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RichardB posted an update 7 years, 7 months ago
Three years ago I was told by a WW editor that my first novel hadn’t a hope of being published because there is no market for ghost stories, and particularly not those about haunted houses because they have been done to death. I was in the library last Saturday, and what did I find? ‘This House is Haunted’ by John Boyne (2013). And is the title deceptive? No, it really is a story about a haunted house. Humph.
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I have received six arcs this year so far about exactly that, Richard. And I note many othets coming into the library where I work. They are all some permutation on the haunted house. There is definitely a market for it.
And there’s The Silent Companions out recently and doing really well as a reading group type thing…
Forgot to say: though I say it as shouldn’t, I find the book less convincing as a ghost story than my own, and the climax is a bit OTT. Well, I’d better carry on with trying to lick my MS into better shape.
Not actually a Haunted House, but still ghostly, and very creepy, Susan Hill’s Dolly is the most enjoyable book I’ve read this year.
Yes, don’t give up @richardb! I’m not sure the talk of fashions is much help being as agents are always guessing on what will be next, and the things in the shops were signed two years before. We were told about 4 years ago that post-apocalytpic was done. But there are still agents asking for it, and still new books appearing in the shops. And I’m sure I’ve seen agents who are asking for ghost stories at the mo.
I’m going through agents at the moment listing those with that particular request.
2013, you say. Maybe he was the one who did it to death…
I believe you when you say the book was less convincing than your own, Richard, I remember reading yours and really enjoying. It was spooky enough for me. Good luck with your MS and fingers crossed it will be available to buy soon.