The Cell Phone Novel

In pursuit of the fact that one of my favorite sites is www.Textnovel.com, designed to highlight the new genre of the Japanese Cell phone Novel, I decided I need to try my hand at something new.  An artist must always grow and try new mediums of expression.

I have taken an idea that I have had rattling around for some two decades.  Those most of the cell phone novels I have read are truly YA.  Mine is more universal.  It is I confess more of the fan fiction fare, which is why I have not tackled it before.  There are few who do not know the story of The Phantom of the Opera, melodramatic in it original form-as French literature of the time tended to be.  And a bit of fan fiction itself only with an unhappy ending, if you pick up on the rather obvious Beauty and the Beast themes.

In my defense, when I first read the novel I was struck by all the unanswered questions that Gaston Leroux left us with.  Most notably, who was the mysterious lady he plied to Madame Giry to retrieve a footstool for, who left behind gloves and a fan.

As he gave us no answer but to assume it was a delusion of the phantom, I conceived my own idea of who she was and how she effected the events of the story.

Box Five - tells her story.

Please enjoy these first few chapters.  You may follow the story and sign up for updates on your cellphone at www.textnovel.com  Amazingly I have already posted more than two hundred chapters.  So you will have some catching up to do if this sparks your interest.

Chapter 1:- Mademoiselle

A black and terrible beauty lived inside him.

Those deaths were not his fault.

I was to blame.

He killed to find me,

to protect me.

Chapter 2:- Headlines

RETIREMENT GALA FOR MM DEBIENNE AND POLIGNY MARRED BY HANGING

Chapter 3:- Headlines

INQUEST RULES THE DEATH OF JOSEPH BUQUET WAS A SUICIDE

Chapter 4:- Mademoiselle

I was not sorry.

Joseph was no friend.

Erik has remembered after all these years and has avenged me.

I ought never to have prevented him in the first place.

Perhaps it this a message

Chapter 5:- Headlines

CAN THE OPERA'S NEW MANAGEMENT MANAGE THE MYSTERIOUS O.G. AS DIVA REFUSES TO PERFORM?

Chapter 6:- Mademoiselle

I laugh and wonder.

They ought to listen to him.

He just wants to make sure I am watching.

I am listening.

I always hear you.

Virtual Slush Pile

So in the quest for feedback from fellow writers and the odd chance of garnering an editor or agent's notice I have embarked on yet another way to build my fan base on the web.  The sight is sponsored by Harper Collins and called Authonomy.

It has worldwide membership and from what I can tell more traffic to the site than textnovel.  Also the focus is on actual novels verses the Japanese cell phone novel.  I am only posting a portion of The Raven and the Wolf.  There are no contests just a lot of great constructive comments from some very polished and talented writers.  This community is very serious.  The caliber of work on the site is staggering.

It is populated with a worldwide pool of talent, published and unpublished authors alike.  In less than a week I have received nearly 100 backings and dozens of comments, including helpful criticism of my pitch (the dread of any author).  All novels must be in English.  Every month the top five stories make it to the editor's desk.  Nevertheless, even without this notice many in the industry view the site.

Stories have been picked up for publication of representation from exposure on Authonomy.  While you will receive help from the community to polish your work, this is definitely the place to put your best foot forward.  I recommend the most polished manuscript you can post.  

You will be asked to write a short pitch of 1-3 sentences or 25 words, and a long pitch of no more than 250 words.  To be considered for the monthly editor's desk selections you must post a minimum of 10,000 words.  If you make it to the desk, they will read the first 10,000 words of your novel (even if you have more posted) and give you a professional assessment of your pitch and your story.

There are no guarantees for publication for working your way to the top.  It will require hard work and a readiness to reciprocate reads, reviews and backings.  However, it is a great way to learn about building a fan base, working with literary community and making valuable connections.  Writing, as any author should know, is not simply the art of what you put on the page.  It is also a business and like any business you have to be able to sell, connect and adapt.  Of course what you have to sell ought to be worth the buying.  So yes, while Authonomy maybe HarperCollins version of the virtual slush pile, at least this one 'talks back.'

Happy writing to all and perhaps I will connect with some of you on www.authonomy.com or on www.textnovel.com.