Popular Post Kalmia Posted November 1, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted November 1, 2023 Five years in the making, many drafts, endless writers' group critiques, and failures with literary agents later, I have the published book in my hands! So, all you writers out there, don't give up! It is an epistolary novel, which is a style the literary agents didn't like. I had three different agents tell me: "I love your writing and your main character, but I could never sell an epistolary novel to a major publisher." But sadly for them and happily for me, it is being published by a small, independent, literary press in Portland, Maine that does not fear the epistolary style. Try all avenues to get your writing out there, folks! Don't let an agent discourage you. It is not entirely their fault, like a real estate agent they don't get paid until they sell a book to a publisher, so it makes perfect sense that they are only going to go with books that are a sure thing. Small presses are a viable option. One can also self-publish under one's own imprint (much like making your own small press. Mimsy Bell, an eighty-year-old fiddler, returns to her hometown, Menotomy, in the mountains of western Maine after her decades-long musical career comes to an abrupt end. With just three items left on her bucket list, she’s most of the way to a life well-lived. But it isn’t easy to find a final resting place, make peace with the river that claimed her first love, or recapture the person she was before the course of her life was diverted forever. Especially when a closed cemetery, a crabby minister, and a curse stand in her way. And some nice reviews: “A delightful, insightful book. In her letters to a long-lost love, feisty Mimsy Bell reflects on her life and ours, on the tragedy and beauty that surrounds us. I found myself wishing Mimsy had started writing sooner so my time with her would last longer. The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Bell is a special creation, a story I will eagerly revisit.” — Gerry Boyle, author of the Jack McMorrow mysteries. “Like a Maine river, this book has depth and beauty, offering up surprises where you least expect them. You’ll be transported to Menotomy and won’t want to leave" — Robin Marrow MacCready winner of the Edgar Award Best YA 2006 I am so excited! Book launch coming up in two weeks. Already started the next one. If you would like more information on the novel, PM me. 70 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faith-manor Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 1 minute ago, Kalmia said: Five years in the making, many drafts, endless writers' group critiques, and failures with literary agents later, I have the published book in my hands! So, all you writers out there, don't give up! It is an epistolary novel, which is a style the literary agents didn't like. I had three different agents tell me: "I love your writing and your main character, but I could never sell an epistolary novel to a major publisher." But sadly for them and happily for me, it is being published by a small, independent, literary press in Portland, Maine that does not fear the epistolary style. Try all avenues to get your writing out there, folks! Don't let an agent discourage you. It is not entirely their fault, like a real estate agent they don't get paid until they sell a book to a publisher, so it makes perfect sense that they are only going to go with books that are a sure thing. Small presses are a viable option. One can also self-publish under one's own imprint (much like making your own small press. Mimsy Bell, an eighty-year-old fiddler, returns to her hometown, Menotomy, in the mountains of western Maine after her decades-long musical career comes to an abrupt end. With just three items left on her bucket list, she’s most of the way to a life well-lived. But it isn’t easy to find a final resting place, make peace with the river that claimed her first love, or recapture the person she was before the course of her life was diverted forever. Especially when a closed cemetery, a crabby minister, and a curse stand in her way. And some nice reviews: “A delightful, insightful book. In her letters to a long-lost love, feisty Mimsy Bell reflects on her life and ours, on the tragedy and beauty that surrounds us. I found myself wishing Mimsy had started writing sooner so my time with her would last longer. The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Bell is a special creation, a story I will eagerly revisit.” — Gerry Boyle, author of the Jack McMorrow mysteries. “Like a Maine river, this book has depth and beauty, offering up surprises where you least expect them. You’ll be transported to Menotomy and won’t want to leave" — Robin Marrow MacCready winner of the Edgar Award Best YA 2006 I am so excited! Book launch coming up in two weeks. Already started the next one. If you would like more information on the novel, PM me. Awesome! Well done! 💃💃💃💃💃 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoo Keeper Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 Congratulations! 🎉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 Congratulations! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 I've just requested my library order it in. I don't know where they are allowed to order from, but I asked anyway. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 Awesome!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amethyst Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 Congratulations!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Tiggywinkle Again Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 So…where can one order this book? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 Wow, that is so exciting! Congratulations! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drama Llama Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 17 minutes ago, Mrs Tiggywinkle Again said: So…where can one order this book? Exactly what I was thinking! I want to read this book! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 congrats! How exciting!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 Congratulations!