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A group blog by Linda S. Wingerter, Grace Lin, Alvina (editor at Little, Brown), Anna Alter, Libby Koponen, and Meghan McCarthy.
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By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 6/19/2013
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I am trying to raise a reader! I'm hoping the reading corner I set up in Rain Dragon's room helps:
What do your favorite reading corners look like?
(see more of Rain Dragon's room at my personal blog!)
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 6/13/2013
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If you've read my book Year of the Rat , you'll remember how one-year old Max has a Lucky Destiny party.
So, we had a Lucky Destiny Birthday Party for Rain Dragon! It was themed in red, for the luck:
As well as dragons:
 |
| first time I baked in the new house! |
But the big event is the destiny choosing! In T
he Year of the Rat, Max chooses his destiny at his birthday party. That is a real Chinese custom! A one year old is presented with a variety of objects, each one symbolizing his/her future vocation.
We had Rain Dragon choose from money (finance manager), wrench (contractor), computer mouse (computer programmer), book (author/librarian), thermometer (doctor), paintbrush (artist), ball (athlete), spoon (chef/baker), solar lamp (new energy engineer!).
After much hesitation, she chose....
 |
| she was a little overwhelmed by all the attention |
The spoon!
Yay! Rain Dragon is going to be a chef!
Well, even if her lucky destiny isn't quite accurate, at least we know she had a very lucky birthday party!
 |
| everyone clapped, so she clapped too! |
I hope you have a Lucky Destiny Party with your one-year-old (or two, or three)! It's great fun!
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 6/9/2013
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Well... still no word from BN corporate. What's worse is that today I checked to see if there was anything new with my new book at work - and lo and behold - yes there is!
This is what's happening: The book has gone from "home delivery only," to "prepay only." What does this mean for my S&S books? Oh, worse things my friends, worse things. "Home delivery only" means that the buyers were not intending to carry my S&S books and would not order them in. Furthermore if a customer asked for the book we were supposed to ship it to their home, not to the store. Most books are available to ship to the store. It's a rare case that we can only "ship to home, " unless it's a print-on-demand, etc. BUT we could still manage to order S&S books into the store and that's what was happening. Clearly the buyers didn't like this so they put a stop to it. So now books like mine are "prepay only." Usually prepay only books are print-on-demand books or books that are small press books with high price tags that we wouldn't want to be stuck with, i.e, non-returnable. So why, oh why would they make S&S books "prepay only" when they are very returnable? Hmm. I sense a is game afoot!
The question is: How will this all end?
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 6/6/2013
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So, I have to admit things in early May were rather stressful. Our condo had sold a faster than expected and the packing was in full swing (which was even more challenging now that Rain Dragon was walking!). So when the NESCBWI conference rolled around, everything was in a state of chaos and I was just crossing my fingers that I didn't make any disastrous mistakes. We just made it to conference a half hour before my keynote speech and I think I gave the organizers a heart attack (sorry!).
Because I really regret not being able to partake in more of the conference. It sounded amazing and I can't believe I missed hearing Sharon Creech speak! She (and Natalie Babbitt) is probably my favorite living author, her book Castle Corona indirectly inspired Where the Mountain Meets the Moon-- I used it to show my publisher how beautiful a novel in full-color would look...and it convinced them!
And what made it even worse is that by getting to the conference so late they ran out of her books at the store (and I was not far-seeing enough to set aside my already-owned copies of her books in an easily identified box) so I missed out on getting a book signed! Boo hoo! But I thought at least Rain Dragon and I could get a photo...and what a photo it is:
Look at Rain Dragon's face! Ha ha! I think she is feeling some professional jealousy out of loyalty to me.
However, even with my less-then-auspicious state of mind, the NESCBWI conference was (as
Anne of Green Gables would say) an epoch in my life. Because, as I've
mentioned before (way back when we were having
debates about talent) while I am proud of how much I've improved as a public speaker, I'd never consider myself great at it.
