RIP - HJ


I had a boss once. He was my favorite. He was not judgmental, fair, strong, funny, good looking. His heart was gold. He lived a life that reflected his deep held beliefs of chivalry and honor.

Friday, he put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.

I found out yesterday that he had died. I knew when I read the short letter from two girls I used to work with. I read a letter telling me of the need to speak with me and knew HJ was dead. The letter gave no hint of the sudden reason for speaking with me and yet I knew in my core what it was. I even told Tony, "HJ is dead," I said nonchalantly, "Must have been a heart attack."

After all HJ was of the right age and worked his ass off.

Today, after one of my students had left, I sat down to read my email and within the first three sentences was over come with grief, anger and disbelief. "What a waste," rolled over in my mind as Tony rocked me and told me it was going to be alright.

The letter had started as I had expected, "I hate to do this over email but Friday HJ died." I sat thinking about celebrating his life and seeing his soul over to the waters of forgetting and on to his next incarnation. The letter continued and said, "all we know was it was a self inflicted gun shot wound."

I can't pretend I have never thought about suicide. I find it hard to believe that there hasn't been some time in everyone's life where the thought that sweet and peaceful death would be better than the life of pain being currently experienced. When you loose sight of the fact that today is but a moment and it will pass, death is the better option.

But HJ? Seriously, even knowing his death had occurred, all I could think about was celebrating a life well lived, if not cut a bit short. The HJ I knew was vivacious, alive, confident. Now they aren't even going to celebrate him. Old laws of the Christians seeping in to rob him of even the memory that there was something good and worthy about the life he lived, if not the way he choose to die.

Tony talk over all the possible reasons why he might have chosen this. I won't repeat them here because they would be rumor mongering and I won't pretend I knew HJ well enough to even guess. Tony and I have grieved that we lost touch with this man who knew my religion and told me once it just meant to him that witches must be "pretty all right" because I was in deed "all right."

I think of him every time I sign my letters to editors, agents and publishing houses. I end with "Cordially," a trick of HJ's that said set his letters to vendors, employees and the press out from others. It was warm. It was personable and it was still professional. I mark down "Cordially," and smile knowing I am only setting myself apart from other authors because I had been given a great example by a man who wasn't even an artist.

He came to my wedding and gave us a great gift. He was genuinely happy to be there. Happy for Tony and I and the love we had obviously found.

I thought of HJ this past weekend at my writer's conference. When I left his employment, he made sure to give me a genuine leather briefcase complete with a place to store a laptop. He was excited that I was going to try my hand at success defined in some other way than by the roads of corporate America. He wanted to support me. As I walked into the conference, nice briefcase slung over my shoulder, the monogram shining in silver LMC. HJ knew that gold is not my color, silver is. I found it hard not to feel completely grateful. Grateful that HJ had taken the time to so equip me. I passed other would be writers carrying batter briefcases and knew that HJ's adage that half the battle for success was to appear successful was playing out right there at that conference.

Being who I am and believing what I do, I have allowed the ideas that HJ's death although appearing wasteful to me was at least his choice. He wanted to die. I would not recommend this course of action because it's finality is so thoroughly complete. Yet, I have felt HJ in my house since the first email. He is smiling and looking at my altar. He was not burdened and happy. Out of the corner of my eye he was there. And as soon as the reality of his death stole upon me he left...in shame.

All I wanted to say then is this:

Don't leave me HJ. You don't have to. Stay. Stay and give me the wisdom of your life and situation so that the next time, that very next time I will have your insight to help me help someone else. I am not going to judge you or condemn your life or your death. I believe everything is a choice and who am I to ridicule yours. Stay so that when Samhein steals upon this land, you will be close at hand. I will light black candles for you and leave them on an empty altar. A silent tribute to your life which was a light to others. A tribute to choice, which you made. Remind me how difficult it is to find those you admire and respect and how important it is to keep them in your life. Don't leave in shame. Stay and know that Tony and I both respected you, loved you and have always found it an honor to call you friend. We are sorry. Sorry for our years of silence. Sorry that we lost touch. Sorry that in your final moments you didn't know all that I am telling you now.

