Sonnets in the Mail

Mumsi Meets a Lion is being turned into a play! A K5 class is going to be performing a staged version of the book in the Spring. I've been asked to write some songs for the kids to sing at various points in the action. This will definitely be a first for me: ditty writer.

Yesterday I mailed the two sonnets to Indiana. I took them to the post office without an entry fee check inside and had to call and have the postmaster pull the envelope out of the pile so that I could run a check up. Ooops. That would've been embarrassing: "Ummm, Ms. Stegall, you didn't include a check. But just forget about it . . . really." Today I'm hoping to work on some song texts for the Mumsi play and put in some time on the novel.

Quondam and Tide

Those are the titles of two sonnets that I've written for a sonnet contest. I'm no sonneteer, mind you. Just stretching my poetic wings a bit. I like the constraints of the form as an exercise in flexibility--if that makes some sort of odd sense. . . . I hope to print them off later today and possibly send them in. That would be a pleasant finish to a fairly unproductive week writing-wise.

Just the Facts

Wow. I've been so bad about posting. Here's what's happening around here that's keeping me from writing. No excuses, just facts.

--new responsibilities at work
--death of a friend
--new commitments at church
--an out-of-town trip that I coordinated
--showers and parties and kids' school events
--increased marathon training (read: lotsa miles)

In brief, LIFE has happened, and writing has been put on hold for a season. In the queue I have a sonnet to finish before November 15, a poem to write before November 15, and a short story to write before January 1. (Note to self: this story may be titled, "This Little Cow.")

Yesterday I mailed a copy of Which End Up? to a publisher whose website says that they are seeking books with a distinctive flair and possibilities for unique presentation styles. I think my book would be a good match given the upside down "motif." I made a dummy book for this submission since the concept of flipping the book is a little difficult to explain. I always wish I were an illustrator for these submissions since seeing the pictures would help sell the concept, I think. But I'm not, so there you have it.

Writing Away

I went yesterday to my favorite writing spot/coffee shop and had a good "session." I didn't get much writing done, but I did get some organizational things accomplished. First, I got the wheels rolling on getting a website. I consulted with "my people" (you know who you are) and as a result I now own the kimstegall.com domain! Woo-hooo! Of course, there's nothing up yet. But one thing at a time. Next, I figured out to whom I want to send Which End Up? and wrote the intro. letter. I'm hoping to send that manuscript out today. Unfortunately, that's one for which I really need to make a dummy book, so it takes a good bit of time to send out. We'll see. I got nothing done on my novel. Oops.

Daniel's Day Submitted

I sent Daniel's Day off last week. Not sure how I failed to record that earlier. I sent it to FSG. This is the first time I've included a SASE with my manuscript. That will be interesting to know when the manuscript arrives. FSG allows for simultaneous submissions, but I can't imagine that editors really like that. (I know of at least one who doesn't.) Still, I may go ahead and send the story off to one or two others just to keep the ball rolling. This week I hope to rework Which End Up? and resubmit that. I would also like to work more on my novel. Wow, it's so hard to long enough blocks of time to make much headway.

I finished my second month of freelancing for a children's magazine and received the first issue. My name isn't anywhere in the mag, but that suits me just fine since the writing is not my usual style. Just keep the checks coming, right?