Betcha you are wondering, "What is going on with her book?!"

Well, I just don't know. I sent it out and I have not heard anything yet. The way I see it, no news could be good news. When I sent it out last time, I got the rejection letter in record time. I don't even know if they took the time to open the envelope. I am hoping that Shadow Mountain is at least taking the time to read the first three chapters.
I was invited to Brinson's 3rd grade class to talk about the manuscript and read a bit of it. It was a blast! The kids were so intrigued by the whole thing. They had a ton of questions and a lot of comments. They were a lot of fun to talk to. The only drawback is that I did not have enough time to read the first chapter of the book after answering all of the questions. I wish I could have read longer. I think that they all wish that I could have read longer too.
After I went to the 3rd grade class, I was invited to The Learning Garden to read to the Green Room. Miss Jamie loved the book! I was able to get through the first chapter before the little guys got too bored. Jamie was so nice and she was very supportive. She thinks the book is excellent! I love it when people like what I write, it makes me feel like I am not doing it for nothing. I love it when others get enjoyment out of the words I scribe on paper. That is, after all, the reason I wrote the book in the first place, to provide enjoyment to the people that read it.
I got a job on June 1st, so I am at work now. I don't want to call it a career, as I am still hoping that being an author will be my career, but until then, I have to continue to work the 'traditional' job. That is not to say that I am giving up hope, or that I have resolved to the fact that I am never going to be a published author, it just means that I need to make some money to keep my family afloat. I don't mind the 'traditional' job, it is just that I would rather be doing what I want to do instead of what I have to do. Oh well, it is the way of the world we live in, is it not?
Well, I am truly hoping for some good news this time and I will definitely keep you posted. As always, keep your fingers crossed for me and I will be back again soon!

Decisions, Decisions...

I have decided. I have decided to try Shadow Mountain Publishing. The stories that they publish appeal to every dreamy little bone in my body. It would be an honor to have them as a publisher. I have looked at their website so many times. Their submission guidelines are some of the most inviting words I have ever read. They seem as though they are genuinely interested in the new author that has never written anything in their entire life. They seem like a publishing house that would make you feel welcome and make you feel as though you are part of the team. I like that. I really wasn't sure where I was going next, but I have finally decided. It is a good feeling to know that my manuscript is finally going in the mail once more. I find it rewarding in its own little way. At least my dream of being an author is not dead on a shelf....yet.
Shadow Mountain Publishing is the publishing company that published this book...

and this book...

 

and this book...

and this book...

and this book...

 

so, I have decided to send my manuscript to this publisher, to see if they would like to have a read...or not.
I have re-written the query letter and I think it is pretty good, in fact I think it is better than 'pretty good'. I think, if I were reading this query letter, I would definitely want to read the manuscript. And if I took the time to read the manuscript, I would find that the story is very good and that I would definitely want to put it in print and see Janet K. Cozzens on the top of the Best Sellers List!
I know, I may be dreaming, but what is wrong with having a dream? Aren't dreams the salt that life is made of? Where would this world be if it were not for the dreams? I think that it would be a very boring place, as we would not be unlike each other. That would be no fun at all. How would it be if we all thought the same thoughts and did the same things day after day? Think about it, that would be frightening, wouldn't you say? Dreams are the building blocks of our country. I plan to take a dream and make it a reality. That has been my plan since the very beginning of all of this and I cannot give up on my dreams. What would I be teaching my children?
Well, that is where I am at right now, in this moment of time. I am soon off to the post office to drop another envelope into the mail box to be sent to Salt Lake City, Utah in hopes that a publisher out there is going to be willing to give a little Wyoming girl a chance to see a dream come true. I hope to be marking off a 'yes' and letting you all know about it very soon!

Agent or Publisher? That is the Question...

I have found the publisher of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, which is a book that is similar to my own. I would love to submit to them but alas, they do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Now my dilemma, do I try to find an agent instead of a publisher? Maybe I should be looking for an agent versus trying to get my book published without one. I do have this book...

and maybe I need to really start studying it and utilizing this avenue instead of going straight to the publishers. I have been thinking about it and reading this book again. It is pretty much the same thing to get an agent as it is to get a publisher; query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters of the manuscript. Once again, the query letter needs to be stellar. I may just look into this further and submit to an agent instead of a publisher this time.
I have been busy these last few weeks and I have not been working on getting the book out again as hard as I probably should be. I have so many things going at once, and time is something I find elusive and not very easy to get my hands on. I fully intend to dedicate some time this week into getting some more research done and getting another, much better query letter written. This is my goal for this week. I hope to find the juices flowing and the creativity in my mind ruling my hand. I will let you know how it goes.