Stay with our love,

Cordially,
LMC

Harriett Austin Writers' Conference, The Business of Writing and Its Adverse Affects, Harry Potter

People are beginning to email me, impatient that I haven't posted what my first writers' conference was like. Truth is I am trying to assimilate the information, decide whether I found it to be of benefit and what I would like to say about it. On top of all that, Harry Potter came out and I would be lying if I said that it didn't distract me. It has been calling me, "Dia...Dia....don't you want to know who dies???" Very distracting to say the least.

So last night I finished Harry Potter. Don't worry, there are no spoilers here. I will say I enjoyed the last half better than the first. I encourage people who are reading the first half with mounting apprehension, to keep reading and do not skip to the end and read the last few pages. Trust me, you are going to like the ending. It is all alright. Just keep reading. I will also say that my husband is glad I finished. Our house was punctuated with gasps and shouts of, "NO!" or "GET OUT!" last night for a good four hours. He was really tired of saying, "What? What happened..no wait, don't tell me." Dang, how can any writer ignore the release of Harry Potter this week, but enough of that.

I am completely bogged down in the business of writing and it is making me crazy. OK crazier than I would be normally. With contracts looming in front of me and some serious obstacles toward publication, I feel like I have landed on the planet of publishing and do not quite speak the language. I spoke with a lovely agent yesterday who said I was afraid of a "turnip contract."

Confused about this farming metaphor, especially since I was raised on one, she carefully explained that I didn't want to be the turnip that feel off the truck, got picked up and eaten alive. I concur. That is most certainly a fate I am currently worried over. Having a back ground in business does not help this. I feel like I know enough to see the pitfalls, or some of them anyway; however, if I do not find them in time, I could easily succumb to turnip syndrome.

I had high hopes that theHarriett Austin Writers' Conference would help elevate some of my stress and give me better bearings. I went looking for answers about how to find an agent, how to begin to submit magazine articles and enter contests and how to make myself more marketable. I learned many things; however, answers to these specific questions were not forth coming.

How to Find An Agent?

Evidently, you don't. I asked several published authors how they found their agents and got evasive answers as if they were protecting some vein of gold they had found to mine. The one who finally answered the question said, "I was sitting in the airport and we struck up a conversation." I am still not sure if I believe him.

I went to classes held by a guy named Chip MacGregor about agents and the business of writing. I found Chip to be personable, well, vivacious, well, a consummate salesman who has honed his pitching skills so that he doesn't come off as a used car guy. He has a small clientele that is made up mostly of authors who are Inspirational Fiction. Just in case you guys are as clueless as I am, Inspirational Fiction is code for Christian Fiction. I have NO clue why they would use "inspirational" to describe it; however, not being a Christian I suppose I really don't care.

Chip gave a session on working with an agent that I found moderately helpful. Filled with information I had already researched and received from other sources. The second class of his I attended was called "Making a Living at Writing." I had hoped to hear specifics about submitting articles and the like; however, he gave seven rules to becoming a successful writer. You know like "be organized," "be focused," and "be disciplined." I enjoyed this one better and was disappointed that it didn't address what I had hoped.

Other Sessions

Lucy Rosenthal gave a creative writing class. I got much from the exercises she sent us before the class; however, the class itself was a bit unhelpful.

I went to a copyright seminar with a law guy. I was amused to discover that something is copyrighted the moment that it is in it's final form. So this blog is, in essence, copyrighted.

I also attended a seminar called Money for Nothing and Your Clicks for Free where I discovered that I was already doing everything that the presenter was going to suggest about increasing traffic to ones website and there by increasing ones on presence on the web. She gave some suggestions that I hadn't heard of that she didn't really cover in depth. The class ended up being filled with people who were a bit electronically challenged. I felt like Hermione Granger with my laptop and hand up with an affirmative at every question.

