Jun 26, 2023 | Crime, Historical |
As a high school forensic science teacher, Pamela Ruth Meyer discovered inventive ways to solve crimes and was inspired to write mysteries. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America, and the Historical Novel Society. Her debut manuscript was a Page Turner Writing Award 2022 Finalist.
Pamela’s Pitch: Kate Belli’s Gilded Gotham Mysteries meets Bones in this turn-of-the-century love story wrapped in a historical mystery intricately solved by a woman who would one day change the face of forensics for all time.
Journey to Finding an Agent
One day I read about an art exhibition featuring the creations of a woman who’d helped shape forensic science. Poof, the idea for a historical mystery materialized. I dreamed it and spoke it to anyone who’d listen. It was with me when bike riding or showering. And I wrote it—had my first draft. Exhilarating.
I thought I was done. I signed up for a Writer’s Digest (WD) Querying Workshop with an agent I was sure would love my story. She requested the full manuscript, provided I fulfilled the romance genre’s major requirement—change the ending to a happy one. Challenged but hungry, I took to the keyboard. Months later, I had draft #2. Unfortunately, the agent had run into trouble, and most of her staff had quit. I never heard back from her.
If you fall off the horse, you get back on, right? Enter WD Querying Workshop 2. I read the agent’s reply, heart pounding. POV? Head-hopping? I’d never heard of these things. The very skeleton of my story would need to change—the revelation was bone-crushing. A year later, I had a story told from five distinct POVs. Next step … pitch the manuscript at the 2020 WD Annual Conference. I signed up, hefty price tag and all. But then Covid punched. I was to make a video of my pitch for agents to watch remotely. It must’ve been pretty good because 7 out of 8 agents requested submissions. Surely at least one would love it and offer representation.
Alas, no. But their rejections gave helpful tidbits about the manuscript’s weaknesses along with spoonfuls of encouragement. Now with actionable feedback, I could fix it. Novel-writing classes, conferences, workshops, and contests followed—an enthralling and enlightening process that helped me realize how very far I’d yet to go on the journey to publication. Humbled and aware, I figured out something important—I needed a professional editor. Said editor recommended using fewer POVs and taking out the multi-chaptered thread that had been the original spark of the idea to write the story in the first place. Devasted, I cried for days. But I tell you now, not even for an instant did I consider giving up. I bucked up and tore down what I’d built to make room for what would become. My story got better. With it, I entered the query pit in full force.
Out of 60 agents, only a few had requested pages. Slap. Pow. Bam. Crickets and crickets and crickets. That was the moment I could have given up. Of course, I did the opposite. I paid the largest fee to date and struggled through the month-long lessons of the Algonkian New York Pitch Conference. Slowly, it seeped in. My story needed something a gazillion other mystery stories didn’t have—a unique selling point. The facilitating agent’s personalized and razor-sharp insights made that blatantly clear. Weaving that necessary thread into my plot would take serious mental gymnastics. But I’ll tell you I’d already learned the most important thing I think a writer can learn—trust your subconscious to deliver an answer. Solutions came. Words came. Write, write, write, I did. Now, I thought, I have a story they’ll want.
2022 WD Annual Conference. This would be my first live pitch. The line extended the entire hotel-length hallway. Inside, I’d spend the precious hour waiting in an agent’s line until I reached the front. Then, 90 seconds to pitch and 90 seconds for feedback, including submission instructions. Then repeat. I’d done my research
and ranked agents in order of most likely to want my story.
An announcement. My #4 and #5 agents didn’t come. Darn. The doors opened. I dashed to agent #1. She requested a submission. Next line… Time was called, and home I went, four requests in my pocket. Surely, one of these will love it.
The next day WD sent a link to query the absent agents. I did. A week later, my agent #1 responded. She’d found my writing “pedestrian.” My tears from this experience filled buckets. With none of the other agents requesting more, I turned to rewrite #6. My subconscious brain started niggling me about my story’s ending not fitting with my characters. As fate would have it, it’d take months of mulling it over.
Before the final ending took shape, agent #5, who’d been absent the day of the Pitch-Slam, requested the full manuscript. She’d be abroad, so I shouldn’t hear back from her until a given date, at which time I was to ‘rattle her cage.’ Two days after that date, I did just that. Then I went out to buy a lottery ticket—the prize a staggering billion dollars.
