(Conversation With A Literary Agent: Selling Your Soul)
Me: It is a warm, witty (hopefully, though God alone knows how many of us try to pass off the unfunny by calling it warm and witty) novel; friends-on-an-adventure facing insurmountable odds…
Devil: Is there an alien in it?
Me: Yes, but…
Devil: Science Fiction.
Me: No, but…
Devil: No Sci-Fi for me.
Me: Me, either.
Devil: (Recorded message) Thank you for considering me for submission of your manuscript. I kindly ask that you refrain from darkening my doorstep in the future.
Me: It’s not Science Fiction! Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
Devil: Cloven hoof tapping impatiently.
Me: Think of it as a coming-of (voice lowers to whisper) -space- (louder) age story!
Devil: SF.
Me: No, not at all! Geez. Never. I mean there is romance in there, and a few NSFW scenes that while gratuitous, certainly do serve to move the story along…
Devil: SF!
Me: No! I do not write erotica.
Devil: Static on line; indeterminate rumbling that sounds a lot like “Maybe you should.”
Me: Who’s to say this didn’t really happen? Or that it won’t happen? The whole sci-fi world doesn’t have to be riddled with Stephen King monsters, or werewolves or vampires. Sookie Stackhouse would love Ros!
Devil: Dial tone.
Me: Oh, Ros. I miss you so. I mean, I would miss you if you had actually…Oops. My lips are zipped.
Ros was taped before a live studio audience. For a transcript of the show, please visit Ros!
Dee DeTarsio 