I'm excited and must share

[lashbear]

WOW !! I get this mental image of you beaming like a kid in a candy shop

I can't wait !

Oh, and any word on the grant thingy ?

[Not Afraid]

I love the way this is progressing! Congrats!

[Snowflake]

Thanks everybody for your support. Yesterday was exciting, today I am sliding down the hillside of doubt and lack of self confidence.

Another author who knows I am working on my dream project, has just pitched Valentino to the Academy. He is currently working on another project for the Academy, he has published several other books, has creds (and I don't) and he has also pitched Valentino to other legit publishers and has gotten the nix. So, he has creds, he has published and with the Academy possibly backing Valentino, am I just batting at windmills here?

I just emailed my agent for a real, reality check about this. I'm thinking that what I have to offer will be small spuds compared to what the Academy can produce. But I do want to follow this dream of mine and if I have to self-publish, I guess I will.

Other authors (and friends of mine) have worked with this guy and I have been warned, he is a snake in the grass. They've warned me not to share my research with him. I guess I should not be surprised he's out there batting too. I don't have an exclusive right to the franchise.

[CoasterMatt]

I've had more than a few occasions where that slide down the "hillside of doubt" was just a setup for an awesome jump
If you do end up self-publishing, please put me down for a few copies, I've been getting more and more interested in Valentino recently.

[Prudence]

I'd consider it a good sign - if monsieur snake is sniffing around the same subject matter, it must be a good subject! Maybe the other publishers turned him down because they've worked with him before and know he's a jerk.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I'm about to spew self-help book at you. So apologies in advance.

When we make breakthroughs and have good days, our "censor," the little voice in your head that belittles yourself, rears its ugly head. It's hard to learn to recognize it (I battle it every damn day) but it's really just trying to undermine the good, good work you're doing.

We all believe in you-- your agent does, too. And sooner or later, the publishers will get a clue. You just can't talk yourself out of it!

[Strangler Lewis]

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

I heard that in Akeelah and the Bee and thought it was cool. Turns out it's a Marianne Williamson quote, but, what the hell, I like it.

Why the prickly, closed off Laurence Fishburne character was reading self-help books was not explained.

[blueerica]

Im 100% in agreeance with LSPE on this one! Don't let the "censor" talk you out of it... You've got an idea, the knowledge and the passion - don't let the inner naysayer stop you!! Though many of us aren't nearby to support you in person, I feel confident in saying you have everyone at LoT behind you on this one.

You can do it!!

And StranglerLewis - interesting you should post that quote. I was talking about it the other day while driving home, and couldn't remember who the quote was from. It's often inaccurately attributed to Nelson Mandela. Thanks!

[DreadPirateRoberts]

I always liked this quote by Mark Twain:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

[Snowflake]

LSPE, feel free to spew all the self help you want, much needed and appreciated!

Pru, thanks, you're right, but in many cases it's all who you know (and what network you belong to)

Strangler, what a great quotation. If it were not so long, I'd tack it on my monitor, nonetheless, I've saved it.

Blueerica, thanks for the support! Means a LoT to me!

DPR, a great quote and one that will fit on the monitor!

LoT and the LoTizens who visit are really a wonderful bunch of peeps, but you all know that.

My agent wrote back

I have to throw this all back on you...if you can make the book interesting to people who are not die-hard R.V. fans you have a chance.

Self publishing is another way to go..you'd sell a lot on ebay most likely.

I don't know this other guy's work but he certainly has an In...reg publishers will not go for an RV book..because the audience, they feel, it small and dwindling....it has to be something very very special...

that's what I'm hoping you will produce.

So the ball's in your court...it has to be a work of love on your part...with the safety net of self publishing...which I can help you with if it comes to that.