Moving Toward the Unknown

By John W. Vander Velden

The title I used this week fits life in general, but I use it in this post to speak of my newest endeavor. In truth it is a trip I began in August of 2010 when the first words of a story made their way to the computer screen. That’s when I began the story of Elizabeth Beck, the answer to a challenge my beloved made, “Your stories are so sad, can’t you come up with a happy one?”

Misty Creek is that story. Not that it doesn’t have its share of sadness. Light and dark are needed to make contrast. That’s the photographer talking. But I wrote Misty Creek for Jackie and it ran long, word count that is. After the first series of revises I let her read it. When she reached the end of Part 5 and said it could end there. My editor disagrees. But I saw her point and I split the story into two books.

In the final two revisions Misty Creek grew by twenty percent to a volume it became. The second half, titled, Elizabeth’s Journey, calls for my attention. I hope to begin a new revise of that book after New Year’s.

But for now I have a new uncharted territory to cover….publishing. The ending of a long story is I’m self-publishing. I found and am working with a wonderful organization from Charleston, SC. The cover is designed and I could not be more pleased. In just a few weeks I will see, perhaps digitally, the first proof copy. The adrenalin is a pumpin’. Then the game changes for I will have to be active, to some degree in marketing. New experiences…unknown lands.

So wish me luck while I continue moving toward the unknown, and I’ll send a prayer your way as well.

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