One down, millions to go!

At this very moment, I am sitting here at my computer, listening to the hypnotic hum of my printer as it prints my latest revisions! Yeah! I will mail it off to my editor today! How good that feels.

You know, when I first sent the manuscript in, I couldn't imagine how it could be any better. What a surprise to learn how much better a book can get with a little TLC. Kristine told me to beef up the figtht scenes and add more to certain characters, which I hope I did well, and to send it back. She hasn't even take a pen to it yet.

I'm so excited to see what she thinks and to find out how many red marks I have! lol Anyway, this whole adventure has been very gratifying. I even asked for a certain artist who works with them because I really like his flavor and felt his style matched my story best. I hope he says yes.

Now I get a little break from The Eye of Tanub, which I need and will work on other things until I hear back. I am loving the life of a writer!

More, more, more!

So, did you know that most teenaged boys will not read a book by a female author? What's up with that? (except for JK Rowling, that is) So my publisher suggested we use the name M. J. Cunningham as my name on the book since the targeted demographic is mainly boys. (maybe that's why JK Rowling did it too.)

Girls will read anything by anyone and don't care whether is seems "male" or "female." That's good. So, if you happen to walk past a book store and see a book with the name M. J. Cunningham on it, pick that dang thing up and give it a read!

My editor also told me with as fast as I seem to be able to write and edit, that maybe we can move up the publish date! How cool would that be? I've been beefing up the fight scenes and adding more meat and I like the story so much better. Most editors tell their authors to cut, cut, cut! With me, they're constantly saying, "More, more, more!" I have to laugh. What a fun journey though. I LOVE it! Thanks to everyone for your support!

A great quote from my new editor.

I have some great news! I have been assigned an editor. She's fantastic. I went to her blog and on her latest post she was answering questions about submissions and things. Well, this is part of what she posted. The YA fantasy she is talking about is MINE!!! I just had to share.

She says:

"Recently we accepted two fairly quickly. One, a wrenching memoir that came unbidden and complete in the mail and had our fairly skeptical acquisitions editor in tears on the first chapter. The other a YA fantasy with a delightful writing style which made it stand out above all other such fantasies we have received and rejected the past two years. That was a thrill, since we REALLY wanted a YA fantasy in our line up. Needless to say, both these mss. were accepted fairly quickly BECAUSE 1) Each had several elements that made us sit up and take notice, either writing style, story, a twist, likable and interesting characters, or all of the above. 2) Each was a genre we did not have in our lineup. 3) Highly marketable. Completely different markets and demographics, yet we could see them as a stand-out offering in their particular genres. 4) The two authors, although inexperienced, seemed likable, smart and easy to work with and 5) We really wanted to publish them for all the above reasons."

Anyway, It felt so good to actually see what they think of my work that I wanted to share it. Honestly, I'm still amazed and surprised that it has finally happened for me. I really can't believe it. Not that I didn't think it ever would, it's just so wild and I've been dreaming about it for so long that I just can't believe I'm going to be published, even still. Now I'm afraid my revisions won't be good enough. It's always something!

Grateful

I just want to say how grateful I am right now for the blessings in my life. The first blessing I want to address is my family. They are so supportive of my writing and help to pick up the slack so I can write. (most of the time.) Even Bry has started coming in everyday and asking if I got any writing done yet. It's very cute.

Second, are my wonderful friends. My close friends who have critiqued, read, edited and torn apart my stories to help make them better. Thanks for being there and telling me the truth.

Third, for my new friends. My writer friends. I don't think you all know how much you mean to me. First of all, for Josi Kilpack who over three years ago made me believe that a regular old mom like me could actually start a new career, halfway through life, and be successful at it. For Elizabeth Mueller for cultivating that thought and teaching me so much more. For my new, dear friends I've met and grown close to because of the writing conferences we sit through together. Thank you so much for including me and making feel like part of the group.

I have been taken under the wing of professional writers who don't have to give me their time, but do anyway. Who treat me as an equal, when I'm really just a peon in the writing scheme of things. I have entered a whole new world I never dreamed I'd be a part of. It's wonderful, it's fulfilling, it's humbling and it's thrilling.

