Journal Entry (January 4 - January 13, 2025)

 

January 4, 2025

SNOW

We awoke to a scattering of snow on the ground. The temperature had dropped into the low twenties, and the house, despite the heat from the wood boiler, held a chill. The gusting winds drove the cold through solid walls. 

With livestock, we don’t have the luxury of staying indoors, but once I am outdoors, dressed in layers to keep warm, I am thankful that I am forced to leave the warmth of the house.  The fresh air, the animals, and the routine of milking distract me from any restless or anxious thoughts.  Upon arriving at the barnyard, I noticed the cows standing in the morning sun, soaking up the warm rays as they chewed their cud.  

Late afternoon, I am outside once again.  The wind is still blowing, and the cows are lying together near the trees around the spring.  The trees offer a break from the wind, and the cows can still absorb what little warmth the winter sun provides.  Buddy and I take the incline, walk past the cows, and make our way to the higher elevations.  I note the pain in my right foot and ankle is minimal today, and my knee is mostly cooperative.  I have recently begun hiking once again, after a five-months off my feet due to an injury and complications. I am aware of the uncharacteristic stillness of the last few months, and I wonder if the quiet time has been more beneficial than harmful for me, or vice versa.  Either way, perhaps I can take with me something of value from the experience as I ease back into my old routine. 

January 5, 2025

SQUIRREL

Small flakes of snow began falling as we drove home from church.  I decided to walk Buddy before the ground became treacherous on the slopes.   I love the way snow covers over the drab of winter.  To witness the brief beauty of snow-covered peaks and drifting hollows, I’m willing to pay the price: mud when it melts.   

When the dog and I reached the top of our property where the land isn’t as steep, we slowed our pace while I let him explore.  While Buddy was sniffing around, I noticed, cascading from the base of a dead tree trunk, a small pile of hickory nut shells.  The way the empty shells lay in such a pattern made me think that a squirrel must have sat there enjoying a meal. 

Upon closer observation, I thought I saw a tuft of fur curled inside the hollowed-out trunk.

  “It must be my imagination,” I thought. 

 Then I could see it: the fuzzy tail of a squirrel.  

Then I couldn’t see it.

 I squinted and forced my mind to trace the shapes and distinguish the colors: the ground, the decaying stump, and the indistinguishable mound were all the same shades of brown and grey.   

I started when my gaze fell upon two, bright, unblinking, tiny eyes staring back at me.   

It was then I could make out the entire body of a small squirrel where it lay on its side, curled in a ball, unmoving. 

Of course, I immediately wanted to grab my phone and take a picture to document the encounter.  Before reaching for my phone, however, I realized that if I drew attention to the squirrel where it lay exposed and defenseless, the dog would become aware and kill it.  I looked for a second more, but unwilling to risk the small creature’s life, I decided I would create a word picture instead of a photograph. 

January 6, 2025

ELM TREES

The winter storm changed from snow to ice.  The spectacle was most evident on the branches of the two Elm trees standing side by side and hovering over our century-old barn.  These trees have been the source of more than a couple of arguments between Mike and me.  Afraid the trees will fall on the barn, Mike would love to see them removed.  I, on the other hand, can hardly give my approval for any tree to be brought down.  After months, maybe years of arguing, in the end, we came to a compromise (although we both still seem a bit bitter about it).  For my part, I agreed to take down a large, century old (or more) Maple that was in our yard.  Close to the house it potentially could have destroyed our home if it had fallen on it.  In exchange, Mike agreed to leave the Elms if I submitted to the tree trimmer’s cutting of the biggest branches that extended out and over the barn.   

The intrinsic design of the Elm seems to lend itself to more advanced movement than some of the other trees.  The larger branches support smaller branches that cluster together in a design that reminds me of loosely constructed heads of broccoli.  The supporting branches flex in the wind, giving the tree almost human-like qualities.  I swear I can feel those trees communicating with me!

Today, ice adorns the smallest details of these clustered elm branches, encasing each twig in a tiny, frozen capsule, and transforming the tree from utilitarian to decorative. I study the tree while listening to the heifers munching on hay.  I strain my neck to look to the top.  The trees are almost 2.5 times the height of our two-story barn.  The barn is over 100 years old, and I wonder which came first, the barn or the trees?  Most likely the barn predates the trees, for many of the old varieties of elms were destroyed by Dutch Elm disease, propagated by bark beetles.  Disease-resistant varieties became available in the 1930’s.

 One of the things that stands out to me is that the elm trees continue to drip and ooze sap after they are cut.  When we trimmed the branches, the thick sap that bled from the cuts for days reminded me of endless weeping.  These trees, deeply scarred from many years of cut and broken branches, remain resilient.  Their reaching branches offer shade and shelter for the livestock and a home for the birds.  The secrets the old trees whisper are for all who have ears to listen. 

PINE TREES

Upon leaving the barnyard and returning to the house, I stopped to hang my dirty barn rags on the clothesline where they will stay until I have enough for a wash load.  I heard the crack of heavy branches, and I looked up in time to see the falling top of one of the largest pines, hitting branches of neighboring trees, before finally breaking up enough to land on the forest floor.  The pine grove beside our house is thick and a harvestable size for timber.  On a steep bank that is not easily accessible from the road, the trees have so far been protected.  To reach the timber, logging trucks would have to destroy our farmland.  That has been a deterrent for anyone who might wish to harvest them. 

As the pine top broke and fell to the earth in slow motion, I turned and smiled mischievously at Mike.  His fear of the destruction from falling trees and his desire for clear, farmable land remains a tension between us.  “I’m not saying a word,” he declared with a righteous air. 