Fifteen minutes later, while standing in line, my phone pinged. It was her! I’ll trade the billion dollars for her. ‘Yes,’ I pleaded to the sky. Expensive, no doubt, but I swear to you that was the best deal I’ve ever made. She loved my story. Further, she knew and loved my characters almost as much as I did. Elation… I have an agent! Her only concern had been the ending. Lucky me, I had changed it. We’re now awaiting word from several editors, leaving me with an interesting mix of agony and euphoria up here in the clouds. I promise to let you know what happens next along our path to finding my story’s forever home. Until then, wish me luck.
Contacts:
Proudly represented by AKA Literary Management: www.akalm.net/
Website: https://pamelaruthmeyer.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pamelaruthmeyer
Instagram: www.instagram.com/pamelaruthmeyer
Blogger Intrusion: Check out the fantastic miniature Pam sent me:
Oct 17, 2022 | Historical, Mystery, Uncategorized |
Lisa writes novels, short stories, Victorian mysteries featuring authentic details, and scholarly work about the young H. G. Wells. When she’s not researching and writing, she can be found pontificating about online pedagogy, gardening in root-bound soil, or watching classic movies. She was born in England but has lived in California most of her life.
My thanks to George for asking me to talk about my writing practice and my books! I’ve chosen a few topics to address.
New! Murder at an Exhibition – A Victorian mystery about a
photographer’s Murder and how his assistant Bridget and her friend Jo unravel the mystery.
Writing process challenges – The most challenging part of my writing process is that I keep interrupting myself to do research. Let’s say I am writing a scene where my character needs to get across town, and I decide she’ll catch an omnibus. I’ll actually stop and research omnibus routes in 1862 London, checking how often they run and where they pick up. As a historian, I find it’s unreasonably important for me to be accurate, and that means interrupting my writing to be sure.
I also interrupt myself for research just because I don’t know things. Once I even contacted an astronomer to find out which direction the moon would be coming up for a scene. Yes, I could just keep writing, make a note and get back to it later, but I get fascinated when I have a question! I love learning.
Character names – Don’t you just love it when a character’s name evokes something about them? Although I think Charles Dickens went over the top with this (Mr. Gradgrind in Hard Times comes to mind), I do like the idea that names should somehow reflect the personality of the character.
Detective Inspector Cuthbert Slaughter, for example, has a very old English name, and he’s a fairly stable and old-fashioned person. Cyril Price, an actor/manager at the Surrey Theatre, has a stage-actor name. Jo Harris, who illustrates for magazines, has a strong name because she’s an intelligent and assertive person. Tommy Jones is the exception: he has a deliberately ordinary name, but he’s not ordinary at all.
Character names are also part of historical accuracy. I want to know what names people really used in the 1860s. So I look through lists of names common in Victorian England, but I also get great names from directories. Sometimes I can find out the real names of people who, for example, had shops on a particular street, so even the publican or grocer might have an actual historical name.
I also base some of my characters on famous or semi-famous people. And sometimes this happens on accident—I’ll read in the Illustrated London News that a person I’ve never heard of designed a building, or I’ll see a daguerreotype of a woman whose expression is just priceless. If I know the names, I’ll find out more about them and build sub-plots around them. Or I’ll just have them pop into a scene—I did that with Mrs. Catherine Dickens in Murder at Old St. Thomas’s. I have a lot of fun doing historical “guest stars.”
And yes, Thomas Crapper really was a plumber and entrepreneur who sold bathroom fixtures.
Plotter or Panster? You’ve probably gotten the idea already that I like serendipity when writing, which makes me an inveterate “pantser.” I have tried plotting; I really have! But it feels like stopping in the middle of a movie and guessing what’s going to happen. I know a lot of authors say the characters take on a life of their own, and sometimes so does the action. I may have a vague idea of the beginning and the overall theme, but I don’t know what’s going to happen until I start writing.
Historical Research – While historical research comes naturally to me after decades as a trained historian, researching for a novel is different. I need breadth more than depth. Rather than finding out everything, there is to know about one topic and then reading articles where historians analyze the perspectives on that one topic. I have many things to research at once—clothing, manners, food, water systems, building materials, omnibuses. And because I’m a stickler for reality, if I cannot find or access something (like a train timetable), I will change the story or the action to create something supported by the sources.
So I’m one of those historical fiction writers where the emphasis is on the historical. I use the newspapers, magazines, art, books, and material culture of the time. Accessing online databases, library resources, and city directories—these are all just part of deepening the story. My goal is to write novels and short stories that could only have taken place during the mid-Victorian era in England. The past is not just a passive setting but rather a place where our commonalities can be seen across time.
