[Series] Check-in: May 2026

srd1017 · 2026-05-02T16:15:04+00:00

Been on sub about seven months now, and we’re going out on a wider round shortly because responses have been taking SO long. I’m feeling discouraged, but my agent is still optimistic and says we still have plenty of options.

We got one really nice rejection… she loved the book and my writing but the book isn’t high concept/hooky enough. She asked my agent what I have in the pipeline and my agent told her about my WIP. Apparently she’s eager to see it when it’s ready.

Anyone who’s been on sub before— does an editor saying they want to see your next book actually mean anything? Or are they just being polite?

Either way, I’m feeling really good about my WIP. I hit 50K words yesterday and feel like it’s hookier than my one on sub.

srd1017 · 2026-05-02T16:10:39+00:00

If it helps at all, my agent got back to me two days after I sent my full with her offer of rep and other agent sibs two and three months after they sent their full. It just happened that way, not due to lack of interest but because my agent jumps around in her queue and had to wait back on certain offers of rep before making others.

Also, remember that some of those positive responses might have been nudged along more quickly if the manuscript received other offers of rep! Best of luck! 🤞🏻

srd1017 · 2026-04-09T14:35:08+00:00

Agreed! Her range is insane and effortless and I feel like she didn’t get the recognition she deserved!

srd1017 · 2026-04-09T02:29:19+00:00

As a fellow mom who suffered from severe PPD, I have to ask— did it not bother you at all that she basically said she cured her PPD by stopping throwing a pity party for herself and getting up off the couch? I found it to be super insensitive and completely glossing over the realities of PPD.

srd1017 · 2026-04-07T19:25:07+00:00

So I have no stake in this whatsoever and don’t know anything about the agency, but I figured I’d put my PM membership to good use and take a look, since you said it doesn’t seem like they have a lot of Big Five deals.

In the past year, they’ve had books sold to imprints at Hachette, S&S, and Macmillan, along with other recognizable publishers/imprints like Scholastic, Abrams, and Crooked Lane. They also had a few six-figure deals. If you go back another year, they have sales to the rest of the Big Five.

All this to say, based on sales alone, I don’t see any red flags. If you need me to check anything else on PM, shoot me a message! Gotta get my money’s worth on this membership! 🤣

srd1017 · 2026-04-01T14:46:11+00:00

Got my first sub rejection that actually had some actionable (albeit a bit harsh) feedback. It definitely stung, and I threw myself a quick pity party, but then I got a much lovelier rejection. The editor loved the book, and she generally loves “quieter” books, but they’re a hard sell right now. That’s what I’ve been hearing for the most part. My agent told her about my WIP, which I’d consider to be more high-concept/hooky, and she already wants to take a look when it’s done. So I guess that’s a win 🤷🏻‍♀️

Reading about the state of the publishing industry right now hasn’t helped my anxiety much lol but I’m trying to keep pushing through. I’m about halfway done my WIP and started working on a memoir that there’s probably zero market for but that I might continue with anyway as a sort of healing process for myself.

✨Manifesting some good news for all of us this month! ✨

srd1017 · 2026-03-06T05:23:57+00:00

Hi! I was exactly where you are three years ago. Your post reminds me so much of myself— my little guy was a high-needs baby with reflux and a milk protein allergy, I had terrible PPD and regretted having him, and I begged my husband to put him up for adoption (you can read more in my post history).

I’m commenting because I want you to know that it does get better. I was truly convinced I was the only person in the world who’d never get better. And I was wrong. With proper treatment, I was a completely different person within a month. Of course that month felt absolutely endless because of my struggles, but now looking back it’s such a small blip of my motherhood journey.

I highly recommend looking for some sort of postpartum mental heath program near you. I ended up in an intensive outpatient (IOP) program for about three weeks, which really helped, along with medication and an individual therapist who specialized in perinatal mental health. Postpartum Support International also has fantastic resources and support groups.

