More News . . .

Heard from my agent (after I could get some email). She said there was some more interest in my suspense when she went to a big time writing convention in Florida.

Promptly, she sent it out to that publishing house.

We'll see.

Can you hope

and think

and pray

with me

that that novel will find a home?

And then, for your amusement

and to show you what some (most) writers receive from publishers (who wish at times, that they hadn't let that "big fish" slip through its inky fingers), here are a few comments about some well known works:

• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame:
  'an irresponsible holiday story'
• The Diary of Anne Frank:
  ‘The girl doesn’t, it seems to me, have a special perception or feeling which would lift that book above the “curiosity” level.’
• Carrie by Stephen King
  'We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias. They do not sell.'
• The Spy who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré
  ‘You’re welcome to le Carré – he hasn’t got any future.’

And these people . . .!

• Judy Blume received "nothing but rejections" for two years. "I would go to sleep at night feeling that I'd never be published. But I'd wake up in the morning convinced I would be. Each time I sent a story or book off to a publisher, I would sit down and begin something new. I was learning more with each effort. I was determined. Determination and hard work are as important as talent."
• The Dr. Seuss books got rejected more than 15 times before the author finally found an editor who accepted his work.
• Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach was rejected 140 times before it was eventually published.

Sounds as if I'd better have:

Tough hide
Thick skin
Strong constitution
Resilency
Detemination
Persistence

And hope . . .


Never, never, never give up!
If I chant it enough will my dream come true?




Quote:
Wisdom never kicks at the iron walls it can't bring down. --Olive Schreimer


Blessings

Rejection

Ouch! How would you like to get 100 rejections for your manuscript (novel)? How about 140?

Yikes, I don't know if I'd have that kind of strength. I'm serious.

You know the Chicken Soup books? The very first one was submitted by the authors 140 times to different publishing houses (probably some more than once).

And I expect (and want, pray, beg, desire, and any other word I can, or cannot think of) to be published first time around.

So I need to get real. (I'm trying!) I've written, edited, paid to have it critiqued, critiqued more, cut portions out of my baby, and finally--puff, puff--think its ready. I've prayed over it, worried, fretted, and let it simmer.

Is it publishable?

I don't know. We'll see.


Hints to make meal preparing easier and a happier time:

"How many times have you stood in front of your refrigerator at suppertime and not had a clue what you are going to feed your family? All of us struggle with preparing meals and it becomes such a chore because we don't plan ahead."

• Set aside time each week to do your menu planning. Start by planning menus with your family's favorites, or plan meals which use up the food in your freezer and pantry.
• Write down on your calendar what your are going to have for supper each day that week, even if you eat out. Don't forget the side dishes.
• Put together a grocery list before you go to the market. Then, only buy what you need.
• Now, you know what is for supper for the entire week and you know you have the ingredients! Happy cooking!

Quote:
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done. --Psalms


Blessings.