You’ll have to buy my book in order to find out how this adorable electronics project works.
As a longtime blogger I’ve learned to remain cool when someone sends me a query. Indeed, my years have turned me into a cynic. I roll my eyes at nearly every email that starts out with “I love your blog.” More often than not, such a note is sent on behalf of someone who’s barely, or possibly never, looked at my blog. The sender simply wants me to post (for free) about whatever it is they’re selling.
Happily, I do sometimes I do get legit fan mail or notes from actual readers who have questions related to something I’ve written.
So I was pleasantly surprised when a real editor from a notable publishing house reached out to me to discuss me writing a legit book of activities that would be right up my alley. A blogger’s dream come true!
The Maker Mom Book
Planning out the table of contents, dreaming up project ideas, crafting prototypes and writing tutorials were among the behind-the-scenes projects that kept me busy this past summer. (So did playing a small role in this big Chicago launch).
Every few weeks the editor and I touched base. I shared my projects; she shared her feedback. We came up with a fun package of activities, prototypes and instructions. She was pleased; I was pleased. I never envisioned a fat paycheck, but I could see a cute, fun book with sharp photos that filled a small, open niche and that, most importantly, had my name on the cover.
{insert the sound of a record scratch, slamming brakes or sad trombone here}
Alas, the team decided to put their editorial dollars into other concepts. The book disappeared as quickly as it had fallen into my lap. To be clear, the editor was very up front that we were dealing with hypothetical book, so there’s no shock or anger on my end. I’m not bitter. Admittedly, I feel a hint of disappointment, but I’ve got a lot going on (see above launch and did I mention I just dropped off my eldest off at college?). Right now I feel pulled in too many directions right now, so I have some sense of relief, too.
But…
But I have a handful of original tutorials and another handful of prototypes and a few more ideas–good ones!– still brewing. I haven’t decided if I’ll try to find an agent and a traditional publisher, self-publish and sell an ebook, publish these as sponsored activities on my blog (Hello, Radio Shack and Elmer’s Glue; you would both be perfect!), or just put them out there for the world. I’m not in a rush. I’ll figure it out eventually, and you, dear legit readers, will be the first ones to know when I do.