ARCHETYPAL ASSETS

Innovation in Cultural Cosmology / by Debra DeLeo Moolenaar

if you were a literary agent …how would you respond?

Dear Ms Agent,

In the aftermath of The Great War when Europe is cloaked in social disillusionment, twenty-four year old, newly widowed, Sophie de Belcoupe returns home to Paris. With conventional ideals of the feminine thwarted, she determines it’s through art that she will forge her future.

Complications arise when, by accepting a job on a design project directed by her beloved, Uncle Maurice, she reencounters Andrew John Hancock, the young American artist with whom she’d once been in love.

As the project prospers so does Sophie and Andrew’s relationship. But both crash to a halt when, to cover his own misdoings, Uncle Maurice accuses Andrew of embezzlement. While clearing his reputation, Andrew uncovers dangerous secrets about Sophie’s family – secrets which blow apart her idea about who and what she was about.

Using old-fashioned philosophy and new-fangled psychology, Sophie  pieces herself together only to discover what she’d been led to believe she didn’t want, was precisely that which she did, the love of the man who honours her above all others.

According to Simone de Beauvoir, women are made, not born. The struggles of brave women like Sophie played a vital role in shaping twentieth century ideas of what it meant to be a modern woman. My complete 95,000 word historical romance, Adieu The Rose, further explores this theme, offering today’s women a unique view on their struggle to shape what it means to be a post-modern woman in the equally challenging twenty-first century.

I’m approaching you because of your excellent track record with unusual historical romance novels.

May I send you a synopsis and the first three chapters?

Regards,

DA Hopeful

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2 responses to “if you were a literary agent …how would you respond?”

  1. spinoza1111 Avatar
    spinoza1111

    Hi, I’m not going to answer the multiple choice question because I’m not a literary agent, I’m your new pal spinoza. You liked my effort to simulate Marlowe, so I thought I’d return the favor.

    OK. Good start. But, “Andrew John Hancock”? The name will cause American eyes to roll, I’m afraid. Make it more immigrant, more ethnic…Irish or German American…Frederick Dreiser or Patrick Matheson.

    Also, my sister who’s a feminist is annoyed by stories about strong women where one man is the catalyst, such as Titanic, the James Cameron film: I liked it, she hated it. Hmm, try a string of lovers. Change ’em as often as the guards are changed at St James, but no Gurkhas, please, you’re British (there is a serious point under my transatlantic humor, somewhere).

    The Simone de Beauvoir paradox being that “the Beaver” was worshipful of Jean Paul Sartre in a way that more conventional women, especially poor women, are NOT respectful at all of their husbands. It’s as if he defines her like the frame a painting whereas men are infinite in all directions, most of them bad (again, pardon the humor).

    The paradox from the point of view of the subaltern male is the sour view that the “feminist” woman is just waiting for Mr Uber-Right in the form of an academic superstar or your basic filthy rich but Sensitive guy.

    The story you outline would work if she had no lover for she is attempting to spy into the mystery of things.

    Reply
    1. debramoolenaar Avatar
      debramoolenaar

      thanks much – greatly appreciated — will take a look at your comments in more detail – late here in the UK now — true I’m a Brit (been here for absolute ages) – but I’m also American… indeed I was American 1st – born and raised there… (upstate NY) – last lived in Boston… hence Mr. AJ Hancock!!! LOL. Love your comments re: ms de Beauvoir… we feminists seem to get nowhere these days….thanks again… more later. best (Brit again…) Debra

      Reply

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