January 7, 2025

A WINTER DAY

We awoke to snow flurries, 50 mph wind gusts, temperatures in the teens, and neither of us in a hurry to get outdoors.  I stumbled to the kitchen and put water on the stove to boil for my first cup of hot tea. While the water came to a boil, I assembled the milking machine, a task I have been performing for the last twenty years.  After pouring the hot water over the tea bags, I layered my clothing, starting with thermal underwear to insulate me from the cold. Ready for the outdoors except for my coat, hat, and gloves, I add honey and cream to my tea and pause to sip it slowly before I head outdoors.  This morning routine requires no conscious effort for me and I like it that way.

We went into town for the afternoon, a one-way trip of about 45 minutes.  We were surprised at how many folks were out, about and shopping considering the adverse weather.  Mike had some paperwork that took only a minute to sign and then we had some lunch before picking up some fresh fruit and the makings for a salad.  We mostly eat seasonally and have most of what we need frozen, canned, and grown or raised right on our property.  This time of year, it can be a mental and physical boost to have something fresh to pair with our meals.  We saved money by buying in bulk from a locally owned produce market, a box of oranges for Mike, and a half box of grapefruit for me.  These are treats we don’t normally buy for ourselves. We also stopped by Big Lots.  Hearing they were going out of business, I wanted to stock up on bleach.  I use bleach to clean my milking equipment and to soak my barn and milk rags.  It's cheaper at Big Lots than anywhere else and I usually buy several gallons when I have a twenty percent off coupon.  I took the remaining six gallons of bleach from the shelf. 

I intended to walk the dog before evening chores, but he never would settle down and let me put his harness on.  He was running and playing in the yard, excited to have me to himself.  It was too cold for such games, with the wind gusting at 50 MPH and the wind-chill around zero degrees.  I lost patience after waiting on him for about ten minutes.  Pyrenees dogs are bred to think independently.  Poor Buddy, whom I suspect has a bit of lab in his genetic background, doesn’t know how to balance his independent nature with these sudden outbursts of playfulness and excitement.  Since I didn’t want to take a chance of falling or twisting my knee, I finally just gave up on Buddy and left him in the yard while I went about my business.  His happiness turned sour once he realized I had walked away and wasn’t coming back to him. 

With the bitter weather, the cattle gather inside the barn in the evening knowing that Mike or I will be out to check on them and feed the weaned heifers.  The momma cows and baby calves have a hay ring where we keep round bales for them while having access to get inside out of the weather.  The weaned heifers are fed portions of square bales morning and night and receive small amounts of grain as they transition from nursing to grazing/hay.  All have gathered inside and appear happy despite the cold.  Two of the smaller calves are running and jumping, playing together.  Our yearling bull who doesn’t realize he’s supposed to be a grown-up is playing with them and kicking up his heels.  Some of the momma cows are standing placidly, chewing their cud.  Others are trying to find a way to reach the hay and grain I am feeding to the weaned calves.  One of the calves doesn’t fit neatly into either group.  He’s bigger and older than the babies but not yet weaned.  I have begun separating him from his mother at night and returning him to her after I milk her in the mornings.  This gives us additional milk and eases him into the weaning process.  He enjoys seeing his friends, the other weaned calves and waits for me by the gate in the evenings.  Any “extra” milk we have had this fall and winter has been used to feed “orphaned” calves.  First, we had a calf separated from his mother which we bottle-fed earlier in the fall and now our extra milk is going to feed a twin whose mother rejected him.  He belongs to neighbors who have three young boys.  It’s such a joy to get updates on the health and well-being of the calf and see the photos of the boys helping to feed him.  They say he is thriving with access to wholesome, real milk. 

January 8, 2025

ABUNDANT CAUTION

After my abandoning him yesterday when Buddy wouldn’t settle down and let me put his halter on him so that we could walk, he decided he better get with the program today.  I avoided the areas with the worst ice, and we were able to climb all the way to the peak of our property.  By staying in the grass and off the main trails, I was able to get enough traction to keep from slipping.  The glazed snow, frozen over from the relentless, blowing winds crunched under every step.  I walked like I imagined a Neanderthal would move, solidly planting one foot before I lift the other, and pausing before I begin again.  I don’t want to take any chance of falling.  I envy the way Mike moves across the slippery slopes, light-footed and with the confidence of a cat. 

He laughs at my caution and says, “Just walk!”

 I can’t do that.  I am always afraid of falling. 

The way we traverse the difficult path is indicative of our individual approaches to everyday life as well.  I am always planting my feet, cautious about moving forward, and worried I will step wrong and fall.  Mike doesn’t allow himself to be crippled by excessive worry and caution.  “I’m probably not going to fall, but if I do, I’ll get back up and continue forward,” seems to be his attitude.

January 9, 2025

JIMMY CARTER

The day was routine except that I watched a large portion of President Carter’s funeral on this National Day of Mourning.  One cannot feel sorrow that a good man who has lived a long life of service is now at rest, but we can mourn our loss as a nation. 

I remember watching on our little black-and-white television the unfolding of events the year that Jimmy Carter first ran for President.  Then again, we watched when he was defeated for a second term. With paternal ties to Georgia and a lot of family still living there,  we were a bit biased about having a Georgia Farmer in the White House. 

The Carters gave so much of themselves not only to our country’s citizens but also to help people throughout the world after their four years in Washington D.C.   I came to love them so much.  Their humility and their works of service helped me to realize that not all Christians were self-absorbed.  The Carters used their position as President and Former First Lady not to bring attention to themselves, but to serve others. 