But somehow, in the company of fellow children's book author and illustrators and their welcoming, understanding energy, the elements combined and my speech
* was so well-received that I actually got a standing ovation.
This was a first for me! I was very surprised, but also so grateful. It was a lovely moment, lifting me out of the dismal gloom of moving. Thank you, NESCBWI!
-In defense of the editor (who I'll leave nameless unless he wishes to out himself online) his suggestion was his way of looking out for me, trying to make sure I didn't get branded in a way I didn't want. And, he was right. When my second book featuring Asian characters came out, I was immediately pigeonholed as a multicultural author. -In defense of Charlesbridge, this was over 13 years ago when they were just starting their fiction line (before that they had been mainly known for educational, non-fiction books). The entire staff has changed since then and their company policy is now known for embracing books with diversity (like Mitali Perkins' Bamboo People)--they are company anyone would be proud to be published with!
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 6/5/2013
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The test continues. I read this on an author's blog: "I just learned that I can’t visit any Barnes and Noble store with the release of my upcoming novel Tamarack County, the thirteenth in the Cork O’Connor series. There’s a spat going on between my publisher, Simon and Schuster, and the bookstore chain. No Simon and Schuster author may visit any Barnes and Noble until further notice."
I'm trying a little experiment, but thus far no dice. BN has an email where you can write to them and it'll go to corporate (for employees only). It's supposed to be to complain about things or write suggestions, etc. But what I wanted was for them to send my letter to the corporate buyers since I don't have their email. What I said in the email was that I'd been a bookseller for the past 12 years and kindly asked them to consider carrying my new book out this month even though there was a dispute going on between them and S&S. They wrote a "congratulations on your new book!" email, and then said they'd forward my email to the correct people (the buyers). I have not yet heard back.
This is what I want to know: does BN value their employees at all? Back in the Riggio days I think they did... but with the new regime, I'm not sure that they do. We shall see. Stay tuned.
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 6/4/2013
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I have been silent because I bought a tiny piece of land on a remote Scottish island and put this hut on it. The site and garden are still in progress: the hut has to be attached to the ground or it will blow away: it's that windy here!
I still can’t quite believe it’s mine....owning a house (if the hut can count as a house!) and having a garden are deeply satisfying--so satisfying that it's hard to see how people have both ever do anything but garden and decorate. I have been planning and imagining this hut for MONTHS and love it even more than I thought I would.Here it is outside from all four angles (still a bit messy: the piles of dirt will go into my flower beds, herb garden, and lettuce patch; the solar power wires underground).
The little stone byre is mine, too, and holds all the things the hut can not -- even the solar panel. It is my dream to make it into a little house with a big bathroom, open fireplace right in the center of the room, galley kitchen, and sleeping loft. But for now:
Bed with big storage drawers underneath-- it's high both for more storage and so I can kneel on it and look out the fanlight to the sea. There are houses out that way, too, so I wanted privacy AND the ocean view. (I'll post the views out all the windows as a separate post.)
The wood stove and the kitchen behind it, work space and eating table to the right. The big box is for storage and slides out of sight.
Working here is hard--not only because of the charms of decorating and gardening, but because of how much fun it is to chat with people. For DAYS before I actually started writing, I tried -- and attached signs to both gates saying
"Writing -- please, no visitors."
I felt like a fraud since I wasn't writing; but as someone kindly said when I admitted that,
"Putting up the sign is the first step."
Not that it always worked--someone else (someone I was glad to see, I am not complaining!) knocked on the door and said with a smile:
"I saw you moving around so I knew you weren't writing."
But, finally, I AM writing-- something just clicked into place and I'm back in the novel, rewriting it for what I hope will be the last time before it goes back to my agent.
And knowing that people can see when I'm
not writing is actually really good. As Jane Yolen advised Jarret in a hilarious video he made about the writing life,
"Jarret. It's very simple: BIC. Butt in chair."
The sign may be the first step, but that is definitely the second.