Contact me at https://www.facebook.com/grousablebooks
Books and buy links: https://grousablebooks.com/books/
Novels
Before the Time Machine (literary fiction)
Murder at Old St. Thomas’s
Non-fiction
H. G. Wells on Science Education (1886-1897)
Groups
Sisters in Crime (and Partners in Crime San Diego Chapter)
Historical Novel Society
H. G. Wells Society
Social media groups
Facebook: Historical Novel Society (and UK chapter), Historical Fiction Lovers Book Club, SHINE with Paper Lantern Writers, Instagram (@grousablebooks), TikTok (@grousablebooks), Goodreads.
Feb 3, 2022 | Historical, Mystery, Thriller |
Lisa E. Betz infuses her novels with authentic characters who thrive on solving tricky problems. Her debut novel, Death and a Crocodile, won several awards, including Golden Scroll Novel of the Year (2021). Lisa combines her love of research with her quirky imagination to bring the world of the early church to life. She and her husband reside outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Scallywag, their rambunctious cat—the inspiration for Nemesis, resident mischief maker in the Livia Aemilia Mysteries.
Tell us about your new release, Fountains, and Secrets, Book 2 in the Livia Aemilia Mysteries. Imagine a world where Nancy Drew meets ancient Rome. In first-century Roman culture, few women challenged the status quo, but spunky, headstrong Livia dives right into a swamp of danger after learning that her new husband’s mentor has been murdered.
As Livia chases clues in secret, she discovers injustice toward multiple victims
and the nasty web of affluent men behind it all. But when her husband, Avitus, learns what Livia is up to, they go head-to-head. Avitus doesn’t want his wife to be in danger, and Livia wants to prove to her husband that she’s capable of solving crimes. Their lack of mutual trust and respect turns into a bitter test of wills—can they learn to trust each other, or will they continue at cross purposes until someone gets hurt?
For readers who enjoy mysteries and historical fiction with a touch of humor, Fountains and Secrets is an engaging tale of identity, purpose, and hope.
What brought you into writing? I’ve followed an unconventional path to becoming an author. I started my career as a mechanical engineer working in a manufacturing plant. That led to fifteen years as a substitute teacher specializing in math and science. And that lead to an opportunity to direct a high school play.
The first play was so much fun that I directed school plays for ten years. I even wrote one. By then, I’d discovered that I really enjoyed writing and toyed with writing a novel, but I kept putting it off.
Then my youngest son went off to college, and I faced a choice: should I return to engineering or follow the new dream of being a writer? I chose writing. I spent the next ten years honing my craft, attending conferences, and writing practice novels. All the work paid off, and my first published novel has won several awards.
Your main character’s adventures take place in Rome. What prompted you to write about this time period? My interest in the Roman Empire stems primarily from many years teaching Bible studies. I have tried to absorb as much as possible about the culture and history of first-century Rome so I can bring the ancient world to life and make the New Testament more relevant to modern Christians.
Also, I favor books set in unusual eras or settings, so Roman times seemed an interesting choice. I particularly like the fact that women in the Roman Empire had more rights and freedom than in many other eras and cultures. For example, they could own and run businesses, like Lydia, who’s mentioned in Acts. So, it’s a reasonable choice for a female sleuth.
How do you come up with character names? As much as possible, I try to use actual Roman or Greek names. I like using NovaRoma.org’s Choose a Roman Name page. Unfortunately, Greek and Roman names can be unwieldy and hard to pronounce, so I sometimes give a character a nickname to make it easier on readers. For example, I gave Asyncritus (mentioned in Romans 16) the nickname Brother Titus. I also try to assign characters names that begin with different letters to help readers keep everyone straight.
How do you decide when to use Latin terms and when to translate terms into English? This is an issue that all writers of foreign settings must face. My decision has been to use English whenever possible to make it easier for readers. I reserve Latin for key place names or for concepts that don’t translate well into modern usage. For example, I use the Latin word dignitas, which encompasses a whole list of qualities, including honor, status, reputation, influence, moral standing, and even physical appearance.
What’s the most challenging thing about writing characters who are different from you? I’m an introverted, non-emotional, non-assertive, analytical thinker, but I wanted a heroine that was spunky, nosy, headstrong, extroverted, intuitive, and a little reckless. I must frequently stop and remind myself that my instinctual reaction to any situation is likely to be quite different from how Livia would respond. I have found the enneagram personality type information very helpful in guiding me to more realistic responses for my characters.
