AWP: What an adventure!

I was delighted to discover that my daughter had the weekend free and was available to accompany me to Los Angeles. I am, by reputation, a fearless little warrior, but really, down underneath my bravado, I am terrified much of the time. I don't leave my house after dark, typically, even to run to the grocery store. I don't like to go get my mail. Travelling to LA to pick up a car and drive it back to LA? No problem because I am in and out. But staying for three days, and braving my first ever AWP conference? No way.

We agreed that the hotels near the convention were prohibitively expensive. Now that I had an unofficial driver accompanying me, we decided to stay down near the Santa Monica pier so we could wake up see the ocean, which turned out to be a great decision. The hotel was wonderful (and about the same price as those near the LACC), and the view was magnificent and soul-soothing amidst all the uproar.

We arrived late Thursday and attended an MFA reunion for my college from which I had graduated years ago, and it was great to see my program director. When he asked what I had been up so, I handed him my post-card (with the amazing image on the front), and he exclaimed, "Oh WOW! You are doing it!" which was gratifying to hear. I decided to try out my "extrovert" muscles and meet everyone at the gathering (none of whom I had ever previously met) and handed out postcards, asking for honest feedback. All the comments were positive, so that was a good start.

Friday morning, my "driver" dropped me off at the convention center, I got registered and badged and wandered into the Bookfair. I was immediately overwhelmed, but I decided to walk around and peruse the publishers. Many of them focused on only poetry or only a particular genre, so I learned to ask what was their specialty. Even if a publisher was "not" interested in me, I tried to treat each person as an individual and handed them a card, explaining what I was doing and for whom I was searching (a publisher interested in memoir). I asked, "Do you have any suggestions for me?" believing each person there might have someone they knew I needed to touch base with. I got all positive responses on this part of my day.

I found about five publishers who expressed interest and many individuals that said they wanted to read the book. A few women specifically said, "This needs to be published! Oh my gosh!" and a few women who said, "You survived. Good for you." One woman said, "And you are here. Wow. That is wonderful," so it was very gratifying to have people as well as organizations interested.

I ran into one particular publisher who said, "Send me everything you have...." which was a terrific thing to hear. Many of the publishers who gave me time and advice suggested the memoir is too long (which is true) and that I had really written "two books," so that is something to consider. I am reviewing my own draft and deciding where and how I might divide the book into two separate books. I even considered that I might alter the title to "Shadows and LIght: Shadows" and then "Shadows and Light: Light," but only if I can pare it down to two books rather than the current length (which is closer to three books, realistically).

So, as always, more work to do. Pare the book down. Break it into two books (which someone said publishers LOVE because you have a follow up book already written), and what next? Query letter to send an official communication to publishers (or agents) and go from there. Realistically, it may be a year before this is published, but that is okay.

And the possibility of self-publishing is always there and I did talk to three book publishers who provided affordable options for that possibility. Lots to think about and lots to do. Now to face the last few weeks of teaching college, grading papers, and administering final exams. Then summer!