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 6/3/2013
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I just posted an update on my personal blog. I hope to get back to blogging about books and publishing again soon!
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 5/29/2013
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Luckily, when she is stunned she is also speechless so she was a well-behaved baby for most of the flight.
We flew into New Orleans, where our guardian angel/hostess Anna met drove us to Hattiesburg...
 |
| the most hospitable hostess you'll ever meet! She even took us on a tour of New Orleans after the festival! |
after a quick stop for some fried oysters:
 |
| YUM!!! |
And it was in Hattiesburg that we realized that Anna's completely and amazingly warm and hospitable nature was not just exclusive to her. Everyone who was a part of the Book Festival was incredibly thoughtful and kind. They set up a conference room all full of toys just for Rain Dragon to play in!
 |
| When I first saw the room, I asked if there were other children at the festival...but it was all just for Rain Dragon! |
 |
She absolutely LOVED it. She didn't want to leave!
|
And perhaps because she knew everyone was so friendly that it was at the conference, right before my keynote speech that Rain Dragon decided to
take her first steps! She had been stumbling and standing for days before, but it was at the conference that she finally strung together three or four steps--walking from the stage to table and grinning the whole time. Needless to say, the conference will always be a happy memory for me.
Because it really was a great honor to speak at the Festival! For those who might not know, the
Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival is not only a celebration of children's literature (they give the
Ezra Jack Keats New Writer & Illustrator Award), but also a celebration of the
de Grummond Children's Literature Collection. There are so many children's book treasures there! From the amazing mural by
Esphyr Slobodkina:
to sculptural studies by the
Reys:
to a complete set of the original OZ books (which I admit I covet! I might have to start collecting these myself):
One of the funnest things about the Festival and the Collection is how they honor a different children's book creator every year with a special coin. The author/illustrator chose what image they'd like embossed for the back (the front is always their image).
There was Beverly Cleary with Ramona:
Ernest Shepard with Winnie the Pooh:
And, of course, there was Ezra Jack Keats, whose entire works (or at least most of it!) is housed at the de Grummond:
which was also epitomized in the last of the many kindness the festival showed us. Yes, they gave Rain Dragon a
Peter doll!
Though she does treat him rather roughly:
She loves him!
 |
| and now that she's walking she's impossible to get a still photo of, too! |
Thanks so much!
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 5/20/2013
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So, things are finally starting to calm down and I'll be able to start blogging again soon! Yay! I've missed connecting with all of you.
While I get things in order, I thought I'd share
this guest post I did for the "What to Expect When You are Expecting" website, ( yes, it a website for
the book all expecting moms know!). I wrote about
Rain Dragon's five favorite baby books! After all the
baby book testing we've done, I thought I should share!
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 5/9/2013
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By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 5/8/2013
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I wrote this on my other blog but I thought I'd post it here too. It's something that I think is important to discuss:
Sorry for the silence. I've been traveling quite a bit. But back to business. I've seen some great books that I'd like to share but first I want to briefly talk about the situation with B&N and S&S. This really bothers me. B&N is asking that S&S pay more money to display its titles and it wants a higher discount for S&S books. S&S doesn't want to give in to BN's demands... so... BN has limited its stock on S&S titles in its stores. This, to me, seems like a monopoly. BN doesn't have any competitors any more (not brick and motor stores anyway) and now has decided to make these demands because it can get away with it. Why not? Borders isn't around any more to say, hey: we'll take your books for the standard deal.
I read an article that pitied BN, saying that Amazon was a big competitor so now BN needs to get its money in other ways. I have a different perspective and this is coming from experience. Trust me. BN is making TOO MANY MISTAKES and this is its own fault. Because BN is making these mistakes, publishers shouldn't be punished.
1) Amazon has a far superior search engine. Books are easy to look up. You can misspell things and still find what you're looking for. Go to BN and try to look up something when you get the title slight wrong or you misspell the author's name wrong. Ooops! Nothing comes up. This has been like this for years! BN has had PLENTY of time to hire the right people to fix this. They haven't. Mistake number one.
