Book Update: The Probability of Diamonds

"Even the most exquisite of diamonds does not shine in the dark." -M.K. Brown

Perhaps my previous post was a bit premature. While it was indeed true that I was offered a book deal for The Heart of the Graystone, I have decided to decline the offer. I should have done my homework BEFORE I submitted to this particular "publishing company".

I thought something was fishy when I received a notice of acceptance less than two weeks after submitting my manuscript, so I did some research, read all the literature on the company's website and compared it to the sample contract, and after a short period of soul-searching (a very short period, as it turns out) I felt it was in my best interests NOT to accept the company's offer.

I don't like being overly critical, especially in print, even though most of you know I do enjoy a good debate. So if anyone would like to see for themselves why I chose to pass up the (admittedly legitimate) offer to have my work published, just check out this link: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/104/ripoff0104646.htm

Thanks for all your encouragement anyway.

The road is long, with many a winding turn...we'll get there. We'll get there. (From: He Ain't Heavy, He's my Brother)

Book Update: The Cautious Triumph of Possibility

Well folks, it's official: today I received an offer to have my novel The Heart of the Graystone published. I received a contract and an offer of a (miniscule) advance from a small independant publisher. The funny thing is, I am not all that excited about it.

I must say that my initial reaction is one of skeptisism (or is it pessimism?). Years of self-doubt, piled up inside me like so much refuse in a land fill, refususes to allow me to think anything but: "It's too good to be true, and this company, like so many other organizations and people and animals I have had to deal with in my life, is going to end up screwing me," (if you'll pardon the expression).

There is a famous Groucho Marx/Woody Allen joke that goes: I'd never want to belong to any club that would have me as a member. For Woody, it was the key joke in his romantic life in Annie Hall, and I have the sinking feeling it may be the key joke in my all-too-real life (the Greek chorus representing powers and principalities laugh mockingly in the background, for they seem to be once again winning a battle against this Lilipute of a man).

I'm the kind of person who has tons of self-confidence in things with which I am well versed, but when it has come to venturing out and breaking new ground in my life, I've always been a bit timid. Is this normal? I'd like to think I'm not that different from other folks in this area of life, but having only lived this one life, (that I am aware of) I can't say for sure.

Anyway, I'll be spending the next few days in deep thought and contemplation on my decision, and reading all the fine print in the contract, hoping I'm bright enough to decipher the legalese and detect any financial landmines that so many disreputable companies seem apt to plant deep in the jungle of their offer.

Maybe it would be better if I looked at the bright side. In a few years I may be fabulously wealthy, famous, and rubbing elbows with other great pop figures of our time...like William Hung and Kato Kalen. You just never know.