Light Magic

Early morning light

Plays on the river birches

Glitters and dances.

Listen! You may hear

The high, crystalline tinkle

Of silvery bells.

In Praise of Amaryllis

Josie the Basketball Fan

Busy as a Beaver

Not chewing down trees, mind you, but beginning to address the various steps I need to take to get the Birdie book and the Civil War novel into print.

I've a growing list of small presses to query and my next step is to put together a query letter, a bio, and a marketing plan.  Whew!

I've also read a book on self publishing that makes me believe I can manage it for the Birdie book. And I've begun looking over the Birdie stories to see what in order they would be best presented. I also suspect I should write a few more to round out the collection.

Getting my ducks in a row. Onward!

And, speaking of wildlife, these pictures are from an abandoned homestead near us where actual beavers have evidently been at work.  That, or the world's most inept logger. Beavers are nocturnal, according to Mr. Google, so I don't hold out any hope of seeing one.

High Water

 After the rains it hurries down the mountain.

Two branches join and then a third.

Dashing over the rocks, the water tumbles downhill.

Where it soon finds the river.

High water suits the geese just fine.

The waters go racing on to Tennessee.

High water on low land.

Josie Escapes the Troll

Still Searching . . .

So. Here’s my New Year’s news. Just before Christmas my agent told me that, as her health is bad and energy low, she’s cutting back and making plans to retire. And she’s bowing out on pitching the Civil War novel any more. She’s tried 30 different big and medium sized publishers and gotten rejections – some very nice with positive things to say about the novel, the characters, the writing, but – and this is (literally) the bottom line – always with the reservation that they don’t think the novel will be a financial success. The novel was one of ten semifinalists out of over a hundred for the Lee Smith Novel prize but . . . that and five dollars will get you a Starbucks coffee.

I understand. It’s no longer to an agent’s advantage to work for 15% of a possible very small advance and iffy future prospects. It's a business, after all. I will always appreciate what she did by finding a home at Bantam Dell for the Elizabeth Goodweather books and I wish her all the best. 

Where does this leave me and the novel? Still searching. 

There's no point looking for another agent with a novel that's already been rejected by the big boys. So my next step is seeking out small presses – the sort that don’t give much of an advance. Fortunately, they also don’t require agented submissions.

This month I’ll start researching and submitting to small presses (will have to craft a query letter and ready a marketing plan etc.)

I will also begin to look into self-publishing, starting by putting together the Birdie stories from the blog with a view to publishing them as an e book. Kind of a trial run.

How do I feel about all this?

At first, bummed but certainly not devastated. And then, actually, amazingly okay – now the ball is in my court and I can stop giving the agent a few more months to accomplish something. 

In a way I feel freed.  First I will try submitting to every press that seems appropriate, all the while preparing to do the self-publishing route. I know a lot of folks would like to read this book – and I am ready to see it in the world

Onward.

Happy New Year!

What lies ahead? I'm doing my best to make 2019 go well. . .

The black eyed peas for luck, cooked with hog jowl for prosperity, are ready . . .

So are the collards -- for greenbacks in your pocket. (Is paper money still called greenbacks? Does anyone still use paper money?)

The Christmas tree came down yesterday and was dragged out the door. (Bad luck to leave the tree up in the New Year, said my grandmother, and while I know there are other traditions, this is mine and I'm happy with it.)

Putting away the ornaments is an act of meditation for me as each one brings with it a memory -- usually sweet. It's as good a way as any, I think to spend the last day of the year -- carefully putting away the old and making ready for the next adventure in this amazing life of ours.

A very Happy New Year to all of you! (I know you're out there, even when you comment rarely or not at all and I appreciate every follower or browser.)

May 2019 bring more kindness, more peace, more caring for Mother Earth and for all her children.