20th Query

I've sent my twentieth query to a literary agent. I have to say, it's been a learning experience. The worst thing about it is waiting. Waiting. It seems to last forever, so long sometimes that I've even been happy to get a rejection. As long as I'm not completely ignored, I'm pretty happy.

For those of you who know something about the current market, not a lot of people take on Westerns. Did I not tell you I wrote a Western? Somehow I think picking this genre for my first novel has made trying to get it published a whole lot harder. I guess the dark and sexy cloud of vampire novels has been overshadowing everything lately, including my beloved genre. I don't regret what I've written by any means-- I would even do it again. I can't force my mind to come up with something I don't want to write. I have to love the idea before I write it. It happened to be a story set in 1868 Texas that was tugging at my heart, so write I did.

Now it's just wait and see. Wait and see.

Hawaii vs. Texas

I've lived in one of the most beautiful places in the world-- Hawaii. I was born in California and raised in Texas. I've always appreciated Texas, but I've always felt the need to go far away. I've had a fascination with anything in the tropics since I was a child.

I appreciate the beauty, culture, and history of Hawaii. I was there going to college. Before I came, I considered Hawaii heaven on earth.

I never realized how much I would miss the sunsets in Texas. Sunsets you say? But you lived in Hawaii!  There is something VERY special about a big Texas sunset, going largely unmentioned by the silently proud, appreciating Texan. I think Hawaii made the sunset thing up as a ploy to gain more tourists. I missed the cowboy boots, I missed "y'all", I missed the extreme politeness and cowboy chivalry still kept sacred by some. I missed the cowboy hats, I missed the large trucks. I missed the fact that it takes at least seven hours going 70 mph to cross the state line. I miss southern hospitality. I miss the history and bravado. I miss country music. There was way too much hip-hop in HI! I missed Texas barbecue. I missed the flag. Oh, golly! I missed STEAKS! I missed really good Mexican food. I missed smoky bars that smell like beer. I missed grapefruit and peaches (though pineapple and mango are good too). I missed my family. I missed John Deere riding lawnmowers.

So there you have it. Sometimes you have to leave something you love to really appreciate it.

-Ariel