After ten days of Mexican sun, I am sad and happy to be home. Vacations are good for the soul. Unfortunately, the rejection mill doesn’t stop because one is taking a break from one’s life.
I got a form rejection via email while I was lying by the pool sipping pina coladas (admittedly, there are worse times to be rejected).
And in the massive stack of mail waiting for me when I got home last night, there were a couple more.
Can I just say (if I haven’t said this already) that snail mail rejections sting less. I think because as soon as I see one, I know exactly what it’s going to say. With email, there’s that little speck of hope that maybe it’ll be a request, which is why it stings when I click on it and it’s not.
I did finish two of the five books I brought. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein has officially won Favorite Book of the Year for me, beating out a lot of other really great books. If you want to read a book with voice, read this book. If you want a book with a lovable protagonist, read this book. If you like dogs or racing, read this book. If for no other reason than because I said so, READ THIS BOOK.
I also read Fangland by John Marks. I have mixed feelings about this one. A literary vampire novel it is. It’s scary, definitely. But it was so weird! Which I think is good, because days later I’m still thinking about it and still creeped out by it. Beautiful writing and sort of a modern retelling of Dracula, though it fizzled a little once the story left Transylvania and headed to New York. Cool ending, though.
I got through a third of Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire before I allowed myself to give up. I was trying to force myself to get through it, but then I remembered I was on vacation and I don’t have to read it. Not for me.
I got through a third of The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacqueline Mitchard. Narrative was a bit heavy and passive for my tastes. It probably didn’t help that I’ve already seen the movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer and that I know how it ends. But I’ll give her next book a shot (the sequel is No Time to Wave Goodbye).
I’m giving myself the weekend to get things organized around the house, before officially getting back to a writing schedule on Monday. I flunked NaNo this year. But it’s okay, the book’s not going anywhere.
Can Christmas really be just two weeks away?
Welcome home to the snow! your pic looks like you were having a great time! Teri