The Importance of Vulnerability in Writing

The first book you wrote was called Revival of the Censes, which you didn't publish. So boring, really competent prose, but so, so boring. Did you ever try to have it published? And did you ever solicit any other opinions besides yours and your husbands? I finally got an agent who decided, I'll take a shot at you. She sent it out and it was rejected everywhere. Not a single publisher said it was for them.