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Marsha Diane Arnold and the 7 Year Drought

6/14/2013

18 Comments

 
             Writers are no strangers to droughts. There are droughts when good ideas don’t come. Droughts when the right words won’t come. And there are droughts when no one wants your stories.

            All those droughts are painful, but that last type of drought can break your heart and your spirit. It almost broke mine. But fear not, dear readers/writers, this story has a happy ending.

            My blog for the Picture Book Academy is supposed to be about character-driven stories. I’m going off-course a bit to share some news and encourage all of us to persevere. If there’s a character here, it’s me; I’m not as interesting or determined or spunky as my book characters, but I hope you’ll stay tuned for a bit of drama and that happy ending.
Picture
Jamichael Henterly and myself
Picture
Karen Risken and myself


It took years to find an editor who loved my first story as much as I did. That editor was Diane Arico.  Heart of a Tiger, illustrated by Jamichael Henterly, won a sweet little award, the Ridgway, for Best First Book by a New Author. It was a nice beginning.

            Diane was my champion during my early career. When she moved from Dial to Golden Books to start a new picture book line, I went with her. Golden published three of my books. Then Golden went bankrupt, Diane left publishing, and Random House acquired Golden’s publishing rights; many authors’ books were unceremoniously “shredded.”  That was a major detour, but my drought was yet to come.

            I still had a strong connection to Dial, but I didn’t click with another editor there until along came the marvelous Karen Riskin, who I adore. Karen was my editor for two of my most beloved books, Prancing Dancing Lily (illustrated by John Manders) and Roar of a Snore (illustrated by Pierre Pratt). But before Roar of a Snore hit the bookstores, Karen left for the even more important work of raising a family. That was a big bump in the road.

            Treasure those editors, writers. They really are golden.

            The drought started after what seemed a precursor to good things. I had two picture books published in 2006 from two top publishers, Dial (Penguin) and Abrams. Two picture books in the same year. That had never happened for me before.      

            But this was also the beginning of big changes in children’s publishing. Technologies were changing, cultures were changing, economies were changing, publishing houses were changing. Successful editors, some with their own imprints, were being let go. E-books and apps were squeezing traditional books. Mid-list authors were getting squeezed too.

            As writers we all have similar tales of woe. Our manuscripts get “close;” an editor loves our story but acquisitions turns it down. But since my first book was accepted, I had never had such a dry spell.
Picture
Picture
The years passed. It didn’t feel like 5 or 6 or 7.  It felt like I’d been wandering in the wilderness for forty years, like the Israelites. Like them, I’d be there, “until the whole generation that had done what was evil in the Lord’s sight was gone.”  Except I was the whole generation and the Lord was the Big Six (soon to be the Big Five).

            I had sold my first 11 books on my own, with no agent. But with drastic changes happening in publishing and more and more houses closing their doors to unsolicited manuscripts, even from published authors, it was time for an agent. Luckily, I found the wonderful Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary.  She loved my stories. She was heaven sent.

            But something was wrong. My manuscripts were still getting “close;” an editor would love my story, then acquisitions would turn it down. ETC.  I’d been down this road alone, in misery. Now, I was just sharing the misery with someone else.

            Then suddenly and unexpectedly, as happens in a drought, it began to sprinkle.  In early April, Karen emailed there was interest in one of my manuscripts. (Blah. Blah. Fine. This had happened before. No reason to get overexcited.) But it didn’t take long for the sprinkle to turn into a shower. There was lots of interest in my manuscript.

            And in the end, it was a downpour. The drought had ended. The offer that could not be refused came from the man who emailed: “It’s utterly simple….and simply brilliant.”  My story was bought in a pre-empt, in a two-book deal from the exceptional Neal Porter of Neal Porter Books. There is simply no better way in the children’s publishing world to end a 7-year drought.

            I cannot tell you what the “simply brilliant” story is, but I will tell you it is minimal text. Really minimal text.  It’s a story that came to me in images, in the early morning hours. My art notes show the way to a character-driven story. Indeed, there are many characters driving the story, into oblivion and back again. I cannot wait to see how the illustrator paints them.

            So now I am rejuvenated, regenerated. I feel a bit like a phoenix rising, like a cicada chirping my song after being underground, unseen, for 13 or 17…or 7 years. Detours, bumps, and droughts come to us all. But, writers, if we persevere, if we have faith, if we keep “showing up,” we can survive the drought and rise like a phoenix.

                  After a 7-year drought, my story is now…to be continued.
  Marsha  Diane Arnold is an award-winning children’s book author with a heart of gold. Besides writing, she enjoys visiting schools internationally, nationally, and through Skype, sharing her love of books and writing through presentations and writing “funshops”.  In 2008 Marsha was honored as one of seven artists invited to be part of Sequoia National Parks Foundation’s Artists in the Back Country, the only children’s author ever invited. The program’s goal is to rekindle the American tradition of enhancing public appreciation of our natural world through the arts. She shares her adventures in the high Sierras at www.earthsvoices.com

When not creating imaginative worlds and wacky characters at her home in northern California, Marsha also enjoys traveling the world, scuba diving, and (like her characters) always trying new things.  To learn more about Marsha’s books or to contact her, visit www.marshadianearnold.com. You can also find out more about Marsha’s phenomenal home school e-course on Writing Wonderful Character-Driven Picture Books at http://www.picturebookacademy.com/writing-character-driven-stories.html


18 Comments
Virginia L Rinkel
6/13/2013 01:26:48 pm

Checking out her book (Heart of a Tiger) now...thanks.

