Once upon a time, for a short while, The Music of Chaos was a webcomic. Because nobody (not even Edward of Twilight) does moping and angst like I do, I decided I would never, evah get the manuscript published. In a fit of pathos, I turned it into a graphic novel.
About 90 pages in, I came to my senses and went back to trying to sell the story to publishers.
Over at Romance Writer’s Revenge blog, I was asked to tell my story of the Call with The Music of Chaos. This is where most authors get to describe the giddy excitement, the celebration, that came with signing the contract and publishing their book.
My version of the story, at least with the final acceptance that led to publication, could be summed up as “a shrug.” The Music of Chaos has had a total of four acceptances. (Plus a NY editor who loved the early chapters. Story for ‘nother time.)
Two of the publishers, I turned down. One because the publisher had (and to this day still has), butt-ugly Poser-generated covers. Another, because the publisher had the contract from hell. Secondary rights were mis-identified as primary rights; it was riddled with contradictions; and it took all rights including a merchandising clause that gave them rights to the webcomic. Actually, it even gave them rights to artwork (not created by me) in an illustrated anthology.
Did I mention this was a little known, epublisher who has about as much chance of selling TMOC merchandise as I have for winning American Idol? Yeah. Ridiculous.
Anyway, poor Decadent Publishing got TMOC when my enthusiasm for publishing was running on fumes. But they’ve proven, so far, to be a good home for the story that wouldn’t give up (even if its author did). My book was edited, edited, and just when I thought it was safe to open my email– “It’s back!” –edited some more. Which is, as Martha Stewart would say, “…a good thing.”
Wanna read a sample? Chapter One can be read in its entirety, here.
I admit I’m a curmudgeon. I’ve never been a fan of inspirational films, or at least, films that so self-consciously flog the zero-to-hero trope. Also, for reasons which now escape me, back in the day, I really didn’t like Ralph Macchio. So I’ve never seen the original Karate Kid.
