Finally!

This will be a short entry, but I wanted to let everyone know that, after more than a quarter century of work, my novel, The Forest Primeval, has been accepted for publication. Written Dreams Publishing, from Green Bay, Wisconsin, after an initial rejection, has agreed to publish the book. There remains a lot of rewriting and polishing to do before it is ready, and they have other projects in line before my book, which means that it will not be released until fall 2023. After several dozen rejections over the past decade, however, this is welcome and exciting news.

I’m still not sure how all of this will work, but here are some of the details as I understand them: The book will come out in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats. It will be distributed through a third party company with links to libraries, Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Apple itunes, and independent bookstores such as Fox Den here in River Falls. I will probably have a book release party here in town (Fox Den?), and I’d like to figure out how to have others in Chicago and Nashville. I’ll keep you posted on all of this in the future.

Written Dreams is a much smaller operation than the big publishers in New York, but it is also much more personal. The owner of the company has been in contact with me repeatedly since I first submitted my work. That in itself is a huge step up from my frustrating experiences with literary agencies while attempting to get an agent to represent me. In trying to communicate with the New Yorkers, I often would not hear back from them for weeks or even months after I first reached out. When I did hear from them, it was usually just a standard rejection in an email without even referring to me by name. Many of those companies simply failed to respond at all. I have never been able to get an agent to show any interest, and New York publishers won’t talk to an author without going through an agent, so I had been stymied.

Then Kathleen recently showed me an article about a book being published by Written Dreams, and a friend also mentioned them in a happy hour conversation. I perused their web-site and found that they preferred to work directly with the author, rather than going through an agent. (Hooray!) I also discovered that they were looking for books with a local setting (half of my book is set in northern Wisconsin, the other half in Chicago). I was able to contact WD through their web-site, and they got back to me quickly, requesting the full manuscript. After reading it, they initially rejected it. I persisted, however, and asked what their objections were. I also assured them that I was willing to put in the work and do any rewriting that they suggested. That assurance seemed to do the trick and they decided to take a chance on me. An hour-long phone conversation with the owner of the company followed, and she sent me a contract.

Written Dreams is also putting together an anthology of stories by new authors writing about their experience in writing their first novels. They’ve asked me to submit a chapter for that book, although the deadline is only a month away. I’m guessing that my experience is probably a little out of the ordinary, so I decided to take a crack at it. I’ll keep you informed about that as well.

If there is a lesson to be learned from my experience, it is that persistence pays off.  I first learned that lesson as a teenaged distance runner who was not very good. Running 1000 miles every summer turned me into a much better runner, and that talent took me to college. Similarly, I didn’t finish my Ph.D. until I was in my forties. In light of my past history, I guess getting my first novel published when I will be nearly 70 should not be surprising. Call me a late-bloomer.

56 thoughts on “Finally!”

  2. I am so very happy for you and can hardly wait to read your book! I am sure it is fantastic 🙂

  3. This is great news! Good luck with the book — you’re a talented writer and so glad more people will read your work!

    1. Thanks–you were one of the first readers, although it’s a much different book today. Hope you are well.

    1. Thanks! I’ve lost track of you. Have you graduated from Northwestern yet? I hope you’re still singing. I always loved your voice. Drop me a note sometime with an update on your life.

    1. Thank you, Dave. August and September are the best times of year in Wisconsin. It cools off, but is still warm and pleasant. Check out videos from Charlie Berens, a Wisconsin comic who pokes fun at everything from the accent to the holiday traditions. Be forewarned though: he ends each show with “Go Packers and fuck the Bears.”

  7. Congratulations, Jack! My compliments to Written Dreams Publishing for spotting talent. I’m looking forward to reading your book.

    1. Thanks, Jackie; great to hear from you. I hope you have a wonderful school year. Say hi to the fam.

    1. Thanks! The last time I received a letter from you was about 40 years ago–and that one turned into a song. I guess I’ve been writing for a long time

  9. This is awesome Dr. Jack!!!! Congrats! Can’t wait to purchase a first edition hard back!!!!

    1. Thank you, Jennifer. I miss the girls and my fabulous colleagues at HH, but I don’t miss the meetings!

  10. Hi Dr. Jack! This is so amazing! I remember reading some of your draft and I’m so glad that I can read the whole book now 🙂 hope you are well!

    1. Olivia! Great to hear from you. I think I heard that you have graduated already. Is that true? Drop me a note sometime filling me in on your life and whereabouts. Thanks for the kind words.

    1. Thanks! Say hi to Peter and Jane (and send me Peter’s email address–the school address has kicked him off.)

  12. Congratulations and there do not seem to be any spoiler alerts. Does that mean we should buy it?

    1. Thanks! I can’t give spoilers until I finish all of the rewrites–even I don’t know the final story! See you soon.

  13. Jack, this is great!!! Congratulations on your hard work and persistence. Your writing career is beginning at about the same time Grandma Moses began her painting career, so you are in good company!

  15. “Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.”
    -Napoleon Hill
    Way to go Jack. You have never done anything “half-ass” in your life. Congratulations on all your hard work paying off. Can’t wait for you to read it to me.

    1. “Are you gonna eat those tots?”
      -Napoleon Dynamite
      Thanks, Mark. When I read it to you, we can record it, and I’ll have a book on CD.

  18. Congratulations! I guess we all have to stand in line for our autographed copies?

  19. Congratulations! This is fantastic, and I’ll look forward to reading it! You’re amazing, Dr. Jack!

  20. Jack, if only I’d known you were in need of an agent….I’m certain I could do for you what I’ve done for Joe’s music career as his manager!

    1. I assume this Tony, AKA Baba Dass. I should have thought of that. Could have saved me years of disappointment. This is already that sad time of year when I have to start cheering for the Cards because the Cubs are eliminated.

    1. Thanks so much. I only wish my mom was still around. She always loved this sort of novel.

    1. From another email, I discovered that this is Jim Cooper. Great to hear from you and thanks! I hope you and Laurie are well.

    1. Thank you, Barbara! We will be in Marion in September for Tom’s memorial. Perhaps we will see you then.

  25. Congrats Dr. Jack! I will look out for details of your Chicago release party and will be at the front of the line to get in 🙂 Excited for you and to read your book!

    1. Thanks! Maybe we can find a bar near Burbank for the book release party–I’m not sure a bookstore would allow my friends and family to come in.

    1. Good to hear from you, Pat. About half of the book takes place in fictional versions of Burbank and Reavis. Krause’s Gaslight, a Greek restaurant on 79th, and a Willow Springs bar also make appearances

  29. Congratulations, Jack! We’ll absolutely be at the Nashville book opening cheering you on. Can’t wait to buy the book & support you! What good news!

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