Month: August 2021

My Glow Girl Softens the Rejections

This is a photo of Jessica at the prom, and it serves to remind me what’s most important in my quest to publish my book. In the last two days, I’ve opened up three emailed rejections from small presses. I was a little upset when I read the first one from a small press in Virginia. But I told myself they haven’t published one book yet. The email was several paragraphs long, complimenting me on my writing style, and other elements of my book. But the bottom line was no.

The second rejection was just as disappointing. Another no from another small press. No explanation.

Meanwhile, I push ahead, am determined to get the story published, and have come up with the following strategy: I am hiring a writing coach who is also an author who published a book about the difficult topic of losing a child.

Since the early October, I’ve been working hard on those revisions. In one month, I’ve tackled 148 pages. 100 more to go! Meanwhile, I’ve seen one of my writer friends have a book launch for her newly published book, and another writer friend with an offer to publish with a small press. My natural inclination is to feel envious, but I’m happy for them. Then the doubt arrives. It’s sneaky, it seeps in before I even realize it’s there. I fight back with my stubborn determination. This is a story that needs to be shared! I’m just as talented as those friends. I will prevail. I hope, once I finish these major revisions I can join my friends in that exclusive club.

If only I was sure about my title. Right now it’s The OTHER SIDE OF NORMAL but I’m wondering if it should be GLOW GIRL. This title refers to a chapter when my religious cousin visits and shares a story. He described my child as an angel, that her light shined from within.  Jessica does kind of glow, doesn’t she?

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