Other People

At the Meet and Greets, dinners and in the corridors I met lots of nice people. Nancy Love, an agent from New York was extremely helpful and kind to give her time to me. I also met Chuck Sambuchino. Who was a pleasant guy who listened to me ramble about my challenges and was encouraging.

I met a man named William E. Bray who had written the book Your Spiritual Lineage: Researching the Genealogy of Your Soul. Bray was a fascinating man whom I enjoyed talking with him over dinner. I bought his book and he introduced me to his partner at Bilbo Books (no link available at this time), Bowman. Bowman was a hilarious guy and if I were single, skinnier and younger, I would be in Athens next weekend chasing him. All seriousness aside, he gave the impression of a driven young man who was passionate about life. He was a joy to talk with.

College Haunts

Sitting with Bray and Bowman the first time I met them was an extraordinary woman by the name ofGeri Taran. She was so engaging, friendly and passionate about all things writing. She has established an online group called In the Company of Writers to present webinars about writing to busy writers. I think the idea is brilliant and from what I have perused, something well worth the time and effort.

Geri and I also shared a "it's a small world moment." I was talking about my background, once again explaining why a bred and born Georgian didn't sound southern. "I took Shakespearean Theatre as a concentration in college," I explained. Geri sat straight up and demanded to know the name of my alma mater. When I said, "North Georgia College and State University," she squealed and said, "Then Brian Jay Corrigan was your professor."

Now I must say I was shocked that she would know this. I might also say that out of my many mentors and professors at my beloved NGC&SU, Brian would not rank as high as some thers. I found him to be brilliant, truly outstanding in his field. No bull here, I watched him carefully and come to deeply respect him. However, I constantly got the idea he would just as soon work with a toad than with me. My ex also had Brian in college and loved him. Brain inspired in him creativity and a drive few others could. I recently ran into Brian on the streets of Dahlonega, attempted to make a polite conversation and introduce him to my son. My ex has told my boy all about theatre and working with Brian, so I thought it might be nice for him to get a taste of my ex husband's favorite professor. From my perspective, I was completely snub which simply served to confirm his contempt for me years and years later.

As all of this washed over me, I looked into Geri's eyes knowing full well she expected me to gush about Brian's brilliance. Having had a glass of wine, which you all know I never do, I was very forthright about my opinion of the man, to my horror. So I tried to change the subject and drink more wine. I apologized the next day for my blunt, even if it was truthful from my perspective, comments. I continue to hope that Geri doesn't judge me too harshly for one comment on one day after more wine than I had had in four years.

Then today I went on line to see Geri's site and out of curiosity saw the link on that same site about Brian. I clicked on it and would you believe that Brian is the recipient of the 2006 Georgia Writers Association Author of the Year! I was shocked and a bit humbled. I never even knew he had an interest in writing. He has written a book called The Poet of Loch Ness. According to the link I have given, he has received rave reviews and it seems translated it into Gaelic. I was stunned to think how much he and I actually have in common. It occurred to me that we probably didn't like each other because we are in many ways, alike. I bet he is as mortified as I am at that prospect.

It got me to thinking about college and the changes that come after those formidable years. I look back now and see what I was involved with and where I was heading and shuttered. My life now is so completely different. It makes me wonder if professors remember to let their students grow up? I certainly did not allow Brian the room to grow, change and become something more than I had perceived all those years ago.

Well, enough about old places, times and people. Geri gave me one of the greatest comments ever. After listening about what my current project is she exclaimed, "But you don't even look like a witch!" Sitting there in my black pearls, long black skirt, conservative purple top and brand new heels, I was overwhelmed with thanks. I hope that I look like me, was my reply. I owe Geri a reading for her loving support, kindness and willingness to forgive a moment of weakness after my first glass of wine in four years.

