Yes! Rejection!

Wohoo! I received a response from my first query.
No.
Well, it wasn't a "bug off" rejection; it was more like a "we read your proposal, and it's a great idea, but our list has two other books on the broader subject, so we don't want to self-compete" rejection.

The Editorial Director said their editorial committee reviewed the proposal and they all agreed at this time they can't take on another book on marriage. And the Editorial Director signed it personally. Does that mean anything?

Really really, I was in direct mail for two years; I know what a computer signature looks like - this was a genuine Hancock in blue ink.

The wondeful news is that they suggested "other Catholic publishers because their markets and their needs for their lists will be different from ours, and they may be looking for just such a book." Hmm.

I love this press so much, and I heart their mission statement because it fits so closely with my desires for this book. I sort of want to send them a reply with my Table of Contents. For now, I'm going to wait patiently until I have refined my query for the 18 other publishers, sent the query to them (with Table of Contents), and received all 18 rejections.

Mission Resumed! Lookout, Blog World!