My brother, Jimmy, left Missouri and moved back to our familial roots in the mountains of North Georgia and over time, became friends with Jason Carter, grandson of President and Mrs. Carter.  Even though Jimmy isn’t currently actively involved in politics, he and Jason text, speak on the phone and have an easy friendship that extends beyond political affiliations. 

Today, I cried, not because the lives of President and Mrs. Carter have ended.  They lived long and well, and I know they are happy to be at rest, once again together.  I am sad because I wonder if we will ever know another President and First Lady with hearts like the Carters.  Will our grandchildren ever have such fine examples in their lives?  The current state of our nation and our world makes me anxious. 

The Carters did not serve others so that they could be set on a pedestal, but I am happy that their lives were public so that we can profit from their example. 

January 10, 2025

A DAY TRIP

We never set an alarm, even on Sundays when we go to church, and we typically wake up no later than dawn.  This morning, however, we set an alarm and went to milk the cows in the dark.  Mike had to load a steer and drive over the mountain to the processors.  He needed to arrive early and get back home so that we could drive to Abingdon to pick up a trailer. 

With more snow in the forecast, we wanted to be ahead of the storm.  We made it back to Hillsville and decided that we were far enough ahead of the bad weather that we could stop at our favorite Mexican Restaurant and enjoy lunch.  We made it home just as the snow began accumulating.  Mike took care of the animals early and we decided to have a quiet evening snacking, drinking hot tea, reading, and watching television. 

January 11, 2025

ANOTHER SNOW DAY

We awoke this morning to the distinct sound (or should I say lack of sound) that occurs when there are more than a couple of inches of new snow on the ground.  It’s as if we’ve put on earmuffs and all the usual noises are muted. 

The four inches of new snow allowed me to move quicker than I could on ice alone. I remained cautious, however.  Once I made it to the barn, the cattle were waiting and eager to begin the morning routine.  When they were all milked and fed, the momma cows loafed while the younger calves played.  Round and round in the snow the babies ran enjoying the event just like tiny humans would do.  I stood and watched for a while, this simple scene filling my heart with joy.

Back indoors, there’s no end to the work to be done.  I strained and poured the milk in jars, washed the milk totes and milking equipment, and began preparations for our main meal of the day.  (We eat our largest meal earlier in the day.) Laundry, vacuuming, and making mozzarella round out my afternoon. Then it’s time to walk Buddy.  I dread going out in the weather but once outdoors, I am happy that the dog gives me the excuse I need even when the days are less than ideal.  The drifting snow makes the walk a bit more difficult but knowing there’s less chance of my slipping gives me the confidence to walk faster.  Buddy is happy to be on the go.  On the elevated portion of our property, the wind is brutal, and my exposed face goes numb.  The rest of me, dressed in layers, is warm.  The snow drifted along the edges of the field forcing me to move inward and away from the fence line.  I see rabbit, fox, and deer tracks in the snow and of course, the trails where the steers have been traversing the field.  The views from the top are always breathtaking and the effort it takes today makes me appreciate the splendor even more. 

January 12, 2025

WINTER STRUGGLES

Winter is both a blessing and a curse.  The slower pace is nice but the darker days mess with my mental well-being.  The injury to my knee and subsequent ankle issues that kept me off my feet for the four months preceding Winter hasn’t helped my disposition.  With additional downtime, reading has kept me from losing my mind.  I devour books in various formats:  traditional, e-books, kindle, and audio.  Most of my selections are borrowed through Libby, a free app accessible with my local library card. 

What I have not been able to do is write.  I worked so hard for the past two years, writing for various magazines, speaking at several events, and pushing myself to the point of fatigue.  After I met all my contractual obligations in the fall of 2024, I thought I would take a short break and then return to a slower-paced writing routine.  Instead, I found myself distracted by a physical injury, then the holidays, and life in general.

Forced rest isn’t something that’s easy for me.  I’m a classic case of using work and keeping busy to combat the negatives in my life.  I suppose psychologists would call that “avoidance”, but it’s been my coping mechanism of choice.  Unable even to milk my cows or climb the bank to feed the dog without assistance from Mike during the worst of it, I’ve struggled to keep my wits about me.

I am so much better now, and life has returned mostly to what it once was.  In reflection, the downtime wasn’t a waste. I started low-impact exercises to strengthen my hips and legs to take pressure off my knees and I began focusing on eating to reduce inflammation.  I consistently rest in the middle of the day, and I am learning that what doesn’t get done today, will still be there for me tomorrow.  I realize the forced rest has kept me from living under constant adrenal fatigue as I had been doing for most of my adult life.

 Sometimes it takes a major event to force us to stop and consider how hard we are on ourselves mentally, emotionally and physically.  I hope I can continue to take better care of myself moving forward, for life is short, and quality of life is even shorter. 

January 13, 2025

MAKING WINTER BEAUTIFUL

She found beauty in every season, but Winter with my grandmother was magical. 

I am not the only one who recognized and remembers my grandmother’s excitement at the sight of the very first snowflakes falling from the sky.  Others remember and remind me. 

I have childhood memories of snowstorms, snowballs, snowmen, and sledding.  There were the birds she fed on her kitchen windowsill, so tame she could almost touch them. 

  Looking back, it seems predictable that my Nan and Pa would spend so many years in the frozen north.   

When we were both in Alaska and the days of Winter seemed especially long, my grandmother wasn’t afraid to suggest a change of pace to break up the long dark days.

  “Let’s drive to Fairbanks and go out to eat,” she might suggest.  (Never mind that it was a 200-mile round trip, and the temperature was 40 below zero with ice fog hanging thick in the air.)  Or, she might suggest a trip to Anchorage (400 miles one way) or to the port of Valdez (over 500 miles round trip) to see the mounds of snow that had been shoveled from rooftops. 

