my innards rolling.

The publisher said my writing was strong and original (YAY!) but unfortunately it wouldn’t have worked for them, mostly because I’m pitching it as part of a trilogy and they can’t commit to three books at this time, what with the state of publishing. They had to be certain it would sell a lot of books early in its life and there’s no denying my book is not of-the-norm.

However, the publisher did say they believed the book would sell through word of mouth and encouraged me to approach other publishers.

To be honest, I couldn’t have gotten a warmer, nicer rejection letter that, while didn’t deliver the result I’d hoped for, nevertheless gave me hope for the future.

Who could ask for more in the circumstances?

So now I’m polishing up my synopsis once more and getting ready to send it out to other publishers. Wish me luck.