* Guest Post - Margo Dill *

* I'm very happy to have a guest blogger today:  Wonderful writer and friend, Margo Dill. *

I met Margo in 2007 when I attended my very first writers conference. It was the (MWG) Missouri Writers Guild Annual Conference and Margo was the chair. Talk about feeling surrounded by a multitude of talented writers! I definitely experienced anxiety and felt very out of place! But Margo made me feel so welcome, from my first (and probably really dumb) question. 

And so if you don't know the lovely Margo, you'll be happy to meet her. Take it away, Margo!

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Facing Obstacles and Winning:  How Finding My Place Became a Book

by Margo Dill

Writing a historical fiction novel for kids is not as easy as you might think--especially when you have some obstacles like I did. The first obstacle occurred on September 14, 2011—three days after 9/11. I was supposed to fly to Baton Rouge to visit my best friend for a few days, rent a car, and then drive to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where my book is set, to do research. Needless to say, I did not fly three days after 9/11; but I did rent a car, against my mother’s best wishes (due to all the rumors of terrorists still planning attacks), and drove to Vicksburg.

Going to the city where I set my book was the best choice I made. I left St. Charles, MO planning to write one book; and when I left Vicksburg a few days later, I had a much better story, along with a deeper understanding of how the citizens of Vicksburg had to live in caves dug out of the yellow hills while the Union Army shot at them day and night. I understood just how close the battlefield was to the town and how the citizens were in-between the Mississippi River and the battlefield—right in the middle of the line of fire.

One of the very best resources was COMPLETELY free and easy to access at the Vicksburg Public Library—the vertical files. I actually found a copy of an 1863 Vicksburg newspaper printed on the back of wallpaper and read an account of a mother being killed while fleeing with her children to their cave. Both of these I worked into my novel.

I wish I could say that I came home, wrote the novel, took it to critique group, revised it, submitted it, and got a contract. But that is far from the truth. Obviously if Finding My Place just came out on October 1, 2012, this process took eleven years! From 2007 to 2012, I was waiting for the book to be published—White Mane Kids changed their business model once the economy started to have trouble, and my book got put on hold.

But from 2001 to 2006, I wrote the novel, rewrote the novel, took it to one critique group, moved to be closer to my husband, took it to another critique group, and went to conferences to meet agents and editors. I won’t go into detail about all of this, but I will tell you I LISTENED to the rejection feedback I received, and it made all the difference. (Note: You should always go with your gut on whether or not someone giving a critique is offering good advice. You don’t have to change your manuscript based on a critique. But be honest with yourself—do you trust the person? Does he or she know writing?)

When I sent my manuscript to the agent I shepherded (picked her up from the airport,  introduced her at her talk) for the 2005 Missouri Writer’s Guild conference and she said I needed more layers to my story and main character Anna, I wiped my tears, and my critique group helped me. The manuscript got stronger and better. Then I sent a query to Emily Easton at Walker Company, and she asked to see the whole thing!

Then she wrote me the NICEST rejection and said that my historical fiction book wasn't for the trade marketplace but perfect for the school and library market. So, I started looking into companies that geared their books to teachers, saw a submission call from White Mane Kids, and sent a query.

Believe me, rejections hurt, and I've had my fair share. But I’m so glad that after I wiped my tears—I listened to these experts. If I wouldn't have, I wouldn't be holding my beautiful book in my hands today.

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Margo L. Dill is the author of Finding My Place: One Girl’s Strength at Vicksburg, a historical fiction middle-grade novel about 13-year-old Anna Green and her struggle to keep her family together during the Siege of Vicksburg.

To read a summary or purchase an autographed copy (a perfect Christmas present for children ages 9 to 12!), please go to http://margodill.com/blog/finding-my-place  

or  on  Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Finding-My-Place-Strength-Vicksburg/dp/1572494085/

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(You can also learn a lot more about Margo at WOW! Women On Writing and WOW! Women On Writing - The Muffin)

** Also, for everyone who leaves a comment here, Margo is offering one of two professional critiques/evaluations. There will be one winner and she/he may choose one of the following:

**Professional critique of the first 5 pages of any novel, nonfiction work, or short story

OR

**Professional evaluation of a blog or social media profile with a written summary of what works and suggestions

Welcome to my newest followers Jess*Jessie*Jessy* and Claudia!  I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! 

* Congrats and Give-Away *

First of all, congratulations to everyone who's story or poem was accepted for the Storm Country anthology. That is the book the Missouri Writers Guild put together to donate money to the Joplin, Missouri school libraries.