Nan understood that to witness dazzling snow on the mountain peaks or watch the Aurora Borealis in all its splendor, or the arctic fox and the great white owl, one had to also experience the darkness of an Alaskan Winter. 

I don’t know that Nan ever lost her zeal for Winter.  If she did, I never knew it.  While I still mirror her excitement when I witness the first snowflakes of the season, I can’t say I tolerate the cold weather and darker days with the same sense of excitement I did when I had my grandmother’s frequent reminders to notice and enjoy the treasures that only the cold and darkness can bring. 

Last night, I dreamed of her, as I sometimes do.  We were in the kitchen, preparing food together in her Alaskan home.  There was laughter, joy, and a sense of peace.  Maybe she came to me in my dreams to remind me to savor the moment, for even the darkness of winter holds blessings to be remembered. 

Today, I dressed warmly and walked in the snow as a large moon hung suspended in the early evening sky.  Across the way, I witnessed the snow on Buffalo Mountain and while it doesn’t begin to have the splendor of the Alaskan range, it’s still beautiful. 

I’m thankful for winter, for winter’s past, and for my grandmother, who continues to influence my life.  

Homemade, Red, Hot Sauce

 

Red, Hot Sauce for Water Bath Canning

1 gallon chopped, peeled, cored tomatoes

3 cups chopped and seeded hot red peppers (wear gloves to protect hands from heat)
2 quarts vinegar divided
2 cups sugar
2 Tablespoons of Salt
4 Tablespoons mixed pickling spices

Combine tomatoes, peppers, and 1-quart vinegar in a large saucepot.  Cook until tomatoes are soft.  Puree using a food processor or food mill.  Add sugar and salt.  Tie spices in a spice bag and add to the tomato mixture.  Simmer until thick.  As the mixture thickens, stir frequently to prevent sticking.  Add the remaining quart of vinegar.  Simmer to desired thickness.  Ladle hot sauce into jars leaving 1/4 inch head space.   Process for 15 minutes in a water bath canner. 

T Cupps Mild Hot Sauce 

2 Gallon Tomato Juice

2 cups sugar

2 cups white vinegar

3 bay leaves

1 teaspoon whole cloves

1 teaspoon peppercorns

4-6 cinnamon sticks

1 Tablespoon salt

3-4 medium jalapenos or hot peppers of choice

Cook ripe, garden tomatoes until they are soft.  Strain through a sieve to separate the skin and seeds from the tomato juice.  Return juice to the pot and bring to a boil.  Add sugar, vinegar, salt, and spices directly to the juice.  Reduce the liquid until the sauce begins to thicken.  Slice Peppers down the middle, remove seeds, and add peppers to the tomato sauce.  Cook until the peppers are soft and the sauce is seasoned to your taste.   When the sauce is the desired consistency and heat from peppers in the sauce meets your personal preference, pour the sauce through a strainer or sieve to remove spices and peppers.  

My personal recipe doesn't meet FDA standards for hot water bath canning.  You can freeze the sauce in small quantities or use the first recipe posted instead which has proper acidity for water bath canning. 

Three Ingredient Preserves

I celebrate small culinary victories as if they were major battles.  Learning to make preserves and jam without the addition of packaged pectin is one of those victories. No longer needing to stock up on boxes of pectin before making jam somehow seems freeing to me. I also appreciate that with three ingredient jams,  I can easily adapt my recipe to the amount of fruit I have available.  However, smaller batches of preserves will cook down and set better, so it's important not to get too carried away with making larger batches.  I have found that batches using 8 cups of fruit or less are ideal.

For the record, I use the terms jam and preserves interchangeably.  The crushed fruit in jam leaves a slightly smoother consistency to the spread, whereas bite sizes pieces of fruit can be found throughout a jar of preserves.  Otherwise, they are the same.  (Jelly is made with fruit juice.)  

The three ingredients used in preserves are fruit, sugar and lemon juice.  

I slice my fruit into small pieces because I usually prefer my spreads to have the suspended fruit associated with preserves.  Otherwise, when making a spread with the consistency of jam, I will crush the fruit using an old fashioned potato masher. 

Either a 4:4 or a 4:3 ratio of fruit to sugar should be used when making these fruit spreads.  Anything less than 4:3 may not set properly.  Unless I an exceptionally sour major ingredient such as rhubarb, I stick to the 4:3 ratio so that more of the fruit taste shines through in the final product.  

The lemon juices raises the acidity of the fruit which in turn helps it to set.  It is possible to make spreads without the lemon juice if the fruit is highly acidic, but I usually add the lemon regardless.  It's tempting to use fresh lemon that hasn't been adulterated with preservatives, and while it's possible to do so, it's recommended to use bottled lemon juice with a consistent acidity content.  (Fresh lemons may vary in their acidity.)  It's usually recommended to add one tablespoon of lemon juice per pound of fruit.  I don't usually weigh my fruit to determine how much lemon juice is needed.  Rather, I generally add one tablespoon of lemon juice for every four cups of fruit.  

All three ingredients (fruit, sugar and lemon juice) are cooked in a pot or pan with a thick bottom to evenly distribute the heat and keep it from scorching.  It's also important to use a large enough pot that the mixture will not bubble over the sides.  Larger pots will also allow the liquid to cook down quicker.  I cook over medium high and it's important to stir frequently.  