Frustrated...

I have to tell you, I feel like a contestant on American Idol, only the American Idol I am trying out for is not singing, but writing. I submit my work before the judges and they vote. I have had no 'yes' votes, all I have had is 'no' votes. I find myself wondering if I am the only one that thinks I can write. I think about those singers that go to perform at the very beginning of American Idol. Some of them are completely awful, yet they are convinced that they can sing. They always have a few family members and friends that insist that they can sing as well. After the judges tell them that they are awful, they rush through the doors, hysterical and crying, into the arms of the family and friends waiting for them. They still insist that they can sing and through the sobs and tear stained faces, they declare that the judges are just biased.
I find myself in my own American Idol hell. Can I really write, or am I one of those contestants that live in a fantasy world? Can I write, or am I just self convinced? I have some family members and friends that are convinced that I can write right along with me, but are they just being nice, so as not to hurt my feelings, or are they as completely diluted as I am? Am I diluted? Am I my biggest fan? Oh, how I wish someone could tell me the answers to the questions that swim in my mind day after day. The question of whether I am good enough to break into a world of book signings and excitement frenzied bookstores where the latest copy of my work is perched upon the shelf. The questions of how do I do this and where do I go from here. Am I good enough or am I just one of those horrible contestants that is convinced that I am good enough, even though I am not, and I never will be?
I want so badly to be a chosen one in my American Idol world. I think of the contestant that the judges said 'no' to that returns the next year and they send shivers up your spine and make your hair stand on end because they really can sing and they are incredible! How many times did they sing that song that sent them over the top in that year since their rejection? How many hours did they sit on their front porch humming that very song until they got it perfect? How many times did it take for them to know in their heart that they finally could sing that song and win the judges praise?
At least on American Idol, the singing version, the judges tell them what they may or may not be doing wrong and whether or not they stand a chance. The contestant gets a bit of feedback that they can take home with them and work with. In the American Idol hell that I am living, there is no feedback. I only get the rejection letter, no reasoning behind it, no words of advice that I could use to make my work better and perhaps convince the judges to give me a 'yes' vote. I only have the words in self help books to read and take advice from. I devour page after page in hopes of learning the secret to unlock the door to my future as a writer. I feast my eyes upon books with the titles that I think I may be able to use to gain an edge. After that, I still sit and ponder the thoughts of what I am going to write and how I am going to write the words to win the editors over. The query letter is the hook, and I constantly wonder how I can set it. What is it going to take? What do I have to do? Can I actually do it? I think about the words so much that I prevent myself from writing anything in fear that nothing I write will be good enough. I often ask, "Why does this have to be so hard? Couldn't it be easier? Am I making it harder than it actually is?"
Nothing is coming to me. Nothing is presenting itself to me. I want so badly to write the best query letter imaginable, but nothing I write is that hook, that undeniably great piece that is going to send me over the edge. Maybe I am just over analyzing it. Maybe I should just stop thinking about it so hard. Maybe I just need to sit down in front of the computer and begin typing again and see what juices flow. Maybe?
One thing I do know is that I can't give up. Still now, I feel as if I am supposed to write that query letter and send it out to the next publisher on my list. I still feel as if the books I am writing are going to interest children and they are going to want to sit with my books and read them cover to cover in one afternoon. I hope that there are others that agree, not just to be kind, but because they see something in my work that is unique and worth everything I am going through to get it published. These are a few of my thoughts today. I know that there is a lot of negativity here, but it comes with the territory. I try so hard to remain positive, but at the end of the day, I am still here with a manuscript in my hand and one more almost near completion and no judge has voted 'yes' yet. To be perfectly honest, I am a little frustrated. Hopefully, I won't be feeling quite so defeated tomorrow.

Rejection Letter #2

The bad news is...

This is rejection letter #2. It is the typical form letter, and it leaves me disappointed once again. But, I will push on and I will find the next publisher on my list and I will submit my manuscript once more. I may just get a letter back saying, "We are delighted with your writing and we would enjoy reading the entire manuscript!" or, "We found the first three chapters of your manuscript a delight to read and we would like to see more. Please submit your entire manuscript so that we may whet our appetites by reading the whole story!" (I know, that is really dreaming on my part, but it could happen, right? This is where you are supposed to say, "Yes Janet, it will happen, you will see!" Did you say it? I need all of the positive reinforcement I can get right now.)
I know that writing is what I was meant to do. I know that to give up would be cutting myself short. I know that seeing my book on the shelf of my local bookstore is what I want. I know that I cannot give up so easily. So, I will grab my Writer's Market and I will begin to comb carefully through the pages until I find the next publisher that I will send my manuscript to. I have my paper with the 'no's' and the one 'yes'. I will be marking off another 'no' and pushing forward for that one 'yes'. I know it is out there, it is out there and it is waiting for me to find it. I am not going to stop looking, I just need to look in a different place. Wish me luck once more!
I will be re-writing my query letter and my synopsis. I plan to write a KILLER query this time, I have a new strategy that I learned from this book...

