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Over a year ago my publisher decided to close their YA line. I was upset, but understood. I’d written one book and one short story in an anthology that they published. It was my dream to get published and I’d done it. When I received the email that the line was closing I was devastated. Sure, I knew that I had accomplished what I wanted to do, but now what was going to happen to my book? Was it going to disappear into the great abyss? Would it be as if my book never existed?

I had my choice, leave the book in their catalog until they decided to pull it completely (they were keeping the YA book in their lists, just not publishing new titles) or get my rights back and move on. After the grief, (really, I felt like my dream was dying – rapidly!) I realized I needed to move forward. I asked for my rights back and a year ago I put Ordinary Me on kindle.

It was the best thing I could have done for my book. My baby was alive and kicking. Over the past year I've sold just over 1350 copies of Ordinary Me on Kindle alone.

Last month I took another step and made the book available in paperback. The cost is a little higher for the paperback version, but not everyone has a kindle or an app for it, so I wanted to make it available for those readers as well.

It’s amazing to me as an author…there are over 1300 people that have my book. I am just amazed and grateful that this avenue was available. My dream is still alive and building. I received my rights back for the short story I wrote, and I am planning for that story to make its debut on kindle soon.

It’s been a fun ride and I am not ready to get off yet. I hope it goes on and on.

Thanks for checking in and have a great week!

Best,
June

www.junesproat.com

I've mentioned local flavor before. During my visit to Scottsdale I noticed things that are the same and things different than in Illinois.

Arizona and Illinois both have pigeons, morning doves, sparrows and humming birds.
I was surprised to learn Arizona has pine trees, like Illinois, but they're ones imported from Australia.
I've heard Arizona has almost every kind of tree, but it seems the most common where I visited in Scottsdale were  palm trees, orange, grapefruit and olive trees. In Illinois, elm, willow, apple and birch seem more popular, plus a wider variety of evergreens.
Arizona has lots of mountains and hills, while Illinois is mainly flat.

Of course, the major difference is the temperature, which is lots warmer in Arizona than Illinois.

What have you noticed around you? Or, maybe you'd like to  share some differences between your home state and where you've gone on vacation.

Remember to include some of it in your manuscripts to make the locale come alive for the reader.

Morgan Mandel