Three Things That Happened On My Blogging Vacation

Hi everyone! It’s been a while and I do apologize. I’ve missed you.

My schedule has been crazy during the last few months. Not the fun, busy, exhilarating crazy, but the crazy that’s just crazy.

I don’t wish to relive any of that, so here are three other things that happened during my self-imposed absence.

I Wrote

C'mon brain. Time ta pay the rent.
C’mon brain. Time ta pay the rent.

This should go without saying, but in the days leading up to my departure from Heylookawriterfellow, I wasn’t writing all that much or all that well. In fact, I would describe most of my output during that time as “Meh-sterpieces.”

See? Even my puns were terrible.

Once I closed the blog down, I devoted more time to my writing. Much of it was still kind of “meh,” but I was producing more “meh” than before, which is a big step in the right direction.

My writing did peek above that “meh” baseline, however, when I began to rework Harold’s Hat, a story I originally wrote for a Susanna Leonard Hill contest. Thanks to my online pals Cathy Mealey and Lauri Meyers, who both thoughtfully critiqued my rewrites, I now have a new, submit-able something. So woo!

I Began an Agent Search

This has become a front burner issue for me. Despite the success of Sarah Gives Thanks, I’ve hit a bit of a wall in getting someone interested what would be my sophomore effort. Considering that so many children’s book publishing houses are closed off to the unagented, it seems like the only logical way to go. So I’m looking.

And if you’re an agent… Well, by golly, stop by and say howdy, why don’cha! I’ve made scones!

I Discovered That I Am Allergic to Bunnies

Living proof that life isn't fair.
An adorable Belgian hare — and living proof that life isn’t fair.

This has nothing to do with my career, I know, but it made quite an impression on me.

As some of you know, Lucy the Rat passed away shortly after I returned from my trip to DisneyWorld. Though I am not exactly in the market for a new fuzzy companion, I do sometimes visit my local (independently owned) pet store and ask to cuddle the merchandise.

On one such trip, I fell in love with a ginormous Belgian hare. As I held him in my arms and gave him little skritches behind his ears, I began to identify myself as A Bunny Person. Five minutes after saying goodbye to the fine fellow, however, my eyes watered, my nose stuffed up, and my throat tightened.

I was soon in a state of ranting denial.

“I can’t be allergic to bunnies!” I ranted to myself. “I am A Bunny Person! Maybe I breathed in a little pollen! Maybe a cat happened by! That must’ve been it! Some awful, bunny-hating cat must be responsible!”

But something in the back of my mind wasn’t buying it.

So on my next visit to the store, I made a beeline for the bunnies. I needed to make sure.

The Belgian hare was gone by that time (he was too wonderful to stay unsold for very long), so I cuddled a couple of other bunnies who were on hand. And the symptoms returned with a vengeance.

Remember that scene in The Empire Strikes Back when Luke Skywalker learns that Darth Vader is his dad? Remember when he tries to deny it but he just can’t because he knows it’s true? Remember how horror stricken and devastated he was? Remember how Luke would rather plummet a million stories rather than think about that terrible fact for another second?

Well, it was nothing like that. But it really did bum me out.

Anyway, long story short, I’m back to blogging.

So! What’s new with you?

A Blog Break? Really? Dang.

Ugh. I’m going to have to be one of those I-Need-To-Give-This-Blogging-Thing-A-Rest-For-A-While People.

I never expected to be one of those people, but it can’t be helped. A bit too much is coming at me a bit too fast and I won’t be able to give this blog the attention it deserves. I won’t lie to you; this bums me out. I like it here and I really like all of you guys.

But, fear not. I do see the light at the end of this tunnel. I’ll be back in about a month.

In the meantime, enjoy this picture of a guinea pig riding a crocodile. You’re welcome.

BFFs