Other Writers and Witty 86-year-olds

I also was privilege to meet the Southern Scribes, all of them. I met Genie first who thought she knew me. She provided me with the startling revelation that Harriett Austin was a woman who was still alive. I turned to her and said, "I wasn't sure she existed." In reply, Genie drug me over to a small woman of eight-six and introduced me. Explaining that I wasn't sure of her existence. Ms. Austin turned to shake my hand and said, "That's o.k., I am not sure that I exist either."

I also met Patricia and Kathy who have agreed to work with me on a small on line critique group. They were always ready with a quick smile and encouragement. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting them and look forward to continuing our relationship in the future. They both exposed me to the Atlanta Writer's Club. http://www.atlantawritersclub.org/

Conclusions

I liked it. I wish my fiction manuscript had been ready for review and entrance into the contest. It wasn't; however, it is a goal to shoot for. I wasn't blown away by the seminars; however, next year I have a better feel for what I might like to take and could choose better. So I don't know. I think time will tell.

For the record, Tony says it was worth it completely as do Sharon, my friend who owns her own business and is more business savvy than even I am. I, however, am concentrating right now on the looks of fascinated horror anytime I explained what my project was about. I have rarely experienced so much caution when it came to my religion than I did this weekend. It was like I had stepped out of my world where Wiccans and witches just are and into a world where I was an alien that needed to be avoided. ... or maybe they would just prefer to work with toads, too.

Rejected? NOT!


It has happened. One of the larger publishing houses I sent a query letter to has requested a proposal. Coming just before I go to the writer's conference, the timing could not be more significant.

In the past few weeks, my Lady and Lord have been dealing with me, working in my heart and in my mind. They told me they would show me how faithful they were. I woke up this morning and I knew there was a proposal request in the mailbox. I was on the phone with Tony when I got it and that too is significant for me. He shared the moment.

I can feel it coming.

Humble thyself in the sight of....
the Ogham, your friends, other witches, your family, THE LORD, THE LADY


So the past few days have been significant to say the least. I have been taught many lessons and I am working on taking them.
It started with money issues. Cash flow issues to be exact and a bank error. No really the bank actually admitted it was their error and credited my account accordingly! Unity National Bank is a great local bank and they have stepped up and owned their mistake. I am grateful.

Anyway, money issues started around the 14th of this month and have persisted. The jeep has been broken most of the month and I have had the air of blue funk all around me. Yesterday morning I finally came to the conclusion that I had been hexed. I based this on the finding of a thistle. I am a Scotch Celtic witch and therefore the thistle is pretty important to me. I have NEVER seen a thistle growing where this one was AND if I had walked by it any later, it would have been mowed down. Besides, thistles in this area have bloomed and died already, so this one is out of season to say the least. I harvested it, put it in water and put it on my altar. This morning it had grown an inch taller and a bud on the side was beginning to bloom!

Thistles are used to break hexes and I began to reminisce about all the problems I have been having and my frustration at not having received any feedback from a publisher in my genre. I added it up and decided I was hexed.

While this was going on, my friend Yannu had asked me for some information on a goddess. I decided I wanted to give her the notes I made on a ritual I performed to that goddess in 2001 and started looking for that information for her on the computer. Finding it, I was reminded of an incident that happened the day after that ritual where I found a book in the library that was cataloged as DIA. I checked the book out and copied it. So I started looking for the copy and couldn't find it. I spent a large part of yesterday looking for it and finally found it filed away in my filing cabinate.

The book itself is a folk tale and it began my quest to discover my "purpose" in life and in the craft. Six years later, I still have not deciphered the book. I start reading the book again and thinking about it.

I got another request that lead me to get out my Ogham cards. I have used these cards extensively for the past few years; however, they are a divinatory system and I have never used them as such because the reading layout and use of the cards is complicated, seriously. Well, I am sitting looking at the book and thinking about the fact I have never tried the divinatory aspect of these cards and decide that I would read the section on the divinatory section. I find a reference in the final card you draw to the castle of jewels. The place the main character in my folk tale ends up. The final destination for the quest is in the castle of jewels. I realize the time to try the divinatory aspect of these cards was now. I wanted to know what was in my castle of jewels.