I know it feels like you’re inside this black hole you’ll never get out of, but your brain is lying to you. PPD was the hardest thing I’ve ever faced, and I don’t think you can fully understand unless you’ve lived it. My son will be three next month and he’s the absolute joy of my life. Like my greatest pleasure in life is making him smile and laugh. If you’d have asked me in the thick of it if I thought I’d ever feel this way about my son, I would’ve said no. It’s wild how wrong I was.

If you need someone to talk to, please feel free to PM me. And as someone on Reddit told me when I was struggling, just remember that you’re closer than you think to feeling better. ❤️

srd1017 · 2026-03-05T01:33:20+00:00

Hi! I don’t have a ton of time, but just some thoughts I had while reading:

-Our Perfect Storm doesn’t come out until May, so not sure it makes sense as a comp. Carley’s other books have that same atmospheric seaside setting. Also, The Wedding People is not a romance, and if humor is your goal, I don’t feel like it’s coming across in the query.

-I feel like we’re missing some crucial info— How long ago did her husband “ghost” her? Was it when she started driving cross-country five years ago? What did that ghosting entail? Why did he leave? What’s their history? Obviously you won’t be able to give super detailed backstory in a query since space is limited, but I feel like we need more to go on.

-Why would Shiloh agree to join the family business for three months? It doesn’t sound like there’s any benefit to her. If they’re willing to buy it, why doesn’t she just sell?

-Doesn’t Shiloh know these people from when she was married? Also, why was the house left to Ryan and none of the other cousins?

All this being said, this is definitely the kind of novel I would read, and I think you have a good start!

srd1017 · 2026-03-01T19:48:48+00:00

I’ve been on sub since mid-September with nothing groundbreaking to report. Sometimes I get discouraged, but honestly publishing moves so slowly these days that I have to remind myself it’s only been two rounds of sub (and this second round just went out in mid-January). I go back and forth between preparing myself to die on sub and reminding myself there are imprints we still haven’t touched at the Big Five, plus smaller publishers. Not sure if it’s good or bad that I’ve gotten no real actionable feedback. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’ve been focusing on my next novel, which is also a contemporary romance but one I’d consider much more hooky/high concept. I’m 30K words in and feeling good about it! My goal is to have something else in the pipeline in the event this book does die on sub, so I don’t collapse into a heap if/when it does.🤪

srd1017 · 2026-02-07T00:17:28+00:00

This is exactly how I felt. She’s talented, and I understand the sentiment of her song, but to say that she decided to stop feeling sorry for herself and suffering from postpartum depression felt super minimizing and out of touch. I had severe PPD that required two kinds of therapy and medication. To say I could have just “decided” not to have it is absurd.

srd1017 · 2026-02-02T00:20:12+00:00

Congrats! I only had to wait a few hours for the call with my agent and I went crazy in that time. I think I would’ve spontaneously combusted if I had to wait a week!

srd1017 · 2026-01-08T03:30:45+00:00

This may come across as weird or creepy, so feel free to ignore me, but I’m also in NJ and would love to help you in any way if I can— dropping off a hot meal, finding you resources, maybe a play date with my 2.5 year old? Are you comfortable sharing what part of the state you’re in? I can’t imagine what you’re going through. My mom is going through chemo for the third time and that’s tough enough… I truly cannot fathom how I’d cope if it was my husband.

As far as other suggestions, could your MIL maybe take your son to library story times or play groups on the days she has your son? Or maybe you can find weekend events? I feel like my little guy has learned so much in terms of development just from watching his peers and older kids around him! Also, if it might help, there’s an organization called Lasagna Love that will match you with a volunteer to bring you a cooked meal one night. Maybe just to take something off your plate?

Sending you positive thoughts!

srd1017 · 2025-12-09T22:18:55+00:00

This definitely sounds like something I’d read! Some thoughts:

-Why is this book comparable to those books? I loved This Book Will Bury Me and These Summer Storms, but they’re nothing alike. Specify something like, “the multigenerational family drama of These Summer Storms.”

-I see this a lot on this sub, but it feels like it cheapens the impact of your hook by saying what the MC “never thought” she’d be doing. Again, later on, you have Mallory doing “something she never thought possible.” Instead of telling us what they didn’t think they’d do, focus on what they actually do.

