[Gatz Posts: 204 Status: Offline Single and looking]

A Pulitzer Prize-winning literary critic agreed to read one of my recent adult stories, "The Mystery of the Disappearing Duck-hooks." A Sherlock Holmes story set at a golf course.

The critic--I'll keep him anonymous here in case I ask him to look at other stories--said that the story was "enjoyable" and "a diverting read."

Not the kind of praise you'd put on a book jacket (it's part of a volume of golf stories), but I appreciated it, coming as it does from an eminent literary critic.

Best,
Gatz

[dewsanddamps Posts: 2,936 Status: Offline]

That's great, Gatz! Congratulations!

[hairaplenty Posts: 1,794 Status: Offline Don't ever quit!]

What a wonderful compliment! If that's in writing you may want to frame it!   

[Christine B. Posts: 457 Status: Offline WWW]

That's wonderful feedback, congrats!

PS: My husband loves golf stories. Is the book in process, or already published? Thanks!

[Vijaya Posts: 8,616 Status: Offline LISTEN. Let all mortal flesh keep silence ... WWW]

Gatz, how lovely. Even if you cannot use it for a blurb, you can treasure these words.

[Barbara Etlin Posts: 2,356 Status: Offline WWW]

Way to go, Gatz! 

[olmue Posts: 4,262 Status: Offline WWW]

Aw, that's lovely, Gatz!

[Jayca Posts: 2,138 Status: Offline]

Very cool, Gatz! Congrats!!

[Ev Posts: 4,496 Status: Offline Making learning fun! WWW]

YAY, Gatz!! What delightful feedback! Keep up the good work.   

[JulieM Posts: 838 Status: Offline WWW]

Fantastic!

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 6,525 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

Love this! All validation is good validation.

[Gatz Posts: 204 Status: Offline Single and looking]

Thanks, everyone, for the kind words. They provide a real morale boost for me.

Christine, in answer to your question, the book is finished, critiqued, professionally edited. But it's probably not going to be published, unless I do it myself, because no agent seems to be interested in a story collection, at least one by an unknown author.

This makes me so sad, since I've gotten serious praise for a couple of the stories from The New Yorker and Esquire, and now the Pulitzer winner. Seems to make no difference to agents.

I may try a Kickstarter campaign.

Best wishes for all of your writing.

Gatz

P.S. Christine, if your husband would be interested in reading one of the stories, I'd be happy to send it.

[Vijaya Posts: 8,616 Status: Offline LISTEN. Let all mortal flesh keep silence ... WWW]

Gatz, do think about self-publishing or hiring someone to do the work for you. There's a good one in my area: https://www.palmettopublishinggroup.com/  The only reason I didn't go with them is because I wanted to have full creative control so learned how to do many technical things--alas I have a bit less hair now  I did hire an artist for cover/logo and very pleased. I posted some tips here: https://vijayabodach.blogspot.com/2018/07/showing-off-my-new-book-baby-with.html  I say all this because if I can do this, you can too. Esp. since all the hard work of writing the book and editing and polishing is done.

[Gatz Posts: 204 Status: Offline Single and looking]

Vijaya,

Thanks so much! I'm looking into this.

Gatz