Two months to go...

Two more months and a few weeks, but who isn't counting, until the debut of my novel Rain Song. I am impressed with the reviews and hope I get to see more of them. As for book two, we have decided to call it How Sweet it is and the art department at Bethany House is working on a cover.

Publishers Weekly

How exciting to see Rain Song's review in the June 9, 2008
issue of Publishers Weekly.
The galley for the novel arrived via UPS last week and even though
I had guests, I managed to allow a shriek of delight to fill my house.
Soon my edited galley will be sent back to my publisher and then,
then, I think Bethany House is going to start with printing the
actual book. Check out my web site to see all my reviews
at alicewisler.com.

Library Journal

I must confess that I have been acting a little excited
today. Upon "googling" my name, I found a review for
Rain Song in the June issue of Library Journal. The
writer even has my book listed as a good summer read.
Well, you can buy it when it comes out in October and
read it next summer. If you are a librarian, please order
a copy or two for your library. Don't forget to do this;
make a note of it now even though the book isn't quite
ready yet. I'd hate for some bestseller to come your way
and for you to forget all about me.

In fact, the galleys for Rain Song should be
out next week my editor emailed to tell me
today. She says then my book will look and
feel more like a real book. Perhaps they are
going to publish Rain Song after all....?

May!

What a wonderful month May is in Durham, NC. Well, we've only had two days so far, but both of them have been lovely weather-wise. I'm getting ready to send my newsletter for Rain Song out to the masses. Literary Lyrics is free, so if you want to join, go to my website at http://www.alicewisler.com and sign up.

Abandoned

Today is a monumental day for me. My second novel's
(2009) been revised and sent back to my editor at Bethany
House. If everyone is happy with the changes I made, then
we can pass around the plate of reduced Valentine's cookies
and celebrate. I'll even throw in some caramel ice cream
I got on sale this morning.

Releasing it back to the editor took some time. For
two weeks I told myself, "This is the week I'll send it
back." Yet I held on until today. Today I abandoned it
and let it go. Hopefully, my editor will be pleased
with the changes. I think I am.

Perhaps...

I started this blog site a year ago so I could have something
to do while waiting for my novel to make its debut. Now I hear
that the Bethany House fall catalog is on its way to being
printed. And guess what? My picture will be included in
it. Which means, my book might be published after all.
I suppose all first-time novelists wonder if their book
will actually make it to the shelves of bookstores. Is
it really going to happen, or is the publisher just having
fun with me?

I've had a whole plate filled with writing projects lately
and am also revising my second novel. Readers who read it
liked it; of course there were some suggestions that were
made and I'm working on those.

Meanwhile, I continue to wait and wonder..........

Lamentation

Today marks eleven years since Daniel's
death from cancer treatments. My ritual is
to light the vanilla-scented candle, shed
some tears, and write something
in his memory. This is how I can make it
through another year without him. Although
my desire is to write something profound
and earth-shattering, I can never
quite get it right. This year, this will
have to do.

Lamentation for My Son
~Alice J. Wisler

When spring arrived, he had left
tiny tennis shoes by the door
stuffed animals nestled in his bed.
Summer warmed the earth
although his laughter
never made it to my ears.
Autumn brought the dazzle of
gold and winter the soft snow;
his jacket remained in the closet.

Opening the window, I breathe in
yesterday--what I had, what was mine.
Always yearning for another day
before the tombstone under the oak tree
held his name.
[In memory of Daniel Paul Wisler 8/25/92-2/2/97]