In fact, I’ve developed a workshop to show writers how to use the enneagram to create consistent, believable characters.
Many of your characters are misfits in some way. Why is that? My tagline is Quietly Unconventional for a reason. I’ve never been good at fitting molds. That’s why I’m drawn to stories that feature misfits and underdogs. I understand the pain of not being cool or popular, and I respect others (real or fictional) who are brave enough to overcome and succeed despite their underdog status.
My novels feature characters who don’t fit the conventional mold in some shape or form. I show the heroic or honorable qualities hiding inside these people whom others see as flawed or useless.
My heroine, Livia, is a free spirit who flaunts convention more publicly than I would dare. Her sidekick, Roxana, is a streetwise maid who speaks when she should keep her mouth shut and lacks the polish of a traditional lady’s maid. Avitus is an outcast among the aristocrats because he defends lower-class clients against powerful senators.
And then there are the followers of Jesus, who are leading a quietly unconventional revolution, spreading a message of love and forgiveness, and caring for the outcasts and rejects of society.
What else do you write besides mystery novels? I blog weekly on my website about living intentionally—which to me means making daily choices to live according to my deeply held values instead of mindlessly conforming to the mainstream attitudes, behavior, and priorities. When we live intentionally, we live a more authentic and meaningful life. But we also stand out for making unconventional choices. That’s why my tagline is Quietly Unconventional because I try to live and write as authentically as possible, conforming to God’s will and calling rather than conforming to the world.
How can readers contact you?
Visit my website at lisaebetz.com to find more about me and my books.
Go directly to my Live Intentionally blog here.
Social media
Facebook author page
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
Janet, I say run, don’t walk back to that horse, especially if writing that original project brought you joy. My experience tells me to write what I love and edit it to be what the experts tell me the world wants to read later.
PS: one person’s feedback does not a novel make. Write it the best you can, and then seek out feedback from the best professionals you can find and afford. And if possible, more than one.
PSS: Join writing organizations if you haven’t already. Writer’s Digest is a good place to start. If you write mysteries, Sisters in Crime is magnificent.
Thank you, thank you for sharing your story. Your perseverance is inspiring. I queried a little, entered a contest, got some feedback that really threw me, and… moved on to another project and lost momentum. I’ve been floundering ever since. Your story has got me seriously thinking about getting back on the horse, so to speak, and trying again.
Pam,
The best students are the ones that have love learning and are willing to work at it… your roller coaster ride towards publication serves as a model for all of us. How fortunate your students are! May your diligence, tenacity, and fantastic storyline find its place… on our shelves soon!!
Thanks, Mini. It has been exactly what you say—a roller coaster ride. And as a fellow teacher, you understand so much more than most that it is the love of learning that can get both a teacher and a student through the lows to ensure they keep going to make it to the highs. Thanks for coming, cheering, and sharing.
Pamela,
Inspiring story, well told! I, too, was at the edge of my seat and could totally relate. Your writing journey gives me hope, that one day I, too, will find a wonderful agent.
Happy writing!
Carol
You will find your way to an agent, too, Carol. Just keep making yourself, your manuscript, and your submission package better and better. I’m glad this story was inspiring for you on you journey. Let’s keep in touch and cheer each other on, good times and bad, my fellow Sister in Crime. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Fortitude and determination are assets to creatives, which is what you are. Way-to stick to it 😊
Pamela, what a wonderful story of tenacity and passion for your project. Belief in our writing is a strong motivator and so glad you didn’t quit. Thanks for sharing your inspiring journey.
I’m over the moon to be working with you. Every step you took has its place on your path to successful publication, and I’m so excited to be involved in your journey! Thanks to George Cramer for including Pam in his own travels.
Great story of persistence and turning what could have flattened you into inspiration! I shall take y our words to heart–
On my dearest Beth, we both know one must avoid being flattened at all costs. Hence, the persistence. What’s wonderful is that that can turn into inspiration. Fancy that ( ;
Can’t wait to read your book when published. I love your story. Good luck.
Mary that means much to me, especially from one who read an earlier draft and therefore knows this story better than most ( ; Thanks.
I’d wish you you luck but with that level of tenacity and dedication, I don’t think you’ll need it! thanks for your inspiring story.
best,
KC (from Vicariousthrills.blog
What a nice message you left for me here, Karen. It is such a thrill to have someone from another blog visit. know that your faith in me strengthens me. Thanks.