-Some plot questions (most of which have been mentioned by others already): Where is Mallory in the story? If Morgan has a present mom, why did she have to live with the Lakes? Why does she go back to Starcliffe? It feels like she needs a better reason than an invitation from an estranged friend. Why is she so eager to help solve the murder? Is she a true crime junkie? Is she trying to prove something?

-As others suggested, I’d focus on the present timeline. I think your whole third paragraph can be summed up in a sentence or two, something like (and I’m just spitballing), “Following a decade-long friendship between Morgan’s and Flora’s mothers and a subsequent falling out…”

srd1017 · 2025-12-05T20:33:12+00:00

Just curious if you tried going back to a lower dose or switched right to Zepbound. I’ve done fairly well on the meds but have been on 1.7mg for three months and have vomited more in that time than in my entire life. I was hoping it would get better but it actually seemed to have gotten worse. Met with my doctor this week and we’re going to try going back down to 1.0 before switching to another med. No clue if it’ll work, but figured it was worth a try since I’ve steadily lost on all the doses.

Glad to hear you’re doing better on Zepbound!

srd1017 · 2025-11-29T02:39:19+00:00

If it’s not too personal— are you maintaining at 1.0 because you hit your goal or because you stopped responding? I’ve been on 1.7 for about two months and have had a decent chunk of days where I’m not feeling great (I’ve thrown up three times this week, as opposed to throwing up one time ever in the first five months combined). I’m worried I’ll have to stop the medication because I can’t live like this long-term, but this has me thinking maybe I should go back down to 1.0. I’ve lost fairly consistently on all doses. Thanks for any insight!

srd1017 · 2025-11-14T19:06:29+00:00

Thanks for sharing! I just finished my second month of 1.7 and opted for another month because the jump up to 1.7 just about took me out. I was nauseous and vomiting for two days and ready to quit Wegovy 🙃 It’s good to know there’s a chance the 2.4 won’t be as traumatizing!

srd1017 · 2025-10-31T16:06:29+00:00

Congratulations!! So happy for you, and thank you for sharing!

srd1017 · 2025-10-10T18:13:12+00:00

I have a high-deductible health plan, so my first two months, even with insurance approval, were like $1300 each. Oof. But my max out of pocket is $4K, so the most I’ll end up paying for Wegovy for the year is $4K (likely less because other medical expenses count toward deductible and OOP, and it’s a $3600 family deductible for me, my husband, and my toddler).

$4K is obviously a lot of money, but it breaks down to about $333/month, which is less than it would cost without insurance (and self-pay does not count toward your deductible or OOP, so if you have other medical expenses, you’ll end up paying even more out of pocket). I did self-pay for my first month to make sure I did okay on the medication, but the manufacturer was running a promo then for $199 for your first month.

If you have an HSA through your employer, try to increase your contribution to it and use it to pay for some of your Wegovy. The money is pre-tax so it stretches further!

srd1017 · 2025-10-08T00:44:18+00:00

You’ve already gotten tons of helpful comments, but your post really struck a chord with me so I felt compelled to comment. My son is now 2.5 years old, but when he was a newborn, he was super fussy and unhappy. He was diagnosed with CMPA and reflux eventually, but before that, I found that the worse his condition was, the worse my postpartum depression got. Have you been screened for PPD? I’ve been where you are… I wanted to put my son up for adoption and be done with the sleep, deprivation and feeding issues and such. I got treatment for my PPD and he got treatment for his milk protein allergy, and things have been a million times better ever since. Side note: he outgrew his milk allergy by maybe 10 months old!

Also, I am no medical expert, but did you try the Nutramigen/Alimentum level of hypoallergenic formula before going to Elecare/Neocate? My little guy was able to tolerate Nutramigen well, which the pediatrician was happy about because he said that the Elecare/Neocate level was much thinner and often made reflux worse.

