I decided to part ways with the agent I spoke about in my last post.  Let's just say that I was having problems with this management style.  It was a hard decision; he was unfailingly charming and encouraging in conversation.

I mourned for a short period of time, then sent off a single query.  It was all I had the heart for.  Fortunately that agent also responded favourably.  I've shipped off the full manuscript to him now and will have to cultivate patience for a while.  I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile I've been struggling with the sequel, Suffer a Witch.  Finding a starting point for a sequel is even harder than it is for the initial story, I have found.  I thought to start in media res but my critique group felt totally lost by my opening chapters.  Too many faces, too many issues all at once.  So I've backed up, starting at a point that falls after the climax of the first story, but before the final chapter.  So there's some overlap going on.

I was also struggling with the overall shape of the story.  I had thought to center it on Catherine, who was a minor character in Disenchanted.  But it just wouldn't come together, no matter how much dramatic potential there was in her story.  In the last few days I finally seized on what Blayn's issues would be in this new story, and he has moved back onto centre stage, which is probably a wiser way to approach the sequel, keeping the same protagonist.  Catherine's story will still be important, very important, but she'll be co-starring instead of playing the lead role.  Now after a false start or two, I should hopefully be up and running.