Transition

The transition from vacation to reality is like waking up in the middle of a prize fight. Birds are tweeting, I'm floating above a field of daffodils, enjoying a sequined stream, then I shake my head. A sharp pain enters and with a blink I remember I'm in the middle of a fight. My opponent is bouncing on his toes, fists raised, "Get up! Get up!" he shouts. I want to close my eyes and go back to the daffodils, but I can't, I have to stand up and continue the fight.

Behind the curtain

When we entered the cruise ship it was like slipping behind an invisible "social" curtain. Like mice bumping through a maze, we pretend to explore, but we're secretly looking for something to eat. The grand stairway, nice. The pool, maybe later. Jogging track, no need to go up there. Library, okay. Art gallery, casino, bar, bar, bar, then jackpot!!! There it was, clothed in it's gluttonous glory, the buffet. The place you go to eat between meals. Appetizers, hamburgers, main dishes, pizza, ice cream, desserts all separated by token salad bars. I'm not exactly sure when the omelette bar segued into the panini deli, but in the time it took to turn and grab a fresh slice of pizza, it happened.

In the fantasy behind the curtain, we don't judge. If the person next to you can't decide between the mango gazpacho or the salmon medallions it's perfectly acceptable to suggest they try both. This applies to the main course and dessert as well.

We rested, took the stairs, met some great people, enjoyed shows, excursions and numerous amenities, but they were all activities to create enough room to eat again. I watched a robed man, at six in the morning, as he got a cup of coffee and an ice cream cone. Slowly, he made his way to the elevator licking a swirl of vanilla and chocolate. It seemed perfectly normal.

We had a great time celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. It's so nice to take this walk together and it's fun to slip behind the curtain occasionally (oh, come on, you know what I mean).

Now, it's time to get back to reality, eat a carrot and walk around the block a hundred times.

Boat people

We had a great time celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary with a cruise to Mexico.

Hi, to anyone we met, thanks for dropping by.

I'm tired and FULL!! Full, not only from overeating, but from a close time with Kathy.

I don't have much to say right now, I'm sorting through my thoughts, but hope to get query letters out this week.

Awwww rest.

jer...

Vacation

Kathy and I are going on a short cruise to Mexico and will be gone the next few days. When I get back I plan to start sending query letters.

I've compiled a list of publishers to start with, but always looking for suggestions.

Until then.

jer...

Intrigue or indifference?

Here is the body of the query letter as it is now. I'm more story teller than editor, please feel free to give feedback and grammar advise.

Does this intrigue you or leave you indifferent? The name of the book is "Cyn."

--
Methodically Cyndi plots to dismantle the lives of two powerful men, but when Sara desperately tries to save her marriage, the two women become entangled in the battle of their lives.

This is the premise of my recently completed 76,000 word manuscript, seasoned with adventure and romance. The story entertains as it places Christians in a good light and provides a "clean read."

Cyn is a current day story that takes the reader to exotic locations as Sara attempts to discover why Dallas suddenly walked out of their beautiful Laguna home. Greed, seduction and treason overwhelm Sara as she searches for answers.

Hatred drives a highly intelligent beauty, named Cyndi, to seduce two aerospace executives with a sinister promise of love and wealth. Cyn is on the verge of success when Sara's blind grasp for the truth places her in a secluded Idaho cabin as the crime is minutes from success.

Escaping with her life and millions of dollars, Sara tries to piece the unbelievable information together, but when a drunk crashes into her, she's rescued by a quiet country man who is dealing with a deep sadness of his own.

Two years later, bullets slice through the back seat and crash into the dash next to her as Sara serpentines through the Mexican desert in the story's high energy conclusion.

I have experience in the Aerospace industry, grew up in the Idaho area and live close to Laguna, all of which add to the realism and depth of this work. I enjoy writing and have had several articles published, but this is my first "big" work. I would be pleased to provide the full manuscript or sections upon request. Thank you for taking time to consider my work. I've enclosed a SASE and look forward to hearing from you.
--

Dear Blog reader - Thank you for your time. Have a creative day!

jer...

A query quandary

Hello and welcome to my literary journey.

I've long been a "word doodler." Images and scenes float through my head and I covet the times I'm able to capture the slippery little beasts.

One such doodle went something like this:

An elegant woman stood alone on a remote dock, next to a lake. A rainstorm approached, drops splashed coldly onto her face, but she didn't move. Each drop was a realization that her life had changed and as they engulfed her, the woman she knew was washed away.

That word doodle is now a 76,000 word manuscript and "the new journey" is the process of seeing if it has any chance of being published. Please, join me. How many rejection letters do you think it will take before I'm curled up in the fetal position asking for someone to love me?

Now, I'm in a quandary about the query letter. I'm working on it, we leave for vacation Monday and when I get back I hope the have the first letter ready.

Now it's time for the laundry quandary.