Wednesday, December 4, 2013

My Wild Imagination

Writers have great imaginations. I am guilty of having too much of an imagination. Take my SCBWI conference in LA experience for example.

The Andrea Pinkney, Vice President of Scholastics, critiqued my manuscript and gave me glowing compliments that left me giddy all weekend long.



Andrea said that she loved my manuscript and that it is what Scholastics is looking for. She even told me to promise her to send it to her. She also wanted to see more of my work. The only caveat is that in order for me to do so, I needed an agent because of Scholastic's policy.

Andrea asked if I had one. I didn't.  So she went so far as to recommend a couple to me (which she said she never does) and even had cocktails with one of them to talk about my work (or at least that's what she said she'd do). This is where my imagination begins to unfold.

I imagined:

  • my phone ringing off the hook with agents wanting to represent me

  • me having the difficult task of deciding who I should choose
  • my manuscript being chosen for the Sue Alexander award
  • me moving to Big Sur and living in a quiet cabin so I can write all day
  • me quitting my day job so I can learn to surf

  • my kids bragging about their mom being the coolest

  • me taking my private jet to have lunch in New York with Andrea Pinkney 

  • Stars talking about me

  • Ellen Degeneres or Oprah Winfrey knocking at my door 

  • me making news in Time Magazine


Well, I soon realized that it wasn't going to happen.




Rejection after rejection sent me back to reality. 




The truth of the industry held true. 




Writing is a subjective business. 




Just because the V.P. of Scholastics loves your work doesn't mean an easy ticket in.




My imagination got the better of me. The story I submitted to Andrea Pinkney is still sitting in my folder waiting to be discovered and LOVED by an agent.

But wait!


There is something I DID NOT imagine.

It's the fact that, not one, but TWO of my picture book manuscripts was accepted by MeeGenius!  

www.romellebroas.com


I am proud to announce that my story THE TUMMY MONSTER is out! You can find it at MeeGenius.

And another, RUNNING BOY will be coming soon!


With every bad news, comes good news!




15 comments:

  1. Awesome post, Romelle. Congratulations on your TWO books and best of luck with finding that agent - I know you will.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for your vote of confidence in me, Sylvia.

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  2. What? I can't believe the VP of Scholastics loved your manuscript and then you got rejections. I was looking forward to a happy ending plus a copy of that TIME magazine. However, a big congrats on your two books! I don't any iToys, but we do have a Kindle Fire. Can any of your books be bought/read on that device?

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    Replies
    1. I will send you the TIME MAGAZINE in my dreams lol! Tummy Monster is available at the Apple Store, Google TV and Google Chrome store. I believe MeeGenius is working to make it available via other devices so stay tuned.

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  3. Congratulations again on your acceptances by MeeGenius, Romelle!! I am absolutely incredulous that your imagined scenes of agents knocking down your door didn't happen. I mean, you already have an editor lined up; you've done half their job already! I will never quite get this business.

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  4. Excellent post, Romelle. Extremely intriguing dilemma. I"m sorry about your struggle - it's crazy! But I'm tickled pink about THE TUMMY MONSTER and RUNNING BOY. Congratulations!

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    1. Thanks, Alayne. Yes, it is an interesting dilemma that I had to share it. I have no hard feelings or anything. I know that it is a subjective business so I just keep moving forward.

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  5. Congratulations, Romelle! They will soon see your genius! :)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Elaine! It was my last author interviewee, Kristin Remenar who said that we are all "undiscovered geniuses."

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  6. Congrats! MeeGenius is a great publisher!

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  7. Huzzah! Wonderful news Romelle. Congratulations!

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  8. Congrats on the new books!
    It's only a matter of time before the agent comes knocking.

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