As I sat down to write today, I saw the little blurb below, bottom right, about Tess’s book. I finished it last January, 2020, and set about getting it published.
By Spring, I’d sent it to about fifteen publishers who were accepting manuscripts. I received three rejection letters and 12 tumbleweeds. <<< Ha. I should use that as a rating system.
The book was okay. I give it 7 tumbleweeds. Or maybe…
Ha! That was somehow satisfying.
Ahem. Anywho.
So, I’d sent Tess’s book, which is really MY book out to a few publishers and meant to send it to many more. But ya know, a funny thing happened on the way to the theatre… or forum… or whatever they used to say.
Hold tight.
The title derives from a line often used by vaudeville comedians to begin a story: “A funny thing happened on the way to the theater”. The musical’s original 1962 Broadway run won several Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Author (Musical).Author: Burt Shevelove, Larry GelbartGenre: Musical theatreDate of first performance: May 8, 1962
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum – Wikipedia
Today is OBVIOUSLY a day of digressions.
Long story short… I stopped submitting. Like, cold turkey.
Back to the drawing board. Or, in this case, the publishers.
I made up the “meme” thingy for instagram that I’m using for my featured photo. I like it! But I noticed it’s a little crooked. I couldn’t fix it because the top line is going up slightly and the rest of the lines are fairly straight, which makes the top line look even more uphill. Then I noticed the *very first line* of what I’d written.
I WILL NOT dwell on imperfections.
So much for that, eh?
I’m such a dork.
Uh. Okay.
Here we are at another cusp… another precipice… another opportunity to get things right… or at least… better. It’s too bad that some of what we need to get better is being held hostage in the hands of others. And, I mean, for ALL of us.
We can’t escape the scourge of the pandemic. Even if you think it was a hoax (and I certainly do NOT) you have to admit that it’s dropped a heavy shroud over the entire world. Nobody got by unscathed. Lost jobs, and businesses… and lives. Those people who died? Not just numbers. They were people… with parents and children, lovers and friends, and don’t forget pets who loved and will miss them. Absolutely heartbreaking.
2020 has been – if nothing else – a wake up call.
TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED!
But will we remember?
Maybe. It was that dramatic. It will be written about in history books. We are shaping history.
What will be written about you?
I am big on the word legacy and I may just preemptively choose that as my word next year. 2022: The Year of Legacy. Although, that sounds a little more deathy than I’m willing to go at the moment. But one never knows, do one? <<< I like writing it like that. One of my favorite series of books uses it all the time. Now you’ll want to know what the series is. Ugh. There’s a story.
Here goes:
I got the first book in this series over 20 years ago, when I belonged to a book club. I’m going to go backwards with the story because I want you to have all info before you go hitting links and thinking I’m a soft porn connoisseur.
After I finished all the books in the series, I *of course* wanted to read more, as the author was kind of prolific.
I picked up another book by him and it went kinda like this – very loosely quoted:
She picked out her favorite sexy outfit for their rendezvous.
He checked his pocket for the keys to the hotel room and slipped inside to get things ready.
She arrived.
They made love grossly and with vigour.
We then find out it’s her FATHER.
I don’t know what happened after because I literally tossed it in the fireplace and set fire to it. Yes, seriously. Just. Awful.
Okay, so the series I’m talking about it NOTHING like that and is, quite frankly, delightful reading. I know, go figure. It’s the Archy McNally series by the late (1998) Lawrence Sanders. I have every book and adore them.
Here is a kindle list from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Archy-McNally-13-Book/dp/B00VZI71WG
Honestly, the guy was a NYT Bestseller. The books are a hoot! And wonderful!
To be fair, I did check out another of his books, just to see. Garbage. I don’t get it.
Anyhow, Archy McNally himself is the character who always said, whatever-whatever, do one? which is the point I was trying to make when I brought it up.
There. You’re welcome.
So, my friends and readers… that said… I will sign off for 2020 and say, “Good Riddance, you asshole! Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out!”
Tomorrow, a gentler 2021 begins. I hope we can be kinder, more gracious, and find some measure of peace among the madness that will (unfortunately, I’m afraid) bleed into January. After that, God, I’m praying for some smooth, peaceful sailing.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
The Self-Help Whisperer® 