Reply
Jill Esbaum link
6/13/2013 09:25:10 pm

Woot! Glad to hear you've had such a happy ending, Marsha! Make that Beginning. :)

Reply
Meg link
6/13/2013 10:27:39 pm

“It’s utterly simple….and simply brilliant.” Wow! Cannot wait to read your new books Marsha! Congrats to you for your success! Loved reading about how you kept writing and trying. This is a crazy business, but how wonderful to see your dreams realized and your books in print!!!

Reply
Mary Nida Smith link
6/14/2013 02:05:43 am

Marsha, you'll never know how happy I am for you. Every so often I could read between the lines and feel your pain. I can't wait to have your new books in hand. Now, you'll have to return to Missouri & Arkansas.

Reply
Joan Price link
6/14/2013 02:48:26 am

I didn't realize your drought had been so dry. I'm relieved and elated that it's pouring success on you now. Thank you for this post, which will be reassuring to other writers.

Reply
Marsha Diane Arnold link
6/14/2013 06:23:48 am

Thanks all for your good wishes, everyone. Yes, it was dry, Joan, though I at least had two digital apps to keep me busy, but those were of out-of-print books. :( It has been dry for a lot of mid-list children's pb authors, in particular. Mary, I will be SO happy to visit you all in Missouri and Arkansas again.

Reply
Alayne Kay Christian link
6/14/2013 06:45:15 am

Congratulations on ending your drought. So very exciting! Thank you for sharing your good news along with your story. I was due for a little faith renewal ;-)

Reply
Marsha Diane Arnold link
6/14/2013 06:47:51 am

Faith, perseverance, and patience, Alayne. Glad it helped renew your spirits a bit.

Reply
Alayne Kay Christian link
6/15/2013 01:42:01 am

Thanks, Marsha. I've got the perseverance mastered, faith isn't so bad either. Now patience . . . I definitely need a little more practice in that area - maybe by the time I'm 90, I will have mastered it :-)

Reply
Julie link
6/14/2013 07:22:47 am

Cheers to you for keeping with it, and becoming an inspiration to so many others!

Reply
Romelle Broas link
6/14/2013 09:08:40 am

What a fascinating story, Marsha. Thanks for sharing. It gives hope to those who are in drought. I love your patience, tenacity, and perseverance!

Reply
Robyn Campbell link
6/15/2013 03:38:12 am

WOWEE! This is so uplifting and encouraging Marsha. Congrads on the end of that blasted drought! I appreciate you sharing. I really needed this. My story is not so much about drought as it is the agent search and rejections. *sigh* I know that I know that I know I have funny, spot-on stories. But the right agent hasn't read them yet. I can't even get a buzz. I have had some LOVED YOUR STORY, BUT... Ack! So we carry on. *waving and smiling*

P.S. Hey Mira!

Reply
Brian link
9/18/2013 10:29:30 am

Hi Marsha... great post and it is inspiring. Posts like this will keep me going and get me back to subbing my picture books (and back to writing them too).

Reply
Marsha Diane Arnold link
9/18/2013 10:34:10 am

Got to sub if you want to be accepted...or even rejected :)....Brian. Write and sub and learn.

My website was hacked, but my webmaster is working diligently to get it back up. If interested, check in a few days.

Reply
Marsha Diane Arnold link
9/18/2013 10:41:03 am

Got to sub if you want to be accepted...or even rejected :)....Brian. Write and sub and learn.

My website was hacked, but my webmaster is working diligently to get it back up. If interested, check in a few days.

Reply
Marsha Diane Arnold link
9/18/2013 10:41:12 am

Got to sub if you want to be accepted...or even rejected :)....Brian. Write and sub and learn.

My website was hacked, but my webmaster is working diligently to get it back up. If interested, check in a few days.

Reply
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1/24/2017 10:10:29 pm

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1/23/2018 03:33:51 am

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    Meet the Friday Blogonauts

    First Fridays will feature Bryan Patrick Avery, published writer , man of mystery, and professional magician among other things.

    Second Fridays will feature  awesome multi-award winning author Marsha Diane Arnold who will be writing about character-driven and/or nature-based books and/or anything she likes :)

    Third Fridays
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    Fourth Fridays will feature the great Christine Taylor-Butler who has published over 70 award-winning fiction and non-fiction and nonfiction books including the acclaimed new middle grade series - The Lost Tribes.

    Fifth Fridays will feature the fabulous Carl Angel award-winning multi-published Illustrator and graphic designer.


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  • Home
    • THOH KidLit Creative Retreat
  • WRITING
    • Craft & Business of Writing Childrens Picture Books
    • The Chapter Book Alchemist
    • New!! Middle Grade Mastery Instant Access
    • Mastering Graphic Novels
    • 2022 Kidlit Palooza >
      • 2022 Palooza Program
      • 2022 Palooza Faculty
  • ILLUSTRATION
    • NEW!! Craft & Business of Illustrating Children's Books Instant Access
    • Never a Dull Moment Workshop
  • TECH
  • About Us
    • Why Us?
    • Meet the Faculty, Lives & GT Judges
    • Testimonials
    • Books by Students
    • Our Bookshop
    • As Seen In
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
  • Blogfish
  • MN Course Access
  • Community
    • Our Bookshop
    • Come Play With Us!
    • Resources
    • Course Scholarships >
      • Yuyi Morales Picture Book Scholarship
      • Andrea Davis Pinkney MG CB Mastery Scholarship
      • Rafael Lopez Illustrating Childrens Books Scholarships
      • Larissa Marantz Merit & Need Scholarship