"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it." - Hebrews 13:2



Friday, June 24, 2011

From Here To There - Among the Bravest of the Brave

Title page of our article in - Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History


Side note before I start this week's post ~ During this past week I've been tagged by two awesome authors ~ Jessica Patch and Brandi Boddie. Thank you, ladies! Next Friday I will post my "I've been tagged post." Watch out...you could be tagged next.


This past Monday, Eric and I finally received copies of the magazine that published our Civil War article, Among the Bravest of the Brave – The Battle History of the Ninth Indiana. The article was published in the Indiana Historical Society’s magazine, Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History. The article and artwork looks just beautiful! The ten page spread came out last week in the Spring 2011 issue of Traces. We were also pleasantly surprised to see the 9th Indiana Regiment featured on the front cover. Awesome!

Cover of Spring 2011 issue of Traces


This whole process is so exciting for both, Eric and I. It’s been a long road to our first major publication.
FROM HERE TO THERE
We started with a 4,600 word article we had written together nearly 18 months ago. We’ve been plugging away at several articles for the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
In March of 2010, we queried the 9th Indiana article to the Indiana Historical Society. The article was perfect for their magazine. Traces is emphasizing Indiana during the Civil War over the next 4 years of the Sesquicentennial. About 10 days later we received an email from the accomplished senior editor that the IHS was accepting our article for publication. Of course, we were informed that the article would most likely appear in the magazine sometime in 2011. We were overjoyed to say the least. I felt like Joe March in the movie, Little Women – 1994 version, when she received word that her first story would be published in a magazine. “I’m an author!!”
After the initial acceptance, then came the waiting.
A year and nearly a month after acceptance, we got a hard copy of the article to look over and a contract to sign. As far as the article, we only noticed a few minor revisions. We were also told that the article would appear in the Spring  2011 – June issue. We signed the contract and were promptly paid for our work.
Just before Memorial Day Weekend, we received the proofs of the article with the artwork. That’s when we finally saw what the piece would look like. It was 10 full pages! After looking over the proofs, we made our final inspection and a few minor changes. (I think there was a period left off of a sentence) I felt like I was holding my own novel in my hands. I got the taste of what it would feel like to have one of my books published. I am extremely proud of our article and it has given me the bug to really buckle down and get finished with revisions on my books. Eric and I are also about to query another article to a national Civil War magazine as well as another Hoosier article to the IHS. We’ll see what happens.
I just wanted to share that milestone with you. As we write and query our novels, we must celebrate every publishing victory, large or small, on our journey. They range from completing a difficult chapter to writing an awesome query that sparks the interest of an agent…getting through tough revisions…selling a book…receiving a call from an agent…writing a blog post that gets you new followers…meeting your daily word count…starting a new book…finishing a 90,000 word manuscript…etc.
This week we did the dance of joy. I can't tell you how elated I am to see our names in print. It's a good feeling.



So what writing or publishing milestones, large or small, have you met lately?
I would love to hear from you.
Between you, me and the gatepost,
Loree

I also wanted to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers for Lauren. I dedicated last week's post to her in hope that it would get the information out there. As of this post time, she still is missing. Please continue to keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.



18 comments:

Jill Kemerer said...

Oh wow!! How exciting!!! Civil War research is so intense, I'm really impressed you published this article--you should be so proud!!

Congrats!!

Jessica R. Patch said...

AWESOME! This is incredible. Way to go Loree. I know you're walking on clouds right now. :)

Anonymous said...

Being published is great. Congratulations. I did it lots of times, first with illustrations and then with words and illustrations and lately with words and pictures.

I have done books about villages, and all the kids who ever lived there. And stories about this and that in book form. I have learned along the way that agents are not necessary at all and I don't like paying for them or their services.

Anyway, congratulations.

Melissa K Norris said...

Congrats, Loree! To be able to marry your two loves, actually three including your hubby, together is awesome.

I just landed a monthly column in our local newspaper. I can't wait to see the first edition. :)Fortunately, my wait time won't be as long as yours.

Tana said...

Wow, congrats that is terrific!

Brandi Boddie said...

Congratulations, Loree! You put in so much research and dedication, and look how it paid off :-) I hope you and your husband get multiple copies so you can have one to frame!

Loree Huebner said...

Jill: Thank you for your kind words.

Jessica: Yep...in the clouds. Thanks!

Honest Abe: Welcome here. Thanks for stopping by and the congrats. Congrats on your success also.

Melissa: Thanks! AND I am soooo excited for your monthy newspaper column!! A huge congratulations to you! I can't wait to read it!

Tana: Thank you! You're so sweet!

Brandi: Thanks a bunch! Yep we got lots of copies! Thanks for popping in!

June 24, 2011 1:31 PM

Eric J. Huebner said...

Yee Haw!

Very nice comments by your writer pals.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Loree! :-)

Loree Huebner said...

Eric: "That's a fine Yee Haw, son."
Gosh, there are so many nice writers out there who support one another. I am really blessed to know some of them. Thanks, hon.

Geezer: Thanks! And thanks for coming by today!

troutbirder said...

Very impressive. I can't even imagine what a thrill it must be to be a published writer/writers. Way to go!

Loree Huebner said...

troutbirder: Thanks so much for coming back by. Thanks for your words...they mean a lot!

Shopgirl said...

Huge congrats - I am so happy for you.
Thanks for sharing the process also, it is an interesting read and educational.

Loree Huebner said...

Shopgirl: thanks for the well wishes. The process for magazine publication isn't always the same, so I thought I would share it. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Terri Tiffany said...

Congrats to you both! It is always exciting whenever we get something published--no matter what or where. It is an accomplishment to be proud of!!
I got a story accepted in Blue Mt Arts anthology and am excited to see how it turns out.

Loree Huebner said...

Terri: Thanks and a big CONGRATS to you!! How awesome! I'm so thrilled for you! Thanks for coming by and commenting. I think of you often.

MTeacress said...

I bet your cheeks hurt from smiling so much. ;) A hearty congratulations!

Loree Huebner said...

Michelle: My cheeks do hurt...but it's a good hurt. Thanks for your sweet words.