The Season of Fresh Starts and New Beginnings: Yuck! by Margo Hoornstra

We’re still in January, first month of the New Year 2016. The season of fresh starts. New beginnings. Yada, yada, yada

Whatever…..                                                        

Sorry, but I’m just not feeling it.

 

Because…..

In 2009, my first book was published, then another and another and another. I was on a roll, Baby! Submit, acceptance, publication; submit, acceptance, publication; submit, acceptance, publication – right through 2014. Six straight years of absolute bliss. Life doesn’t get any better! Does it? Onward and upward, as they say! I have arrived!

Not necessarily…..

In 2015, my publication fortune changed. Many others have been there before. The romance line I wrote for closed and my fabulous editor moved on. Deflated but not defeated, I moved on too. Armed with another spectacular concept – in my mind if no one else’s – I made the rounds in search of a new publisher. I decided to try the agent route first, and my 2015 went something like this. Submit – no thank you; submit – not right for us; submit – doesn’t excite; submit – maybe, let me see more…uh, no thanks; submit – well maybe, send the full, please then…you're a talented writer, the premise intrigues me, but I'll pass.

For an entire twelve months.

So, why **heavy sigh** don’t I **heavy sigh** just quit?

Not the best mindset to bring to the New Year.

Then from out of the blue, literally, things happened to convince me, maybe, I was wrong.....

After giving us a pass for most of December cold weather wise, Mother Nature changed her mind and brought winter to Michigan with a vengeance. Complete with frigid temperatures, and day after day after day with snow in the forecast. Doing our part to help the creatures who live in our midst survive, the two bird feeders in the front were filled with seed, the one in back too. Corn and various other critter friendly morsels were strewn on the ground beneath each. Soon a couple of Blue Jays, a flock of sparrows, and one of two local squirrels came by, sharing the yard in peaceful coexistence as they ate. Warm inside, I stood out by the window to enjoy the show. With my own fill, vision wise, I turned back into the dining room when…

Bam! Thump! From out on the deck, something hit the back glass double door. Hard!

Serenity shattered, I hurried over to see. There lay one of the Sparrows…flat on its back, wings spanned out as if to make a tiny angel in the snow. That little chest heaving, beak twitching. Finished for sure. A slow and painful way to die. How sad. Poor thing. Never knew what hit it—more like the other way around. No better way to break a contented mood. Worse there was nothing I could do to help. Still, I had to do something. But what? After I few moments pacing, thinking, wondering I went back to check. Still lying there. Still breathing. But that was about it.

More pacing on my part as I thought about lining a shoe box with towels. Then what? Pace some more. Think. Wonder. At my next check, the creature was upright, standing on quivering legs. Wings still outstretched. Still badly shaken. A few minutes later…gone! That tiny angel impression in the snow the sole reminder of any mishap.

Hmmmmm. I wonder…..

That night, what do you know, along came another out of the blue event. An e-mail from my fabulous former editor. I’d won a prize in a blog contest she’d run. Was I still had the same mailing address? In my, yes I’m here response, I added how we needed to catch up. After some back and forth regarding updates on our respective home fronts, I told her about what I had in the works, writing wise. How things were going—or not going—with my ill-fated WIP. Then, just for fun I shared my concept and tag lines.

BROTHERS IN BLUE four heroes who met at the police academy and became life-long friends.The dropout, the straight arrow, the movie star, and the maverick, they all share a passion to protect and serve, each in his own unique way.

DECEIVED BY TRUST A former cop seeks vengeance only to discover love.
BOUND BY DUTY An undercover cop tracks a serial killer straight to the woman he loves.
CLAIMED BY PRIDE A super hero cop takes over what little family a young widow has left.
RULED BY HONOR A maverick cop has an agenda, a free spirited woman has anything but.

Guess what? Turned out she love, love, loves the story idea and adores the tag lines. Her wonderful words, not mine. Really? You think so? Then she went on to suggest other publishers I might try. So you think maybe…..

Yes!

Guess what? Once again, I’m inspired…..

January, first month of the New Year 2016. The season of fresh starts. New beginnings! I’m on it!!

My days to blog here are the 11^th and 23^rd. For more about me and my stories, please visit my website