About the Books...

Please forgive me if I cannot send or give a copy of that book to all of you on my wish-list. You have no idea how many people I would love treat to a copy. I’d need a dozen or two.

The publishers sent me 10 free copies. I can do whatever I wish with them: give them away, sell them, whatever. But I need a few for people who I know absolutely cannot afford one but who love cats. One should go to my brother. His would require mailing and even at that, I must wait until the 3rd for funds so that I can mail one to him and his wife. Of the 5 or so that would be left, I could sell and keep the funds as additional income. I just can’t see myself doing that - it just feels greedy. Plus “marketing” is not my niche.

They allow me to buy 20 at a time at a wholesale price and sell them at retail (retail is $14.95). I just cannot justify putting out those funds on the off chance I could sell the 20 and get my money back. It's only 1 story among 101 in the book, so it's not that much a selling point.

Quite frankly, I am happy with the deal as it is. I look forward to similar deals with them.

Going forward, my tastes and interests have changed over the years. My goals for future free lance efforts are to continue trying to snag Chicken Soup for the Soul deals. Along with that, I’d really love to crack the Guideposts market. They have lots of publications but they have a long “lead” time and anything sold to them could take a year before I’d get paid. But Guideposts is on my to-do list (I’ve already sent several things that didn’t “take”), as is Woman’s World (a favorite), and Reader’s Digest (why not aim big?).

My brother says I should once again try children’s books. I must admit I am past the book-stage. I know I can’t focus enough to bring one “home” - it’s the shorter pieces for me these days. I’m wise enough to understand my current skill level, my current interest level, and my current limits.

I’ll work within those.

Please Join Me in a Happy Dance!

I just received my copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cat Really Did That? (on sale 8/8) with my story nestled in among 100 others. Here is a link to it so you can see what it’s about - I’m pretty sure every story in this particular volume is about rescue cats.

If you know me at all, or have followed me, you know that my background was a couple of decades as a bookkeeper/jr.-accountant, followed by a couple of decades as a free lance writer, ending with almost a decade of working for a government contractor. These past few years, I can no longer seek outside work. However, I did need to seek ways to supplement my lower-level income.

Crafts were fun, and my Etsy shop was great, but the income was meager at best when it came, compared with my needs.

About a year ago, quietly, I began once again exploring my real love: free lance writing. I kept silent for the most part. All last year, I worked and re-learned the field. You would not believe how much it has changed. It has been 23 years since I last sold something to a publisher. But I persisted. Last year, in the midst of broken pipes, water rationing, financial-challenges, I managed to submit 31 different articles. Then, this March, one of them SOLD!

I have been keeping quiet until I saw it in print because I know from experience over my earlier career that it’s not “done” until it’s in print or until you receive the check. Ok. It’s in print. I got some copies from Simon & Schuster today, and I truly am doing my Happy Dance.

Oh, it’s only one story among 101 others. But it means I can still do it. That’s one thing I was afraid of - that I had lost my touch, my skills, my ability. And it’s a flat fee, but that flat fee will pay off one bill’s balance when it arrives in September.

So, we’re off. And I am up to it. Time to sell some more, somewhere or other!