2) Trying to compete with the likes of Apple. Apple has been around for a good long time and makes amazing products. It's unclear to me as to why BN thought it could come along and produce a product in a few years and think it could compete with that. Loss of market share there.
3) BN has no competitors and sells books yet it instead has decided to focus on toys, soap, dumb gift items, and so on. The one thing BN has that Amazon and other online retailers do not have is BOOKSELLERS. People who are there to recommend great new titles and HANDSELL. But instead of advertising that key element... instead of making sure that the good and knowledgable stick around, they treat the employees like inconsequential elements: people who are there to stock shelves and pick books up off the floor. BN could be a force to recon with if they got the right employees and advertised as such. Heck, they even HAVE some but don't care to use them properly. Example: having a trained opera singer working with the literature books even though she asked to be put with the music. Having a school teacher working with travel books. Huh? The stores aren't run right. It's sad. It could be game over faster than it has to be.
I'm siding with S&S on this one. Sorry BN.
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 5/6/2013
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PART I.
I work both as an editor and an author.....in fact, more of my income comes from editing than writing writing.
But I do work as an author, too, and when I got my last ms. back from its publisher -- NOT Little, Brown -- felt the editing process all too vividly from the author's point of view. This led to a new understanding of why editors hate talking to authors at times. In fact, I've heard editors -- NOT ALVINA -- describe authors as crazy, difficult, irrational etc etc etc.
"It's much easier when the author is dead," one editor once said in a moment of candor. Then she caught herself: "I didn't mean it like that! It's just that...."
I forget how she phrased that, and I knew what she meant: to authors, our mss. are SO important. Every word is important. We care. And when we care too much, we can argue too much, or in ways that really alienate others.
Anyhow, here's what happened.
The publisher had not just changed words here and there, but added new text to the book: a spread with completely new content that contradicted the message of the book, a different ending, a new title -- all without asking me!
I saw the next text only when it was in pages, with the art. At that point, the publisher asked me to review it and assured me that I could make changes, as long as I didn't change the art. She even agreed to ask the artist to make one small change to that, so my ending could be put back.
I spent way too much time on my rewrites -- I wanted them to be as perfect as I could make them, and then even more time composing what I hoped was a polite letter to the publisher, a letter that demonstrated how easy to work with I am, etc.
No reply to said letter.
A couple of weeks passed, and the publisher then emailed me asking for a letter from an expert I had promised to get--he, too, had seen the pages, and didn't want to give them the letter until they made his changes. They made HIS changes, but not any of mine, and then asked again for the letter, this time suggesting that it be sent directly to them (i.e., bypassing the author, me).
At that point, I started to get mad -- and frustrated, and anxious, to the point of not sleeping.
THAT -- the anxiety -- is surely what must be most alienating to editors and what must make them dread talking to some authors. Defensiveness is boring and difficult to deal with, too, but I've learned not to bore editors with that (something I wish the authors I work with would learn to do!).
But anxiety, I know, is one of my demons and I winced after the first phone call with the expert -- and resolved (and resolve again writing this post) NEVER to make a work phone call again while in its grip.
The expert was good, though. We worked together years ago when he hired me to write something for him, and he had the good sense to keep that first phone call really brief. And none of this was his fault, poor guy!
He said, in a kind voice:
"I know
&
"I can hear the anxiety in your voice"
&"WHy don't you think it over and call me back in half an hour?"
GOOD ADVICE. I did -- So I calmed myself down before we talked again.
The upshot was that we got the letter done, to our mutual satisfaction, and sent it off to the publisher.....none of my changes were ever made, though I did get a rude letter from an editor at the company explaining what terrible ideas they were, that "we have gone as far as we can" (this was I guess because they had made two small changes for the expert) and that the book was going to the printer's the next day.
PART II.
