Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"Why on earth would you say my work is garbage? Do you have any idea how insulting that is to a writer? Yeah, you're the editor, and I should trust your pro opinions and market know-how, but that style just ain't my strong suit. Even if I had to change, this jump is just too big! I think we both need to calm down. Fine, I have to go."

Madge hung up, meeting Roseanne's puzzled gaze with a forced smile. "It's nothing, just the publishing house editor."

"Are you okay?"

"Yep," Madge chuckled, wrapping her arm around Roseanne. "The traditional publishing sector has been in a slump these past few years. Many best-selling authors have shifted to writing web novels, making a killing. Of course, some couldn't adapt and got washed out. The editor hopes I can switch to web novels, too, but I'm still on the fence about it."

"Web novels?" Roseanne sounded surprised. "What genre?"

Madge's smile wavered slightly. "Romantic urban fiction."

Roseanne was at a loss for words.

Madge was renowned for her mystery novels. When the mystery genre was booming, she burst onto the scene with her book The Weapon, selling half a million copies in a year. Then she followed it up with the thriller Abandoned Village School, setting new sales records. That year was dubbed The Year of Madge, with her two books, across five volumes, dominating the annual sales charts.

who had approached her back then. After a while, Madge found the editor to be insightful and visionary. Moved by the editor's persistent effort, she signed a ten-year contract in one go. That editor had edited, published, and sold all Madge's works since

not fitting the market or lacking appeal. Finally, when she came up with an acceptable concept

to the editor's suggestions, Madge lost the

by that. Was it a case

in her mind. Was it a matter of having the spirit but not the strength, finding

maintained

million words, but

from Norris, she hadn't shown them to anyone else. It wasn't as if these ten years were entirely

Following the editor's suggestion,

a coming-of-age novel, as the publishing company

such stories.

were