There I was, minding my own WordPress and Blogger blogs, trying to Twitter, connecting to LinkedIn, finding friends on Facebook, and deleting hundreds of emails that I signed up to get. Everyone had an offer for me to make me better at all those things. It was offer overload. I’m not sure why I didn’t delete Ginny’s Wednesday, May 28, 2014 email asking me if I wanted to write a book about Woodlake.
My name is Ginny and I am the California acquisitions editor for Arcadia Publishing. We publish local or regional pictorial history books as part of our Images of America series. I’m interested in starting a similar project about Woodlake and came across your blog while researching potential authors. You’ve got a great style and voice and your experience and knowledge of the area would make you an excellent candidate to author the book. Is this something you might be interested in?
I fell for it almost as hard as I did for my first my spammer compliment on WP. She sent some attachments about the company, so I wrote her back.
Hi Ginny,That would be so fun! Let me look this over, and I’d love to talk to you!
Hi Marsha!
I just realized I had not gotten the proposal to you last week as promised! It is attached to this email. The most important sections are the Author Information, Book Information, and Schedule – everything else can come later (including sample images/captions). Please let me know if you have any questions! I look forward to speaking to you soon!
| Business name | Contact person and affiliation to business (if known) | Address/City/State/Zip
Phone ###.###.### |
Local insight and personal connection |
| Joe’s Drugs
(pharmacy) |
Joe Smith, owner
|
321 S. Main Street
Anytown, DC 98765 (123) 456-7890 |
Town pharmacy that carries local themed products. Owner Joe is my brother-in-law. |
I made my June 4th deadline. On June 12, 2014 I received this reply along with 450 more words and two attachments of instructions.
Hi Marsha,
I hope you are doing well! I am pleased to inform you that your proposal,Woodlake, has been approved. I am delighted to have this opportunity to work with you in adding Woodlake to our Images of America series!
I had my first opportunity to publish history, starting with 4 scanned pictures out of over 200 necessary.
I hope I won’t bore you, but I want to spend a few posts outlining the steps I took from start to finish to write this book so I don’t forget it. I sent my final draft in with all the pictures on Monday. I need something else to do! hehehe!!! Along the way, I hope it will help some of you in your writing journey.
Thanks for all your support and encouragement along the journey. NOW, I write histories! 🙂
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
How cool is that?! 😀 *claps*
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I shocked me to the core! It was a great experience. It comes out in June.
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I am excited for you!! Well deserved!
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I think I would have been totally daunted by the very first requirement. You’ve done so well. Congratulations on finishing this mammoth project. I’ll be looking forward to reading future instalments. As for needing something else to do, you can start planning your trip to Australia now! Start researching!
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You are so cute! I have been piddling for the last two days. Reading a few blogs, following up on post book necessities. Even changing Manny’s header! 🙂
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You deserve a break…now get on the computer and start looking at Australia!
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I can’t look at it without my computer, silly! 🙂
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Well done! Congrats! I’ve started writing personal histories of people and hopefully businesses.
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That sounds like exactly like what I want to do! Good for you! What fun! 🙂
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I’m happy for you. Good luck/
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Thanks always, Jim, for your loyal support. Merry Christmas! 🙂
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Wow ! Can’t wait to read more Marsha 😀 ❤
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I meant to add, why does that woman on the beach have 3 hands ? 😉
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One of them twitches, so she grew another one. That’s what you need to do! Maybe you are going about your treatment all too wrong. 🙂 I think it’s time to get creative and think outside the box!!!
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Ralphie, what is <3?
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A kiss ❤
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Looking forward to the next installments detailing this enthralling process of writing history! 😉 So THRILLED for you!!!!! Too groovy!!
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probably wouldn’t have the confidence to write if it wasn’t your effervescent support. 🙂
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Wow! Amazing story, Marsha. Glad you didn’t accidentally delete that all important e-mail. 🙂
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No kidding! There was enough bulk in the email, that hers stood out. She obviously knew something about me and wanted something specific that I was in a unique position to provide. That is why I think they are so successful. They find local people, and those folks spur the selling of the book. Communities get involved in the process.
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This is very interesting, Marsha. I’m curious to see how the process works, so I’m all ears, so to speak …
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Of all people who should be writing tons of books, it is you! I’m amazed that Images of America hasn’t contacted you! 🙂
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I actually sent them an email a couple of weeks ago but I haven’t heard anything back. I know it takes some time for editors to respond to inquiries, so we’ll see what happens. They’re based in South Carolina, so I’m hoping that carries some clout. 😉
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I know, that’s why I was so surprised to hear from them. Hope you hear back soon! 🙂
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