WHY AUTHORS SOMETIMES HATE WORKING WITH PUBLISHERS
So this is what the Publisher did to the ms. (the book hasn't come out yet -- when it does, I may find more but this is what I know so far!):
- added two pages of text that contradicted the main message
- completely changed the ending
-- and all without asking the author, me. This wasn't a work-for-hire project; it was a contracted book.
This Publisher has done worse things to other authors and illustrators. Once when an illustrator dared to argue with the Publisher, he was told to forget it, they weren't doing the book -- and then proceeded to write up the idea themselves and hire another illustrator to do the book!
The first part of this post was written several months ago; and now, looking at this as objectively as I can (while happily rewriting a novel, one my agent loves!), I'd say the Publisher is at fault here. Changing someone's work without even asking is not right.
Has anyone else ever had this experience? And if so, how did you deal with it?
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 5/1/2013
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You might have noticed that I haven't posted at this blog lately. Well, not only is my school visit schedule in full swing (I promise posts about my trips to MS and MD), I've
sold the apartment! The real estate market has definitely bounced back, it was a little crazy how quickly and how much interest there was. I'm happy the apartment has sold but I wasn't prepared for it to go quite so fast...and now the schedule is even crazier! I promise to return once things calm down a bit...
Read the rest of this post
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 4/27/2013
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I am in Scotland & this post has many topics.
THE BRITS IN SCHOOLMISTRESS MODE
I had Oban all planned:
-get off train
-put luggage in locker (they still have those here)
-walk to hotel
- fun etc.
-next morning early get on ferry for island (only one ferry per day)
So step 1 & 2 worked; but then I noticed a sign saying that the train station wouldn't be open until 10.45, two hours after my ferry had left. I asked if I could have my money back -- no, impossible.
I secured a taxi, asked him if he would wait while I collected my luggage, and then scratched off the black strip on the front of the locker ticket which, I assumed, would reveal the code that would open the locker. It didn't. So I went back to the window. The man behind it was outraged.
"If you had read the instructions which are posted in large letters....[much longer than I am putting it] you would have seen that you don't scratch off the bar as though you're holding a national lottery ticket. You open the ticket -- the code is on the blue side underneath. [Note: Nowhere on the ticket does it say this, only on the sign on the wall, towards the end of the many steps].....But you just scratched it off and destroyed the code.
That was rather a stupid thing to do, wasn't it?"
I always react badly to this kind of thing, wherever I am; but in the UK, it instantly makes me revert to being an 8 year old -- though at my boarding school, the phrase was usually more like:
"That wasn't very sensible, was it?"
I felt my face grow hot, muttered something, and then he went on lecturing me but eventually got someone to open the locker (he was too busy and important to do this himself).
Finall I got into the taxi, flustered - and told the driver all about it. First good thing that's happened on this trip: He was friends with someone on my island destination, instantly took my side, apologized for his countryman. I said I'm sure my countrymen are often rude, too, and apologized for them.
FOOD IN FACT & FICTION # 1: RASPBERRY CORDIAL
One of the under-rated benefits of novel reading is learning about food.
On my second night here, my hostess served some home-made fruit wine: first, a bottle of something made from her own raspberries which tasted exactly like the raspberry cordial in Anne of Green Gables -- well, as I always imagined that: a bit sweet, but also tart, and intensely raspberry flavored. It was like some delicious, sophisticated dessert.
Or so it seemed. Maybe I am more like Anne than I like to think and that is why I have never liked that book.
Anyhow either the raspberry cordial was all too potent or I had way too much. I was already jet-lagged and exhausted. The next morning, I had a hideous headache and a business meeting -- it was really hard to hold it together. Then I had a 9 hour train ride....it lasted 9 hours because every train was late, the taxi driver got lost blah blah,none of it made easier made the effects of the ill-fated raspberry cordial -- ill-fated in fact and fiction!
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 4/25/2013
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Yesterday I was feeling down, having just received the news that one of my books (one that I love) is going out of print. It is somewhat inevitable these days; if you publish long enough it will happen to you at some point.