Wow, Pam! I love your story and your tenacity! My fingers are crossed, but I’m sure you don’t need it. Your moment is going to come!! 🙂
Optimism and hope are the balances against adversity and challenge. As you say here, Francelia, the lovely woman with the beautiful name, this story of mine is filled with ‘tenacity.’ And it is optimism and encouragement, such as you have given me here, that helps fuel that. Thank you so much for stopping by today and crossing your fingers with me.
Wow. Your post is an ode to determination, courage, and flexibility! All traits necessary, I believe, to succeed as a writer.
You go.
Kathy McIntosh
Like wind in my sails, Kathy. Having a published author take the time to come and read my guest post and share that after doing so, they believe I have the traits I’ll need to succeed as a writer will carry me far. Thanks so much for stopping by and urging another writer forward.
Wow Pam! Your work ethic is unparalleled and you should be so proud of your journey. I really enjoy reading everything you write and absolutely cannot wait to read the novel. 💙
Jeez Pam. Thanks for sharing your ongoing journey. My biggest takeaways are your commitment and willingness to never give up as well as your ability to sit your butt down on a consistent basis to write despite having a full time job. You have inspired me to get more of my own writing done. Good luck.
You sure called it right, John Powers. That full-time job thing makes it pretty tough. But you and I share a passion for writing (mine just a bit more recently discovered than yours), and we each have the good fortune to have more time to do exactly that.
We have always inspired each other, JP, and likely always will. Your being here today bolsters me, supports me, fills me with the courage to keep going forward when the next obstacle inevitably blocks my path. Your ‘first-ever’ and ‘second-ever’ twists and turns in this new life we’ve both dove head-first into are waiting in the wings. It will give me such joy when I get the chance to champion you and your work as it first steps out into the light of the world. Thanks for keeping our connection strong, O Captain, My Captain, my principle principal, my friend.
That full time job thing sure does make it harder, heh? But we each have a passion for writing our hearts out and the gift of recently acquiring more time to do just that. For us, the future is ripe with that joy.
We inspire each other, JP. Always have, always will. Your support here today means the world to me. Please be sure to give me the chance to do the same for you on whatever your “first-ever” or “second-ever” may be. Good luck right back at you, O Captain, My Captain, my principle principal, my friend.
Lovely, lovely, lovely, Pamela. Not only did you write a sensation story that spoke to you and said, “Keep Going No Matter What.” And you did just that: You never gave up! Much success to you, and thanks, George, for introducing us to Pamela.
You pulled out the kernel of the story so well, Donnell Ann. And I appreciate with a resounding three cheers that you also thanked George for hosting me for this. Hip-Hip Hooray! Hip-Hip Hooray! Hip-Hip Hooray for all the people like George and like you who turn around and offer a hand to those further back but trying.
Congratulations, Pam! Hope it all works out. I’m wondering about that ending…
Oh, oh, oh, that ending Peg. I do so hope you get to read it one day. Until then, thanks so much for coming by and leaving me a note of support.
Pam, I am in awe of your ability to “preposition” every obstacle no matter what the project. You go over, around, between, across, under, along, about, and through, whatever stands in your way. Like your students, your characters deserve your best efforts, and you see to it that they receive them. It would have been easy to say, “Oh well, I have a day job” and let your book languish in a drawer once your tears had been spent. Instead, you say, “Oh well, I guess I’ll have to put in more work.” And you do exactly that. No matter what the current publishers say, I have total confidence that one day in the not-too-distant future, I will be opening a “First novel by exciting new voice in the mystery genre, Pam Meyer.” That will be a truly exciting day.
Sometimes another person just gets you, and your heart opens. Then, if they pour sunshine inside, you grow. To me, Joe Bellacero, that is you. I’m sending you a gigantic smile through the internet waves. Thanks for being alongside me through so much of my journeying. Thanks for being here today.
GEORGE CRAMER, you are wonderful. Thanks for hosting me on this blog. You took a chance on a writer who hasn’t proved herself yet. And you gave her a chance to try. I LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF THIS. Thank you. Thank you.
Oh, and you put the hugest smile on my face with your ‘Blogger Intrusion.’ I love that everybody who came here got to see the small NEW LIBERTY mini-book in your hand. May it inspire many to get the real-sized NEW LIBERTY book in theirs.