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 How very exciting, @Kalmia! Hooray! Regards, Kareni 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookbard Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 That's a huge achievement! Congratulations! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalmia Posted November 2, 2023 Author Share Posted November 2, 2023 33 minutes ago, Mrs Tiggywinkle Again said: So…where can one order this book? 17 minutes ago, Drama Llama said: Exactly what I was thinking! I want to read this book! Not sure, if by board rules (not selling your own products), I can post the link, but if you PM me I will message it to anyone who is interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 5 minutes ago, Kalmia said: Not sure, if by board rules (not selling your own products), I can post the link, but if you PM me I will message it to anyone who is interested. People have asked, so you can post here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalmia Posted November 2, 2023 Author Share Posted November 2, 2023 Rosie has given me the green light to post the link for my novel, The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Bell, published by Littoral Press. Thanks! https://littoralbooks.com/product/the-buoyant-letters-of-mimsy-bell-by-laurel-dodge/ 15 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 How exciting! Congratulations! 🎉📕 I'll pm you for details on your book launch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 CONGRATULATIONS! 🎊🎈🎉🍾 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginevra Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 What a fabulous accomplishment!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyoffive Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 That is so exciting!!! Congratulations and so proud of you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acorn Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 Congratulations 🎉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resilient Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 Sounds interesting! Congrats! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CT Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 (edited) Well DONE! And I love the title. "Buoyant," we don't get enough of that word. Congratulations! Edited November 2, 2023 by Pam in CT 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 Congratulations!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 What an accomplishment! Well done! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toocrazy!! Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 How exciting! Congratulations 😀 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlsdMama Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 Congratulatons!i 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grace Hopper Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 Well done! How satisfied and excited you must feel seeing this come to fruition! I honestly love epistolary novels so thanks for your persistence. Let us know how and when it’s available to read. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalmia Posted November 2, 2023 Author Share Posted November 2, 2023 11 hours ago, Pam in CT said: Well DONE! And I love the title. "Buoyant," we don't get enough of that word. Congratulations! I tell people that I chose that word just so I would finally learn to spell it! Not 100% true, but that was the effect. 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalmia Posted November 2, 2023 Author Share Posted November 2, 2023 1 hour ago, Grace Hopper said: Well done! How satisfied and excited you must feel seeing this come to fruition! I honestly love epistolary novels so thanks for your persistence. Let us know how and when it’s available to read. There is a link further back in the thread to my publisher where it is available to order. But I will repeat the link here. https://littoralbooks.com/product/the-buoyant-letters-of-mimsy-bell-by-laurel-dodge/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CT Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 5 minutes ago, Kalmia said: I tell people that I chose that word just so I would finally learn to spell it! Not 100% true, but that was the effect. Ah, see, once one spends a certain amount of time accompanying a certain boat-loving husband over a certain number of decades through a certain number of fish-laden shallows, its relationship to "buoys" finally registers, lol. It did, however, take decades. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitterpatter Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 That's amazing! Way to persevere. 😄 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mominco Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 Congratulations!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bootsie Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 Congratulations! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaVT Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 Congratulations - it sounds like a great book!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachaheart Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 Congratulations 🎉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasProud Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 Well done!!! So proud of you for sticking with it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 Congratulations 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted November 3, 2023 Share Posted November 3, 2023 That's amazing! It really is SO important to get your work in front of the right person/publisher! So often I read online people struggling, but they are submitting to places that don't publish what they are submitting. Good for you for seeking out the right home for your work! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eos Posted November 11, 2023 Share Posted November 11, 2023 (edited) Just now seeing this, so impressive! Congratulations! Edited November 11, 2023 by Eos Ordering it for myself 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dove Posted November 12, 2023 Share Posted November 12, 2023 Congrats!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.