Resources for Writers

The next step.  If you're a writer and looking for ways to get your manuscript traditionally published, visit www.writersmarket.com, and www.querytracker.net for the next prompts.  Both provide valuable information regarding literary agents, agencies, genres they accept, their websites, locations and timeframes.  It's important to visit the websites of each agency to make sure the agents aren't closed to submissions, then follow each agency's rules for submissions exactly.  Learn to be patient, and don't take rejections personally.  Remember: a legitimate literary agency does not charge a fee for submitting (it's free).  Best of luck!

New Photos

It's time to push my work a little. I've added more photographs to my Fine Art America and Pixels pages. Full resolution photos of the images below (and more) can be found at www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/veronica-batterson.html, and www.veronica-batterson.pixels.com. Thanks for taking a look and if you make a purchase, please let me know. I appreciate it.

Now, back to writing, outlining the next book, finishing the play and maybe hounding a literary agent or two about Williamsburg Hill.

A Person Grows Old While Waiting for Her Book to Get Published

My manuscript for Williamsburg Hill

The month has almost slipped away and I've yet to make a blog post for August, so here it is. I'd planned on sharing some things about a recent trip I took to Montana and Glacier National Park (including info on wildfires, smoke and haze, too), but I've only written a couple of paragraphs, so hopefully it'll be ready for September.  Other things have occupied my time and mind, so I've not been able to finish the post yet. Updates on my work will have to fill this space for now.

My book, Williamsburg Hill, continues to be considered. The manuscript remains in the possession of literary agents and publishers and the timeframe is out of my hands. Truth: A person grows old while waiting for her book to get published.  However, I've been working on some other projects.  I wrote a blog post recently called "Stardust" that's actually a short story. It's an idea of where my next book will go, and the book is in the outlining/planning/research stage, but I'm almost ready to go with it.  I'll have to prioritize with this one though, as it's competing with a couple of other ideas: rewriting a book (that has never been published) that I'd finished about fifteen years ago into a stage play; and I've an idea for a musical, so I'm close to starting the book for it.

I continue to add photographs I've taken to Fine Art America. Please visit my page at www.veronica-batterson.pixels.com to view them.  Any purchases are always appreciated.

My books Daniel's Esperanza, Funny Pages, and Billy's First Dance are still available in paperback and as ebooks. The easiest place to find them is on Amazon.  I appreciate those purchases, as well.  If you're inclined to leave positive reviews for them, give shout-outs and such, all the better. Thank you.

Finally, I posted an abbreviated version of this on Twitter recently (hey, you only have so many characters there):

Things aren't always as they seem or appear.  Simply having an internet platform doesn't make you an authority on something; the ability to make comments online doesn't make you an expert either.  Neither of these gives anyone the right to harass, make threats or ruin reputations or lives.  Think before you speak, type, or "fly off the handle".  Words can do damage.

We should all remember and live by this. As always, thanks for reading my blog.

More Photos on Fine Art America

As I wait indefinitely to hear from agents and publishers regarding the status of my latest book, Williamsburg Hill, I've been editing and adding photographs to my Fine Art America account at www.veronica-batterson.pixels.com.

The most current image is shown here.  I took this photograph last week at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Commerce City, Colorado.  Near Denver, this 15,000 acre urban refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is home to over 300 species of wildlife. I would highly recommend a visit to this wonderful place, and for more information check out the website at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/rocky_mountain_arsenal.

Thanks for reading this blog and for viewing my photographs.

Mother's Day a Year Ago...Luka Bloom and the Blackhawks

What a difference a year makes.  When Mother’s Day of 2014 approached, I was one month away from seeing my younger daughter get married; the first weekend of May, I hosted a bridal shower for her.  I’d been working on my latest book for three years, and dealt with two literary agents who kept the manuscript for an entire year between the two of them.  I truly felt at least one of them would be interested in representation based on the feedback and vibes I was getting.  When they passed on the project, I endured the blow of rejection once again.  Trying a different publishing route, in May I began working with a cover designer that didn’t pan out.  Enter another designer and deadlines with the publisher I eventually chose.  The book was published in August.  Also in August: moving said daughter and new son-in-law to Colorado.

It’s fair to say with all of the above and the wedding planning that had taken well over a year’s time, I wasn’t myself.  I was exhausted, run down, not sleeping and couldn’t get farther than the day’s lists of things I had to do.  My health and immune system went a little under the weather, too.  An EKG revealed I needed to have an echocardiogram and wear a 24-hour Holter monitor to determine the source of heart palpitations and an irregular heartbeat.  My thyroid levels were out of sorts.  Months of blood work and adjusted doses of medication followed.  All is well now but stress and worry do affect your health.

With all of that going on, I think Mother’s Day was an “anything you ask for” kind of holiday last year…a Saturday and Sunday event.  On the day itself, my husband and I went to a Chicago Blackhawks playoff game and, incidentally, they played the same team in the second round that they’re playing now.  Saturday was spent at the Old Town School of Folk Music, attending a concert by the Irish singer and songwriter, Luka Bloom.

I can’t remember how I started listening to Luka Bloom’s music, but I’ve been a fan of his for quite some time.  He’s described as a contemporary folk artist and I think his sound is beautiful, haunting and unique; his lyrics read as poetry. When I discovered he was touring the United States and Chicago was one of the stops, I knew I had to get tickets, as I wasn’t sure if he would tour the US again in the near future.  It was my first concert of his and it was as good as I’d expected it to be.

If I had to recommend some of his music, a few of my favorites (originals and covers) include Lighthouse, Diamond Mountain, Everyman, Listen to the River, Exploring the Blue, See You Soon, Dreams In America, Me and My Guitar, Throw Your Arms Around Me, If I Were A Carpenter and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.  The latter two are, I’ll admit, the most romantic cover versions I’ve ever heard of the two.  Probably many women of my generation who are Luka Bloom fans would agree. 

So Mother’s Day will be a little quieter this year for me.  However, this time next year, daughter number one will be walking down the aisle.  I hope to at least have the first draft of the book I’m working on finished by then, but I’m making no promises.  However, if it all comes together, I’d better start making plans…I’ll probably need to recuperate again.

 Happy Mother's Day to all.

Lighthouse                                                                                                                                   
by Luka Bloom

I see the red boat coming
Beyond out in the bay
Cutting through salt water
The end of a working day
Bringing in cargo
Of words I’m meant to hear
Words of loving kindness
To soften hate and fear

May I be happy
May I be well
May I be happy
May I be well

I can see the lighthouse
It’s coming to night view
Providing safe passage
For me and for you
You’ve shouldered your crosses
And brought them to this shore
Lay down your burdens
They’ll rule you no more

May you be happy
May you be well
May you be happy
May you be well

Everyman
by Luka Bloom

There is a quiet spirit in the world
Sleeping tonight
We’ll worry no more
You’ve let go the fight

Everyman takes his own load
Down the line
Everyman walks his own road
To the end of time

A faraway look in your eyes
Out beyond the door
Many tried to reach you
Bring you home to the shore

Everyman takes his own load
Down the line
Everyman walks his own road
To the end of time

There’s a quiet spirit in the world
You brought a smile to my face
A butterfly leaves the room
In its wake your grace

Everyman sees his own road
Into the light
Everyman lets his own load go
One last night

Sleep in peace tonight
Sleep in peace new life
Sleep in peace tonight
Sleep in peace goodnight