Latest submission - well a response at least

Here is a rule - check the writer's guidelines more carefully. Considering I had the time, I sent querry's to many publishers, and I'm sure I should not have. Don't waste their time unless your works meets their standards.

Under its AVALON BOOKS imprint, Thomas Bouregy & Co., Inc., publishes hardcover secular romances, mysteries, and westerns for the library market. Our books are wholesome adult fiction, suitable for family reading. There is no graphic or premarital sex or sexual tension in any of our novels; kisses and embraces are as far as our characters go. It is the author’s responsibility to heighten the romantic atmosphere by developing love scenes with tenderness, emotion, and perception. The heroines of our romances should be looking forward to marriage at the end of the book. There is never any profanity in any of our books.

Dear Editors, I checked the writer's guidelines more carefully. There is no sexual content in the novel and wholesome throughout, but the language matches what many New York homicide detectives use. I feel this may be a waste of your time and I value your time and consideration for other works - unless you would still like to consider it. Be well, Mike

Dear Mr. Gordon, If you would like to send a partial, we will be glad to consider it. This includes a 2-3 page synopsis briefly describing the plot and the main characters and the first three chapters of the manuscript. Please attach the pages in .doc files compatible with Word ’98 or more recent.

Dear Editorial, Happy New Year. Thank you for your response, please be assured - I am open to editing the novel to suite your press. Is there a possibility you would consider reading a sample?

Dear Mr. Gordon, Thank you for allowing us to consider The Killer Commute. We are sorry to report that the story is not quite right for our press. As stipulated in our writer’s guidelines, Avalon publishes mysteries, romances and westerns of up to 70,000 words, which is the equivalent of approximately 220 manuscript pages. At 324 pages, this manuscript exceeds this maximum word count. We appreciate your interest in Avalon and wish you every success in placing your work with a suitable publisher.

New Year and a new ritual

So that's me about to jump into the water at Cedar Beach. Newsday was there, since the monks organized a dip at 10 AM, but I was getting anxious to complete the goal. So, Ali and I drove down and got there around 9:30, and I pulled of my sweat pants and took off my shoes and stood on the beach as Ali took a couple of pictures. Why? Each year see those freaks jumping in, and was motivated by insanity and the memory of watching my uncle Pat break through the ice at a each in Fort Salonga, and wait there for him to jump in and climb out. To you uncle PAT! It was insane, and WINDY - freezing, and my feet suffered. It took an hour or so for them to thaw out. Lesson for next year - wear sneakers or anything since the sand and the small rocks and shells are frozen solid. Since it was low tide - there was a long walk to the water. So, how deep did you go? Not that you can see it from the picture, but up to my thighs. Next year, a little deeper!
Goals - to write at least 15 minutes every day. So far, so good. I'm on schedule even writing longer which is a great sign. Last night even in the hotel room in Poughkipsee, I began a new short. We headed up to Hyde Park for the weekend - really for a full day and one overnight. Val-Kill is such a reflective place. I'll try to post some pictures on the blog from today. Time to write.