Slipping Through a Traffic Knot
Making Its Own Way
I have one other currently published book that I haven’t written about yet. Its journey to publication was undeniably the quickest and easiest, yet there were still obstacles that had to be cleared.
The One-in-the-Noose is a horror novel about haunting, possession, and an ancient curse. The inspiration for the story was interesting.
My boyfriend worked with his business partner to clean out abandoned properties and regularly brought home the spoils of his work. Stuff that people left behind, usually in perfect or, at least, good working condition. One day he came home and handed me a plastic grocery bag.
“Here, this one’s for you.”
I opened the bag and pulled out a pristine, fully functional noose, like someone had just finished tying it. He said he found it hanging in the attic with one end slung over a beam. He just knew it should be the inspiration for one of my stories. Made of stiff hemp rope about an inch thick, there wasn’t a spot of dirt (or drop of blood) on it. The slip knot worked as smoothly as if it were oiled.
I am not, by any means, an advocate for self-harm, completely believing that the Universe always has options and solutions to offer. But I had to wonder why anybody would go to the trouble of tying the perfect noose, hanging it up, and then leaving it behind.
My horror-steeped brain offered me a possibility, and I grabbed onto it. The story of the Noose came alive for me. It wanted to be told. The words flowed, almost taking on a life of their own. In four months, it was finished, the quickest I’ve ever written a book.
I completed the final edited draft of the manuscript at the end of December 2023, and offered it immediately to PsychoToxin Press, who had published Death in the Cards three months earlier. I received a verbal commitment at the beginning of February2024, but didn’t sign a contract. Two months later, PTP was closed down.
I queried one other publisher in April, and received a rejection in two weeks. However, they did encourage me to send another manuscript for consideration. I spoke with Grendel Press, who had Haunted in Paradise under contract, and the publisher told me to submit the manuscript to them, but they weren’t sure when they could get to it. I did that in May.
In the meantime, I was also looking for a new home for Death in the Cards. Over the next few months, I had several conversations with the new owner of the defunct PTP. She suggested that her new publishing company would be willing to republish Death under her new brand and I accepted. At the same time, we discussed The One-in-the-Noose.
In August 2024, work got underway for Death in the Cards, and a month later on September 4th, I submitted the manuscript for The One-in-the-Noose. They accepted it on September 19th. Because the new Twisted Dreams Press was republishing a number of PTP’s former books, I knew there would be a wait with Death higher in the queue than Noose.
At least I knew The One-in-the-Noose had a home and would be published. I didn’t have to research any more publishers or agents, didn’t have to find any comps, or send any more queries or submissions. I felt blessed and excited. The story was working its magic.
What’s Next?
The Noose makes its way.
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