Yesterday I start trying to do this layout. In the meantime my money issues are escalating and my negativity and frustration are growing with it. A friend calls and I spew negativity all over her regarding my money issues. She tells me that surely I know that my own negativity is not helping to resolve the problem. She then proceeded to give me a spell to get my money back. I blew her off completely.

When I finally got around to deciphering the layout I had done, I get the message that I found for myself in the castle of jewels: "Your negativity is hurting you." The conversation with my friend floods back to me and suddenly I am humbled. I am negative. I replay all the contacts I had in the day with people. Counted up the number of times I spewed negativity out of my own frustration and feelings of helplessness. My friend tried to tell me. I owe her an apology.

That wasn't the only revelation made through this reading; however, it is complicated even for me so I won't bore you. Except to say that as I was laying in bed this morning contemplating staying there verses going to the bank to work on the bank issue I was having, I saw the thistle flash in my minds eye. I thought about some parts of the story and realized that my thistle was trying to break the hex I had placed upon myself. I immediately got up, got dressed nicely and started cleaning house. I got a lot of phone calls as a minister today and they were all productive. I took Connla to the library for a program there and he and I had lots of fun.

I don't know if someone else is attempting to hex me or not. Maybe, however, the universe is using there malice to my benefit so I am ok with it. The only hex I am going to concentrate on is the one I put on myself. I trust my wards, my God and Goddess to deal with any other comers. So mote it be.

REJECTED AGAIN!
Connla is Home; Sickies; Family Moon & Witches' Rune; Lady Yannu


Writing news first, I was rejected by Quest Books. Yet again, however, this rejection goes in the positive pile. I got a personal letter, made out to me. That's right, not some generic you don't meet our publishing needs rejection card. The query letter got a "excellent" comment. Fact is, Quest Books does not publish books on witchcraft. So once again, I take this as a good sign.

I went and did a reading of Southern Stories at a poetry open mic thing. I feel kind of lack luster about the whole thing and didn't find it very beneficial. I got out there, though. I risked.

The current query letter count is:
6 Original Query Letters Sent 1 Sent later on recommendation
1 Proposal Requested and Sent - still outstanding
1 Query Letter Returned and resent
2 Rejections based on not being suitable for the publisher;
1 rejection recommended me to another publisher
1 rejection gave a personal rejection with "excellent" as a comment on my idea and query letter

Connla only spent four days with his father this past week and has returned to us. He is sick. I have an appointment for him later today; however, in the meantime he is pretty miserable. I have been having little passing spells - a sure sign that I am sick. Last week I spent the day with Sarah and on that day she discovered that two of her children have strep. Sarah was mortified that I had been exposed. My appointment is in about an hour.

At the request of a new witch I have recently met through a friend, I hosted an open Family [Full] Moon on the Blue Moon in June. I prepared for the event not really knowing what the ritual was going to be about. Twenty four hours before I decided to focus on death and rebirth. After talking with all the participants, it was the only theme that really emerged. Four hours before the actual ritual, I was still clueless.

I called Sarah and we ended up coming up together with something that was really great. I decided that I need to change the energy from death to rebirth and picked the Witches' Rune to help me do that. I memorized it and then with a hot cauldron, raised energy to change the theme from death to rebirth and poured herbal water into the cauldron. Steam rose up and the entire thing was truly other worldly.

I learned something - The Witches' Rune ROCKS. Seriously. I have put it into my Priestess Book and not much gets in there. I just found it to be so important. I have had positive feedback from the participants. It is certainly a ritual that I would not mind doing again at Samhein or any Family or Lone [New] Moon. It was really powerful.

It also highlighted for me the importance of working with another Priestess. Sarah and I have really grown closer and without her confirmation of my own thinking, I don't know that I could have come up with the ritual. It was a collaborative effort.