This process does require a bit more time than when using boxed pectin.  It typically takes about 20-30 minutes for my jam to reach the set stage.  Knowing when the jam is at the set stage and ready to pour into jars is the most difficult part.  If you cook the jam too long, it will become hard like candy and impossible to spread.  Undercooked jam will be more like syrup.  There's really no remedy for overcooked jam but undercooked jam can be put back on the stove and cooked again.  

To test your jam to see if it is at the set stage, put a small bit on a spoon and place it in the freezer for several minute to cool it.  When cooled, the jam should stay put, even when the spoon is turned side ways.  

Skim off and discard the foam that forms on the top of the pot of jam.

With this basic recipe of 4 parts fruit, 3 parts sugar and 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice and a little time at the stove, its fairly simple to make jam and preserves which can then be jarred and frozen or processed in a hot water bath canner.  

Rhubarb Jam

4 cups rhubarb

4 cups sugar

1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice

Cut the rhubarb into bit sized pieces and then add the sugar.  Allow rhubarb and sugar and allow to set until the juice is extracted from the rhubarb.  (You can leave it set for up to 24 hours, which is recommended in some recipes,  but I have found that 1 hour is sufficient.)

Add the lemon juice and cook on the stovetop using medium-high heat until the fruit reaches the gel stage. I like to use my hand blender and puree the fruit once it begins cooking so that I do not have chunks of rhubarb in my final product. 

Tip:  I have found that rhubarb is easier for me to cut up using my kitchen scissors.  I have less "strings" from the rhubarb and a nice, clean cut. 

Strawberry Jam

4 cups strawberries

3 cups sugar

1 Tablespoon of lemon juice

Cook all three ingredients on the stovetop until a gel stage is reached.  I like to slice my strawberries and then use a potato masher to mash about half of them.  This gives me some suspended fruit in the final product while rendering the jam still spreadable on toast or biscuits.

Skim off the foam that accumulates on the top of the jelly.  Ladle into jars and process or freeze. 

From Manuscript to Marketing: The Path to Publication

 

Presented by Tammy Cupp at Blue Ridge Community College, Weyers Cave, VA. Sponsored by BRCC Cultural Affairs Committee and hosted by BRCC Creative Writing Club. Presented on April 26, 2024

From Manuscript to Marketing:  The Path to Publication

 

          I have a confession to make.  I’ve never published a book. Do I have your attention now? 

 

How can I share anything of value about THE PATH TO PUBLICATION when I have never published a book?   

 

Sometimes failure can be as great a teacher as success, and while I have not yet published a book, I have gone through the process of seeking publication.   So let me share my story and what I've learned.  

 

The Story 

 

For most of my life, I have considered myself a displaced Appalachian.  When I was born, my parents lived in the Appalachian Mountains of North Georgia.  They moved from there by the time I was six months old.  My dad returned from the army, married my mother, and needed a way to support his growing family.  That opportunity came to him with a job opening on the assembly line at Ford Motor Company in St. Louis, Missouri.   

Though I spent the next 17.5 years in the Midwest, I never believed I was anything but Appalachian.  I always sensed from my parents that we were just passing through.  They kept their southern accents, their deep ties with the mountains, and their close relationships with family still living there.  I grew up listening to their dream of one day returning home.  

 I inherited a restless spirit to be somewhere other than where I was planted.  When I became an adult, I traveled and lived first in Alaska, then in various states out West.  I eventually landed on the East Coast and married Mike Cupp, a third-generation farmer from Verona, Virginia.   

Living here in Augusta County, I was within sight of the Blue Ridge Mountain Range, a distinct part of the Appalachians.  I loved it, but my heart still longed for more.   

At almost 50 years of age, I returned to the mountains.  My husband, a bit older than I, semi-retired from farming here in the valley.  We downsized, eventually sold our Augusta County property, and moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia.  I finally felt as if I had come home. 

So, what does all this have to do with publishing a book?  I’m glad you’ve asked! 

I’ve always dreamed of writing but mostly did not dedicate myself to more than my journaling, an occasional blog post, or a personal narrative essay on social media. Finally, in my 50’s I entered the Chautauqua Writing Contest and took first place in fiction and second place with a personal narrative essay.  The following year, I won first place with a poetry submission.   During this time, I also attended the Roanoke Regional Writer’s Conference.  The support and guidance received from these two events gave me the confidence to move forward with my dreams and become a published writer.   

As a grandmother with young grandchildren, my first dream was to publish a children's book that would convey my love for Appalachia to them. I meticulously crafted the story I envisioned for them, revising it repeatedly until I found it satisfactory. I imagined the illustrations that would bring the book to life. Following that, I embarked on the search for a publisher.

There were zero responses from some of the publishers. Just a big, fat nothing. Other publishers sent rejection notices. Sometimes the rejections were accompanied by letters explaining why my book was not a good fit for their company or how I could change and improve my story.  

When I was about to despair, three publishers expressed interest in my book!  I was ecstatic! 

Let’s stop the story right there on that cliffhanger and we will come back to it later.  

 First, let’s talk about Book Publishing and what I learned.   

 

Publishing A Book 

 

When you're prepared to publish a book, there are various types of publishers to consider. These include traditional publishing, self-publishing, hybrid publishing, and digital publishing. Each of these has distinct characteristics and benefits.

 

Traditional publishers handle the intricacies of transforming your manuscript into a published book. As an author, your primary role is to craft the story, edit and sometimes revise the story, and perhaps engage in book signings and promotional events once the book hits the shelves.  Some examples of traditional publishers include Random House, Harper Collins, McMillan, Hachette, Simon and Schuster.  These are known as the big five but many other traditional publishers exist. Many regard traditional publishing as the gold standard. Publishers choose authors who not only excel in their writing but also fit their marketing strategy, hoping to generate significant returns for their business.

