Book Release!

I had been a stay-at-home mom since I married.
I dabbled in sewing, quilting, crafting, couponing/refunding---and raised three boys, which I consider my greatest accomplishment.

Ten years ago, with my husband getting close to retirement, I started writing. I had been working on a picture book about picking berries. I thought it wasn't half bad. I found out about a writing group that met once a month in Ripley. I called one of the members and started attending the meetings. I got up my nerve to read it in front of the group. They were very nice, but I found out I didn't know much about writing.

Thankfully, I am a pretty quick learner.

A year later, I got a story published in an anthology. Then shortly thereafter, I started writing a children's column in a monthly regional magazine.

Along with writing PBs, I got brave and wrote two MG manuscripts. They have been sent out many times and received many rejections.

My second MG, Duck and Cover, took first place in the 2015 WV Writer's annual spring writing contest! Woo hoo! I had placed many times in the annual contest, but this was my first 1st Place!

I did a little more research on publishers. I found one that only published first-time authors and only published MG and YA.
They were not a vanity publisher. I didn't have to pay anything.
I took the chance and sent Duck and Cover to them.

They accepted it! It was officially put up on Amazon the end of February. It is available in paperback, kindle, and Nook on Barnes and Noble.

What is my advice? Never give up. Keep working on your manuscript until you get it the best you can get it --- and send it out.
And keep sending it out until you find someone who likes it as much as you do.

My book is going to be featured in the next few weeks on a couple of writer's blogs.

Today (Monday)it will be on the GROG Blog. Click over and check out the interview. Comment and you will be in a drawing for a free copy of my book.

How Do You Figure Out What to Send to Who?

Dear Readers,

If you submit very much, I am sure you have received a rejection letter at least once or twice in your lifetime.

Do you often wonder exactly what a publisher is wanting or needing.

I have received rejection letters that read 'Sorry, but your story isn't right for our list' or 'we feel it does not quite lend itself well to our list,' or 'after careful consideration, we have decided to pass on your manuscript,' or, sometimes the letter will say 'your story isn't quite there yet,' or 'it is charming, but.'

Sigh.

I have gone to their sites. I have gone to Amazon and 'looked inside' their published books, I have read them at the library, etc., to get familiar with what they publish.

But, some publishers publish such a variety of books for children - all quite different - that I have a hard time figuring out just what is 'right' for their list. I don't see a pattern.

Although I very much appreciate getting a rejection letter, since some publishers do not send them out any more if they are not interested in your book, I wish I understood more what the publisher wanted.

Anyone out there with a crystal ball?
How do you work your way through the maze of publishers and figure out what to send to who?

Maybe one answer is to make our story so special that a publisher cannot turn it down, even if it isn't right for their list?

So, until I can do that, I will keep writing, keep revising and keep submitting.

Signed,

Janet Smart  of the Blackberry Patch

Confused, But Still Love to Write