Wednesday, February 6, 2019

AKKK.... I JUST REMEMBERED! IWSG TODAY>>> JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT!!

Hi All,

Sooooo sorry I forgot this was the first Wednesday of the month!!! I know you'll all forgive me for spacing it ... I have an EXCELLENT reason...

But before I do, I just want to thank Alex and the wonderful IWSG team for all their hard work and support. If you are not yet a member, PLEASE drop by Alex's site to sign up.

Now for the news! As many of you know, I have been writing a new WIP called MOMMY KAY. It took me exactly NINE months to write the first draft which I had completed on Jan. 17. Talk about giving birth. LOL.

You may also remember I had to finish quickly to send off the ms to a very well renowned editor in NY. I did manage to get it to her just before the first of February...

Needless-to-say, I have been on pins and needles waiting for her review. After much anticipation, I received an email from her. When I had sent it, I expressed my hope for her enjoying the read.
Her first line in the email to me was "I did enjoy the read; how could I not?"

Then I opened the review, all twelve pages of it. I was taken aback by the size. But after the first paragraph, I could breathe again.

"Many thanks for sending me Mommy Kay. It was delightful to read; Mommy Kay is most certainly—and literally—larger than life. It’s certainly cinematic; I found myself watching scenes spring to life and even wondering whom you’d cast—so much fun to contemplate! I’ll focus this editorial letter on ways to bring out the fuller potential of this story."

I can't begin to tell you how pleased I was/am. For the most part, I still have a lot of work to make this piece really pop, but the overall review was very enlightening and she praised my dialogue and description to the point of her asking for more, more, more. 

Alrighty then...

Most of the work consists of ADDING much more. Thankfully I don't need to subtract anything. She suggested delving deeper in the emotion more than just the fanfare.

So of course, I spent most of the day reading all twelve pages over and over to absorb the work that needs to be done.

If I implement her suggestions in the right way, this could be a best seller... EEK! After so many years of trying. Yes, I am excited for sure, but I am also freaking a bit because now the pressure is really on to fulfill the potential of this memoir.

I appreciated so much all your kind words and comments when I had posted snippets of MOMMY KAY here. But adding all her positive comments sent me to the moon. LOL. Now that I am earthbound again, I need to get cracking. Kim is also delighted, but since we have to delve deeper, it puts more pressure on her to reveal more of her emotions. But thankfully, she's all for it so we can move onto the next step.

For the next month or more, I'll be extremely busy, but I will try to pop over to your blogs to say hi!

Sending all of you a great big HUG!

Enjoy the rest of your week!






32 comments:

Murees Dupè said...

Congratulations!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Michael - that is excellent news ... I'm so pleased for you. Good luck bringing it all together ... amazing, but so rewarding - congratulations - cheers Hilary

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That is awesome! She could see the scenes - that says a lot. And you have to add. I always do as well - so much easier than cutting.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Michael, that's wonderful! You are obviously on the right track to a great book.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Congrats, Michael! That is fantastic news.

Ellen Cordery said...

Congrats, Michael! Fantastic news! Another IWSG member recommended your blog to me as we seem to have a lot in common (former interior designer turned writer here as well). I'm excited to follow your journey. :)

Roland Clarke said...

Great news and comments to start your year - congratulations, Michael.

DMS said...

Yay!! How amazing! I am so excited for you. I know it is a lot of work- but enjoy the great review. :)
~Jess

Diane Burton said...

What wonderful news! Congrats. I'm excited for you. Good luck on adding to the ms. So much more fun than subtracting.

Anonymous said...

That's awesome news! Congrats.

dolorah said...

Thats awesome Michael. I'm so pleased for you. Go get it done :)

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thank you, Murees... Nice to see you!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks so much, Hilary!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Very true. But it looks like I have to add a LOT! About 20-30K more words. ugh.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks L. Diane!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Nice to meet you, Ellen! Thanks for dropping by!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks, Roland!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks, Jess! It is a lot of work, but I am excited about the project!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Very true, Diane. I much rather add... Thanks!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks Donna! I will. I've already jumped in and rewrote the first few pages....

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Ah! That's soooo exciting!! I'm thrilled for you. Now stop reading this, and go back to writing!! ;)

Denise Covey said...

You know I'm thrilled for you Michael! Write, write, write. Can't wait to see the rewrites!

Elizabeth Mueller said...

Wow! Congratulations, Michael! Such hard work paid off. I'm super happy for you! :)

Ronel Janse van Vuuren said...

Congrats! It's always great to hear about other writers succeeding :-)

Ronel visiting for Feb's IWSG Day Being an Insecure Writer -- And Happy About It

Michael Di Gesu said...

Lol... I have been writing. Thanks Lynda!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks Denise...yes, I've been very busy writing. All new first chapter and lots of add ins for the the rest. On Chapter five now...

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks so much, Elizabeth. But I still have lots of hard work ahead of me.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thank you, Ronel! But it's just the beginning of a another long journey for Mommy Kay. Lol

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

That is so awesome and exciting. Way to go. Can't wait to hear more about your exciting news.

Nick Wilford said...

Amazing news! Good luck on the revisions. Looks like this story is going from strength to strength.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

I'm not at all surprised she loved it or that she could so clearly imagine the world you were writing. You've always had an artist's eye for detail. I think that is a rare gift.

I can't wait to see it on the best seller list! It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Nicki Elson said...

Hi Michael. Wow, that's so exciting to get such a thorough review and notes from a big NY editor! I was smiling away when she talked about picturing scenes - that's how I feel when a read your writing, too.

Congrats on finishing that first draft. Good luck with all the big work ahead - sounds like it will all be well worth it.