Book Two

Since starting to write my latest novel - 'Indigo Antfarm, Violet and Blue' - I've had a slight niggle at the back of my mind about what I'm going to do once it's finished. Of course, I'll send it on the round of publishers and agents as I have done with 'Ginnungagaps' and 'Nearly King Jimbo' but it's the covering letter that goes with the three sample chapters and synopsis that bothers me. You're supposed to mention things like 'I have another book of a similar ilk in the pipe-line' to show your potential agent/publisher that you are not a one-trick pony and you are continuing doggedly in your chosen genre regardless of whether your latest offering will be accepted. If you can offer more of the same, you are more attractive to the publishing world.

The problem is, that I don't have a follow on for this latest project.

'Ginnungagaps' has a follow-up planned called 'The Valentine Child. ' 'Nearly King Jimbo' has many follow-ups charting the various adventures of my alternative hero and his best friend Alice- a whole library-full in fact, along with a periodical magazine and Christmas Annual Special. But 'Indigo Antfarm, Violet and Blue'? Nothing. Not a bean.

'So, Denise, what are you planning as a follow up for this strangely dark yet fascinating family saga?'
'Err, dunno. Nothing. This is it. It's all I've got. Unless you want to have a look at my two previous books.'
'Oh yes?What are they about then?'
'One's about a boy called Geronimo Jackson and his pet hampire and the other is about a Prince who loses out his kingship to a coat-stand.'
'Riiiiiiiight. Bye then.'

I think my problem stems from the fact I've never written anything like this before. It is a completely alien style to me. I was editing the first 10,000 words today and even though I had written it and knew what was going to happen next, I was thinking, this is really weird, this book. And then I wrote another 3,000 words, letting the narrative go where it would and I was thinking, perhaps I should book myself into therapy now because there is something very strange occurring with my thought processes.

Yet the feedback I've had from readers so far has been very positive and so I'll carry on. They tend to cry, which I am assured is a good thing, but still the question of a follow-up bothers me.

Until today when I was walking home from Sainsbugs, laden with two heavy shopping bags, cursing my stupidity in buying things like 3lb bags of flour, whole chickens and hefty hands of bananas when I don't have the luxury of a car to tote them home in. I glanced across the park as I began my ascent of the slight incline homeward and there was the second title. BAM! The book that will follow 'Indigo Antfarm, Violet and Blue' will be called 'White Violet.' I don't know what it will be about but that doesn't matter. I needed a title and a title I got.

And now I feel happier to continue writing as long and as fast as I can because I know there is something to carry on with after I've finished this one. I won't sit waiting for the next wave of rejection letters to drop through the letterbox because I shall already be moving forward with the next project. By receiving this title -'White Violet' -I've been told by the powers-that-be to carry on and carry one and never mind the ever-expanding rejection letter file.

I suppose this is where writing is like gardening. As soon as one thing is in and growing, there's something else waiting in the wings to carry the baton, to keep you moving forward in life, constantly planning and doing, enjoying the process and reaping the rewards for hard work (in the gardening, anyway! Ah, if only publishing contracts appeared like courgettes!!)

Writing and gardening, gardening and writing. I love it! It's a very good way to be indeed.