and I will be putting it to the test. I have also subscribed to the Children's Book Insider and I have become a fightin' bookworm. I am learning new things and I am going to put these things to good use. I am going to write a query letter that will beg to be read. I will polish up my synopsis and make it so that the editors will have to see more. This is my plan and I intend to follow through. One thing about it, I am definitely NOT a quitter!I cannot quit, I have told you all that this is what I am going to do. How can I tell you that and then walk away? How can I tell you all that and not put forth my best effort? How can I tell you all that and not keep trying until I have no one else to submit to? I would be nothing short of totally humiliated to not push on and move forward. I can't let you down, and more than that, I can't let me down either. Stay tuned, I will be posting my new submission details as soon as I get it figured out. Once again, keep your fingers crossed and wish me lots of luck!

A Few Things I Picked Up..

I did a little shopping yesterday and I found a couple things that I had been looking for. I also found some things I was not necessarily looking for, but I had to have just the same. Isn't that the way it is with shopping? You always find more than what you were looking for in the first place? Wanna see what I got? Well here you go...

One of the things I WAS looking for!

Another of the things I WAS looking for!

Oh yeah, and one other thing I WAS looking for!

And one thing I WAS NOT looking for...

And one other thing I WAS NOT looking for...

And This I WAS NOT looking for either, but...

 

This I HAD TO HAVE, as I already have book one and book three, so I had to fill in the gap! There are two more of these books in the series currently, book four and five, but I will have to wait for them to come out in paperback. Oh, and if you have never felt a book cover just for the feel, I highly recommend it. The cover and the pages of this series are totally cool to the touch! I love to thumb the pages just for the wonderful soft feeling in my fingertips.

I am a dreamy, die hard book lover. It is part of me, as my heart and lungs and soul are part of me. The book world captivates me and holds me its prisoner until someone or something comes along to jolt me back to the here and now of things. It is a world of imagination and wonder and a place where anyone can go at anytime to escape, and I absolutely love to escape. It is what keeps me sane. The smells and the visual stimulation of a true, honest-to-God bookstore could never be replaced by e-books or computers. That is why I know that the book industry is not going away anytime soon. There are too many like me out there that need to walk through the doors of a bookstore just for the scent of it, just to walk among the gondolas filled to the top with the rich colors and mystical depictions of worlds far away that none of us can imagine until we open the pages and begin to see with our minds. To feel the pages between finger and thumb gives a pleasure to so many that it can never be replaced by the Kindle's™or the Nook's™. There are still many out there like myself that just have to pick up a book and hold it in the palm of their hand, that have to flip through the pages and look at the font and see the drawings and the illustrations as they were intended to be seen. I definitely am in the age of technology with wishes of owning a Nook™, but at the same time, I NEED books! I HAVE to be able to walk into a bookstore or a library and pick up a book in all of its glory and thumb through its pages and see it and feel it and touch it and smell it. This is what will never die, the captivating stimulating feelings that only a book can provide. Oh, I am sorry,  Did I fail to mention that I am a book lover? Through and through I tell you!!

Reality Check: I have already read the necessary parts of The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Letters and I have begun to immerse myself into the pages of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published. 

I lay awake in my bed until after midnight last night, still contemplating the idea of being a "Published Author". Do I move forward with this idea that I cannot get out of my head, or do I let it die? Do I withstand the pressures of trying to get a publisher to even glance at the pages of my manuscript or do I just step aside and tell myself it was a good try, but maybe I am not cut out for all of this? Do I continue to write and re-write and re-do and second guess my work in hopes of making it better or just let the pages rest where they may and move on to something else that is not so difficult and more 'conventional'? I ask myself these questions every single day and every single day, I tell myself the same thing...I was meant to do something with this talent that God has given me. I am meant to move forward and withstand the heartache and the rejection notices and the trials that I must go through to plunge ahead in this sea of unknown. I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. I will continue to gain the knowledge necessary to put me on the shelves of the bookstores. I will continue to reach out and grasp every bit of information I can to help me along this trying and difficult road. I will continue to find the inspiration and the strength to keep going in a forward fashion. I cannot and will not give up.