My heart is full and I am very aware that God has blessed me far beyond what a sinner like me deserves. But I'll take it anyway!

I'm being published!!!!!

How do I express the feeling I have right now? You published authors know the feeling I mean. It's that first realization that you're about to be a published author for the very first time. WiDo publishing has accepted my manuscript and wants it to be a series. They are also interested in The Ivory Key" that I just finished. I still need to edit that one though.

All those hours I've spent are finally paying off. I printed out the acceptance letter and placed it over all my rejections and I have quite a few and there are still more out there who never bothered to even send a rejection. It's a lesson in the fact that you can teach an old dog new tricks and that you're never to old to start on a new path.

I feel so grateful that I have found something I love to do that I can be paid for. If all goes as planned, Bryan won't have to work so hard or so much, and my writing will be able to take care of us until I keel over! Thank you to all my friends and family who have helped me along the way, who have taught me, critiqued me and encouraged me.

My best advice for is to everyone to go to the conferences that are offered. Sign up for the one on ones. That is what worked for me anyway. I was discovered or found at a one on one at the LUW conference. I failed at the "just send it in," method. I didn't have any great responses with queries either, although I had a lot of practice writing those!

So there it is. Never give up your dream and it WILL come true!

This is it!

About a week ago I received an email from WiDo Pulishing saying they'd received my manuscript they'd requested and how impressed by me and my writing they were. It felt great! But at the end of the email they said it would be between four and six weeks before I heard back.

Honestly, I was a little bummed, but I put that anxiety on the back burner and got on with my week. About four days later I received another email from them telling me that the review process of my book was almost at an end and would I answer some questions they had. Wow! What a surprise. They must have really liked the story (they did.) Things they wanted to know were, "Have you ever worked closely with an editor?" "Am I able and willing to put in the time to do possibly lengthy revisions?" "Is any other publisher seriously looking at my manuscript at the moment?" etc...

I answered their questions and sent the email back, my heart pumping just a bit faster, but I didn't expect to hear back only a few days later. In this third email, they told me they loved my book, but all the editors agreed that it felt like I rushed through the fight scenes too much and that they would like me to re-write a few of those scenes, adding depth and suspense. (To see if I could do it better)

Well, I'm a lover, not a fighter, but I went to work changing a few scenes. I've always had that flaw of rushing to get things done. My grades in school reflected that bad habit. It's a constant battle when driving with Bryan because I'm always telling him to go faster and when I drive, he calls me "Mario," and suggests I slow down. I'm not surprised they felt I rushed those spots. I can see it now too.

So, here I sit, sweating in anticipation of their response. What will they think of my revisions? Will they be good enough, suspense filled enough? I can't seem to settle my nerves. Too bad I don't smoke. he he. Anyway, I hope to hear back soon. Their decision will be to either contract with me or not. This is it. The next email will be the one to tell me if they'll publish my book. YIKES! Wish me luck!

Keep going

My goal is to not let so much time pass by between posts. So I want to say just a bit on perseverance.

How easy it would be to say I'm tired, that there are too many other things I should be doing. But do you know what? I can't. I just can't. I have fallen in love with writing. I'm having a torrid affair with words and I can't tear myself away.

At the moment, I'm working on a book I call "The Ivory Key." It's taking so much more research than my last book. There are quite a few dates and details that have to be accurate but it's such a fun story that I keep going back to it. Writing is supposed to be fun, and this book is, but it's different in that with this story, I have to plan, plot, and outline.

The last book I wrote simply dripped from my fingertips and onto the computer. I loved that. It was fast. I wrote it in about a months time. This time, I have to be clever, smart and organized. Yes, it's quite the stretch for me, but I'm learning and loving the process. It has taken longer than a month!

I also want to give a shout-out for my critique group buddies. They have made this book come alive. So often, people pass by the opportunity to share their work in this way. Because of my group, my characters and story go so much deeper, are much more compelling. Thanks guys.

So, there will be times when you can sit and write like there's no tomorrow and other times when you have to go slow, plan and outline. May your journey be one of wonder and fulfillment. Mine certainly has been. Thank you to all those who have mentored me along the way. My success is also yours.