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How We Became Redneck Ranchers
Question: What’s worse than a child running into the house yelling that the steers are out?
Answer: A child running into the house yelling that the steers are GONE!
That’s how we were greeted not too long ago. Of course, it was a morning where we had somewhere to be.
Inspection of the steer pen revealed that they had broken a board leaving a gaping hole. And…the feed from the night before was still there. They must have made their escape soon after feeding time. Twelve hours is a very long time to wander. Visions of the beasts marching through town made my stomach twist.
We scoured the property for any sign.
They’d been in the garden. My broccoli…Gone!
To our great relief it seemed they’d headed for the west end of the property. Hundreds of acres would come between them and civilization.
Our oldest son took off running, the younger son took the quad, oldest daughter saddled the horse, and the youngest hopped in the truck with us.
Behind our property dirt roads twist around poking out here and there into various field. So many routes they could have taken. What a wonderful sound to hear one of the kids scream that they’d spotted them!
There they were, on a narrow path near the river. My oldest son haltered one, and we began the long walk home.
With the steers back home (I think they were happy to be back too), we repaired the fence and moved on with the day.
Wouldn’t you know it, they broke out again only few days later. My husband only had time for a quick repair because the sun was setting.
This is what I saw the next morning:
Yes, that is a Suburban blocking the hole. Classy, huh?
The fence is REALLY fixed now. On to other adventures.
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Beginnings Gone Bad
The other day, my oldest daughter came in from feeding the steers with a surprise. Deep in the bottom of the bucket she carried was a tiny bird. He chirped and flopped, opening his beak until it became a waiting funnel for food. With only a tiny bit of fuzz on his head and bottom, there was no way we could identify what kind of bird he was.
This is the best picture I could get with my limited photography skills Somehow this little guy ended up on the dirt road between our house and barn. There are no trees on this route and my daughter couldn’t find a nest anywhere. How did he get there? We’ll never know.
In our area we have a wonderful resource for circumstances like this. We took the bird to the wildlife center where they will care for him and help him grow into the bird he was made to be. While we waited for a worker to come to the door, we met a woman and her son. They had brought in a baby chipmunk. I’d never seen one this small. What a cute little critter.
So, I’ve been thinking about the bird. We’ll call today and see how he’s doing. But what I’ve been pondering is the birds beginning. Circumstances weren’t too good when he found himself alone on a road with no way to keep himself warm or feed himself, but along came my daughter with her caring heart.
The world is full of people who had rough beginnings, but that doesn’t mean the story will end tragically. God heals broken hearts. He restores lives.
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From Anger to Mercy
because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13
This last week I’ve been angry. Now, anger itself isn’t really an issue. Sometimes things happen and anger is an appropriate response. Over the last year we’ve experienced one of those situations. But when anger shifts into bitterness, there you have a problem. Last week my anger could have easily grown into a fullout, wrap around your heart, squeeze till you die, root of bitterness.
And though the source of my anger deserves punishment, in many ways so do I.
Maybe my sins aren’t as blatant, but they’re still sins. And I’ve been offered forgiveness. So, a new day has begun, and though the hurt and anger remain, I will choose mercy over justice.
Any thoughts?
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A Writer Without Representation—Ruh-Roh! – Mesu Andrews
Pardon the title’s Scooby-Doo impression, but I thought the lovable, animated Great Dane embodied the panic of my first publishing years without an agent. But an author without a literary agent doesn’t have to endure Scooby-sized mystery and missteps. I’m beginning my fourth book with Revell and have been asked to share a little about my un-agented journey, hopefully removing a little of the mystery.
R #1: Publishing without an agent is RARE.
I didn’t set out to publish without an agent. In fact, I had an agent for three years who knocked on countless doors, seeking to publish my non-fiction manuscripts. It was only after my agent and I parted as friends that the fiction door opened, and I received my first contract offer. Go figure. (I think the Lord was teaching me to rely on Him alone…but that’s another blog post!) When the offer came, my husband and I prayed and felt led to do the legal and contractual homework without representation.
After submitting the second of my two-book contract, I pitched a four-book contract (still without an agent) to Revell. They deferred two of the four, offering me instead a two-book contract. I accepted the offer, but I believe if I had an agent, I might have gotten all four books. Hindsight is 20/20, and I’ve recently signed with an agent. I’ll pitch again soon.
R #2: Publishing is about RELATIONSHIPS.
