Life is an interesting journey. It really is. There is only one true absolute; the rest of it is what we make of it.

Song of the Fell Hammer has been roundly rejected by the publishing industry. Eight or nine agents have rejected it, stating the book is "too traditional epic fantasy" and "epic fantasy is not selling right now." What that really means is, "We aren't looking for epic fantasy at this time."

Betsy Mitchell at Del Rey, who I love to death as a person and who is a fantastic editor, rejected Fell Hammer on October 24th. Here is what she wrote:

"I read the manuscript and I must compliment you on the dedication it took to put this story together. It's a complex plot and you've done a good job at moving from strand to strand on the storytelling. It's tough for me to say that it feels just a bit too traditional for today's market. There has been so much epic fantasy published by now that a new story really has to burn brightly. It's a tough marketplace these days; I wish we could make an offer because you've done a very good job, but I'm afraid we just can't. Please do show this to all the other editors (or take on an agent at this point). I hope that another editor will have a vision for how to publish you that I don't right now."

A positive note. But one after I read it left a sour taste in my mouth.

To me, it's easy to market Fell Hammer: Point the marketing at Terry Brooks's readership. They are legion, a lot of them already know me, and even if a 1/10 of his fan base buys the book, Fell Hammer is a huge success.

Other writing friends of mine have been getting the same few sentences thrown at them too. They too have written epic fantasies and they too are being rejected for it. It is not just my experience with all of this that counts; it is the overall industry's choice, and that choice doesn't want to read or buy or publish an epic fantasy.

Well, what are they looking for then?

If you pay attention to the industry—via the internet or through Publishers Weekly—there is a very distinct pattern that is going on. Most of the book contracts being offered are for urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Editor Liz, who is one of Del Rey's newest editors, has several deals below her belt already for urban fantasy and paranormal romance. A few of the other newer editors have been hunting it as well. Coincidence? No way.

Where does that leave me?

After a week of mulling my possibilities, one of which that maybe I wasn't any good, that familiar driving fire rose up inside of me and I rejected the rejections. I decided in the space of an instant my next course of action would be to play by the rules I've been given.

If they want an urban fantasy, I'm going to give them one they can't refuse.

I cloistered myself away from friends and family around November 1st. For the last year I've had an urban fantasy in my mind, one that had been percolating and growing and evolving into a solid book idea. But due to it being an urban fantasy and set mostly in our world, I knew it would take weeks of research before I could even write the first word of the book. I went to the University of Washington and used their enormous library, I used the internet extensively and finding the materials and history I needed, I read several different books to prepare. And as I continued onward, that need and fire to write grew and grew.

Until Thanksgiving Eve, when I finished off the 20 page outline and notes for The Dagda King.

The Dagda King, which is a reference to the king of the British Isles Celtic gods, is an urban fantasy that takes place 1/3 in the homeless burrows of Seattle, 1/3 in the fey world of Avalon, and 1/3 inside the 108 acre confines of Vatican City in Rome. I already have two sequels very loosely outlined as well.

My main protagonist is an adult male—breaking away from the young protagonist motif that litters epic fantasy. Other point of view characters include a homeless "knight" in the dregs of his life, a Cardinal who is part of a secret society known as the Vigilo, Merlin in what I hope will be a very interesting take on a very old character, and an 18th century British second royal son who believes much is owed him after 300 years of doing his father's bidding. I'll get to discuss religious extremism, faith in oneself as well as in others, and the hardship and great things that come with being part of two different worlds. I'm excited about it, as you can probably tell, and I think it is a story people will enjoy.

Of course, the most fun part of this will be the Celtic mythology in the fey world. I am taking all of those gods and goddesses and weaving them into the story while remaining faithful to their origins. I think it will be this that draws interest from people, but time will tell.

The ironic thing is I had dinner with Terry and his wife on November 16th. He told me he spoke to his editor the week previous and she asked him if I was working on something a bit different from Fell Hammer. Terry knows what I am working on and told her. In a very positive remark, she said she wants to be the first to read it when it is done; she believes it "will be my breakout book." I think that means she thinks I have solid writing skills, and that gives me a lot of steam as I plow forward into this very different book.

Of course, by the time I finish this book early next year, urban fantasy will be on its way out and something else will be marketable. It's the game we play, but I am up for the challenge.

I began writing The Dagda King yesterday. It is a prologue, 27 chapters, two interludes, and an epilogue. It is about 16 chapters shorter than Fell Hammer, which I am also very pleased with. I wrote about 1200 words yesterday and loved every hour of it.

What lesson is to be learned from all of this? Just because you fail at something doesn't mean it defines your course of action for the future. In fact, it should stoke the blaze of your passion.

And what of Fell Hammer? It is with two different publishers right now, but that is the past to me. I have no doubt they will say the same thing the others have said about it. My future is no longer that book but The Dagda King.

I am going to give that future all I'm worth.