[Lord Mureth]

Hi again,

Thanks for all your advice; much appreciated. I've pretty much edited as I've worked anyway; and while there is obviously going to be something I could cut, there's no way I can actually get the story down to less than 190K minimum, without losing either major plot devices or some utterly stupid bits that really do have to be included, just to lighten what could otherwise be a rather morbid book!

I made the mistake, I guess, of using some other books as benchmarks for length, without initially considering the fact that it's sooooooooo much harder for a debut author to get something of that length published. So it's going to be two books from now on; but as I said, at around the 115-120K mark there's a pretty climatic scene, followed by what would be a nice quick wind-down and lead in to the second part anyway, so it's not a major problem. I agree though that it might be a good idea to see what I can possibly cut from the first part, for possible re-inclusion in the second, might be able to do a bit of that, thanks for the idea Interference!

Sorry for including the link to my myspace; didn't realise they weren't allowed... serves me right for jumping in and posting without reading further first... ooops!

I've been reading endless agents submission guidelines, trust me; the problem I have is not so much what they DO say, it's what they don't say that leaves me confused.

Thanks again for your help, back soon!