A brief post today with a couple of recent photos, which clearly have the Neil touch.
I have decided on the name of the autobiography I am never going to write, ‘Almost, but not Quite.’ I’ve always thought this sums up most of many people’s lives, and it can be said about times in mine when I’ve almost got there, but didn’t. I am thinking about, say, that job promotion which I went for three times and was told ‘Almost, but not quite’ until I finally got it. Then, there was the time I entered a musical for the Vivian Ellis Prize, where the judges were big names in musical theatre, and, although shortlisted, it ultimately didn’t win (though Sir Tim Rice did jot a note in the margin, ‘There is some incredible talent here.’ Thanks, Tim). There was another time when the theatre in Brighton entered another of my shows, ‘Risk’, into the Arts Council of England Drama Awards, and it was nominated for 11 out of 13 categories, and won none (because it was a musical drama and everything else was a play). They did give us a special award for creativity because they felt sorry for us, I guess.
I’m sure I could think of others, but… Oh, there was one that happened last week. You know how I’ve mentioned spam promoters of late? The new AI-driven drivel from desperadoes hoping to make a quick buck by doing nothing, and who have no idea about books or publishing at all? Well, I received a genuine one last week, from HarperCollins. More importantly, from someone in an editorial leadership role, and more importantly still, it was genuine. She was interested in ‘Bobby’ and whether I was planning to write any more similar biographies, and what else was I up to? Could I send a sample etc.
So, I contacted her (having had my spies make sure this was genuine and not someone using HarperCollins’ name – and yes, very genuine). We had a quick exchange of very pleasant and helpful emails. I told her what I am doing, and she put me in touch with an agent – I thanked her, and her last contact was along the lines of, ‘good luck, and I hope to hear from you again when you have representation.’ So… I contacted the agent using this person’s name as advised, and saying what she told me to say (honestly, she is/was so helpful and encouraging), and the agent wrote back asking for the standard submission of the work I want them to consider and a usual covering letter. Anyway… So I’ve done that, though I don’t have anything for them to consider because I am finishing a series of self-published books, which won’t be of interest to them because they are not new. I sent them one so they could see what I can do. Anyway, another of those feelings of ‘almost but not quite,’ and here’s a goat.
I’m more than happy not going down that ‘traditional’ route with all its restrictions and having to speak to people and stuff. So, I shall potter on with what I enjoy doing and leave it at that (unless the agent gets back to me, of course). What I can say, though, is that I have reached the year of my birth (1963 without the 19), and that is a definite, not an ‘almost, but not quite.’
