“After the excitement of finishing a whole novel had worn off, my agenting experience had kicked in: I could see the hook and the topic and theme of my novel wasn't going to work. And even if it worked it probably wouldn't sell. You'd think I would have caught this sooner, but I fell prey to what all writers easily fall prey to, the conviction that my novel would be different -- that the rules didn't necessarily apply to me because I was that good or smart or clever.”