In times such as these, I’m awed, grateful and humbled to have so much to celebrate. During this season of my poetry book drop, I’ve been secretly under duress, writing a new children’s book under a pressing deadline from a publisher, which was yesterday.
Yes, I signed a three-book deal to write a trilogy based loosely on the life of a well-known athlete. It’s nothing I would have ever thought to write, but it’s perfectly aligned with my values, and is poised to be a game changer for my career and for the landscape of children’s literature. From the highest levels of this publishing house, I was graciously offered this opportunity and privilege to distribute light, on the largest of scales, to mostly boy-identified tweens.
I will not receive cover credit for this work as this is a work for hire deal, and a project not of my creation. The celebrity gets the cover and the spine, I get co-author status on the inside flap and all publishers lists. “Written with Samantha Thornhill” is cool with me.
The Vice President at the children’s division invited me into this brewing project believing that I was just her editor’s pick to pull it off. And I believe that I have, as I hold my breath to hear how my efforts are received by her and her team. What will they think of this 30,000 word brain sweat of mine?
As I now look up from my computer, I see the full moon in aquarius out my window, seemingly well within reach. Staring.
Time to close down this good news past and open up to my sweet present.