I trust you all had a good Valentine’s Day. I got thru it alone, and it wasn’t as bad as anticipated. Life goes on, one day at a time, and the pain lessens little by little.
I’ve given computer-printed copies of my book to Bryan’s oncologist and an editor-friend for their input. It’s kind of like showing off your new baby. You hope everybody admires the little one and says only good things.
Many have asked if my book is published yet. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Here’s a brief overview of what’s involved. I need to find a publisher and maybe an agent.
There’s a 3-step process in getting an agent:
Send a 1-page query letter with a brief description of the book and what makes it different. Wait 1-2 months for a response.
If the agent is interested, send a 20- to 30-page proposal letter with a few chapters of the book. Wait again for twice the amount of time, usually 2-4 months.
If the agent is still interested, then send the entire manuscript and wait around 4-6 months.
With all the waiting, it takes up to a year just to get an agent. If the agent doesn’t allow simultaneous submissions, I go thru it one agent at a time until I find one who wants me.
Getting a publisher takes the same three steps and about the same length of time, even with an agent as a go-between. It could take a year or longer just to get the manuscript accepted. Then, it’s another year or two before it’s published! One contact in publishing suggested that I go directly to a publisher for my first book, so I’m trying to decide which one(s) get the query letter.
It could take a total of 2-4 years to hit bookstands. One writer’s website has a list of 39 steps to getting published. Step 1 is to write the book. (That’s the easy part.) Of the remaining 38 steps, 22 of them start with the word “wait.” I guess God will teach me patience if I wait long enough.
The only way to avoid all this waiting is to self-publish. That means that I pay all the publishing costs and have all the books shipped to my house. Then, bookstores and Amazon.com order from me instead of from the publisher, and I handle all the shipping. Doesn’t sound too appealing, so I’d prefer the other way instead.
Now you know that publishing isn’t an overnight accomplishment. I can’t get back to writing articles or other books until the wheels start turning on this one. I would appreciate your prayers in my search. I’m terrified of putting my “baby” in the wrong hands.
Take care and remember that God loves you and knows what you're facing today. I need to remember the same!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Duane's passing and 3 cancer hints
Good Saturday evening, dear friends and loved ones.
It is with a sad heart that I advise you of the death today of Duane Koski, my son Brian’s father-in-law. Duane was diagnosed with cancer in mid-November, and outlived the doctor’s prediction by three weeks. He fought valiantly, but slipped peacefully into eternity with his family at his side. Thank you for your prayers for him, and please continue to pray for his wife Nancy and daughters Sarah and Laura.
When Duane was first diagnosed, Sarah said she wished that my book was available, because they could use the suggestions in it. I sent her the first chapter, which contains the three most important hints. I decided I’d share them with you as well.
When you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, there are three vital things to do:
1. WRITE IT DOWN: Take notes at every treatment and doctor’s appointment, and record weight, blood pressure, and temperature whenever they’re taken, as well as pain and nausea levels and how medicines affect them. Keep these and all other paperwork and handouts in a loose-leaf notebook.
2. SLOW DOWN: Don’t drive as fast or do things as quickly as usual. Your mind is working slower, so take your time doing everything, especially in the kitchen. You can cut or burn yourself or put things away in the wrong place, like the milk in the pantry instead of the refrigerator.
3. SIT DOWN: Take time for yourself and don’t feel you have to keep your normal schedule. Give yourself permission to rest when you need to, whether you’re the patient or the caregiver. You need it.
Feel free to pass these on to anyone facing cancer, to help them on their journey. This is from the first step of my book, “Stepping Thru Cancer,” which is about 80% done, so it should be available soon. Each week, I hear of someone else who is starting their cancer journey, and that’s an expedition that shouldn’t be made alone. I hope to have the book out in the next few months.
Thank you for standing by me on my journey, and continuing to support me in my new career.
Love and prayers to all-
Debbie
It is with a sad heart that I advise you of the death today of Duane Koski, my son Brian’s father-in-law. Duane was diagnosed with cancer in mid-November, and outlived the doctor’s prediction by three weeks. He fought valiantly, but slipped peacefully into eternity with his family at his side. Thank you for your prayers for him, and please continue to pray for his wife Nancy and daughters Sarah and Laura.
When Duane was first diagnosed, Sarah said she wished that my book was available, because they could use the suggestions in it. I sent her the first chapter, which contains the three most important hints. I decided I’d share them with you as well.
