The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Thursday, February 9, 2012

A Dog's Life



        This is Foley. He is like some women like their men: blonde, fast and not-too-bright.

         Twice a day--every day, he eats the same thing, and gobbles it with relish (and mustard and ketchup, too). When he comes in from outside, he's always hopeful that he'll get a treat. When he's "relaxing" on the couch, he's lovin' it. When he's hurtling after the ball like a bullet, he's focused on only that...

          As a writer, I need to be optimistic that I'll get an acceptance, each time I submit a piece. I need to relish the time I read, or chat with friends but when I'm writing, I need to zero in on that and put my blinders on, to keep everything else at bay.

         What lessons have you learned from your dog or cat (or iguana, or guinea pig)?

Sunday, February 5, 2012

2/3 of a Hat Trick

          Several months ago I submitted a story for the "Here Comes the Bride" Chicken Soup for the Soul anthology. Despite receiving an email that it had made it through the first chute, I didn't feel good about it making it through the final round. Having been told stories that it could be rejected up to a month before publication, I fretted. So I conjured up pessimistic thoughts, and kept them simmering.

This will be on sale on May 15, 2012.

          On Friday, I received an email that my story is going to be included in the anthology. That makes my second one so far, as far as CS stories. (The collection with my first accepted story is coming out on March 13.)

          I'm trying to catch up with Linda O'Connell, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Queen. That means 2 down, 143 more to go...