My book, The French Desk: A Brooklyn Gal’s Journey Through Wartime Propaganda, was submitted to two agents in the late spring. The good news is that both provided positive feedback saying they liked the story, and the writing, but it just wasn’t a fit for what they were focusing on at the time. I took solace in the overall positive reception but found myself analyzing just what I could do to push the book over the finish line.
Some beta-readers have suggested a lack of plot might be the culprit. My take was that the story has a lot of plot already, what with the backdrop of WWII, the use of propaganda, the status of my future uncle’s health once he’s severely wounded in battle and the heroine’s overall search for that elusive love match that could last a lifetime. Many beta readers have loved the book, but that could be because they know me, knew my mother and just generally liked reading the narrative.
The story, as it stands now, is fairly close to the truth so to juice up a plot, I might have to change the trajectory of the story to help drive more drama and suspense. I’ve been discussing plot enhancing story lines with Bill, and a few friends, but I haven’t settled on anything yet. Just how I move forward has not been resolved. A major rewrite is not a likely scenario, but it may be the only way to make it commercially viable.
As we close out September, we’re moving houses in Florida, so I’m busy with that. Very excited about our move to a new neighborhood not far from where we are currently living.
I’ve also ginned up my freelance writing business, MJM Communications, and have taken on two clients, a lifestyle magazine in southwestern Florida and a non-profit junior golf foundation. Over the years, I’ve done quite a bit of freelance writing for both paid and volunteer-driven unpaid entities. 
I’ve always loved writing feature articles, starting in high school, continuing in college and through all the years that followed. Most recently, I’ve written an article on birding and profiled a best-selling author for my lifestyle magazine client, both of which will be published this fall. They were very fun to write. I now have a few more assignments and am working on those right now.
The junior golf foundation work is exciting because I’m not only writing articles but helping to figure out how best to gain broader visibility for this well run non-profit. Our plan is to initiate a social media marketing campaign, as well create some alternative content that can be pushed through a variety of channels. It is fun to rekindle thought processes from my marketing and advertising career some thirty years ago, now in the age of internet-driven social media. To say things have changed is the understatement of the new century. This is going to be fun!
The book awaits further attention. I’ll keep you posted.
