You never know which way the winds are going to blow. The tides are constantly changing. There is a considerable time lag between book conception and publication. Even if you write something in line with the current market trends, the publishing landscape may change before your writing project has been brought to fruition.
The good news is that I finished the draft of my second book and sent it off to my beta readers. The bad news is that my first book hasn’t found a home yet. I called my agent to let her know that the second manuscript had been completed and inquire about the status of the first. She said that she’d submitted my book to the top ten publishing houses for cozies. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any takers.
One editor said it wasn’t cozy enough. Another editor said it was too cozy. The majority of the publishers said that they weren’t accepting any more cozy mysteries at the moment. Supposedly, the market was trending toward thrillers. After she received a half dozen responses with the same theme, she decided to hold off on further submissions for now. Better to wait until the tide turns.
My agent told me that the editorial opinions were totally subjective and not to let them get me down. Easier said than done. My agent said that she was convinced I’d already be published if the trends hadn’t shifted. Not sure if that’s true, but it’s sweet of her to say. Although, it makes me feel like I’m staring at the taillights of the bus I barely missed as it disappears into the distance. Hopefully, another bus will come along shortly.
I read an interesting article about the anticipated genre trends in the publishing industry this year. https://shewrites.com/genre-trends-in-publishing-for-2025/ The author stated, “No genre ever really dies, there are rises and falls of all niches across time.” And she asserted, “Writing the story that calls you is never a bad choice…[e]very book can find readers.” So, with those words of encouragement, I decided to continue answering the call of my inner muse and writing the stories that beckon me.