Speaking of Sarah....Yannu [Sarah] enter into the solemn oaths of clergy recently. She is now earned the title Lady Yannu.

All Hail - Maiden Mother Crone, Father Warrior Sage, I send up my welcome and praise in all the names which you have been known throughout time and space. I give praise for your High Priestess, Lady Yannu, my equal and better in many things, the maiden and mother to my crone, the wand to my athame, the sweet wine in the chalice, my sister, my friend. Great Guardians of the Watchtowers and infinite manifestations of Deity, welcome her, protect her and guide her. Empower her and fill her up with your wisdom, beauty and love, for she is to me more precious than my own blood.
I, Lady Adialawyddan Dragonstone, High Priestess and Co-Founder of Family Wiccan Tradition International, do recognize and honor the path Lady Yannu traveled to receive this burden and responsibility. Family Wiccan Tradition International does hereby declare that Lady Yannu has meet all the requirements of our tradition and if at any time she chooses to affiliate with us, she will be accepted as Lady, High Priestess, Clergy. Lady Yannu is the first High Priestess of her own Family Coven's tradition and was given the rite of power by her husband, Lord NiteTiger.

Lady Yannu, you are what I strive to be as a High Priestess and friend. Condolences and congratulations.

Week with Connla; Becky's Birthday is June 6th!?! No News is Good News; Home; On Death and Dying

Since the last time we checked in, I am here working away. Last week was crazy as Connla stayed home and got lots of my attention. We are working on his reading. We have found a new way to do this. I got the Harry Potter Goblet of Fire book from the library on tape. I am encouraging him to listen to it and follow along. He has been doing this and I find it to be a big help. I can tell in his day to day reading on signs and such that he is getting more confident. I am taking him to his DR to try to get a firm diagnosis. I am confident that when his brain catches up with itself, reading will not be an issue and he will love to do. We went swimming, played Pokemon (I won the last three way battle with Tony and Connla!), and watched shows about dinosaurs, the MythBusters and Dirty Jobs.

Having sent Sarah a birthday card by mistake, I got out my birthday calendar and realized that it was Becky whose birthday was this month. I had to call her and apologize for being selfish and missing her birthday. She is coming up for a Family Moon on Friday so I am going to make her a birthday cake. I sent her a card, better late than never right?

When it comes to writing I have completed a chapter on relationships. It is rough; however, I am proud about it because I did this in between time with Connla. It shows me I can work even when he is around. I re-read it to Tony and discovered it didn't totally suck. So that is good! This week is Southern Stories work.
I haven't received anything from any publishers. I take no news as good news right now. I continue to have dreams about getting contracts and advance money (which is certainly important). Last week when Tony was gone, it was really difficult to stay positive. Now that he is back and I have his attention to talk to him, I am feeling much better today. I am still sleeping a lot. I think I am just trying to get over the stomach virus I had last week. Connla got it and ran a fever for 24 hours and had mild stomach discomfort for 24 hours. Then it was like nothing happened to him, ahhh, the stamina of the young.

This past weekend, Dragonstone Family Coven celebrated Litha with the Nesters. We blessed their house with prayer and ritual. It was the most tolerant and religiously inclusive thing I have attended since I married the Jewish Pagan Goddess to her Christian Man in front of his father minister. There has been a shift between Sarah and I. She has become another piece of my soul restored. I feel like the house was now my home away from home. I also felt more connected to her husband, like the ritual had acted as a solidification of our relationships. I told Tony on the way home that if the four of us continued to do magic together there was nothing we couldn't make happen. Sarah told her man the same thing. The ritual itself acted as a catalyst to help center and focus me. I felt like my home had come home.

