Queen of Rejections

Did I go overboard on my previous posting about FAN emails? I fear that I may have.

In real life, I’m actually the shy, quiet type. I don’t go around bragging about FAN mail. But, let’s face it, I do have an ulterior motive for writing this blog and it is not only to avoid doing the dishes.

Anyway, to balance things out, I will now write about my rejections. But where should I start? There’s so much to say! I can see already that my future postings will be sprinkled with news, musings and words of wisdom about rejections. Because, in my humble opinion, I am truly an expert on that topic.

I will now reveal a deep, dark secret. I fancy myself The Queen of Rejections. Is there anyone out there who cares to challenge me for the title? I daresay I have more rejections than most writers. For many years, every single rejection was a stab in the heart. I’d be walking around looking like a normal healthy human being but inside, I was doubled over with one lethal wound after another after another.

The good news is that I have learned to deal with rejections better. And that’s a very good thing because I estimate that my twenty published books represent about 2% of all the writing I’ve submitted over the years. You can do the math yourself. I'd rather not.

Sometime, I will share a recent rejection that really got to me, but not now. Right now, I want to talk about my two latest rejections—both from agents. One agent emailed back (after a mere ten months or so) saying she had decided against my story. She did say my writing showed “potential” and invited me to try her again. Hmmm. Any guesses if I will? Maybe, if I were immortal.

The other agent didn’t make any promises, BUT she suggested I get a “platform” to show the big publishers with whom she deals that I’ve established an “audience.” She suggested that I start a blog.

At that point, I barely knew what a blog was. I dismissed the idea entirely—for about 24 hours. Then I thought, hey, what do I have to lose? So here I am, writing this blog and absolutely loving it. Rejections are not all bad. There can be a silver lining. Or, as my mother always says, “From bad comes good.”

My Latest FAN Mail

Why do I love email? Well, for one thing, I never know who I'll hear from. Sometimes it's from a friend or relative (even my sister and mother have recently joined the ranks of emailers). Sometimes it's from an editor (Can you believe I've gotten a book contract offer by email? Now that made my day.) Sometimes it's from a conference organizer asking if I'll present a journal writing workshop--which I absolutely love to do. And sometimes, it's from...drumroll....a FAN!--a real live person who has taken the time to tell me that one of my books is now a family favorite, or that it made them laugh or cry or even better, both.

Now, mind you, that doesn't happen every day or even every week. But when it does, well, nothing quite compares. It reminds me that my books have lives of their own. They are out there in the world connecting with all sorts of people--most of whom I will never meet. But once in a while, I get a glimpse of what they're up to. What a wonderful thing!

A while back, a teacher wrote thanking me for Bridge to America. She told me that her class was hanging on every word and begging for just one more chapter. She said she loved the book as much as they did and that at one point, when reading to the class, she could barely keep from crying. Now that was pure music to my ears.

One of my very favorites was from a 9 year old who wrote saying that he had recently read Bridge to America and had chosen it for his class project. Could he interview me? He wanted to take me out to lunch--his treat! He'd been saving up his allowance. A 9 year old! I was totally smitten.

A college student studying to become a teacher wrote to say she was using It's Winter for her class project. Would I be willing to answer some questions about my writing process? (Would I? Well, I'll let you figure that one out for yourself.) Weeks later, she wrote back with happy news. She'd gotten an A on the project. Bravo!

Not long ago, out of the blue, an email arrived from Canton Symphony Orchestra saying they wanted to use Our Big Home, An Earth Poem as the featured book for their fall children's concert. How cool is that?

But yesterday's FAN mail was definitely a first. A woman named

Mrs. Greenberg wrote to say she loved both my Mrs. Greenberg books

The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes

and Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah.

The characters reminded her of her own family. She wanted me to inscribe copies for all the Mrs. Greenbergs in her life--great grandma, grandma, the aunts, and of course, herself--the mom. Let's hope they all enjoy them in good health! (a direct quote from The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes--for all you fans out there)

So how many times do I check my email everyday? Well, more than I care to admit. But hey, can you blame me?

My newest book Singing Crickets

Hello! Welcome to my new blog! I'll be sharing book news, journal writing tips and lots of other interesting, hopefully entertaining, tidbits. 

Here's my newest book Singing Crickets. Actually, my mother deserves credit for this one. She kept suggesting crickets as a new book topic for my young nonfiction "critter" series. 

A true animal lover, my dear mother believes in feeding all animals. (How many times on family vacations did we discover her on the other side of the fence feeding the goats, the horses, the geese, you name it?) So, when she discovered crickets in her basement one winter she fed them--of course. Doesn't everybody do that sort of thing? Don't you feed your house guests? Well, they seemed very happy with that arrangement. Over the years, they multiplied and took up permanent residence. 

Whenever we visited my mother, we shared quarters with countless hopping little ones. The babies were truly adorable--tiny miniatures of their parents. If my memory serves me, they especially liked the sliced grapes that my mother set out for them in a tiny upturned lid. 

As far as I know, when she sold the house, my mother did not give the new owners feeding instructions for the downstairs clan. So I suspect that the descendants have re-established themselves in the great outdoors--which is where my new book, Singing Crickets, takes place.