Just a quick post to let you know how the publication process is going for my book. Basically, it’s not. I’ve determined that it’s best for me to take my book to another publisher. Engen books is a small publisher in St. John’s and at the time I felt it would be a good fit for my story. I wanted to do something charitable with the book, but I don’t feel there is enough experience or desire on the part of this publisher. I have had concerns about the lack of editorial ability and professionalism and sadly, my concerns were well founded. I promised I would keep you all up to snuff on each phase and sadly, this is sometimes part of the process as well. On the path to publication there are many twists and turns in the road but it’s the ability to dust yourself off and carry on that matters the most. I’m dusted and done with this particular event and moving toward another opportunity. The book itself: The Adventures Of Granny Destross and CeeCee, will find it’s way into the hands of children, if I have to print it, carry it and place it there myself. Such is my faith in it’s value. I began writing it in a domestic violence shelter to calm my daughter. I would cuddle her and each night the story would have a new chapter. I would write it in the day and read it at night. Some of you know this. I began to take it seriously when I entered it in the Writing For Children short story contest at The Writer’s Union Of Canada. The critique they sent me was encouraging and I made it to the second round. Afterward, I fiddled and tinkered with it until I eventually held a completed manuscript in my hands, fully edited and clean. I’m always working on other things, including the very bad verse I subject you lovely people to on a regular basis 
but this is my baby. This is the one I love the most, because of it’s birthplace and because it can do some good. Like all writers, I have a rich fantasy life and in my favourite daydream, I see a child sitting in a shelter, afraid and lonely, full of confusion and apprehension. This child finally spots the book shelf in the corner and their curiosity overwhelms them. They amble over, pull out a book and begin to read. As their eyes dance across the page, they are transported from that shelter, away from the bruises and terror. They go to a world where everything is an adventure, the good guys win and no one is ever hurt. When they finish it, they wish they could read it again because the escape and distraction were healing. In my daydream, they are reading my book. Know what? That’s why I write and I bet deep down inside, this is why you keep writing too.
So, if you see me on the street corner hawking my book, say hello and buy a copy. Mark Twain started that way and if it’s good enough for him, it’s more than good enough for me. Have a good weekend and remember, send out the good vibes to your fellow scribes.
