Another rejection on the adult novel.

I’ve been doing lots of putzing, which is a really nice way of saying that I’ve been doing nothing at all, except feel sorry for myself.

Well, I’m done.

Even feeling sorry for yourself can get tiresome after awhile. (Not to mention incredibly annoying to the people around you.)

So I’m back in the saddle. The adult book - while still tucked away in a little pocket of my brain - is no longer going to be occupying the front and center of my days. Work is. A few weeks ago, I discussed two more book possibilites with my editors and was given the thumbs up. The thing is, because of my obsession with whether or not the “big book” was going to sell, I haven’t done anything about either of them.

Now it’s time. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sitting down with at least half of a heavy heart. I am. But I’m still sitting down. I’m going to give it my all. My best. And that’s all I can do. The rest, as they say, will come. Or not.

And that’s okay, too.

Onward, always.

CG 

Two rejections so far on the adult novel. Each a blow to the psyche, a staggering of the senses. Both another nail in the “not good enough” coffin.

Eleven more to go.

My agent keeps reminding me that it aint over til it’s over. Which I know is true. And I’ve been through worse than thirteen rejections on my work. (Although not at this stage of the game.) My first book (which has been relegated to a dusty cardboard box in the attic) received no less than FORTY-THREE rejections. And I just read something this past weekend that Kathryn Stockett, author of the hugely successful novel The Help (which is marvelous, by the way) persevered after FORTY-ONE rejections. And now look at her!

So we’ll see. We’ll wait and hope and just…see. Meanwhile, I am lucky enough to be occupied this week with my adorable 6-year old who just underwent a tonsillectomy. She is home recovering and we are doing things like princess puzzles and baking brownie cups, and writing thank you notes to everyone who sent her post-operative gifts. With three kids, it’s not often that you get to spend so much time with just one of them. And she is so lovely. So dear. Just this morning, as we were sitting in front of the fireplace working on a light catcher for her bedroom, she looked over at me as I was gnawing on my fingernails and said in her gravelly, frog-like voice: “If you keep biting your nails, they’re going to get shorter.”

I laughed out loud. Gave her a big kiss.

I can wait through anything with her by my side.

Anything at all.

Onward, always.

CG

This Saturday, May 8th, I will be having a reading/book signing for Willowood at the Barnes and Noble in down town Wilkes-Barre from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Come on out and see me, or just browse around for books - always a wonderful way to spend time on a Saturday afternoon!

* Note: The Barnes & Noble for this event is the one next to Boscov’s on South Main Street, NOT the one up by the Arena. (That one will be in June!)

Hope to see you!

Onward, always!

CG

Well, the adult novel is finished. As in rewritten, edited, revised, and sent off to my agent. It is a huge relief, along with a sense of extreme pride. I really wasn’t sure I was going to be able to do it - but I did. And I really, really like it. I think it’s one of my best books to date.

My agent sent me the list of publishers it is going to be read by this week, a total of 13 in all. They include: Random House, St. Martin’s Press, Penguin/Putnam, Harper Collins, Grand Central, Grove, Graywolf Press, Viking, Bloomsbury, and Ballantine. (I can’t remember the rest.) It will be awhile until we hear back from anyone, but let’s hope 13 proves to be the lucky number it is touted to be and someone makes an offer!! Fingers (and toes!) crossed.

Meanwhile, the galleys for my second young-adult novel, The Sweetness of Salt just arrived! (Galleys are the just paperback copies that are printed first so that reviewers and book buyers can get a look at - and read - the book before it goes on to hardcover.) Copies are also sent to me, so that I can take a final read through and spot any errors before it goes to press. I also have the opportunity to send the galley to authors I know so that they can read it and provide a blurb for the dust jacket. Blurbs are those single-sentences provided by another author that praises the book in some way. For example, Jackie Mitchard who wrote The Deep End of the Ocean,  provided a wonderful blurb for The Patron Saint of Butterflies, which really boosted the look of the cover.

Finally, the copyedited manuscript for my third middle-grade novel, The Summer of May, just arrived as well. A copy edited manuscript is a copy of the novel, which has been pored over with a fine-tooth comb by the copy editor at the publisher. Right now, The Summer of May is freckled with a million little red circles, question marks, and other copyeditor scribbles. I have to go through all of those scribbles and either agree with the copyeditor’s suggestion to change the thing in question, or disagree. It’s laborious work, but work I am all too eager to dive into, namely because (1) I am always open to suggestions to make the work better, and (2) a peace of mind is gained knowing that mistakes are being caught - and corrected. (There’s nothing worse than coming across a misspelled word or name in a book!)

So that’s what I will be doing for the next few days. After I’m done agreeing/disagreeing with the copyeditor, I send everything back to my regular editor, who will then send the whole thing to the printer. And then the graphic artist will begin sending me suggestions/ideas for the cover!! Another joy!

I spent most of last week on a mini-vacation in Vermont with my babies. This week, I will be spending time with my other babies. Lots of work. Lots of care and precision and nourishment and love until it’s time to kiss them goodbye again and send them off into the wide, wide world.

Until then, onward always!

CG