| December |
I didn't have access to my website during this time, so I must report through all these months!
Okay, rejections: Got a personal rejection from Scholastic. Not unhappy about it, but WAH! So close...A form from an easy reader company, a nice personal rejection from a book publisher, a form from FOF Clubhouse Jr--WAH!, a personal from Highlights--the stinkers! A form from a requested sub!!!! WAHHHHH!! |
| Oct. 3 |
My book The Mat Maker, is published! Look in the new books section! : ) : ) : ) |
| Oct. 2 |
I have just moved away from Hawaii : ( and am now in Texas. Good thing is that I have more access to conferences and have better leads for markets now.
But first to update the rejections. Yes, they followed me here! UGH! One six week, personal rejection from an agent--she doesn't do educational stuff. One request to see samples and then a one month, very nice, thorough personal rejection from another agent. I, of course, think they're crazy. Hee! A two month personal rejection from a publisher for a pb. Sigh...is there not any good news out there? I've been very busy lately, so I'm hoping something will hit soon or my stats are going to be woeful this year (even though I did sell a book!) |
| Aug 10 |
Nice news...a one month request from a query. Hopefully, good news approacheth this year! : )
I move in two days. WAH! I don't want to leave Hawaii...sigh... |
| July 28 |
My editor at StoryPlus just sent my new book, Super Hero Hal 2. It's illustrated! I'm very pleased. : ) |
| July 15 |
Mondo Publishing emailed to say they are interested in one of my chapter books! I will be sending it requested. Oh let's pray! : ) |
| July 14 |
Highlights gave me revisions for my short story! Hope I can do it!
The editor at Charlesbridge emailed me and asked to see my new math adventures story. : ) |
| June 30 |
WAH!!! My FOURTH rejection from Charlesbridge. UGH! I don't know what to do but write another one. I'm such a glutton for punishment. At least the editor still says she always looks forward to reading my work. Too bad she didn't say she always looks forward to PUBLISHING my work. Sigh... : ( : ( : ( |
| June 25 |
Okay...bad news first--got my FORM rejection from Highlights for my contest entry. At least it was a nice form. It was on their letterhead stationary and it asked to see more of my work. Sigh...
But in GREAT news, I received my box of books for The Mat Maker. Oh, the illustrations are wonderful! I couldn't have asked for anything better. It exudes Guam in personality and my intention for the piece. I'm sure it will do well. Thank you, Lord! : ) : ) : ) |
| June 3 |
Oh my, more bad news! Just received a nice, personal rejection--the editor said my story was a thoughtful and enjoyable read--but hey, they aren't ready for me yet! HA! I tried to marry my style with theirs, but they just aren't publishing things that I offered yet (although I thought this was up their alley). You live and learn! : ( |
| May 28 |
Bad news...just heard that the Highlights contest winners were notified. Oh well...but I won't count it a reject yet. I was notified three weeks later for my last contest sub that they wanted to buy, so there is a tiny hope. : ( : ( |
| May 27 |
Good email news...my editor at StoryPlus told me that my first mystery is illustrated. Check it out! Mystery of the Stolen Spider Stone. |
| May 20 |
Nice email news! My book, Mat Maker, is coming out THIS FALL! Seedling editors emailed me to say they told an International Reading Association rep about it and his eyes lit up. He plans on trying to sell it world wide. Whoo hoo! Nice to hear on a little emergent book. : ) : ) : ) |
| May 16 |
Well, we just got a new computer so it's taken me a while to get my software loaded (prioritizing you know). But rejections should come first around here, eh? I only have two rejections to report and they are both grisly. FORMS!! But one form was made to look nice--it was on a fancy letterhead and made to look like a real editor signature (I got out my magnifying glass--I've concluded that it's indeterminable. Sigh...) Unfortunately, too, it took 4 months to receive. But the WORST was a form from an agent who HAD been nice to me. She took 8 MONTHS to get back and she gave me a form!! WAH!! : ( : (
BUT I do have hopeful news...well, it's not a rejection. After one month, Highlights has sent their card for a young children's story. We'll see... : ) |
| March 28 |
