Anybody heard from Sundance?

pete43lost_at_sea said:

sorry to hear about the spots and your dad
the challengers of life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
your story is real and tragic but positive to me.

you are caring for your dad and dealing with your recurrence at the same time.
you are caring which is undeserved by the sounds of it, but that makes the care that much more special. doing the honourable thing, which to me you are, shows when of our best traits as humans. thanks for sharing.

its hard, but in all the stress of your dad and recurrence i hope you can find some piece and release. and i know our lisa's passing has effect us in different ways.

just breathe and grieve mate.

hugs,
pete

Sundanceh said:

Big Jeff:)
I am touched and honored that you feel such a way, buddy - really.

I've survived the abuses, my sister's murder, my uncle's suicide, an F-3 tornado, and 3 cancers...and that's the highlight reel. You'd think I'd get the hint by now, wouldn't you?

I know how hard it can be for a man to truly express himself, so I can truly appreciate your kind words to me...it's nice to know that you mean something to someone...and I'm glad to know you. We're kindred you and I...I was born in 1961....us ol' guys gotta' support each other.

And we like John Force, too. Hope you read that story - if you missed it, it is in back of the archives...titled "The Day I Met the Legend." It's also a chapter in my book.

Thanks again, man...thanks for posting.

-Craig

janderson1964 said:

It looks like the legend is
It looks like the legend is off to a good start this year. Your book sounds real interesting. I would love to read it when it gegs published. I should have known you were a writer with all of your great posts.postal

Sundanceh said:

Hiya' Ann - Hope You Checked Back In:)
That makes me feel very good to hear you see that, Ann - I thank you. Time is the most precious commodity that we possess so when one trades it and feels good about it, that's pretty good stuff right there.

I think that experiencing validation and acceptance through someone else's eyes other than your own, is the ultimate compliment that one person can give to another. Because, with these relationships, there are no pre-conceived notions to contend with - just a straight unsolicited vote of approval.

Being a librarian, I feel honored that you think that my writings have some literary merit:) That means a great deal to me, as well.

And I came to the same conclusion a couple of responses up that reiterates what you said "about the challenges of the industry." I agree, my current failures don't stem from the fact that my writing is bad or the content is not relevant. If one doesn't read any sample chapters, then how can one determine if the content is worthy or not?

They are just outright dismissing it with a big old rubber stamp. Which is frustrating, because I did my homework and did alot of research on the agents I'm trying to land. The material that they were asking for is what I think I have.

Here are just a couple of agent examples:

"She is interested in seeing medical memoirs and narrative non-fiction that brings the reader into a world that is not generally "open to the public." Her particular areas of nonfiction interest are: health and medicine, memoir that takes you into unfamiliar worlds"

"They are interested in nonfiction that is alarming, brilliant and unprecedented."

"Particularly interested in medical and legal subjects."

Here's the current requirements from my new one I'm trying to hook:

"She is more interested in finding fresh, unique voices and smart, original perspectives."

Do you see me in there anywhere, Ann?

Me too, I was very excited, but just automatic dismissals. And I understand it's because I'm an unknown, but how do I get known when no one wants to take a chance on me? I could live with it if my work just sucked. But, the bottom line is that they don't want to take on any projects if they don't know they will sell.

Don't you think this would sell with the proper backing? Our core target audience is in the millions - the potential is pretty exciting if you ask me.

I've got another dozen agents lined up behind this one if this one doesn't pan out...I've got to play this string out, I've got absolutely nothing to lose by trying.

And yes, I'v explored "self-publishing" extensively before I decided to try and find a literary agent. The best one I found seems to be Lulu. Of course, like many others, they publish 'for free.' But what you see is what you get. They will print it whatever it looks like, so if a mistake is made in formatting, well, you bought it. Also, graphic design, cover arts and font, one needs to be really good, or the product will look bad.

As we know..."Image is Everything." It's got to look good and once you submit with them, you cut off your chances to every go with traditional publishing. Truth be told, even with the self-publishers, it's going to cost you money (thousands of dollars) to 'publish' your book. They offer editing and graphic services, etc. but at a cost...and it runs up quick.

Somone did send me something on a website where folks 'donate' money to your project in a set amount of time that is used to 'fund' the project. That might be a viable solution. It's interesting and I need more time to study this angle. I figure after I 'flame out' in the traditional world, I would always have this to fall back on.

But to reach our core target audience the way that I envision it, we're going to need marketing and advertising help...and that's the benefit of going with the big boys. But, I'm keeping all options open as I'd like to see the book in print in some fashion before I die.

"Chicky" called me the Lion and I'm thinking about writing a post with that story - it ties in as a precursor to the book and is a story that I've been dying to tell for about a year now.

If I have my way, the lion avatar will be on the front cover of my 'never to be published book.' LOL!

Thank you for posting, Ann - I'm growing quite fond of you:)

-Craig

P.S. And Ann, can you imagine how we'd feel now if this thing were to really come true - we would understand what a "true victory" that this would truly represent and how hard it would have been to make a big dream come true.

Sundanceh said:

Thank You, Everyone!
I just wanted to thank everyone on this thread for posting and sharing so deeply from their hearts. Your stories help to show us all how things in the real world really are. Knowing others are going through or have gone through similiar things do have a sort of healing effect.

And I think that by that type of intimate sharing,that it brings us all a little bit closer to one another.

Any fool can laugh, but not everyone can get in touch with their innerselves and touch on the painful things in life. Pain and Sorrow is where the real growth occurs within each of us...it takes a little more work and it hurts you to become a little more emotionally vested, but we grow from that experience.

When we reach down where we don't want to go, we have no choice but to grow from that experience. It's like pruning a branch...the first cut is deep, but when Spring comes, what grows from that cut, is wonderful to see. And I think that is how it works for the human as well. What springs forth from the cut is a blessing for all to see.

We became more than we were before - and that's never a bad thing.

So, your words helped me - more importantly, I just needed to hear from the community in which I live for - and for the community for which I will die for. Thank you for reaching out to me at at time when I needed to hear.

And special thanks to Son of Hal aka C.J. for opening the other post...that was really nice, brother...and your feelings made me feel like a million.

Struggles are continuing, of course...we're at a new facility now...and it's not going well...social worker wants to talk to us as soon as we get well....he's apparently being an **** and very abusive to the staff - she says he's very controlling.

No news to me, honey.

He's not rehabbing or really even trying, so I think it's over from that perspective and I await the day when the curtain finally closes...

I'm still sick with whatever is going around for about 2 weeks now...probably need another week or so....it's bad, whatever it is....like the Flu, without the fever...a real whip, that's for sure.

I am working on a post that I'm going to try and squeeze in around here...it's the story of Big Billy.

Take care until I talk with you again.

-Craig