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Writer's pictureJeh Bruce

The Quest Continues...

Updated: Oct 5, 2021

So, this week I decided to start querying publishers about a novella I wrote some time ago. I'd been encouraged by my then agent to stretch my creative wings by tackling something I'd never tried: a short story. I'd always written novels, and usually novels well over 150,000 words. I think part of my reluctance was due to the fact that I personally wasn't a huge fan of short stories--I'd read many I'd enjoyed, but for the most part they left me unsatisfied and wanting more. He persisted, as he wanted to put together a collection of short stories, one from each of his authors, and each with a unique take on dragons. To sweeten the pot, he kept mentioning that such a collection would broaden my appeal and reach to readers. My offering was "Fragments of the Original Earth," the premise of which was that it would be relatively simple, in our internet age, for mythical creatures to exist in our midst without us ever being aware of their presence. Every "creature comfort" such beings would possibly need could be delivered, often within a day or two, and better, left on doorsteps without any need for one-on-one interactions with the delivery person. Dragons and other magical and mythical beasts could in fact be all around us, hiding in plain sight and patiently waiting for the UPS guy to stop by. Sadly, the project never took off. The agent, who was prone to grandiose plans, quickly lost interest in it and shortly thereafter he and I went our separate ways--not because of this, but because he decided to focus solely on one author, his only "name-recognition" author, to the detriment of the rest of his clients. In a case of turn about being fair play, this unnamed author, now that he'd hit the big time, was attracting big name literary agencies, all wanting him to sign with them. So why did he need a second-tier agent representing him? Well, simply put, he didn't. Goes to prove one good screw job deserves another. But I digress....

(Sadly I do not know the artist who created this lovely illustration).


I shelved the story for almost ten years. But with covid and lock-downs and staying at home and everyone who could afford buying what they needed on line and having it delivered, I decided to dust it off last year, rewrite and update it, upping the word-count into novella range, and then start querying again, as it seemed like a story fit for the times we were all living through. I didn't take into account that due to the pandemic, few indie presses were buying novels, much less novellas. My hope to see it published in 2020 fell by the wayside. I figured I'd give much of 2021 a pass as the market for novellas remained soft and scant, but in the past couple of weeks, two publishers have come to my attention that are actively seeking fantasy and Scifi novellas, so...fingers crossed. If the first one I queried isn't interested, I have a plan B (the decision who to send it to first was done by a flip of a coin as both appear legit and both are active on social media). As for the below cartoon, well...it touches on a point made during the story, and it made me laugh.










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