Quirks are us

I recently finished writing a story about grace, redemption, Lucifer and salamanders (The fiery ones) in Renaissance Italy.  Leonardo DaVinci builds them a steam-powered motorcycle.

I am currently working on a story about mutant ducks from outer space.  I don't know who wins, yet.

Publishers want something new and fresh but just like something that is a proven success.  They are, after all, in the business of making money.  And the publishing industry is struggling.  People don't read anymore, and they definitely don't read entire books.  Unless they are worthy factual tomes or full color art books which don't actually get read so much as gazed at.

People read Facebook posts and tweets and maybe, occasionally, a whole blog post (thank you!) but, for the most part, our attention span has been curtailed to, "Bites." National Geographic has turned into USA Today on a global scale. (I'm going to let my subscription expire) And how many magazines carry stories anymore?  It used to be that almost every magazine featured regular columnists who wrote graceful essays.  And there was usually a short story or two included to showcase new authors.  Most of our great authors got their start this way

Independent publishing is an option, but without an editor's guiding hand, writers are not learning how to polish their prose. Successful authors are sticking with the formulas that sell, and no one is cultivating the upcoming stars.    I had a dream of being on every airport bookstand in the country.  I have not won that lottery.

So why do I write?  Because I need to.  Because it is good for me.  Because I am vastly entertained by the things I come up with.  My subconscious is much smarter than my conscious mind, and when I let it out to play, it's wonderfully, whimsically creative.  (Ok, sometimes it makes little animals out of my own poop, metaphorically speaking, but not much anymore. And the more I write, the less likely that is to happen.)

I write so I know what I'm thinking.  I write because It allows me to get emotions down on paper so I can own them.  Clearly, I am not writing for the mass market.  I will never make a living on my wordsmithing.

And yet - - and yet - - I have spent the money to keep all four of my novels current with the publisher.  Hope is a thing that lingers when logic gives up and goes somewhere else.

Sanna, Sorceress Apprentice
Sanna and the Dragons
Sanna Meets Dauntless Swiftsure
Sanna and the Empress

 by Roxanna Matthews

Available  on Amazon or from Inkwater Press in paperback or Kindle.