Welcome!
Some words for you
Happy October!
The temps have dropped, the semester is in full swing and although I’ve taken a little break from teaching at the MFA program, I’m still teaching Comp 102 online through our local community college. Joe is in the classroom like a real professor but I come and go as I please, which is how I like it. I’m LOVING my new job at Dakota Glass Works in Wardensville, and hope to make myself indispensable within the nonprofit we work under. Lovely people all around. You can read more about the organization HERE. I love working for nonprofits way more than any other employer. I find that if I don’t believe in the work I’m doing, I quit very quickly. (Not a suggestion since that really eff’s up one’s social security, but here we are) The last nonprofit I worked for was Meals on Wheels, which I also loved, so I’m hoping for some longevity here.
Not a whole lot going on in publishing right now, for me anyway. I have three projects on sub—books that are being shopped around to publishers, for those who aren’t familiar with that term—but it has been the slowest year I’ve had since 2018. I, like several writer friends I’ve talked to lately, am having a reckoning with myself, in a way. When I made my first deal way back in 2016, I never had any delusions about living off my writing. I mean, sure I hoped it would grow and become something of a regularity, but the reality is that’s not reality for most of us. I’ve never once even received a royalty check. I did hope early on, however, that I’d be able to continue publishing. That once I had my foot in the door, and had developed a good relationship with an editor, that we’d be able to keep working together. Sadly, in my situation, that has proven untrue also.
While I’ve loved all the editors I’ve had (there have been at least 6 that I’ve worked with, over three publishing houses,), only one is still at the original house I first got my foot into. Everyone else has either moved on to new publishing houses or any new job (better pay, because let’s face it young or new editors—like adjuncts—make crap), or the imprint has closed. There are so many factors out of our control and I don’t blame any of them for looking for better income. It’s just too bad writers can’t do the same for themselves. At least not in the same manner. I can write my ass off (hence 3 novels currently on submission) but it might not make the least bit difference in my career.
Creatives say: "It’s a labor of love, you have to love writing over publishing” etc. And I do agree—I say it to folks I mentor all the time! But I don’t like feeling so disposable as an author. Writing is one of few things I am truly good at, disciplined with, and enjoy even when it’s a slog. But none of that necessarily equates to a contract, and after a couple years of no contracts, it’s starting to weigh on me.
However, I am still very grateful and proud of what I have accomplished and I think it’s very important for writers to celebrate all victories. I don’t like being the Debbie Downer, but that’s what I meant by a reckoning with myself—balancing these two warring circumstances of hopelessness and celebration. The latter has to win out or the writer will completely burn out.
Over the summer, I had a nice little hometown release party for The Hike to Home and a second with our local bookstore family, Wordplay. Gotta say these little bookstores are the best thing going for small towns. Support yours!
For October, Joe and I are doing a joint signing at The Book Gallery in Winchester, VA on Oct 29 from 2-4pm.
When you read this update, we will actually be away at the country’s newest National Park—New River Gorge National Park—for his 50th birthday. The whole trip is a surprise, so while he certainly knows where he is by the time of this reading (well, hopefully he does), as I’m writing this he actually knows nothing. He hasn’t asked me a single question about his surprise birthday weekend, which is insane if you ask me. I would have loved to plan a huge party for friends and family, but that’s just not really in the cards for us this year. But be sure to wish him a happy day on the 3rd. :)
What to watch for:
Joe McGee’s newest releases: The Curse of the Crummy Mummy, the latest in the Monster Squad series out on October 25th. Preorder now!
If you’re so inclined, you can vote for me under Best Author in this Best of WV contest: West Virginia Living. I feel a little fraudulent being part of this since most of my life has been spent in NJ and PA, and these things always feel like middle school popularity contests but hey, I am in West Virginia now and—choose celebration, right?
What I’m reading right now:
Middle grade: Ally Malineko’s This Appearing House
Adult: Fredrik Backman’s Beartown
Next up: Alan Heathcock’s 40