In 1979 my first YA novel, Angel
Dust Blues, was published to good reviews. I managed to follow up through the
early 1980s with more well-received novels, but like most careers that get off
to a good start, mine was bound to hit a pot hole sooner or later. And so not
surprisingly, toward the end of the decade I sank into a rut with books that neither
sold well nor received particularly good reviews.
As a result, invitations to speak at
major conferences started to slow, along with interview requests, bookstore
signings, etc. I began to fret that readers, and my publisher, might be tempted
to assume that my best work was behind me.
Worried about my future as a writer,
I resolved to stage a comeback, and worked extra hard to create three new
proposals for timely, cutting-edge, hard-hitting YAs that, I believed, were
sure to be praise-worthy, money-making award winners. My strategy was simple:
if I pitched three, my editor would feel compelled to approve at least one of
them.
When the Day of Judgment arrived, I
clomped into my editor’s office armed with engaging plot summaries and detailed
outlines. I pitched the three book ideas passionately, describing key scenes
and plot points, surprise twists, and unexpectedly satisfying conclusions.
Having put everything I could into
this effort, I ended by telling my editor how eager I was to begin work on at
least two of the books immediately.