Virtual Book Tour for Sunrise Underground by Kayla Bulster

Welcome to my stop on the Virtual Book Tour, presented by Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours, for Sunrise Underground by Kayla Bulster.  Please leave a comment or question for Kayla to let her know you stopped by.  You may follow all of the stops on the tour by clicking on the banner above.   

It’s Not You, It’s Me – Dealing with Rejection While Querying by Kayla Bulster

It doesn’t matter how many times we tell ourselves that such-and-such famous author was rejected twelve, twenty, fifty times before they found their publisher, it still smarts when we open the email with the proverbial red reject stamp on it. Don’t they know how much work you put into that manuscript? Don’t they know how much you’ve edited and slaved (which are synonymous, by the way)? No, they don’t. And as much as this might hurt to hear, they probably don’t care.

Which is why you must remember that it’s not you, it’s them… at least most of the time.

Agents and publishers work a precarious industry that is driven by fickle readers who expect instant gratification. Even if you’ve researched an agent, there is no telling what is already in the works for them at the moment you query. For example, Awesome Agent might have posted that they were looking for a middle grade, coming-of-age about a boy who travels to Timbuktu to learn underwater basket weaving. “I have that exact manuscript!” you exclaim to yourself while Googling Awesome Agent’s email address. Six weeks later, you tearfully swallow your Rocky Road thinking, “maybe I’m not meant to write.” What you don’t know is that Awesome Agent read another manuscript and decided to go in another direction.

Hyperbolic illustration aside, the point is that unless you personally know an agent, it’s unlikely that you will know exactly what they are looking for. Outside of researching an agent, there is nothing you can really do beside query and cross your fingers.

So what do you do when the endless rejection emails are slowly deflating your confidence while inflating your waistline?

First, get a support system. Other writers and beta readers not only help you build confidence in your skills, but allow you to continue honing your craft in a safe capacity. Bounce ideas off of other authors, share your querying experiences, join a blog, send excerpts to beta readers for feedback. This can help to anchor your self-esteem while strengthening your writing skills.

And keep writing. Work on your next novel, build your platform, write a couple of personal narratives. There’s a reason you chose to write - you must enjoy it, yes? So keep writing! Take your mind off of the querying through creative outlet.

But… it might actually be you.

Is your manuscript fully edited? Have you invested in a professional to read and critique your query? Have beta readers pointed out subtle flaws that need to be fixed before an agent even sets eyes on your manuscript? If you haven’t done these things, then it might, indeed, be you. And you need to work on that baggage before you go dragging it through the query process. If you don’t, it’ll only lead to more heartache for you. Get your manuscript and query as polished as possible before your present it to any agent or editor.

And don’t forget to keep writing. 

Sunrise Underground

By Kayla Bulster

Publisher:   Anaiah Surge

Release Date: August 9, 2016

Genre: Contemporary YA Suspense

Length: 252 Pages

ISBN:  978-0997727852

ASIN:  B01JNF40ZI

Buy Links:  Amazon  | Smashwords

About the book:

For Tilly White, ballet is her only escape from life, from her grief over her mother’s and brother’s deaths, and from her abusive stepfather, Fletcher. Late one evening as she leaves the studio, someone throws her into a van. But before they can carry out their plan, a mysterious boy rescues her… and steals her necklace?

Desperate to reclaim the last item she has of her family, Tilly chases her rescuer into the sewers where she discovers a secret society of ninjas. Through training with them, she learns to have real faith, which she’ll need when the job gets all too personal. The ninjas investigate a local mob boss to find Tilly’s best friend caught up in the mess. Fletcher might be involved, too! Her only allies are these ninjas she barely knows. Tilly will need to rely on her faith and her colleagues to save her friend.

About the Author:

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in education, Kayla began working as a high school American Sign Language and English teacher. Her debut novel, Wishful Thinking, was originally released by Mckinney ePublishing in 2011. Kayla used her experience as a martial artist, and stories from her high school students as inspiration for Sunrise Underground. When she is not writing or teaching, she works as an actress where she continues to develop her skills as a storyteller. She lives with her husband and dog in San Diego, California.

Contact Links

Website: http://www.kaylabulster.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8089819.Kayla_Bulster

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkaylabulster

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaybulster