Month: February 2016

One down. (I received my first rejection email from a literary agent this week.) Who knows how many to go. But I’m trusting that, in time, Profound Secrets will find a home, the place where it belongs.

Meanwhile, I’ve had an interesting week that included attending a funeral, painting a room, and discovering a new restaurant that I love. And now, I’m hunkered in for the evening, recapping my day. Before I tell you about it let me back up and tell you how I got here.

Last Saturday I attended the monthly meeting of Word Weavers at Carmel Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. I loved it! While I was there I learned about a Women’s Day Retreat that was taking place at Carmel Church today. So I went, and I’m so glad I did! The worship music was beautiful, and I loved the Holy Yoga. Lunch was great, and the day flowed with a natural, easy rhythm of acceptance. My favorite part, however, was the honesty of the speakers, the leaders, and the participants. The older I get the more I’m drawn to what’s real and transparent. It doesn’t matter whether it’s good, bad, or ugly. What matters is that it’s the truth, plain and simple. 

So thank you to all the ladies who helped with the retreat today at Carmel Church. And thank you to all the participants. Spending the day with you was inspiring. Truly, it was.

Even though my stomach felt queasy, I did it. I hit send….several times. And now, my query letter sits in the inbox of several literary agents. You would think I’d be concerned about rejection. What if no one wants to read my manuscript? But I’m actually concerned about acceptance. What if someone wants to read my manuscript? Am I ready to send “my child” out into the world to fend for itself? Even though that’s been the point, the purpose, all along, I feel  a little anxious. I’m sure, however, that if and when that time comes, with a grateful heart and a queasy stomach I’ll do it again. I’ll hit send.

I imagined I’d write my first post on my new blog about Profound Secrets, the novel I recently finished writing….my first novel. Or perhaps a brief bio about myself. Or maybe an overview of some of my favorite books….or my favorite authors. I even contemplated a simple list of some of my favorite things.

But, turns out, I have something else on my mind tonight. Actually, it’s a place. The public library. More specifically, the public library in Indian Trail, North Carolina.

Libraries have most definitely changed from the “hear a pin drop” quiet and rubber due date stamps of my childhood. I not only check out books there, but I meet friends there, revise, scan and fax documents there, and get technical support there. Lots of technical support. Like today, for instance. Stephanie helped me get my blog up and running with a matching Facebook page and Twitter account. Oh, and a new gmail account, too. Who would have ever guessed you could do all that at the public library?

The older I get the more dependent I am on the public library. They keep up with the times better than me, and somehow find the patience to prod me through the high tech, social media door of the 21st century. And I’m grateful. So grateful. Thank you, public library in Indian Trail, NC! And thank you Stephanie! You’re the best!