Cornucopia: Publishing Breakthrough

Publishing Breakthrough

Publishing Breakthrough

By Kate Chamberlin

Back Story

   During the year after my first children’s book was published, I had several manuscripts ready for their final polish and trips to various publishers. Toward the end of that year, our unwed, teenaged daughter produced our first grandchild.  Within two years, she’d produced another grandchild and it became obvious that she wasn’t able to take responsibility for herself, much less two very young children.

   My husband and I felt that our two grandchildren needed me more than I needed another published book.  Although I was 55 years old and totally blind, we offered to adopt the boys. She made a very good choice by agreeing to the private adoption.

Middle Story

   When our boys were 9 and 11, I had time to start sending my polished manuscripts around. I sent one to the publisher of my first book. The second manuscript had been illustrated by a gal who was in the USA for a year with her husband, as he did PhD research at Cornel University. In order to have the book published as a souvenir of her stay before she returned to Finland, I decided to self-publish it.

   By the time our boys were 11 and 13, our daughter had turned her life around, earned an Accounting Degree, and married a wonderful former Marine. They asked to adopt back our boys and we agreed.

Break Through

  Within weeks of the adoption, I received word that both of my books were ready for release to the public and I’d been accepted as the primary editor of an anthology by an inter-national writers group. Apparently, we had our priorities straight and my dream came true.  The bookplate I hand out with each book I sell says: “Dream it; Write it; Read it” with a color photo of my guide dog and me.

Kate Chamberlin

Author: The Night Search; Green Trillium; Charles and David

Contributor: Behind Our Eyes, anthology (2007); numerous magazines and newspapers

Editor: In St. Martha’s Kitchen, a collection of recipes…(2013; Behind Our Eyes: A Second Look, an anthology (2013)

Staff Editor: Magnets and Ladders_, an on-line magazine

www.katechamberlin.com