What you least expected

I've written before about life's tendency to create situations you could never imagine, and that to try and predict how things will pan out is impossible.

Well, here's another testament to that philosophy.

Allen & Unwin got back to me and the editorial assistant (who seems quite nice) informed me that Loaded had been passed down to Melbourne because they cover children's and young adult material. There, she believed, the MS would be in better hands.

This, of course, is a dichotomy of good and bad news. Good, because it means the assistant thought enough of my writing to pass it on. Bad, because ... well, it's true I've not read young adult fiction in a while, but surely Loaded - with its drug use, sex scenes and frequent coarse language - is inappropriate for the YA market?

This development has seriously thrown me for a loop. I've emailed the editorial assistant again to relay my concerns. More when (if) she replies.

--ADDENDUM--
Another quick reply ... although it doesn't much set my mind at rest:

"It depends on the extent of the content, but I will pass on your concerns to thesubmissions editor in Melbourne, and have her return it to me if it is 'toohot'. As I recall though, the protaganist was recalling his life as a young man,and seemed to be speaking to boys of a similar age group in the text (a lotpasses these days for young adult fiction ...)"

Hoo-boy. Well, if she really read all of the first three chapters she would have found more than a few swear words and at least one sexual reference. We shall see. Looks like it's tenterhooks for me for the next 10-12 weeks.