The work around here never ends for Mr. Bacavis, Annette, and myself. There are queries left to write and edit, and plenty of squeak toys to disembowel! (Don’t belittle Nettie’s job; she does good work!).
With the manuscript polished and ready to go, I’ve begun the most terrifying part of the process! I pushed myself through the writing blocks and bumps, learned to take criticism from beta-readers, handed over my story to brutally honest kid and adult readers, embraced the endless hours (days, weeks, and months) of revision, and now, at long last, I have submitted my work to be considered by several different literary agencies. And the work doesn’t end there, or even when I do, at long last, find the right agent. But I don’t want the work to end; I want it to last as long as the words keep coming and the ideas keep plaguing my imagination.
To keep my focus on writing and away from the discouraging things (rejection, impatience, and self-doubt) I have begun scribbling down the ideas for a sequel to Beyond the Bramble. Another adventure for Lila and her goblin friends, one that introduces new characters and more unexpected obstacles for her to overcome. Another adventure worth going on…
beyond the bramble 