Friday, December 31, 2010

Writing in public, 2010

I've been trying to write this post for days but threw out my drafts. We're in the French Quarter for the holiday weekend, and I just received the contract for my New Orleans novel by email. Haven't had a drink but I feel pretty drunk right now. Not joking, I'm woozy.

so, details. The publisher is IG Publishing, and we've been working back and forth since last new year's eve. There will be a few more edits and we have yet to settle on a title, so suggestions are welcome. Here was/is the query:

If you had one wish to change the world, what would it be? Now what if it had to be your dying wish?

In post-Katrina New Orleans, final words can cure cancer, wreck economies, and eliminate house cats. Divorced and disgraced up north, Victor hopes to re-invent himself in the French Quarter where he lives with and works for his son in a vintage shop making corsets and capes. All he wants is a quiet, drunken, carefree life,but after a series of eccentric deathbed wishes come true — including the return of the 1967 Elvis, clouds turned orange, and mothers growing third eyes — Death Wish hysteria forces Vic into action. Along with his entrepreneurial son Val, and his libertine friend Martine, Victor must battle the apocalyptics who have seduced his lovely neighbor Pebbles away from her true vocation of singing the blues (very badly). But Victor must also confront his mortal identity: just what would he wish for the world, especially the world without him in it?

Some stories adapted from the novel have appeared in Juked, Barrelhouse, Pank, killlauthor, and Storyglossia. the Juked one probably captures the spirit of the book in the briefest space, but the Barrelhouse story (in print, issue 7) comes closest plot and style-wise.

My students say the book falls into the genre of urban fantasy, whatever the heck that is.


I love you all. Going out for lunch. Going to try not to hug random New Orleans bums and aristocrats. Happy New Year.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I already said it on Facebook, but again--truly, congratulations. You securing a contract leaves me happy knowing that hardworking, good writers (from Virginia!) can make it happen. Have a great New Year's, and I say hug as many damn strangers as you want. It's New Orleans, I would've thought of all places...!

R. Gay said...

Congratulations. I look forward to reading the whole book.

Steve said...

I say the book falls into the genre of awesome. And I've read it, so I should know, right?

Congratulations. I'm thrilled for you, and for everyone who can look forward to reading it.

Steve said...

Also, I have combed just about every Elvis lyric I could find, and every version of "When The Levee Breaks" looking for title suggestions. I've still got nothing. Sorry.

Jason Jordan said...

Congrats, LES. That's great! I'll pick it up.

Ethel Rohan said...

Terrific, news, Laura, congratulations and well done. I look forward to the read. Cheers!

Teaberry said...

Just. Plain. Awesome.

Laura Ellen Scott said...

Looks like we have settled on a title: Death Wishing. Thank you all for your enthusiasm!