Wednesday, March 30, 2011

A Few Thoughts

Wow, back down to true freezing last night. This day was to reach 50; it never did. The skies remained dark and as steely gray as the winter squirrels that scramble across the bare tree limbs. DH looked out today and commented, “I really think after THIS brush with winter, we will have smooth sailing for nicer weather.” Ah, pardon me, but I wonder; I never commented.



The present issue of Looking Back, a memoir type magazine published by DRG ( a house that also publishes Good Old Days)has an article I wrote about cutting hedge posts. The byline has my husband’s name since the magazine wanted first person stories and the story was his experience. I let him have the byline, but I cashed the check!
The hedge, otherwise known as the Osage Orange is native to middle America where the Osage and other natives used the sturdy wood for making bows. The wood is hard and lasts well, and that is why it was used later for fence posts. The tree grows with small trunks or multi- trunks so when planted close together the trees form fences themselves for confining cattle and livestock.

When first cut the wood has an orange cast but darkens as it ages. For example, the first two shawl pins in this fan are made of hedge from DH’s family farm. When they were first made they had a lovely orangey glow, but now at two years old, they have darkened and can hardly be deciphered from the oak and cherry woods.

I recently signed a contract for a romance for the May True Confessions after a call out. I was pleased to see Dorchester back on track and functioning again. Now the last couple of days the word is out that the publishing company is being put up for sale. In today’s publishing market, I think that is a doubtful proposition. Now I am wondering if my story will be printed, if I will paid. If anyone sees the May issue of True Confessions on the stand with a story including a lovable mailman, please let me know!

While I have no experience with this market, I see that there is an ongoing call out for essays from women about changes in their lives. If interested in writing a personal essay about the changes you have faced in your life stages, go to www.changesinlife.com for more details and submission guidelines.

6 comments:

Rebecca said...

Congratulations, Claudia! Keep it up!

noexcuses said...

Yes, Claudia, congratulations! You (and DH) have been busy. I will definitely check out the stands for True Confessions and let you know.

And thanks, also, for the tip for changes in life. I will check them out as well, and see what their rules are.

Hopefully spring is here to stay!!

Linda O'Connell said...

You go girl! I had the rug pulled out from under me when a publication accepted something
and folded the next day.

Lynn said...

Congrats! I hope it works out for you. That must be a real let down to get accepted and then find out the place is folding (you too Linda). But there's always other markets!

BECKY said...

Oh, Claudia ~ Congrats on being published in Looking Back! That's wonderful. And you DID get another acceptance from True Confessions, so you can still count that as a publication! AND, hopefully, you'll still get paid!!

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

Congratulations, Claudia! I love writing romance...it is such fun. And thanks for the link. I'll check it out. :)