I know… I know… I KNOW!!!

I know you’ve heard this from me before, BUT there really is a reason for the excitement this time!

No, a publisher hasn’t picked us up yet.

No, Ellen hasn’t called yet.

No, Gayle hasn’t called yet.

BUT, while trying to promote another blog of mine — something separate from this particular project — I contacted a Catholic magazine to see if they would perhaps… maybe… be so kind as to… possibly… link my little blog to theirs.

In the process of doing that, a very kind Catholic nun sent the most encouraging letter of hope telling me that, although it was against their magazine’s policy to promote my blog, she was delighted to know it was there. 

We emailed back and forth and I told her of our friendship book project; and she did the nicest thing… again!  She responded that if she had any opportunity to let a publisher know about us and our project, she would.

Guess what?  A couple of days later, I get an email from a Catholic publisher — from their acquisitions department wanting to review our manuscript.

That was so thoughtful of Sister to go out of her way like that, on our behalf.  I was just awestruck with the genuineness in which she took up our cause.  I couldn’t thank her enough, although I tried.

This is extremely exciting for us, but Katherine — with her level-headedness — brought up a good point.  It took Katherine a while to make me understand her concerns and the “reality” of the world in which we live.  

Once a religious label is placed on something or someone, that thing or person is stereotyped and pigeonholed.  That thing or person becomes tainted in the eyes of the rest of the world.  It doesn’t matter what the thing or person has done or said.  The religious label automatically blinds and deafens others to that thing or person.

It’s very sad that organized religions have done this to their members.  They are so organized in their intent that they, inadvertently, have “organized” us against and away from each other.  Something that intended to unite us has separated and segregated us instead.  It is all very, very sad.

Accepting this fact, we needed to keep our focus on our mission.  Our overarching goal with Silhouette of a Friendship…From the Inside Out is to reach a general audience that includes people of all kinds, regardless of religious affiliation (or lack thereof).  We had to acknowledge that a Catholic publisher’s niche may restrict our reach and work against our personal mission, which is to reach as many people as possible.

With this in the forefront of our mind, we contacted the publisher, sent sample chapters, thanked them for their interest and asked for any help, recommendations, and referrals they could give us. 

Only time will tell us where this path will lead us, but still… very exciting!!!