January
Monthly Check-in with Ali Noël
Warmest greetings and Happy New Year!
Today is the first day back to school, and a return to the swing of things. After a much-enjoyed hiatus over the holidays, it feels good to step back in the community and get caught up on all the things I’ve missed!
On the docket for today: Query update, Writing update, a poem and a little food-for-thought! Let’s get to it.
Query Updates
Well, I officially heard back/deadline passed for the first round of agents I queried Bohdan and the Perilum Tales to. I sent the “nudge” email to the agent who requested the full manuscript back in September and held my breath.
Ultimately, it was a pass, and yes, I cried. But the email was so kind and encouraging, and I’m grateful for the feedback they provided. I know in the right time, the right door will open for me and my stories.
I thought I’d share the email (1) Because I was so impressed by their professionalism from their very first email response to my manuscript, and their rejection (2) If you’re querying middle grade, let me know if you’d like the name of the agent (3) A reminder to my fellow friends in the trenches who truly believe in their stories, but haven’t seen movement = you’re not alone!
Hi Ali,
Thank you so much for checking in and for your patience as we considered BOHDAN DUNE AND THE PERILUM TALES.
As you know, we found this to be a compelling concept, and you are a strong writer. We so enjoyed reading the full manuscript and were especially drawn to the relationships between the central trio, the wonderful worldbuilding, and the care and love the narration seems to have for its hero. These wonderful elements considered, we weren’t connecting with the project as fully as we’d need to pursue further, and so it’s best for us to step aside. This was a particularly tough call. I should note that his current bandwidth is such that he is truly not taking on any projects he can possibly resist, which played a large part in the decision here.
I’m so sorry not to have better news after such a long wait. You may, of course, query another agent at Writers House should you be interested. As you likely know, this is an almost entirely subjective industry, and another agent may feel more strongly.
Thanks again for the opportunity, and we wish you the best finding the right home for your work.
Warm regards,
Writing Update
I am almost done with the first draft of The Blind Knight Project. What initially began as a middle grade idea, has moved to Teen. I’m a little nervous about that, but as I’ve gone back and forth over the necessary age of my protagonist, I’m confident Teen is better suited for this story. I will say, mapping out a five-book series has been so, SO fun. Challenging, for sure. An insane puzzle of my own making, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every minute.
As I wrap up this first daft (the fifth time I’ve written a novel) I am so encouraged by how much more confident I feel in my skillset and gifts. After so many years feeling like I was flailing around, I’ve finally got my bearings. Do I still have much to learn? Of course. Is writing a book easy? No. But having a rhythm is such a great feeling after ten years of taking this whole writing gig seriously. You know what they say: It takes twenty years to become an overnight success. Fifteen if you’re lucky!
As for Bohdan Dune and the Perilum Tales, I am going to do one more round of queries. If there aren’t any takers, I will move forward with writing the second book here on Substack! Which, honestly, really excites me.
I’m halfway through sharing Henry and the Ne’er Do-Well’s, which I will resume shortly. After grinding the whole of 2025, I decided to share those chapter bi-weekly to save my sanity (heh).
A Poem
I see the world in ripples Every little second sets another stage Another tangle in the roots of our decision making And I ache to dig in my heels -- demand assurance For the long-haul risks of this path I'm on If only memory was ephemeral when we want it Clearing out weeds of failures past Wiping out brief moments that marked us for a lifetime But we are ephemeral beings Quick bursts and fleeting, temporary magic A single note in God's magnum opus Breathing emporiums of short-lived, long-loved life
The Singer
I’ve been rereading the Singer trilogy by Calvin Miller (if you haven’t read this…bless the socks off your soul and snag a copy if you can!) and it moves me so deeply each time. It’s a poetic retelling of Jesus and stories in the New Testament, with a strong Lewis and Tolkien feel. It follows a singer, the Troubadour, who has come to heal the world with his song.
When I look at the division running so rampant, not only here in the States, but everywhere, it can feel…hopeless. Sometimes I wonder how anything can be fixed when so much hatred fills our screens and streets. Miller writes in the Singer, “Hate sometimes stands quite close to love. God too stands often near to evil — like silent chessmen — side by side. Only the color of the squares is different.”
May we have the courage to love our neighbors. To be patient and kind. To speak truth with grace. To hold compassion and conviction in the way that Jesus modeled it. May we take our place on the chessboard of life with intention and resolve.
With hope,
Ali
Thank you for sharing the letter; it sounds so encouraging, as heartbreaking as it is to be told “no.” I loved seeing that this agent truly took the time to treat your story with care and acknowledgment. Best wishes to you in the new year in this “short-lived, long-loved” life!
Beautiful poem, Ali! And I hope that you continue to press on, despite even the kindest rejection, because your work DOES deserve publishing. 🤍