Hello April (month, not the Giraffe)

Well, the first revision is done and the ball is back in their court (a little Final Four humor). Now what? I guess I wait. But what a whirlwind week I had. Work was crazy, but every night, I spent revising my manuscript. I’d wake up in the middle of the night and think of a new twist or struggle with a weak spot.  Now all I can do is wonder: Did I make every edit the editor requested? Was I able to provide the background he wanted? If not, do I get another chance to polish the story? Will there be more editors with even more revision? Since I’m a newbie at this, I really don’t know the next step and waiting is not my strong point. And so I wait…

I think back on this time a year ago and I wasn’t even submitting. Heck, I wasn’t even writing. If I’d stayed vigilant, would I be farther along? Probably. Would I be more successful? Maybe. Who knows? Two things I do know for sure:

1).          my success/failure is a direct result of my actions - if I don’t try, I’ll never succeed, and

2).          the first step is BIC 

March 27th 

Woo hoo, again! 

Last week I received notes from my publisher. Notice how that just rolls off my tongue, “my publisher.” (Still pinching myself!) Anyway, these notes were from the submissions editor and excitement filled my soul. He made me feel good about the whole process of re-writing. His comments spurred new story lines and understanding of my own manuscript. He pointed out I would be able to see what my readers would think and feel. He was quick to point out what worked and what didn’t. Rather than take offense, I was elated! Now, I’m used to getting good feedback from my critique partner and I’ve come to expect honesty – I don’t need someone to pat me on the back and tell me it’s good, when it’s not. That’s the difference between a good critique partner and a bad one. Me, I’ve got a good one. So when my editor apologized if he came across as tough and critical, I took it as positive feedback. So here goes. Someone send me toothpicks for my eyes.

Stress. The word for the day. Will the editor like my revision? Am I on the right track? What does he mean by that comment? Heaven Help Me! But when I read the revised copy, my heart sang! The changes made my story so much better and probably made me a better writer. After all, if I can’t commit what I see in my own mind to paper, how will anyone else see it?

Take away: Editor’s Note: I can feel your excitement in the story, because you know what happened; but unless you write it down--what you actually saw and felt, the dark versus light, the dampness and smell, I have to take your word for it. Make me experience it, too.

A Surprise In The Mailbox

The contract finally came by snail mail, and I’m ready to sign on the dotted line! I can’t wait to begin the process of rewrites; and then, I understand, I’ll actually hold my book (my book!) in my hands sometime in 2018.  From my first submission in 2007, to now, March 2017, it’s been a L-O-N-G journey—not exactly an overnight success. But today, I’m celebrating. The only possible downside to my week was reading the Obamas inked a contract for their books for $64 MILLION DOLLARS. That’s Million with an “M.”

The take-away here is never give up. Never stop writing. Keep on trying. Remember: “A winner is a loser who tried one more time.”

Now if I can get these characters inside my head to quit talking, I’ll get some sleep. Stay tuned as I continue my journey to holding my first MG Mystery in my hands. This story is about Erin and Elwood who embark on a journey of their own. Only they foil a bank robbery and meet some pretty unsettling characters along the way—there’s no such thing as shape-shifters, right?

THE SECRET AT ONE BELMONT LANE— coming soon!

“A winner is a loser who tried one more time.”                                            March 13, 2017

I’m thrilled to announce that after a L-O-N-G dry spell from writing, but with the constant encouragement from my wonderful critique partner, Nancy Allen, (author of The Riddler and Forty Winks and Coming Soon:  Gone Cuckoo and Hiram’s Gifts);  not only am I writing again, I received my first offer of a contract! The quote above is how she summed up my efforts

During 2016, I submitted to three publishers. That’s it. Three! That’s almost begging for failure. And fail, I did. Oh, I had a near miss from a story I submitted in November, but after a couple of attempts of going back and forth, it was clear to me we were not a good fit. I was able to walk away with no regrets.

Then lo and behold! I submitted a different story in late January 2017. On Feb. 3rd, this publisher requested the full manuscript and six days later offered a contract! I didn’t believe it at first and even when it began to sink it, I still had my doubts: what if they want too many revisions and I can’t deliver? Or what if they change their minds after they work with me for a while? Or what if they made a mistake and really meant to offer the contract to the next person on the list?

Words of Wisdom: when you’re not writing something new, re-write something old. There’s always room for improvement, a better word, a sharper description, a fix for that dangling participle. Plots come, plots go, back-stories grow more important, and characters take on a whole new identity. So even if you are not writing new stories, spend time sprucing up old ones. It’s a process. I knew it in 2016 during the L-O-N-G dry spell, and I know it today.

Must love dogs is the title of my blog and I thought it would be nice to post a recent picture of my loved dog. He will be three years in my life today, probably around 8 or 9 years old (Rescue dog-no idea how old he really is) and he literally owns me. For those of you in search of a pet, I encourage you to visit the Animal Shelter-they have your next companion just waiting for you. Happy Birthday, Gus!

We All Could Use More 'Gumption'...read what Nancy Kelly Allen has done now...

   My good friend and critique buddy, Nancy Kelly Allen, has done it again...she wrote the most endearing tale titled AMAZING GRACE, a children's novel about a family living in rural Kentucky during WWII. The story draws you in, wraps its arms around you and won't let go.
   Grace's parents receive a mysterious letter that changes their world completely - the family is uprooted and plopped down in another town, another house, another life. The pain of missing Daddy, watching Mom struggle to pay bills and hearing Grandma insist on a regular basis that they just need to have 'gumption' makes life for Grace anything but amazing! Throw in a younger brother, a school bully and Grace's missing dog and all the gumption in the world couldn't make poor Grace's life amazing.
   But amazing it becomes. Grace deals with the bully, manages to tolerate the younger brother, and even finds her missing dog. But as one problem goes away, another rears its ugly head. Through her letters to Daddy, Grace unfolds a story of courage, love and a close-knit family that turns the everyday challenges into an amazing story of hope.
   I give AMAZING GRACE two-thumbs up. A sweet, sweet story woven with enough history and facts to keep even the most reluctant reader turning the pages, AMAZING GRACE will soon become a favorite of yours. It has mine.

  

 

Nancy K. Allen's BARRELING OVER NIAGRA

Into every life some rain must fall. This winter has sent that rain in forms of ice and snow. I'm soooo ready for spring. It's almost as if the word itself is magic. You know when folks say...it's right around the corner, I want to race to that corner and peek. Spring will be so welcomed this year. I plan to be super-productive. I plan to fulfill some of my dreams. Why I need to wait for spring, I dunno...but credos to my writer-buddy, Nancy. She isn't waiting for spring. Nope, she uses her wintry, snowing, frigid winters to churn out another (or two...) story. One of Nancy's latest is BARRELING OVER NIAGRA:

Annie Edson Taylor hatched a big idea in 1901 that she needed to find someway to change her luck. With no money and the poorhouse her only option, she decided to throw caution to the wind and try the impossible: barreling over Niagara Falls. In order to do this, Annie must first design the barrel - preferably one that won't crash into bits and pieces when she goes over the falls. Did I mention Annie was 63 years old when she attempted this feat? This is truly a bold adventure story in Annie's

search for FAME & FORTUNE.

Watch for these other books coming soon by Nancy  K. Allen:  FIRST FIRE—A CHEROKEE LEGEND and AMAZING GRACE