I received two rejections--one form card (2 months) and one personalized form rejection with a real signature, my name, and name of book (2 weeks). Blecch! : ( : ( |
| March 15 |
Just got paid by Seedling (parent company, Continental Press) for my easy reader. They're fast! : ) |
| March 13 |
Wah! A 6 month form reject. I hate those! : ( : ( |
| March 3 |
WHOOPIE! Just received my author's copies of my story in Highlights, entitled Just My Size. Wow! They gave the small story THREE nicely sized pictures. And they were very true to how Guam looks and the way the people look. I'm so thrilled! : ) : ) : ) Check out the article about it! Just My Size |
| February 28 |
I just got the rejection letter from my editor at Charlesbridge. I was REAL close with this last story. In her last line to me she writes "if anyone can do it, you can." That's really easy to swallow! So, I'm fast acting on her request. I've got the plot, just gotta write it! : ) |
| February 25 |
Very horrible and sad news...my best e-writing friend, Katherine Rollins, just lost her baby son in his sleep. He was 19 months old. I'm shattered... : ( : ( : ( : ( |
| February 20 |
Wah! Got an email from Charlebridge. They love my concept but didn't like the story. They'd like me to use the same concepts in a different story. UGH! Will I ever do it right? : ( : ( In good news, my story, The Bunsen Burner Frame-Up is published. Whoopie! : ) |
| February 13 |
HOORAY!!!! My book was just accepted by Seedling Publications! The editors just wanted to get some illustration advice. I'm so glad I have a great expert. For those wondering, it took four months to hear the initial word and three weeks to hear finally. : ) : ) |
| February 11 |
One fast form reject. I hate those, but I knew this one was a long shot... : ( |
| February 1 |
I just got my copy of my new ebook, Super Hero Hal 2: The Case of the Bunsen Burner Frame Up. I can't wait until it is posted! : ) |
| January 24 |
My illustrator for It's Raining in My House, Donna Berger, just sent me one of her wonderful postcards. She is so talented. I love things like this! : ) |
| January 23 |
Just when the doldrums hit its peak with me... I got an email from the editor/publishers at Seedling Publications. They are very interested in an easy reader I submitted back in September, but they want an alternative ending. WEE! Gotta get back to work! Pray I can do it! : ) : ) |
| January 21 |
UGH! A FORM reject from a requested submission. Oh this is the worst rejection I've ever received! WAH! : ( |
| January 18 |
Two rejections--nice and personal. Can't complain about that! : ( |
| January 13 |
Well, this is how I like to start the year...fast and furious with the rejections. Remember: the more rejections I receive means the more acceptances I will incur. It's a fact! That's because I target my submissions.
A six week rejection and this one has to top all rejections. They sent it to me on card stock in calligraphy!! Whoo hoo! I'm using the beautiful thing as a book mark. I wish everyone would reject on cardstock! |
| January 8 |
HOORAY! One of the top agents in NY has requested one of my picture books. This is awesome news...now I have to submit it...YIKES! |
| January 5 |
Ahh...well, I was expecting this...a form reject from Seedling Publications. They don't accept poetry or rhyming text. I sent this out and then noticed that in their guidelines. Tee hee! Well, that doesn't put me in the doldrums... |
| January 3 |
Hmm...don't know what this could mean, but I believe this is the earliest of the year reject I've ever received. Just heard back from Dutton. The editor was so sweet about my picture book even though she rejected. I got a great crit on it after I sent it to her so I'm going to revise and submit elsewhere! And it only took 6 weeks to hear back. Thank you, JSG! |
| January 1 |
Wow! It's a new year! And since the post office is closed, I have no news to report. Whew! I've been getting a lot of rejections lately and I'm sure more are to come since I've been busy writing. Tee hee!
Here are my writing goals for this year: To continue to pursue finding an agent. To write at least two stories for Highlights including a Hawaiian folktale. To complete a chapterbook. To finally get a picture book accepted by Charlesbridge Publishing. TO FIND AN AGENT! Oh, I already said that. HA! To find a home for my Guam folktale picture book. To start on another novel that I love. Wow--that's a lot of goals. Well, I start with many so I can accomplish some. Happy New Year! |
