Despised, rejected - a writer of sorrow and acquainted with grief!

So after a month of very little happening, apart from a polite "does not fit with my list" rejection, or perhaps two, and some "careful consideration" from JK Rowling's agents, I finally received the coup de grace - the rejection from Urbane Publications.    As rejections go, it was a pretty rave one - and ultimately the reason was "does not fit with my list".

I am coming to understand this.  I understand it when a publisher says it, they have a brand, they want to burnish that brand, they have core activities they want to focus on (I didn't work in Mergers and Acquisitions for nothing - I understand all this).  It's commercial and it doesn't mean TMoF is a bad book - in fact he said he'd enjoyed it, and thought it was very good, but he isn't doing fantasy, except with writers who already have a track record,.  I.e. he doesn't really have the resources at present for a debut author.  However, although I am disappointed, it's not quite as bad as I thought it would be.  This is in part because I had had some reservations over whether he was the "right" publisher for it because he was so new, even though he's pretty well connected.    

I also understand that when an agent says I wouldn't fit with her list she means that she has particular relationships with particular editors, none of whom she would want to offer my book to.

I took my laments to Tara and she had lots of ideas for new agents etc etc. and best of all she sent me a wonderful cover design for the book... in 3 different colourways, and this amazing 3D one.  As a result, I briefly feel as if it has been published already.   This is comforting, and does help me to keep the faith for a bit longer!