Appeal

Dear Readers and Friends,

In my previous post, I told you about my retirement and I thank you all for the wonderful messages I got. My retirement was not entirely voluntary, mostly due to my health issues. I also plan to be a full-time writer.

As you know I hope to be published by a traditional publisher. Like TOR, Penguin or Simon and Shuster, etc. I was told I needed a professional editor and then I found out, that most of the big publishers do not accept unsolicited materials, but solely accept submissions by literary agents. To be represented by a reputable agent is also not all that easy. You need a so-called query letter and of course agents that accept such a letter. Generally speaking, literary agents take 15% of your total income from the first sale of your book before taxes. For example, if you receive a $10,000 advance on the first sale of the book to a major publisher, your literary agent will take a commission of $1,500. Now I was successful in getting an agent. It is for a new story and novel btw, as the stories I have published on SOL and Fictionpress are available for free and the publishers, according to the agent will not buy a book that competes with a free version. Patreon is okay, as it is paid btw. But I still need to have my new novel edited and I am $500.00 short. I liquidated what I can but due to my medical expenses over the last two years, there isn't much left. I have a deadline now, to submit a manuscript. So here is the big thing.

I want to ask if you guys can lend me the money. I am so close to a real breakthrough and I feel I you my readers understand why I dare to ask this. I have exhausted any other avenues. So I am asking you. I am able to pay it back, by January.

So please don't be offended by my plea, simply ignore it if it does.

Thank you for listening,

Vanessa Ravencroft

https://www.gofundme.com/f/galactic-chronicles-needs-editing