I wonder if I can use these as cover blurbs.

I think you should. Sam is a lovely bat and I'm glad you are telling his story.

I had to go google their breakup.

Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy have parted ways after five years together, the couple announced on their Twitter accounts this afternoon. First Carrey tweeted: “Jenny and I have just ended our 5yr relationship. I’m grateful 4 the many blessings we’ve shared and I wish her the very best! S’okay! ?;^>”. McCarthy then tweeted, “Im so grateful for the years Jim and I had together. I will stay committed to Jane [Carrey's daughter] and will always keep Jim as a leading man in my heart.”

I'm making a rule or three--don't tweet about breaking up with me. If you tweet about breaking up with me don't use complex emoticons. If you tweet about breaking up with me, spell and punctuate correctly.

Signed,
CaféOlé69.

Nice Guy who got let go has come by to pick up his stuff. Awkward.

Blurbs from actual comments:

"I had the pleasure of reading Allyson Beatrice’s SAM over the weekend, and though there’s a lot to like here (not least the author’s deft way with words—such images!), the truth is that I’m just not a lover of middle grade novels with anthropomorphized animal protagonists." - BIG NAME PUBLISHER

"There's such a cozy charm to this book...I just didn't didn't have that gut-level connection to Sam's character and so I wasn't as drawn into his personal story as I would need to be." Another Big Name Publisher

"I loved the read and Allyson's voice is just lovely and funny...ultimately, I think it'd be better served as hardcover first. I think the institutional market would love it." -Yet another BNP who passed.

Man. I am so butthurt and bitter. Let this pass.

Jeez, Allyson, that's pretty good feedback for rejections.

Sometimes it's just the market.

A handful had some really good constructive feedback that the sense of urgency wasn't quite urgent enough, or that the story needed to be a bit more layered. I can work with that. I can see it and understand it.

Ultimately, it just wasn't strong enough for the risk, I think. I still feel like it's pretty good writing and a lovely story. I'm thinking of posting the first chapter to my LJ to see if I'm bananas.

I can totally understand how frustrating it is to get such praise and for them still not to want to publish it. It's like those "You're great, I'm just not attracted to you" romantic rejections.

I swear all the paper in the world is in my house...just not the one piece of paper I am looking for. It's maddening.

meara-ing:

Happy Belated Birthday, Stephanie! I'm glad you had a good day. I know Ellie will be glad to see you, too.

Birthday Felicitations, Amy! Wishing you a splendid year full of realized dreams.

Oh, ChiKat, that sounds awful. I'm sorry. I hope they get it fixed so you're not wandering around indefinitely.

Barb, that's a glorious, enticing cover. Sells the book for you--well, gets it into the customers' hands, anyway. Half the battle.

Suzi, you are an award-winner mom--that was a fantastic surprise, it's a beautiful dress, and Kelly's going to be a beautiful bride.

I don't think Boehner would come out in opposition to contraception on it's own and take the stand that no federal dollars should be spent on contraception.

Sorry to disagree, but this actually IS part of their agenda. If I wasn't so lazy I'd rustle up a cite or two, but it has been stated by state-level Republican politicians that women shouldn't be burdened by the right to determine their own reproductive destiny, that men are better qualified to make those decisions for them. The horrific truth is that it sounds so ridiulous few people have taken it seriously. As Hec said yesterday about the pervasive attitude away from easy-access contraception affecting the socio-economic lives of young adults in Bakersfield, the shift has been gradual, but damaging. And it continues because most moderates don't really believe it's happening.

Have I added my approval for P-C's ride-to-the-rescue? Such a nice thing to do.

Allyson, short-sighted publishers will be wringing their hands over what they stupidly passed on when Sam's doing well as a self-pub. I'm sorry for the stupid dance, meanwhile.

I don't really understand why it didn't sell to anyone.

Because it isn't a clone of anything already published and at least moderately successful. Publishers are scaredy cats. Or, What Amy Said.

In my head, it's a pretty good little book.

Oh, it is. And will be proved so, with sales. You damn betcha.

ION, all possible eye-ma for quester's SIL. And continued recovery and clean-bill-of-health for Lisah's Bob.

Happy birthday, Amy!

I've been hit and run posting today, so I may have forgotten that.

I keep looking at my taxes and boggling. This puppy is going in the mail tomorrow.

Eating out on the deck, in the dusk. Kiddie lacrosse took over the field this evening. They were all so cute.