So the problem with writing a memoir is there's always some new development that needs to be dealt with.

First rejection from the long list of agents I compiled, that's out of the way now.

First query sent for the memoir. It went to a small press publisher. I have a long list of agents to contact as well. This is the hard part, the self-promotion, although I'm pretty good at doing it for my artwork.

The memoir is done and being read for typos. The challenge now is to number the pages of an existing document on a Mac. It appears the only way is to copy the 28 chapters into a new blank book and number them in one chunk. But what about the Appendix section, which is about 60 pages? Do I include them with the text? Don't them get roman numerals? Decisions, decisions.

I'm back. Been working on a memoir. I was almost finished, then there were a couple major developments and I had to wait to see how they turned out. After that, I basically had to rewrite big chunks of the book. But now it's done. It has an open ending so anything that happens later can be added by an editor as a footnote. Being proofed for typos now. Typed up a synopsis this morning after writing it four times by hand. Query letter is rolling around in my head. Have a lead on a small publisher, should I contact them first or the agent who showed an interest back when I started the book two years ago?

I'm back. My iMac died and I've been using a borrowed PC that could not retrieve my old data but I just got a Macbook Air (I adore it) and through the magic of modern technology, voila, here I am. So what have I been doing the last year and a half? Painting mostly, but I've also started a memoir and am about 80 readable pages into it. Even had a nibble from an agent who only wants to see it when it's finished. So I'm hopeful and grateful and busy.

In the meantime, here's one of the paintings I've been doing. I had a small weeklong solo show in Provincetown this summer and have another scheduled for January 2019. I'll attach a link to my website, which is under my real name.

They're all birds. They're also all squares and little. I see them as guardians and messengers. 

This one is titled Lancelot.

www.maureenmccarron.com

Busy, busy, the novel’s done and I’m in the query letter process. Next on the agenda is creating an author’s bio which, given I’m unpublished, is proving to be a challenge. So far, the hardest part in all this has been taking care of myself. A couple weeks ago, my writing group fell apart because I objected to another member using the name of one of my characters. He refused to see it was a problem. I refused to let it go. This wasn’t the first time this sort of thing had come up but I’d never fought back. Baby steps, I took it as a sign to finally start pushing the novel. In the meantime, check out this response I got to a query I sent out last week. No deal as such but totally took the sting out of having a story rejected the day before.

“THIS, Ms. Donegal, is some of the most delightful stuff I have read in a very long time. 

(Thank you for sending it to me.)

I wish I could steal your attack for myself ('though don't worry, I'm incapable). 

The pace is somewhat frightening to me, but I'm a Jane Austen kinda reader and I think Damon Runyon is as close as I might get to your self-confident gait.

I'll be looking at it again, I'm sure, when I have more time and fewer worries (and so, who knows when that will be...)

Meanwhile, very interesting stuff. Pure entertainment.

(Who is your agent? Forgive me, I have not been following your career--and am too entangled in other thing to look into it right now-- who publishes it and is your work in print?  

I'd say your work is smart, delightful, clever and (I know I need a fourth, but can't quite put my finger on it).

Thank you again,

I am extremely pleased that you sent me this small piece of your very good work, about that I could not be more sincere,

richard mansfield, editor

EstuaryPublications”