Writers’ conferences and online groups are crucial to the writing life. I attended my first conference in 2001—an Indiana girl, who traveled alone to Baltimore a month after 9/11. Eee-gad! Talk about out of your comfort zone!
The conference was devastating. I was so discouraged and wanted to go home after the first night. But I met people there that have become good friends and significant contacts in the publishing world. Most importantly, I received the best advice ever: “Never give up. If the story within you is from the Lord…never stop telling it.”
In the years that followed, I’ve attended other writing events, some single-day, some longer. Online group camaraderie is also a great place to meet people and gain fabulous insights. Critique partners have been the single-most important ingredient to my writing success, godly partners that wound and heal for my greater good.
If you’re a fiction writer, ACFW helps build relationships on a national, regional, and local level. I also follow several blogs that provide valuable information: http://www.rachellegardner.com, http://stevelaube.com, http://www.acfw.com/blog.
R #3: Publishing is a RUSH…No RUSH Business.
When an editor says, “I’d like to see your full manuscript,” we authors experience a RUSH of emotion. Someone besides my mother thinks I can write! Or at least, that’s what I thought.
Then comes the RUSH to prepare the manuscript for submission. Late nights. Pots of coffee. Hair pulling. Nail biting. Finally, it’s ready, and you click send—only to discover—you wait and wait and wait and wait and…
The publisher is in NO RUSH. First the editorial committee meets. Then the publishing committee. Then marketing. The final decision seems to take longer than writing the manuscript!
The first nibble of interest on my novel proposal came at the 2008 Mt. Hermon Writers’ Conference. I submitted the full manuscript in late May, and Revell offered a contract in October. That’s five months of waiting…trying to decide…do I need an agent?
When Revell’s offer came, a good friend and colleague in my local ACFW chapter suggested I buy the book, Kirsch’s Guide to the Book Contract: For Authors, Publishers, Editors, and Agents. This friend had published her first four books unagented, using this guide to comb through every phrase of the contract.
I took a second precaution, having Sally Stuart review the contract. For a reasonable fee, Sally flagged the portions of the contract that were “author-friendly” and those that were “publisher-friendly.” She didn’t tell me what or how to negotiate but suggested “ballpark” numbers she’d seen in other contracts. Her help was priceless.
I reviewed the contract for a week and then submitted my proposed changes to Revell. Since I was a first-time author, I didn’t try to negotiate my advance or royalties. My requests involved the number of free copies and the topic for my second book. Within two weeks, I received acceptance of my requested changes, and I signed with Revell in December. Nine months from the editor’s initial interest to contract signing—like birthing a baby—and the real writing hadn’t even begun!
R’s 4 & 5: REDEEMED REGRETS
Do I wish I’d had an agent all along? Yes and no. It’s nice not to share my royalties! Ha! But in the short weeks since signing with my new agent, I’ve enjoyed having a partner in the decision-making processes of my career. I look back on decisions and recognize mistakes an agent might have spared me, but I refuse to waste energy on regret. I’m so thankful my God is bigger than regrets, and He redeems the future with wisdom I learn from my past.
For unpublished authors, an agent is a champion—lifting, tugging, pulling, cheering you to the top of an editor’s stack of proposals. For published authors, an agent is a coach—guiding, calming, encouraging you in the midst of deadlines and deadlocks. For all of us, good agents offer their time and talents, steering us through the murky waters of an ever-changing publishing industry.
If you’re un-agented and saying, “Ruh-Roh,” RELAX, Scooby!
You’ve got a real-life God waiting for you to trust Him with your writing career. In His time, in His way, He’ll open and close the doors for you.
If you’re interested in finding an agent, Rachelle Gardner’s blog has several relevant posts on the topic. One of the posts lists the 2012 Guide to Literary Agents. You can read the post here: http://www.rachellegardner.com/2011/09/the-2012-guide-to-literary-agents.
Do you have any questions for me about navigating the publishing world un-agented?
Mesu Andrews is an author and speaker who has devoted herself to passionate study of Scripture. Harnessing her deep love for God’s Word, Andrews brings the biblical world alive for her audiences.Mesu and her husband, Roy, have two grown children and (Praise God!) a growing number of grandkids. They live in Washington, where Roy teaches at Multnomah University. They have a Rottweiler-pitbull named Bouzer who keeps Mesu company while she writes.
She’s published two books, Love Amid the Ashes and Love’s Sacred Song. Two more are scheduled for release with Revell in March of 2013 and 2014.