The advantages of traditional publishing seem obvious but let’s break it down. 

First, being published by a traditional publisher offers the author recognized professional status. 

Second, traditional publishers assume all the financial responsibility for printing and marketing a book and assume all the risk.  This comforts the author who doesn’t have to finance the book out of pocket.  Sometimes, authors are even paid a royalty in advance of publication. Additional royalties are paid to the author from book sales.  

As good as all this sounds, there are disadvantages to traditional publishing.  For example, because most traditional publishers don’t accept manuscripts directly, authors must, at their own expense, have agents to represent them. These agents work as mediators between publishers and authors.  Another thing to consider is that the author must sometimes sacrifice design, content, and other aspects of their original work and vision so that they can meet the publisher’s demands. Furthermore, the author typically loses all rights to their work and the work becomes the sole property of the publisher. The author receives only 10-15 percent of the profit made from sales. Unless you are John Grisham, Ann Patchett, Stephen King, Barbara Kingsolver, or some other famous author who sells millions of copies, selling books won't bring you wealth.  Ultimately, with a traditional publisher, the window for marketing your book is finite. It will be promoted for a specific season, after which it may receive less attention and be placed on the back shelf.

 In the next type of publishing, we will explore is self-publishing or what's often snidely referred to as vanity-publishing.  This is when the author pays out of pocket for all aspects of printing their work and assumes responsibility for the process.  Some advantages and disadvantages to this type of publishing exist, so let’s look at them.  

The author who self-publishes has complete freedom and control over the book and the publishing details from start to finish.  The author keeps all the profit from the book and the author publishes on their own timeline and schedule.   Some disadvantages to self-publishing would be owning the entire expense of the publication with the knowledge that money may never be recouped.  Self-published authors must market and sell their books without the publisher's backing.  Self-published authors are often considered sub-standard by peers, media, and bookstores.  This adds to the difficulties of book promotion.  Often, bookstores and media will not acknowledge or work with independent authors. However, I want to interject that Indie Authors, as these brave, independent, resourceful individuals are called, are gaining momentum and respect in today’s climate.  Independent bookstores are increasingly popular and are typically happy to support independent authors.

The next type of publisher we want to discuss is the Hybrid Publisher.

Hybrid Publishing is intended to be a blend of traditional and non-traditional publishing.  I was informed, however, by an author making a living as a romance novelist for a major publisher that a hybrid publisher is nothing more than a vanity publisher.

In my opinion, there is a notable difference. A Hybrid Publishing Company will help in areas where the self-published author is otherwise on their own.   For example, hybrid publishers often help with artwork, cover design, editing, marketing, and limited promotion.   In theory, the hybrid publisher and the author will split the cost of producing a book and the profits from the book.  The split is usually not fifty-fifty, with the publisher receiving a greater percentage.  This publishing method can incur significant upfront costs, and there's no assurance that an author will recover their investment. It's worth noting that while the publisher may profit from the publication of your book, you might not.

For some, especially if you don’t mind the eBook format, Online Self-Publishing Sites can solve an author’s publishing needs. To understand what online self-publishing means, the following is a direct quote from the Barnes and Noble Self-Publishing website. 

 

“Welcome to Barnes & Noble Press—a free, fast, and easy-to-use self-publishing service that enables you to publish and sell print or eBooks directly to our millions of readers. Whether you’re a seasoned or first-time author, or you simply want to print a beautiful book for personal use, Barnes & Noble Press helps you create your book, your way. We’re here to help independent authors and content creators succeed by using the expertise and resources of Barnes & Noble” 

 

Other well-known self-publishing websites include Amazon/Kindle,  

Lulu, and iBooks (Apple) 

 

Back to the Story 

 

So, let’s set this technical stuff aside and get back to my story about the book that was almost published (which doesn’t sound quite as bad as admitting that I am an unpublished book author).   

As I said, I received three offers to publish my children’s book.  However, because those offers were from Hybrid Publishers, I decided this wasn't in my best interest financially.  These publishing companies wanted several thousand dollars upfront to begin publication and even more money to complete it.   

As my unpublished children’s book has lingered on my computer for four years without going to print, I have wrestled with whether to let it die, rework the story and send it again to traditional publishers, or self-publish the book.  More and more, despite the stigma sometimes associated with self-publishing, I am leaning in that direction. Having control over every aspect of my book from start to finish, including financial decisions, appeals to me.    To produce a quality product, I would hire an artist for professional illustrations and an editor to catch any mistakes I might have made.   I already have a marketing plan in mind as well. I am not looking to make millions on my children’s book, but I hope that I can at least make a small impact and cover my publishing expenses.  Authors who publish independently can be just as successful or even more so than authors who publish with a traditional publishing company.  Some of that depends upon the author’s definition of success.  

While I was busy seeking publication of my children’s book, I sought work as a freelance writer. After all, freelance work can help to pay the bills. In a conversation with a successful, traditionally published author, I was advised that I would make far more money at freelance writing than I ever would from book sales.  

 At first, I had the desire but needed to figure out how to land the jobs.  I did have little instruction from one of the classes I attended at the Roanoke Regional Writer’s Conference and I knew that to secure a contract, I had to learn how to query editors.  (Very few magazines accept articles that have already been written because they simply do not have the time to sit and read hundreds of potential articles that arrive in their email.)   I read about querying and pitching ideas to editors and had a two-minute conversation with my baby sister about the topic.  (She happens to be a freelance editor and writer.)   

Let’s explore freelance writing in more detail and I will share some of the things I have learned.  