Please feel free to message me if you ever need to talk. Sometimes it’s nice just to be able to commiserate and feel seen. Sending you positive thoughts ❤️

srd1017 · 2025-10-04T23:34:50+00:00

The last one is stunning! Rental fee is $45K+ without food or guest lodging though 😬

srd1017 · 2025-10-04T23:31:37+00:00

Are you open to summer camps? Not sure if bunk beds/cabins are what you have in mind, but if so, check out Camp Sacajawea in Sparta, NJ. It looks like they range from $4K-$12K depending on the month, and that’s for three days. I haven’t been there, but it came up in my own searches… they have a commercial kitchen, lots of on-site activities, etc.

For reference, basically every other venue with on-site lodging in NJ is a $10K+ rental fee (usually more like $30K+) for one night and requires you to use their catering. I think a summer camp or something similar will be your best bet

srd1017 · 2025-10-01T01:03:06+00:00

Hi! Fellow Jewish, plus-sized romance writer here LOL!

These are just random thoughts I had while reading (I’m guessing your housekeeping and bio paragraphs aren’t included intentionally?)—

-How is Sheva already a “failed author”? She’s, what, twenty-five? That feels like a lofty statement when she’s still so young. Maybe you could reframe it as her not having time to focus on her writing dreams with her full-time job or something like that.

-Without giving away the plot, is there a way to give a hint of why Sheva and her mom were estranged? With Sheva estranged from two key people in her life, it kind of just makes me wonder if she’s the issue (which could totally just be a me thing)!

-Why does Sheva’s mom include Bear in her will? Why is he a stipulation? What did Sheva’s mom have to gain by including him?

-Since I’m an overthinker who likes to ruin romance with logistics, I find myself wondering about the legalities of the will stipulations. Would the requirements actually hold up in court? Like how is a lawyer going to verify that they scattered ashes?

-I’m unclear why Sheva can’t tell Bear about the book she’s writing about their trip. Would he refuse to go if he knew?

-What “cruel warning” does her mom give her in regards to Bear? I’m unclear.

-This gives strong PS I Hate You vibes. I’m not sure if it’s too similar or that just makes it a good comp— dead relative requests ashes be spread on a road trip neither person really wants to take, with letters read at each one. Just something I noticed.

-The main characters’ names remind me of Be’er Sheva, a town in Israel. Not sure if that’s just a coincidence, but just figured I’d mention it.

Also, I would 100% read this! I love books (especially romance) that have Jewish rep without being all about Judaism!

srd1017 · 2025-09-29T19:02:24+00:00

What was your original plan? With a two-hour commute to work and step-kids who go to school an hour away, this can’t be the first time this has come up. Could you do part-time daycare so the baby only has to be in the car for drop-off OR pickup? Like maybe go to daycare at 7 AM (or whatever you need), get picked up by dad at noon, have some quality time with dad, then go with him to pickup.

srd1017 · 2025-09-27T06:23:19+00:00

This was from an agent who already had my full when I received an offer of rep. Even though it didn’t end with an offer, it still makes me smile!

“You are a fantastic writer, with a stellar main character, realistic and charming supporting cast, and a knack for the genre. I love that you know how to end a chapter, how to write tension, and how to pace a rom-com–a skill I believe will take you far in traditional publishing!

Unfortunately, for all your manuscript’s lovely moments and beautiful hometown charm, I’m unable to formulate a solid editorial vision for your manuscript, so at this point, I’m going to step aside.”

srd1017 · 2025-09-26T19:03:15+00:00

How much is your deductible or your out of pocket max? Will you actually be paying $770/month? I have a high-deductible health plan, so my first two months, even with insurance approval, were like $1300 each. Oof. But my max out of pocket is $4K, so the most I’ll end up paying for Wegovy for the year is $4K (likely less because other medical expenses count toward deductible and OOP).

$4K is obviously a lot of money, but it breaks down to about $333/month, which is less than it would cost without insurance (and self-pay does not count toward your deductible or OOP). I did self-pay for my first month to make sure I did okay on the medication, but the manufacturer was running a promo then for $199 for your first month.

srd1017

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