When you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, there are three vital things to do:
1. WRITE IT DOWN: Take notes at every treatment and doctor’s appointment, and record weight, blood pressure, and temperature whenever they’re taken, as well as pain and nausea levels and how medicines affect them. Keep these and all other paperwork and handouts in a loose-leaf notebook.
2. SLOW DOWN: Don’t drive as fast or do things as quickly as usual. Your mind is working slower, so take your time doing everything, especially in the kitchen. You can cut or burn yourself or put things away in the wrong place, like the milk in the pantry instead of the refrigerator.
3. SIT DOWN: Take time for yourself and don’t feel you have to keep your normal schedule. Give yourself permission to rest when you need to, whether you’re the patient or the caregiver. You need it.
Feel free to pass these on to anyone facing cancer, to help them on their journey. This is from the first step of my book, “Stepping Thru Cancer,” which is about 80% done, so it should be available soon. Each week, I hear of someone else who is starting their cancer journey, and that’s an expedition that shouldn’t be made alone. I hope to have the book out in the next few months.
Thank you for standing by me on my journey, and continuing to support me in my new career.
Love and prayers to all-
Debbie
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Merry Christmas, 2009
Merry Christmas!
I put off writing this letter because I didn’t have anything worth sharing. My wonderful sister-in-law Wanda had warned me that the second Christmas alone is worse than the first, and it proved to be true. Last year, I had adrenaline, busyness, friends, and family to help me through, but this year the reality finally set in.
Other years, I’d have my tree up and decorated the day after Thanksgiving, but this year it took two weeks longer, and the rest of the decorations took another week. Fortunately, I had already done most of my shopping, so I was more prepared than I thought.
Last night, my sister-in-law Carolyn called to share her Christmas joy with me. She had been to the VA hospital in Reno to visit her husband, my brother Ken Horn, who is doing much better than expected. He is eating more, is putting some weight back on, and most of the time has control of his muscles.
Ken dropped a magazine on the floor, and managed to bend down and pick it up. Not bad for someone who just a few weeks ago could move only his eyes! He doesn’t laugh, but he does get a big grin, especially when something funny happens. And when their son Eric left his room, Ken told him, “I’m not dying yet.” We can all learn from his determination, especially me.
We’re still praying for Duane Koski, my daughter-in-law Sarah’s dad. He’s in a nursing home and getting treatment and physical therapy to regain his strength. He and his family still need our prayers and God’s help.
Let’s all make this a great holiday with loved ones and remember the reason for Christmas: God sent His son to live with us and die for us so that we can be with Him forever. One of our church choir’s Christmas songs says it all, “Start at the manger, then go to the cross.” I hope and pray that you do the same, start at the manger this Christmas, then go to the cross. What a gift, feely given and received.
Merry Christmas to all, and God bless us, every one!
Debbie
I put off writing this letter because I didn’t have anything worth sharing. My wonderful sister-in-law Wanda had warned me that the second Christmas alone is worse than the first, and it proved to be true. Last year, I had adrenaline, busyness, friends, and family to help me through, but this year the reality finally set in.
Other years, I’d have my tree up and decorated the day after Thanksgiving, but this year it took two weeks longer, and the rest of the decorations took another week. Fortunately, I had already done most of my shopping, so I was more prepared than I thought.
Last night, my sister-in-law Carolyn called to share her Christmas joy with me. She had been to the VA hospital in Reno to visit her husband, my brother Ken Horn, who is doing much better than expected. He is eating more, is putting some weight back on, and most of the time has control of his muscles.
Ken dropped a magazine on the floor, and managed to bend down and pick it up. Not bad for someone who just a few weeks ago could move only his eyes! He doesn’t laugh, but he does get a big grin, especially when something funny happens. And when their son Eric left his room, Ken told him, “I’m not dying yet.” We can all learn from his determination, especially me.
We’re still praying for Duane Koski, my daughter-in-law Sarah’s dad. He’s in a nursing home and getting treatment and physical therapy to regain his strength. He and his family still need our prayers and God’s help.
Let’s all make this a great holiday with loved ones and remember the reason for Christmas: God sent His son to live with us and die for us so that we can be with Him forever. One of our church choir’s Christmas songs says it all, “Start at the manger, then go to the cross.” I hope and pray that you do the same, start at the manger this Christmas, then go to the cross. What a gift, feely given and received.
Merry Christmas to all, and God bless us, every one!
Debbie
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