 

Freelance Publishing 

 

Opportunities in Freelance writing include but are not limited to blogging and social media content, search engine optimization content, journalism, feature writing, and ghostwriting. 

 Blogging, social media sales, and marketing are a big part of advertising for many organizations. Freelance writers with a knack for this type of work offer voice and personality to a business and help potential clients feel more at home.  

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) content writing means that articles are written to attract potential customers to a company website. The writing includes keywords and phrases used by search engines to optimize traffic flow to the site.

Journalism consists of writing newsworthy articles about noteworthy events, personalities, and places. These articles are used in newspapers, magazines, and online.  

Feature writing can be technical or not depending on what type of magazine or publication the author wishes to solicit.   A writer may wish to send a personal narrative essay to The New York Times or The Saturday Evening Post.  On the other hand, a technical piece might be sent to Aviation Maintenance Magazine.  In my case, I wrote an instructional piece for Grit Magazine on how to make aged cheese.  These are all examples of feature writing and can appear in printed or digital format. 

 

Ghostwriting is seriously a bummer. Just like the name implies, the author isn’t recognized. The ghostwriter creates the story and the client receives the credit. An example might be a busy real estate agent who doesn’t have time to contribute to their quarterly magazine, so she pays a freelancer to write for her.  The article would appear under the real estate agent’s name.  The benefit of ghostwriting is that in exchange for the author’s anonymity, the job typically pays well.  

 

So how does one go about getting a freelance assignment? 

 

The best way to break into the freelance writing market is by finding your niche.

Perhaps, you are good at making crafts and instructional writing. Or maybe you have a knack for interior decorating and can write confidently about it.  You might have many years of technical experience as a mechanic or perhaps you are a gamer who can offer instructional content to a gaming magazine.

Consider the hobbies, skills, experiences, and education that might make you an expert in a particular field.  This doesn’t mean you have to know everything about that subject.  It just means that you can add something personal to the information and keep it from becoming stale.  Editors typically want people with personal experience to write for them because it brings the piece to life.   

 

Once you’ve thought about it and have some great ideas for freelance articles, it’s time to strategize.  You can have all the great ideas in the world, but if you don’t strategically plan to market those ideas, your brilliance is lost to everyone but you.  

Here's an example of how I plan and strategize: An idea pops into my head, and I explore it for a while, asking myself various questions.

“What magazine would be most interested in this topic?”  “How many words would it take to cover this subject?”  Can I give good, personalized examples to support this story?”  “Do I understand the subject matter or am I capable of researching and understanding it better before I write the piece?”  “Is there an audience for this submission or how can I rethink and reword my idea to make it more applicable?”  “Is the timing of this story in my best interest or would it be better to wait a while?”   

It’s important to have a clear picture of where you want to go with your article.  You also must have concrete data to support it.  Editors want facts and they want them presented in such a way that they are interesting to the reader.  

Now that you have a great idea and a plan for sharing it, you need to get an editor on board.  You do this by querying or pitching an article for submission.  We will spend more time on this in a few minutes.  Whether you are querying to find an agent to help you get a book deal with a traditional publisher or looking to get a contract for a freelance submission to a magazine, the process is very important.  This is a good place to mention that very few magazines accept written articles for consideration.  Some do and I write for one of them regularly.  However, most require a "pitch", or an idea for a story.  Magazine editors can't sit and read hundreds (sometimes thousands) of submissions. 

 

Not all submissions by a writer are accepted for publication, and rejection is an integral part of the writing process. Writers must condition themselves to view rejection not just as a temporary setback but also as an opportunity for growth and improvement.

 

When dealing with rejection of an idea or submission, a few questions to ask might be “How can I improve my writing?”  “Can I say the same thing in fewer words?”  “Does my writing sound impersonal?”  “Do I lack passion about the subject?” “Am I targeting the wrong audience?” “Am I targeting the wrong editor?”  “Is this rejection simply the result of bad timing?”   

 

Sometimes, however, the answer is yes!  The editor likes our ideas and believes we are the perfect person to write the feature for their magazine.  What happens then?   

 

When the writer and the editor have agreed upon a submission (or the idea for an article), they will make up a contract and send it to you.  Most of the time these contracts give the publisher first rights to the article.  This means you cannot publish or sell that submission to anyone else for one year from the publication date.  Most publishers retain the right to republish that piece in various formats (often digitally) indefinitely.  A few publishers want exclusive rights.  This is sometimes negotiable but if it’s important to you to be able to republish or sell your article in any format (including on your personal blog) then you need to negotiate for first rights.  The contract will specify the expected length of the article, the amount of money to be paid to the writer, and when the piece is due.  Contracts can also include specifications on photographs to be submitted by the author (where applicable) and expense allowances (when applicable).  All of my contracts come via email and many of them can be signed online.  I do have a few that I send back via postal carrier.   

 

It can sometimes be as much as six to nine months between the time I sign a contract and the due date when the piece needs to be on the editor's desk.  Because I write for multiple magazines, I am usually behind and unable to spend dedicated time on an article until 2-4 weeks before the date it is due.  It’s important to keep notes or an outline of your original ideas because we can forget where we want to go with a piece when that much time has elapsed.  If you can do so, writing the piece and sending it in at once will impress the editors and you won’t be stressed about meeting deadlines.  If you find the piece you are writing isn’t lining up with your original idea and the terms of the contract, reach out to the editor at once and explain the situation.  Things can change as we spend more time researching a particular subject.  Editors are typically very helpful.  They can help bring a piece back into perspective or come up with a new plan if things begin to get out of hand.  Of course, you don’t want to abuse this privilege, but when things just won’t work, don’t be afraid to get the editor’s opinion and expertise.   