Now for my contest give-away. As I mentioned in my previous post the only requirement is to leave a comment here! That's it. The one restriction is that only US bloggers can enter. (My apologies to my out-of-country friends!)

Below are the books:

Skipping Christmas: by John Grisham
(hardcover) Cute humorous Holiday book

The Lemon Jelly Cake: by Madeline Babcock Smith
Originally written in 1952. A very charming book!
(paperback)

A Morning Cup of Meditation: by John A. Bright-Fey
Awesome hardcover book for juggling life with meditation!
Also comes with a CD (hardcover)

All three books are in great shape and could even be given as gifts.

Just leave a comment here and I'll choose a winner by random.org on Tuesday, September 13th. **If I receive more than 20 comments, by 20 different people... I know how some of your minds work! ☺I'll choose three winners, and each will receive one book. If I get less than 20 comments, then one person will receive all three books.**



Also, Welcome to my newest follower, Juliann of Daily Snapshot. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

"You will recognize your own path when you come upon it, because you will suddenly have all the energy and imagination you will ever need." -- Jerry Gillies

* I WONDER *

It's been three weeks since my last I Wonder post. I don't remember why I missed the one on August 19th, but I really remember why I missed last week's.

One reason: I was busy getting things ready for the Saturday Writers meeting which was the next day. My scheduled speaker had to cancel and I scrambled for someone to take her place. Many thanks to Debbie Marshall, president of Missouri Writers Guild (MWG), who came to our rescue.

Second reason: I was dealing with what I thought was a very painful toothache. After a visit to my dentist on the 25th, and then an oral surgeon on the 26th.....neither could figure out what was wrong. I told both of them, "What can I say? I'm weird!" So, on Monday, the 29th, I saw my primary doctor and was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia. I won't go into details because I don't want to come across as whiny, but I had some really awful pain, for quite a few days. (I knew it wasn't a sinus infection, either, because I had none of the usual symptoms. I get them often enough to know!)

My I Wonder for this Friday is: I wonder how many of you have any special plans for this 3-Day Weekend?

Me? I have no special plans.

 I just want to relax and write, and write and relax, etc.

Also, Welcome to my newest follower, Maryann Miller. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

 

"If all the cars in the United States were placed end to end, it would probably be Labor Day Weekend." ~Doug Larson

* Writerly Thoughts *

I'm feeling very writerly today. It began when I stopped at Carol Kilgore's blog, Under the Tiki Hut. Carol wrote about her excitement and then disappointment over a new book written by one of her favorite authors. She posed the question, "As a reader: What do you do when this happens with you?" She also asked how you, the writer, can prevent readers from feeling let down when they read your work. I didn't respond to that one because everyone felt pretty much the same: Hoping that wouldn't happen to them!

Then I hopped over to check out Tiny Lights, A Journal of Personal Narrative. I write a monthly essay for the Searchlights & Signal Flares section, where writerly questions are posed. Anyone is welcome to submit answers, as long as they stick to the guidelines posted. The question for March was: How do you deal with writer’s envy? I just LOVE being put to the test on these. Most times I stare at my blank screen for awhile and think, How am I going to write about this? And then, all of a sudden, the words start flowing and I complete it fairly quickly. I usually wait until the deadline, which is the 15th of every month, and for some reason that seems to work for me. Also, there is no word count, so it can be short and sweet or long and eloquent. After I submit my essay, I don't go back and read it for weeks. And almost every time, when I finally do read it again, it catches me by surprise, as if I didn't even write it.....and I think, Hmm, maybe I'm not too shabby of a writer afterall...at least, sometimes!

I just remembered something.....Missouri Governor Jay Nixon proclaimed April 3 through 9 Missouri Writers Week. The week culminates with the Show-Me Spotlight banquet and awards to the winners of the annual MWG contests on April 9 at the Just Write! Conference in St. Louis.


No wonder I feel writerly today. I'm attending the conference and banquet this weekend! More on that later this week.

Be sure and check out Under the Tiki Hut and Tiny Lights. I haven't known Carol very long, but I love her blog. And I can't say enough about Susan Bono, the Editor-in-Chief, of Tiny Lights!

Hello and Welcome to my newest follower: Nucleo Espirita Verbo de Luz. Thanks so much and I hope you always enjoy your visits!

"Seeing yourself in print is such an amazing concept: you can get so much attention without having to actually show up somewhere . . .You don't have to dress up, for instance, and you can't hear them boo you right away.” -- Anne Lamott