Washed Up?

Morning!

I began this newsletter to share with you the trials and tribulations of an author’s life in the hopes that it might prove inspirational or helpful to writers hoping to get their novels published.

I began with my first novel, Whistling in the Dark, and had every intention to continue detailing for you book-by-book the sorts of things writers deal with after they type THE END on their manuscript. But, in the midst of it all, it occurred that anything I might share with you would no longer be relevant because these days, sad to say, so much of what is churned out by the publishers isn’t based on good writing, or even a strong story, or fantastic characters. Fact is, you could write the next To Kill a Mockingbird and unless you could procure a powerful literary agent and had a ginormous following on Booktok or Instagram, you could be shit out of luck. As I explained to a student who was dying to be published, “Tread carefully. Loving to cook does not mean you should open restaurant.”

Of course, there is self-publishing. There are many writers who do quite well taking that route, but you need to be a marketing wizard and I learned when I published, Mare’s Nest, I have neither the time or the interest to delve deeper into understanding algorithms.

What I’m thinking now is that all good things must come to an end. I really do hate that idea. It seems hopeless. But, that’s where I am right now. Trying to figure out if I should keep-on-keeping-on the way I have for the past twenty years, or be happy with what I’ve accomplished and call it a day. Always hard to know, isn’t it.

What I’m reading: Just finished Scott Turow’s—Presumed Guilty. (Great.)

What I’m watching: I am obsessed with Paradise on Hulu. Pretty sure that Julianne Nicholson will win an Emmy for her work.

What I’m loving: Spending time with my family and our two cats and two dogs.

What I’m looking forward to: Spring and gardening and a road trip to Idaho.

Funniest things I experienced this week: Few and far between, considering what’s going on in our country.

Old News: When purchasing a make-up mirror, be sure to check that the magnification doesn’t make you want to jump off a cliff. I have found some things . . . .

Lots of hugs,

Lesley