But no matter how much you expect it or how many times you've been through it, it never ceases to feel like a punch in the stomach. Then I came across this chart by
Demetri Martin:
And it made me feel a bit better. You never know what great things lay around the corner or how they will lead to the next place you go. Onward we march.
(Some inspiring stories
here, via
A CUP OF JO)
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 4/22/2013
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Are you looking for a simple way to celebrate Earth Day with your kids? There are a number of activities for the wee ones on the
web site for my book
What Can You Do with an Old Red Shoe?. Download free coloring sheets or activity pages, a curriculum guide for your classroom, or check out the resources section.
Wishing you a happy, crafty Earth Day!
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 4/18/2013
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In trying to come to terms with what happened in Boston, I find myself remembering Ann Frank:
“In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death. I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness, I hear the ever approaching thunder, which will destroy us too, I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again.”
To me, this says more about her (and her youth!) than about how things really are -- perhaps that's why it's so moving.
But it's one of the most powerful statements of what IS good in us -- and how important hope is, in real life and in books for the young -- that I've ever read.
(This image is from tricycle.com)
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 4/10/2013
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I meant to post this here last week but I forgot and only posted it on
my personal blog. I've been having a hard time remembering what I have done --because I have so much to do! I admit, it's been a bit stressful, I haven't found a good way to juggle work and baby, packing, unpacking, prepping for sales... and I have to do my taxes. bleh.
But, I had my
booksigning at
Porter Square Books bookstore. It was the last time I could call it a booksigning at my local bookstore as after this I will be two hours away! So, it was another reason to feel a bit melancholy. However, such an amazing, wonderful crowd showed up that any feelings of sadness quickly disappeared.
I was so thrilled to see such a full house:
And then, these two were waiting patiently the whole time...
to get their
Ling and Ting books signed! Can you tell why?
Yes, they were a real life
Ling and Ting! Aren't they sweet?
The whole event completely cheered me up! It was so great that I think I will have to come back in the future-- it's worth the two hour drive! So maybe I lied about this being my last signing at Porter Square Books...Thanks so much for coming, all!
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 3/13/2013
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All the way in December, which seems like years ago, a videographer came to film me for a little movie for the
Girl Scouts. When they first requested the filming, I was completely honored however I was also in a bit of a quandary about where to shoot. Should I wait until the studio was set up in the new house? (Good thing I didn't as it's still not set up yet). Would we be able to clean the studio to a degree of decency in the apartment? In the end, Lexan, the understanding videographer filmed me strategically in the living room so that we would only have to straighten up a few shelves.
Here's how the video turned out:
Thank you, Lexan! Thank you, Girl Scouts!
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 3/14/2013
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I've asked the other Blue Rose Girls, and the contest now has a prize and lasts longer:
- the prize is the BRGs book of your choice, signed and of course mailed to you.....if you want to stay anonymous, you can still enter -- just email us your name and address if you win.
- the new end-date is April 1.
Send us your 50 word story as a comment -- all (or maybe I should say, ANY!) entries will then be posted all together so readers can vote. The winner will be announced on the blog.
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 3/20/2013
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Recently, the pursuit of filthy lucre has been on my mind.
Perhaps it's because of my decision to have an original art trunk sale. Even though I am starting to feel stressed as I watch my expenses rise as my income (due to limited work time) lowers, I also feel guilty and confused about how to price my art. People are weird about art--what is expensive to one person is a bargain to another. What I consider deeply discounted, others might think is still too much. And, if I discount the art too much will it devalue it? In art school, I remember vividly teachers telling students never to sell their art or skill cheaply. "If you don't value your own art, how do you expect others to?" they said.
But, what I want most is that the art ends up with people who love it, regardless of how much they paid. In a way, I'd almost rather just give it away--especially after I watched this Ted Talk by Amanda Palmer:
But I'm not sure how it would work. So, I guess right now, unless something better comes to mind, I'll stick with the trunk sale and just try to muddle through (by the way, there's still time to sign up to be on the trunk sale list; I'm aiming for the first batch of art to go on sale the first week in April).
