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Venessa Bellido Schwarz

~ Children's Author/ Rejection Letters & Such

Venessa Bellido Schwarz

Monthly Archives: July 2013

THE CHAIN GANG…

22 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by Nessa B. Schwarz in REJECTION LETTERS & SUCH

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Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney

In 1930 Walt Disney produced an animated short, THE CHAIN GANG, where Mickey Mouse escapes from prison.

Lately, up to my ears in revisions, I’ve been feeling like I’m working on the chain gang. Pounding out words with no end in sight.

Although, just like Mickey, even if I were to escape the prison of these endless words – I’d probably go right back – because, just as Mickey says at the end of the animated short: “There’s no place like home.”

So, once in a while I may complain about the dreary, seemingly endless days of revision, but really – this is exactly where I want to be.

Watch Disney’s THE CHAIN GANG by pressing this link. Enjoy!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHv7rJyC8iE

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BACK IN IDEE-HO…

15 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by Nessa B. Schwarz in REJECTION LETTERS & SUCH

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Crossed the state line. Home again.

Now, with pages of editorial notes from an agent, lots of work ahead. But happy work. Like unwrapping a gift you never knew you always wanted. 😊

My niece and nephew came back with us from California. So, I’m writing early morning and late into the night. And all the time in between, riding bumper cars, eating pizza and hitting the local water park.

Whew!

Way too old for this.

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MY FIRST WEBINAR

11 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by Nessa B. Schwarz in REJECTION LETTERS & SUCH

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Elizabeth Harding, Katie Davis

Looking at a sign for Granny’s Apple Fries in Legoland, California. And it’s muggy beyond muggy. Funny. Just as I complained, a cool ocean breeze blew by.

It’s fun to post at a place atypical to me. So here I am, surrounded by noisy children, laughing, playing, some crying or complaining, but all trying to have fun on this warm summer day in Legoland.

I’ve been meaning to write a little something about my first webinar. It was with Elizabeth Harding from Curtis Brown. Fantastic! I learned so much about the process, plus she gave special insights about querying & submission.

“Protect success!”

Find out what that means. I highly recommend watching this webinar. Especially since Elizabeth Harding doesn’t give many interviews.

Here’s the link:
katieloves.me/agent/

It’s on Katie Davis’ website.

Well, going to see a Lego show. See you between the pages …

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AFTERNOON TEA

06 Saturday Jul 2013

Posted by Nessa B. Schwarz in REJECTION LETTERS & SUCH

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finger sandwiches, melancholy delight, teacups

Teacups clinked while friends chatted over finger sandwiches and delicate pastries, and I just sat there taking it all in.

My old (she’s not actually OLD, she’s only twenty-seven) friend Desz sat beside me. Her flower hat balanced perfectly, at a slight angle, on her perfect little ringlets. She’s such a sweetie.

She told me about her time in Africa and time spent roaming the countryside in England. In Africa, she had to avoid drinking milk or eating dairy products. She was there for three months. So, in England she went to a tea house and poured the cream thick. Jazzed that she finally had dairy, like clotted cream and milk in her tea, she literally went to town. And she says she became so sick. Poor girl. I noticed she drank her tea plain with no cream or sugar.

My friend Adrianne is traveling this fall to London & Paris with her family and she’s already booked her tea time. She named the places, but I can’t remember where.

My cousin, Bruni, is not really into tea. But she sat across from me grinning ear to ear, saying how “we’ve got her hooked” and how cute everything was.

Here are some pics from my afternoon tea at The Grand Tea Room on Grand Avenue …

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My cousin Kelsie …

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Desz and I …

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My nieces had fun with the hats …

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Also, my mama & Aunt Lindy came. We’ve talked about opening a tea room exactly like this one, but agree that it’d be a tremendous amount of work.

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Afternoon tea is such a lovely way to relax and wrap oneself cozily into a melancholy delight.

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AFTER THE PIXIE DUST SETTLED …

05 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by Nessa B. Schwarz in REJECTION LETTERS & SUCH

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Disneyland, trams

It’s been over a week since our day in Disneyland. Now, with more beautiful agent feedback and lots of thoughtful suggestions, I’m ready to tie up those loose ends in my manuscript.

For example, Humphrey was dropped off by a curb near the security check-in. But that area is designated for TRAMS ONLY. I wrote it into the story, and it created a wonderful opportunity to expound Humphrey’s character. It’s funny.

One agent wrote notes directly on my manuscript. They’ve been so helpful. Another agent wants to see more of my work. So, although I’m still not represented yet, “at least it’s better than a stick in the eye.” Isn’t it?

Being there in person, made a huge difference. So very happy we went.

A few more pics from that day …

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The caves on Tom Sawyer’s island.

There’s a myth that a secret vent is in the Bottomless Pit.

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The Disneyland map. (I don’t have a photographic memory like Humphrey.) …

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I’ll be busy here in my summer cottage (little house in the RV park), revising, working on different manuscripts, whenever I get a free moment.

But tomorrow, I have a reservation for afternoon tea – and I love tea parties!

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