What a fantastic story, Pamela. Thanks for sharing. I’m impressed with your determination to keep honing your craft. Fingers crossed at least one editor recognizes a great story and jumps on it.
My, oh my, Barbara, my fingers are thoroughly crisscrossed. Thanks for the encouragement at a moment for me when it really makes a difference, here on my second-ever guest blog post. Accolades and shoutouts of gratitude to George Cramer for taking a chance on one like me who is not yet there but moving forward. Thanks for coming.
Pamela, thanks so much for sharing your agent story! Whew! Goes to prove this business is not for the faint-hearted. I love how you’ve highlighted that attending educational opportunities is such an important part of the writing process. It’s one of the best ways to show us what we don’t know! Very best wishes to you on your journey to publication!
MARGARET MIZUSHIMA’s in the house! Margaret. Margaret, thank you for stopping by. Seeing your name here in the comments feels like a jolt of good wishes from my head right down to my feet. Encouraged by one like you who has gone so far along the journey to publishing so many terrific books certainly puts a spring in my step. May the knowledge that you’ve helped another on the path have a similar effect on yours.
Wow, your blog reads like an adventure story in itself. It’s also a good reminder at how shabbily agents treat prospective authors. Through the years the influence of agents has continued to dwindle and rightfully so. As the old saying goes, having the wrong agent is worse than having no agent. The one you seem to have settled upon sounds like a good fit, but more importantly, your drive and quest for perfecting you manuscript is the most important attribute a writer can have. Good luck and stay strong,
Oh what joy it brings me to hear you found the story here an adventure. And you are right, my outstanding agent, Terrie Wolf, is a perfect partner for me as I live that adventure forward. Onward, appreciating both luck and strength, is so much more meaningful when shared with others. Thanks for sharing yours here today.
Woweee! That’s awesome!
YIPPEE, it really is Alexandra, right? Thanks for reading and commenting. It helped make my day.
Thank you for sharing your story of perseverance and determination. May your hard work be rewarded.
Thanks for stopping by, Elaine. Your well wishes have made an impact on me and my optimism.
Pam, I’m so honored to have been even a small part of your journey! Being able to read an early version of your book was the highlight of my summer last year, and I can’t wait for so many more people to fall in love with your characters and story. I wish you the best of luck, and know you will be a huge success!
Wonderfully inspiring story about the power of determination. Thank you for sharing!!
And, dear Marie, thank you right back at you. It’s days like this when people like you show up to lend a hand and cheer me on that I keep in my back pocket for the times when my determination wanes. It’s a treasure.
I love hearing about this journey! It gives me hope! Fingers crossed for you.
Annarose, you caught the note under all this, I think. It does all come down to hope. Thanks for stopping by to add to mine today. ( ;
Congratulations, Pamela! This is one of the truest and most inspirational agent story blogs that I have ever read. Fingers crossed you get that “we’d love to publish your manuscript” emails soon.
OMG, Pam, I am enlightened and awed by the story of what it takes – courage, perseverance, patience, and more – to get from the idea for a story to learning and learning and learning some more about how to make that story take shape in words, and, then, finally, to connect with an agent to whom it speaks the way you want it to. I, too, was privileged to read parts of an early version, and I know it’s good. I can’t wait to see it in print!
Kait, you’re kind words and consistent support encourage me more than I can say. You know this climb we’re both on better than most. I’m touched that my telling of the tale this far hit a chord with you. Thanks for coming by and cheering me on at this step.
Pam I am in awe of your perseverance and dedication to your craft. You never gave up and look where you are now. Good things always come to those who work hard. I am positive you day of extreme elation will come sooner than you think. You definitely deserve it. I am cheering for you from the sidelines and cannot wait to read your book and share it with friends and family in the future.
Michael, I truly can’t wait for that day, either. Yet, I find I do. Maybe that’s the trick to perseverance, heh? Just not giving up at each step along the way even though you think you might. Your support lifts me up. Thanks.
Wow Pam, what a journey! It’s incredible how resilient and dedicated you are to making your dreams and ambitions come true! I was on the edge of my seat reading all the steps you had to take to get here!
I can’t wait to read the novel when it becomes published! Look forward to seeing your name on the bookshelves 🙂
Mansura, you know the last leg of this journey so far better than most from sharing the classroom with me all year. I love that you found the story intriguing even though you had already heard it unfolding day by day (well, near the end of it thus far anyway).
Thanks for being there for me at every turn.