Speaking of homes, my mother called last week which accounts for why I was upset most of last week. It seems my father has finally gotten on some medication to help him better regulate his moods. My mother is so proud. Of course, I would have benefited most from this type of change 20 years ago. Although that annoyed me, it wasn't half as annoying as the conversation we had about death and dying. You may recall that I dreamed about my father dying and tried to warn my mother who blew me off. Well the subject came up again. I asked if dad had seen a doctor and had a simple x-ray of his lungs and he hadn't. My mother then launched into an exultation of a man who had brain cancer for three years and didn't tell anyone until he was almost dead. My mother admired him for keeping his pain to himself and not burdening his family.
I have to say I was mortified. When my brother called me to tell me he had tried working on my parents and failed, he summed up the attitude as "the ultimate in selfishness."

I have to agree. How dare people take away the chance of closure from their children, friends and family. So I asked me mom if this means that if she was dying she wouldn't tell us? She said, "Absolutely." Great. My mother is going to die the martyr and rob us of allowing her to leave this world with the business of this world completed.

This dying thing has come up a lot lately, as the theme of rejuvenation has. I really have been noticing the patterns in my life. I am amazed at how the same patterns seem to be shared by more than one person in my life. Of course the craft is about patterns, working with patterns and creating patterns.

I am looking forward to a Family Moon soon. The dark half has come and I am relieved. As Sarah said earlier today, "The Goddess has gotten wiser and the time for harvesting has come." Blessed Be!

First Request for a Proposal, Connla is Home! Library Fines

Writing news first: I got a request for a proposal. I saw my own SASE come back and was standing with Connla and said, "Oh look, I got rejected again, I wonder from who?"

"Don't do that Mom," Connla immediately replied, "How do you know you go rejected? You don't know that."

I began to tear open the envelope as I explained to Connla that I was getting my own SASE back and didn't imagine they would do that if they wanted something from me. About that time I turned over my own reply card and saw:

XX Please send the proposal

It took me a minute to take it in.

Connla read it and said, "Told you so." He really is too smart for my good.

There is also a hand written note on the card; however, I cannot make it out. I think they are talking about what type of genre they desire to publish and are not interested in wasting my time. This is why this request is so great. I thoroughly expected them to reject me out right just like I expected Inner Traditions International/Bear & Co to. I am not sure if I am going to send the proposal. I started counting the results of my query letters:

Inner Traditions International/Bear & Co Rejected the letter with a recommendation of another publishing house to try.

Prometheus Books Requested a proposal

Big Named Publisher - Had it's letter returned to me because of inadequate address on label.

Magical Creature Publisher - Has not responded yet. I liked their site and the vibe I got off of them. I really hope they respond favorably.

Eat Alot of Candy Publisher - Has not responded yet. Recommended to me by Kathryn Hinds. Obviously I have changed the names of houses I have yet to hear from.

This is pretty good, right? I mean the two publishers I thought would dump me really didn't just dump me. One recommended a better house and one asked for a flipping proposal! That is really good odds going for me. Surely one of the other two who have the query letter and are really in my genre are going to seriously consider me.

I am going to look over the proposal again and I am think I am going to add some information from my web sites. I am going to work on that today.

Yesterday, I also got a great thank you note from the women I sent the booties and hat to. She loved them.

Connla came home last Sunday, thank the Goddess and God! I spent yesterday giving him my undivided attention. I played him at Pokemon and won. YEA! Now we are even, one game to one. We went swimming, to the library and read for over an hour. He has grown and his head is now several inches taller than my shoulder. Think about this a minute. He is nine and his head is several inches taller than my shoulder. People I am 5'6''. This means that my child is probably going to be taller than I am BEFORE he is ten. Scary - really, how can my boy be my little boy when he is taller than me? *Sigh*

I think my library has it out for me. I have nearly $10 in fines and according to my date book, my books aren't even due until the 22nd. I think they are mad because I told them I paid fines and had to bring in a check to prove it. Irritating to say the least. I always seem to owe this library. Next time I get books, I am going to do it different and see if that doesn't change how things come out. I am also going to start keeping my receipts. If they are ripping me off, next time I am going to be able to prove it.