Once the piece is written, it’s time to edit.  Don’t ever write anything and send it off without editing.  Edit and then edit again. Then, again, again, and again!  Trust me, your work will go from “passable” to “outstanding” when you edit until you can’t see straight.  Don’t just proofread the paper for grammatical and spelling errors.  Read it and ask yourself if the piece will make sense to someone who knows nothing about the subject.   Ask yourself if you can reword things to make it easier to understand or to make it more concise.  Ask yourself if you have included all the pertinent information or if perhaps, you have included things that have only complicated it.    

The piece may sit on the editor’s desk for a while but when it’s close to time for the magazine to go to print, you may receive in your email a version of your article as it will appear in the magazine.  This is sometimes called the Writer’s Proof.  The editor will ask you to go over the piece and make sure that their changes have not compromised the information you have submitted.  One time an editor didn’t include an instructional photo I thought was important to a story on making aged cheese.  When I requested its inclusion, she was happy to oblige.  Another time, an editor had to include a disclaimer because what I proposed (allowing jars of hot ghee to seal to make them shelf-stable) was considered an unsafe food-handling practice.  She sought my approval to insert that information in the piece.  Another time, instructions I had given about using ketone strips to test cattle sounded contradictory to the sentence that followed it.  The editor had not caught this, but it jumped out to me when I read the Writer’s Proof.  The editor thanked me for catching that and together we made it make sense. The Writer’s Proof is always fun because you get to see beforehand how the article will appear in print.   

Of course, as writers we feel validated and rewarded to see our words in print and our name on the byline.  However, the many hours that we spend composing a piece for publication should be properly rewarded monetarily.  Writing is hard work, and you have every right to be compensated for the effort you put into being good at your job.  It’s hard, but not impossible, to make a living freelance writing.  For most of us, however, it’s a way to supplement our income or make some spending money.  Either way, payday is always welcomed.   

 

Different publishers send payments by various means.  I have one publisher that sends out an old-fashioned, handwritten, personal check.  Others send a professionally printed business check, and one publisher sends my payments by direct deposit into my checking account.  Your contract will specify when you will be paid.  Some pay after the piece is published.  Others pay 30 days before the piece is published and still others pay at once upon acceptance of a submission.   

The Query 

 

The query is so important that I have saved it for the end, so that we can discuss it in detail. As mentioned previously, authors who are looking for an agent to present their book to a traditional publisher will need to send a query.  Freelance writers presenting ideas to publications for consideration will also need to know how to write a query.  So, let’s jump right into the details.   

When sending a query, I always do the following: 

 

*Get right to the point! 

Don’t waste the editor’s time.  They are busy and don’t have the time to sort through long, boring emails to decipher your intentions.  

*Use your best writing skills 

Your query is a writing sample for someone who is not familiar with your writing skills.  Do your best work! 

*Be creative 

Hook your reader (the editor) with the first sentence.  Don’t waste time asking how they are doing or wishing them well.  (Unless you already have a relationship with them and are on friendly terms.) Editors often see the same old pitches over and over again.  Find a unique angle or a unique way to share your ideas and your story. 

*Summarize your story 

You will want to summarize the entire article in just a few sentences.   

*Briefly introduce yourself 

There’s a reason I didn’t share this first and that’s because it shouldn’t be first.  The first sentences in your query should be about your idea and the story you wish to write.  Introduce yourself subtly by sharing why, out of all the people in the world, you should be the one to share this piece.   

For example, when I sent a query on the topic of making Squeaky Cheese, I briefly explained that I had been making cheese for almost two decades and I had experience teaching others how to do the same.   That was all they needed to know about me at that time and it landed me my first freelance contract.  

*Be confident without being arrogant 

There’s a difference.  Nothing is a bigger turn-off than arrogance.  Don’t say “I am better at making cheese and explaining the process than anyone else.”  Instead, you might say, “My twenty years of experience making cheese for our family has given me the ability and the confidence to share with others the things I have learned.”  That one sentence tells the editor everything they need to know to give you the job. 

*Watch your Length  

Again, book agents and magazine editors respond best to brevity and straightforward communication.  If you are asking an agent about a book deal, keep your correspondence to one page.  If you are querying a magazine editor about a potential submission, one paragraph is best.  Two if you absolutely must.   

To summarize, agents and editors are busy people who must sort through many emails to find that one gem of a writer.  Grab their attention with your first sentence and then work to keep them interested. 

Your query is, in fact, a brief sample of your writing skills.  So, take your time and show them what you’ve got! 

 

Getting Back to the Story 

 

As I told you at the beginning of this lecture, I tried and failed at publishing my children’s book.  Instead of considering that particular writing failure to be the end of my story, I decided my story was “to be continued”.   I sent out queries to a few magazines to see what response I would receive, and the response was especially favorable from one of them because their content was within my niche or target topics. Grit has been in publication since the late 1800s and while it has changed hands and transformed into a magazine quite different from its original format, it has remained viable and well received by readers. Landing my first contract with them was truly a dream come true for me. After two articles with Grit, the editors reached out to me, said they enjoyed working with me and wanted more articles. I pitched four more ideas to them, all of which were accepted. My association with Grit then opened other doors for me with other magazines within my niche. Self-Reliance publications, after reading my work in Grit, reached out to me and asked that I write for them. They publish two magazines for which my niche writing is a perfect pairing. In addition, I have been able to secure assignments with Hobby Farms Magazine this year as well.  

I share this to make the point that wherever you are in your writing journey, there is room to move forward.

Roadblocks are temporary and the journey is never complete until you choose for it to be.   Hold fast to your dreams of publication and persevere.