Check here for updates on Catherine's writing activities, especially the progress of My Birth Choice as she goes through the long process of seeking representation, a publisher, and eventually enough buyers to sell out the first print run. Wednesday, August 27, 2008 An agent with a lot of experience with books like My Birth Choice has agreed to represent me. Her suggestions have been a great help already, and I look forward to working together! Monday, June 23, 2008 The editor of Verbatim Magazine let me know today that she has accepted my on-spec article, "The Secret Language of Sales." I love reading Verbatim, so it's a treat to write for them again. Thursday, May 8, 2008 I got word today that Mothering Magazine has accepted "When Two Cry," the article I mentioned in my last update. I'm excited because it was such a fun one to write and I'm hoping it will help other moms avoid some of the guilt and frustration I felt when my kids first outnumbered me. Thursday, March 20, 2008 I've received another postive response to a query made to Mothering Magazine, this time for an article on the differences and challenges of parenting more than one child when baby number two comes along. Time to get writing! Wednesday, February 6, 2008 An article query I sent to the editor of Verbatim Magazine netted me a request for the on-spec article today. So I'm writing it up and hope it will meet with her approval. Saturday, December 29, 2007 I've just learned that the issue of Mothering Magazine that includes my article is in circulation. A special welcome to anyone visiting for the first time because they read about Mom's Breastaurant! Be sure to sign the guestbook to say hello and why not subscribe to my blog while you're at it? Thursday, October 4, 2007 Mothering Magazine just let me know that the "Mom's Breastaurant" article will appear in the January/February 2008 issue. I'm looking forward to seeing it in print, but also hoping that it will bring even more attention and business to Nonie, who has been working so hard to help out nursing mothers through Mom's Breastaurant for just over a year now. Thursday, September 6, 2007 I heard from the editor of Mothering Magazine that they have accepted "Inviting Gossips to My Birth," although there's no way to know yet when it will appear in print. Tuesday, July 10, 2007 Mothering Magazine just requested another on-speculation article, "Inviting Gossips to My Birth," which will describe having several friends and their children come to stay with me around the time Carissa was born. (By the way, "gossip" turns out to be a good thing, historically speaking. Look it up!) Tuesday, June 12, 2007 I gave birth to Carissa Elizabeth Jean in the wee hours of the morning. We're so happy to welcome our third daughter into the world, and she seems interested in enjoying it. Tuesday, March 27, 2007 Today the editor of Mothering Magazine accepted an on-speculation article of mine about Mom's Breastaurant, a business my friend Nonie Veccia started to encourage and accommodate mothers at outdoor events. Assuming the editor actually ends up needing and using the piece (sometimes articles can be accepted and later, for a variety of reasons, the magazine doesn't end up needing to use them after all), it will likely appear toward the end of 2007. Saturday, February 10, 2007 Thank you all, yet again, for your help and encouragement with this project! As of today, I have all the birth stories I need for the list in the proposal. WE DID IT! Saturday, January 13, 2007 The final polished draft of the My Birth Choice proposal is now complete, after a series of revisions assisted by my incredibly kind, wise friends and editors. Thanks to all who helped! The next step is to find representation and try to sell this idea to a publisher. Wednesday, November 22, 2006 Okay, so it's a very rough first draft but the first draft of the entire proposal is finished! Now all I have to do is: - Finish collecting all the stories I need for the Bradley and c-section chapters - Finish collecting story promises for the story list - Collect a list of agents to send the proposal to - Polish up the whole thing - Write a cover letter - Send it out