While everyone posts for the AtoZ challenge, I am saddened that I am not participating this year. My oldest son graduates from high school in a little over a month. Cue the crazy train and the tears and the medication. Just kidding on the last one. I'm all for supporting my kids, so when he handed me something to sign the other day, I didn't hesitate. Then I read the thing. His class is taking a "Cadaver Field Trip" to a hospital in St. Louis. Not lying. I don't make this stuff up. I couldn't stop laughing. What could go wrong? I told him I wanted DETAILS. He just shook his head at me. I asked if I could tag along. I'm pretty sure he rolled his eyes. In case you were wondering, he's taking chemistry, anatomy & physiology, medical terminology. You know, your average high school courses.
On a different note, I don't usually post my progress when it comes to my search for an agent. It's like my personal writer's fight club mantra. But because I have real writer friends (as opposed to imaginary ones) who struggle with rejection and waiting and wanting to quit, I want to encourage you to keep waiting and to not give up. My MG contemporary fantasy is still with several agents. And I wait. While I've been waiting, I wrote. It paid off. I just finished edits on my MG paranormal mystery. I stretched myself, going outside of my comfort zone, and wrote it from a dual POV. Best decision I have ever made. As I wait to hear back from agents for my MG fantasy, I am getting ready to send out queries for my MG mystery.
And while I wait, I take advantage of every opportunity to snap a few pictures. Last year for the AtoZ Challenge, I featured a photographic journey through Mark Twain's boyhood hometown, Hannibal, MO. My oldest son (who will soon be visiting the morgue with his class) shares my passion for photography. He took this photo on the top of Lover's Leap of the sunset over the Mississippi River. He photo-shopped the sky with a darker blue. He has such an eye for detail.
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| Lover's Leap - Hannibal, MO |
My nephew sent me a couple of photos from inside the final four during Monday night's big game in Houston where he was selling Chick-fil-a, and....
Wait for it.....
Guess who was there?? He's in the light blue shirt and white kicks. Hint: I'm from this state where he played in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls.
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| Michael Jordan chillin' at the game |
Get back out there. Don't quit. You've got this.
Good luck with finding the agent. (Pre-)congrats for the graduation! :)
ReplyDeleteshahwharton.com
Thanks!
DeleteThis was inspiring, thank you! And Michael Jordan got rejected in school for basketball? Who would have thought! Congrats on the impending graduation! Better keep some tissues handy... ;)
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it. MJ's life story is truly inspiring!
DeleteOkay! I won't quit. =) (I'll just take a nice break as needed.) It's crazy how quickly they grow, eh? My oldest started college a year ago (no, he's not that old. He's early.) and it kind of blew me away. This kid is leaving the nest in a few short years. That's not supposed to happen!!!
ReplyDeleteCrystal Collier
I keep thinking he can't be that old. But he is. And so am I. ;-)
DeleteIt happens way too fast, eh?
DeleteHow cool is that! I was next to Kareem Abdul Jabbar once. it's great to see professional sports players up close especially for kids and teens.
ReplyDeleteI’m exploring different types of dreams and their meanings.
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Sweet! I saw MJ a few decades ago:)
DeleteWhat an amazing shot!
ReplyDeleteCool that you didn't sit and wait and now have another manuscript to send out.
And that is a really unusual field trip...
I know, right?! It's the best writing advice: while you wait, write another book. Oh, i can't wait to find out. "Cadaver Field Trip" might be the name of my next book.
DeleteCongrats to your son!
ReplyDeleteWriting while waiting to hear back from agents is the best thing to do. I hope you hear good news soon.
Enjoy your break!
Thank you, Chrys!
DeleteCadaver Field Trip? I don't think I'd want to go on that one.
ReplyDeleteCongrats that you'll soon have a second manuscript to query.
Thanks! I'd love to be a fly on the wall. Last time his class did something similar one girl passed out.
DeleteImagine your son taking his photography interest on the cadaver field trip... It's amazing what sorts of high school classes there are nowadays. At the moment I'm covering "Intro to Health Careers" where each student gets a chance to explore various areas in these modules. Fascinating.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, I asked. "Selfie with the stiffs?" He just gave me a side-eye, sinister glare.
DeleteWeird field trip indeed. Never knew that about MJ.
ReplyDeleteMust have been what inspired him to greatness.
DeleteCongrats to your oldest on his upcoming graduation! Good for you for starting new projects while querying -- that's the only way to do it. (I totally forgot it was IWSG day until I saw this post. I'm using Apr to draft. Guess I'll have to IWSG next month...)
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
DeleteCongrats to your son for his upcoming graduation, you must be excited. Thanks for sharing your agent updates, my manuscripts are also in agents' inboxes. Fingers crossed for both of us.
ReplyDeleteRachna Chhabria
Co-host IWSG
Rachna's Scriptorium
Good luck to you too!
DeleteBeautiful sky shot. I have people in my writing group who persevered for years on their agent search, even going through several agents, and they made it with book sales.
ReplyDeleteThanks! He is a pretty talented young man. I keep telling him if the whole doctor thing doesn't work out, he can be a photographer.
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