And related to my path of money-grubbing thoughts, I also read this interview of Neal Pollack which contained this quote:
I spent a lot of years trying to turn myself into a brand because they told us self-branding is a way to success. And I kind of believed the hype. It’s just not true. To this day, I see writers publishing their first book or their second book and I can just see them going overboard with the marketing and getting all hyped up about it. You just have to write.
Even though he is an adult author, I thought it was an extremely interesting. The article indicates that the coveted hype around a book just might not be that valuable after all. Which I found both hopeful and disheartening. Hopeful because I think it just shows that the only real success one can can have being an author is writing something you truly love. But disheartening because that success may never pay the bills.
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 3/28/2013
Blog:
Blue Rose Girls
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I used to think this was a question lots of people could answer accurately -- about a finished ms. or even an idea.
But the more time I've spent in publishing, the more strongly I believe that the only person who can REALLY answer that question is an editor in a position to offer you a contract. And even she can only say,
"Yes, we'll publish this"
or
"If you_________, then ....."
or
"No, we won't."
If she doesn't say yes, the reasons she gives or the editorial suggestions she makes may or may not apply to other publishers.
(I am not talking here about polite but fairly standard rejection letters. For how to interpret them, see Alvina's wonderful post, Decline Letters 101.)
Writing a novel takes a long time and huge amount work; it would be nice if there were a way to tell before it's finished if anyone will ever publish it. But I think the only way to find out is to finish it, send it out, and see what happens.
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 3/31/2013
Blog:
Blue Rose Girls
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Please vote for your favorite 50-word story in the comments by April 7.
You can vote anonymously and comment or not, as you wish -- but
do please vote via the Comment box by April 7.
We'll email the winner, ask if she wants chocolate or a book (some people said when they entered, some did not), and announce the winner on April 8.
Thanks!
Slumped, reluctant shoulders are slowly, inadvertently uplifted into sea-spray, wind and sunlight as the boat jolts through glistening waves, then planes – exultant - towards open sea.Anonymous _____________________________________________________________
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 4/8/2013
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Blue Rose Girls
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Come join me tomorrow, April 9th, for the Winchester Authorfest!
I'll be signing books along with a long list of wonderful authors and illustrators: Kathleen Duble, Karen Day, Jackie Dembar Green, Amy MacDonald, David Biedrzycki, David Elliott, Matt Tavares, Marty Kelley, Susan Lubner, Susan Goodman, Jerry Pallotta, Ralph Masiello, Brian Lies, Scott Magoon, and Nancy Poydar.
Come to get a signed book or just say hello!
3:00-5:00 pm
Winchester Town Hall
71 Mt Vernon St, Winchester, MA
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 4/8/2013
Blog:
Blue Rose Girls
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Thanks to everyone who entered and voted in the contest! The challenge was to write a story in 50 words.
The winner, chosen by reader vote:
_____________________________________________________________
Our husbands died soon after. So untimely. So wealthy.
She loves Caribbean islands with Adonis arm candy. I prefer a Rolls-Royce and freedom.
Yearly, we visit their graves with our undying gratitude, and plastic flowers.
Marnie
__________________________________________________________________
But Marnie! You entered so anonymously that we don't know how to get in touch with you.
Where do we reach you? And would you like a signed book or chocolate? Please let us know by emailing:
bluerosegirls@gmail.com
Again, thanks to everyone who entered and commented: it was interesting to read everything, and very surprising to me that the readers agreed so much!
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4.
Yay! You don't know how happy I am that she chose the spoon!! She is now officially my favorite little chef :). What a lovely party!
Those decorations are amazing -- and it's hilarious that she chose the spoon.
I love the idea of these lucky destiny parties, maybe adults who are at loose ends should start having them too!
Beautiful birthday party! Koreans celebrate their baby's 1st birthday doing the same thing of choosing their destiny. My children both chose pencils, hope they're smart!