Shaking like a bag of nerves

… is probably an accurate way to describe how I was feeling on that cold wet Sunday morning, when I called publisher Ocean Reeve to read my children’s manuscript for the first time, over the telephone.

It took me by surprise how quick he replied to my email that Sunday morning when I introduced myself and my first children’s book title “Rescued” in the series The Adventures Of Jessie and Rocky Rockstar. 

Just call me and we can have a chat.

… he suggested, so I did. I figured there was nothing else to do on a cold wet Sunday morning than to stay snuggled up in bed and talk about my book I had just written.

How many words is it? He asked “Only 900” I replied.

Why don’t you read it to me?

Nervous excitement started to build in my stomach as I thought to myself

Here’s a chance to put some identity into the characters and have a bit of fun. 

No holding back I went straight into narrator character, then Jessie, then Dad and back again. I even surprised myself with how easily I adapted.  It was actually fun,  I thought.

Ocean’s response was like winning the lottery for me “Wow, that is an awesome story, and the way you read it was incredible, how many stories have you written?” 

Pardon?

“How many have you written?” If it’s a series you need to write a couple at least and look at publishing them together to prove to your readers it is a series”

I was still catching my breath and my heartbeat from reading my first manuscript, and now my mind was racing forward to my second book. 

Before hanging up Ocean continued

Well, a rainy Sunday morning is the perfect time to write your second story, so you had better get to work and we look forward to publishing these for you.

I will always treasure Sunday mornings now, especially rainy ones.