It is hard and it is time consuming and there are times when I feel my time could be better spent doing something else, but then I find myself thinking about the story and all of its wonderful characters once again and I move back to it, pushing forward, tearing down the walls that tower before me. I can't stop, I am compelled to write. I have to move forward, maybe take a little break once in a while, but move forward none-the-less. I just can't help myself. 

I was awake at 5:30 this morning. I have a job interview on Tuesday. I may be moving back into the work force. This is a scary thought for me. I worked so hard for so long trying to do what I thought was best and I didn't fare too well. What if it happens again? What if...? Will I lose myself again to the wishes and demands of others? Will I lose my identity that I have worked these last 10 months to create as a writer and a jewelry artist? Will I have to give up my passions to take on less of myself? Life is a scary place and I find myself plagued with thoughts of 'if only' and 'how can I' to which there is no real answer. I just hope that if there are lessons to be learned in all of this, that they are not being lost on me. My heart tells me one thing, but my mind tells me quite another. 

Rationality and reality need to step in somewhere along the way. I know that if I take on a 'traditional' or 'conventional' job that my family will be provided for. This is what makes me want to step back into the working world. But at the same time, I can't help but feel that I am giving up what truly makes me happy, writing and making jewelry and being here for my kids when they need me, and walking my 6 miles everyday (well almost everyday, anyway). There are so many things about ME that I have discovered and really LIKE about myself and who I have become, and I know that I will have to put some of these things on the back burner once more. I don't like the idea of working nights and weekends, but I may HAVE to. This aggravates me! 'How can I'...'I just wish'... and 'if only'...

Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, Inc.

Well, today I have decided to write and tell you about the publishing company that now holds my future as a published author in its palms. 
Name: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, Inc.  
Address: 18 West 18th Street, New York, NY  10011.  
Website: www.fsgkidsbooks.com
Established: 1946
Imprints: Frances Foster Books. Children's Books Editorial Director: Margaret Ferguson (To whom my query was personally addressed).
Manuscript Acquisitions: Margaret Ferguson, editorial director; Frances Foster, Frances Foster Books; Wesley Adams, executive editor; Janine O'Malley, senior editor.  
Art Director: Not that important, as I am not submitting art, but I do know a couple of people that should!!
Publishes 40 picture books per year; 30 middle grade books per year; 10 young adult titles per year.
5% of books by first time authors (That's me!!); 20% of books from agented writers.
Fiction: All levels: all categories. (I think I fit in here just fine!) "Original and well-written material for all ages."
Recently Published: The Cabinet of Wonders, by Marie Rutkoski; Last Night, by Hyewon Yum.
Nonfiction: doesn't really matter because that is not what this book is by any stretch of the imagination. (Pardon the pun!)
How to Contact: Fiction/nonfiction: for novels, query (check!) with outline/synopsis (check!) and three sample chapters (check!); The rest really doesn't matter, as I write children's novels so part one is for me. Do not fax or e-mail submissions or queries. Responds to queries/mss in 3 months.
Publishes a book 18 months after acceptance (WOW!) Will consider simultaneous submissions. (Seriously thinking about!) Meaning: They will let you send manuscript to them and others at the same time.
Terms: "We offer an advance against royalties for both authors and illustrators." (This is a GOOD thing!) Sends galleys to authors. (Samples of illustrations that can be used for my book as an author and I get to choose. Cool huh?)
Tips: "Study our catalog before submitting. (Check!) Don't ask for criticism or advice (duh). Due to the volume of submissions we receive, its just not possible. (I just can't fathom anyone asking anyway!) Never send originals. (Could you imagine writing a novel when there were no typewriters? Could you imagine writing a novel when there were JUST typewriters? I am truly blessed!!) Always enclose SASE (For those of you who do not know-Self Addressed Stamped Envelope)."

So, now all I do is wait to hear back from them. That, I believe, is one of the hardest parts to this as well, the waiting. Patience is a good thing to have a lot of in the trials and errors of getting published. I hope mine holds out. Oh yeah, I have tested it and it doesn't give in easily, so I am still feeling great for now. Hopefully I can maintain that attitude and endure through this time in my life. There is nothing I want more, so I think I can handle it...for as long as it takes.
A friend gave me some advice once. She told me of another friend that she has that wanted something badly in her life. She took a piece of paper and boxed out 100 no's on it. In the last corner of the paper at the bottom, she boxed out a yes. She began checking off the no's until one day, she was able to put a check in the yes box. Every time she got a 'no' she would mark it and move on to the next. She did finally get that 'yes' and I know that someday I will get that 'yes' as well. Until then, I will continue to mark the 'no boxes' and move on. Hopefully I don't have to use up a lot of paper in the process.