It's Been A Long Time Comin'

It's been quite a while since I posted because life got busy and I put my writing on the back burner. Now as Spring has sprung, so has a renewed faith in my work along with a desire to get The Beauty of Grace published. With all of the changes in the publishing industry in light of e-books and budget cuts, the competition is fierce. Sometimes it feels like I'm an American Idol contestant standing with tens of thousands in a stadium hoping for the chance to be heard. I've learned a lot about rejection over the past year, which is a particularly bitter pill when the rejection is based on a query letter rather than after reading my actual work. The publishing business is subjective, just as the types of books one loves is subjective. I know that I've hated New York Times Bestsellers before while embracing others, and I've devoured obscure debut novels I plucked off the clearance table. I remind myself of this each time an agent says, "no." I remind myself that (hopefully) it isn't the quality of my work but the taste of the agent I'm querying.

Just as I was beginning to doubt this concept of subjectivity and beginning to wonder if instead of "It's not you, it's me," it was actually me. Then, I received a much-needed breath of fresh air. A few friends have read the manuscript for The Beauty of Grace and told me how much they enjoyed it, but that's what friends are supposed to do. In an attempt to test the veracity of these claims, I sent the manuscript to Jamie's aunt, Randy Thomas. Randy is a highly-successful voice-over artist who has been immersed in all aspects of American culture for decades. She's done radio and is now in television as the voice of Entertainment Tonight and The Insider at CBS. She was also the first woman to announce the Oscars, the EMMYs, and the TONYs. She's also published a book herself and is working on a television program. She truly has her pulse on the entertainment industry. AND SHE LOVED MY BOOK!! She read the manuscript and called me immediately. I can't explain how that felt. The validation of someone in the industry truly being touched by my work. And because of her belief in my work, she's reaching out. Maybe all the blood, sweat, and tears will be worth it.