Deborah 8

Chad starts cheerfully, "I read all six of your sci fi selections; good choices."
"Thank you, been a fan long?"
"Ages, see in the CFL (Canadian Football League), it's not like the Americans, more of a cottage industry. Everyone has day jobs, most pay more than football."
"I'm not a sports fan, but that much I know."
"To make a long story short, my wife claims I'm driving her nuts since leaving football. Decided to write a sci fi book. Could you spare a few minutes to talk?"
"Oh yes."
"I like to be practical, so where is the market demand, which sub-genre?"
"Chad, right now it's alternate history or universe. That being said, it's not wise to write for market, fads come and go. Everything has it's turn, reappears in a few years. You still in your day job?"
"Oh yes."
"Then think two years for completed manuscript. The first draft, the most creative part, is really only a third of the overall work. Then unlikely that first publisher accepts; let's say it's the second or third. From the day you start your outline to seeing your book on store shelves, could be five years."
"Ah I see, chasing trends is pointless. What do you suggest?"
"Simply do what you know well and like. Suppose you took a course in French history in university, liked it. Consider a fictional football team driving into a time warp, ending up in your favorite period of French history."
"Which means it rings more true. Is that how you pick em?"
"Yes, there's an unmistakable air that says authentic. I can usually spot a lazy or inept researcher by page three."
"Any other suggestions?"
"In some way, make Americans part of your story, say import football players. If there is no American content, it simply flops in the USA."
"Thank you so much. Which word processing program do you feel is best and why?"
Col Anderson phones, "what I have to say is for officers and Sgt's only. Are you ok to talk now?"
"Go ahead ma'am."
"There are two tours up for grabs. The Americans lease that big air base near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Once again, they're short of perimeter security. The British Army is one battalion short for XMG (Crossmaglen, Ulster). Each tour is a year. I am ordered to get a vote of officers and Sgt's. No guarantee we get either, others are voting too. Only guarantee, if we're unhappy, we have right of refusal. Like to take time to think, call me back?"
"No ma'am, I've decided, XMG."
"May I ask why?"
"Most of our contingent has never experienced the rigors of Saskatchewan climate, ma'am, from +40 to -40. Low class job like that, you can forget any discipline or professionalism. But knowing Paddy is watching, that makes people perform. Then money, to my knowledge my entire platoon has debts of some sort, car or student loan. The Saskatchewan job gives an allowance sufficient to buy a pack of cigs; Ulster gives overseas tour bonus, red zone category."
She laughs, "let you know if and when there is news. As an aside, your response is the unanimous verdict so far."
It is the grimmest meeting I've seen: myself, Murray and the four novella selectors.
Murray starts uneasily, "as you know, we are discontinuing the sci fi experiment. Simply did not meet financial projections. As for romance, I have obtained Deborah's agreement to select S&M and historical. Now the other four romances, yes I hear you, it is a waste of time to have four of you trekking the same slush pile. Since we have no volunteers, only fair way is to draw."
Tension is electric as his hand reaches for the box.
Goofy smile, "Deborah is now handling the romance novella line."
I groooan inwardly, but what can you do?

(So ends Part One; the blog could be inactive for several months as Part Two is prepared.)