Publisher letter

At long last it has arrived!  I submitted three children's stories in the beginning of summer and finally have received a (yes just 1) response for Monkey Trouble!  Imagine if you will my excitement while fetching the mail the other day.  I pull out the few envelopes of junk mail, perhaps a bill or two, and suddenly a return label catches my eye, could it be, yes!  It's one of the publishers! (won't say which one!)

The envelope is thin, and I wonder if this is similar to that of the college envelopes that come to the nervous high school seniors - thin =rejection, big and fat = acceptance!  I know in my heart what's inside, and yet there is still a glimmer of hope, miniscule though it may be, that I am wrong.  I dash into the house with my three girls following along, all thrilled that mommy's getting her story published.  I sit down with baited breath as I slip my finger into the tiny opening on the envelope and rip it open. 

I blanked out the Publisher info because I'm not sure if I can legally post it.

No surprises here - but I am grateful I actually got a response this time.  I can proudly say this is only my second rejection letter...the other publishers never even responded!  I will admit, the rejection does hurt, just a little.  All the books prepare you for it, I fully expect to be rejected a lot, but it's still painful.  It's almost like someone telling you right to your face they don't like your child.  "She's a nice child in all, just not right for me..." 

Anyway, I'm posting the copy letter I sent along with my manuscript because I thought it was pretty good, and who knows maybe all the many publishers checking out my blog will be intrigued by it!!!!

Grab your fanciest fairy wings, hop on your favorite playground swing, and get ready for a terrific adventure!  I am very pleased to enclose Monkey Trouble, an approximate 800 word picture book for your consideration.

In Monkey Trouble a group of friends meet at the playground, but with a pair of special fairy wings and the magic of imagination the playground transforms into a jungle, complete with quick sand, waterfalls and a few crazy monkeys who are looking for some fun!

With each page young readers discover bits of the playground peeking through the illustrations of the jungle; the waterfall is the slide, the vines are the monkey bars, etc.  In the end a tornado (merry-go-round) whirls the friends back to the park safe, sound, and ready for dinner!  “The sun was lowering in the sky, its light growing dimmer; our mom’s and growling bellies were calling us home for dinner.  As I now walk home I can’t help but glance behind to see if monkeys follow, and wonder what amazing adventures I’ll be having here tomorrow.”