Hi all. I just thought I would take this opportunity to introduce myself. I'm Meg, Peat's new assistant. I have been reading the forums, and I am really excited to begin posting new contests and announcements concerning everybody's favorite fantasy series!

So please, don't be a stranger, if you have any questions, comments or just feel like chatting, let me know!

-Meg

Hey Nazgul,

I don't spend as much time on the forum as I'd like, but Meg alerted me to your question.

I would like to preface my answer by saying that the number of rejections one receives is in some way irrelevant. I know of great books rejected by everyone under the sun that went on to be bestsellers, and awful books that authors continued to try and sell, even when it should have become apparent they were sullying their good name because they were too stubborn to give a ship up as lost.

I did most of my rejecting all by myself. I started writing novels at 17, and between then and the time I was 32 I wrote 4.5 novels, all of which I showed my friends but never submitted to publishers or agents. Why? Because I felt my writing wasn't good enough to even show anyone. It wasn't until I met Joshua Bilmes, my now-agent (www.awfulagent.com) at a party and he lectured me on the perils of self-rejection that I sent in my first manuscript to him.

He promptly rejected it.

In retrospect, he was right to do so. The book was not at a pro level. I sent in two other books after that, both of which were rejected as well (as they should have been). Joshua then sat me down and we talked about writing for a long time. He gave me a book called Writing to Sell by Scott Meredith and told me to read it, and then go back and fix the first book I sent him. I did, throwing out 60% of that book and spending a year rewriting it.

That book was the Painted Man, and he agreed to represent it immediately. It was rejected by three major publishers before the others started bidding on it.

So that's my story. Others will vary.

Good luck to your friend! Writing is a long road, and lonely at times, but it can be rewarding as hell.

Flying_Phoenix said:

Hello Meg!

Nice to meet you! I'm sure you'll be shot at with questions in due time

My question 1 for you: Do you know more about the process of filming of the books? There where hardly any information on that topic, just wild speculations and fantasies.

From me as well: Welcome to the family! 

Hi! Nice to meet you as well! And thank you, I am excited to be here.

In answer to your question: the movies are optioned, but the producers have not yet 

exercised the option, which means they do not yet have a green light to film. It may be
weeks, years, or never.

Let me know if you have any other questions or thoughts!

~Meg