COMM Post--Back From A Long Break

I took a break from writing in this blog since May 2009, and am back to report on some new news about my book.

I have been working hard with my creative friend, Jesse, writing a song, producing the instrumental tracks with Apple software GarageBand, and recording the vocals to the song in 9-10 six to ten hour recording sessions in a padded closet, standing in front of a microphone stand and microphone. This process took 5 months to complete.

If you have never recorded vocal of any kind, please take my advice, and think about how difficult this task might be to accomplish, and the insanity you might experience to finish recording all the vocals needed.

Jesse and I have some great ideas for a video to shoot for a later posting of the entire package on YouTube in 2-3 months.

I talked to a great photographer, Steve, an airport screener at SFO, about re-shooting a new front cover of my book, for possible self-publishing run. He has to gather some lights, and we will shoot it in his garage in front of a black background, to make PhotoShop edits easier.

I sent out 10 more book agent queries and received 10 more denials.

I am not going to give up just yet on getting a book agent to represent me, and get my book on the shelf.

COMM Post--Approaching 100 Book Agent Query Letter Submissions

Slowly, but surely, I have been sending out a few book agent query letters, before and after work. I am happy to say that I have reached my elusive goal of sending out 100 book agent query letters. I have been using a free web page, Agent Query, to email book agents my query letter. After sending out the last batch, 80 to 100 book agent query letters, I received five positive responses.

Since I finished my final draft in January 2009, with the ego and writer support of a best friend of mine, I pondered who I would be and what would I do with the extra time. What would I be? In the last five months, I have spent my free time hiking, going to fun and exciting parties and creative social events, and laughing and being spontaneous. I accomplished what a lot of people would never think of starting, writing a book, and trying to find a book agent who would lead me to an enthusiastic and supportive book publisher.

I printed up 50 and 100 pages, wrote two cover letters, and mailed them off to two book agents in New York.

I am slowly finishing up my book proposal to send with my entire manuscript to another book agent in New York.

Just when I thought I hit a dry spot in my search for a book agent, I received one request for a book proposal and my entire manuscript, and the request renewed my faith to continue the pursuit of my goal.

Life is strange. I am a believer that taking baby steps to reach a goal might get you to the grand prize. Even if you don't reach your goal, at least you tried. I must constantly remind myself to enjoy and savor each step of the journey.

COMM Post--Still Hammering Out The Book Agent Query Letters

After getting a total of four positive responses from twelve book agent query submissions, I still manage to email a few more before I go to bed or go to work. My job has been crazy this week, long hours and a lot of people contact, but I do like it. This weekend will be filled with getting my carpet cleaned on Saturday, welcoming a new bed frame, and box spring and mattress, and sending out parts of my book for review by book agents. Yippie, tomorrow is Friday!!!!!!!!!

My blog main page has been revamped with nice new colors and formats. Killer job, Jesse!

COMM Post--Glimmers of Success

After a few days away from the book agent-query letter mass emailing, I decided to give it another go, and email out six query letters. I received two out six positive responses. After going one positive response out of fifty query letter emails, I am two for six, with a chance to get a few more positive responses out the four unanswered emails.

I talked to my comrade, Jesse, and we are meeting in the next week to talk about and plan out the shooting for the two videos I would like to shoot and post on YouTube.

Ever since I saw YouTube, I wanted to post something with good subject matter, my book, and help people cope with brain tumor survival and diagnosis.

Above all, do what makes you feel good in life.

COMM Post--Steady As I Go.. Forward March...

As of April 13, 2009, canceronmymind.com is now linked to my blog.

I have received 30 email "No" responses out of the 50 emails queries I sent out in the last three weeks, seeking book agent representation.

I received an envelope from Oprah, with a letter enclosed, "We do not take manuscripts", and my manuscript.

I will send my manuscript to Steve Case of Revolution Health and Accelerated Brain Cancer Care (ABC2) to see if anyone can use the inspiration and hope from my survivor story.

I will keep my head down and keep charging forward.

COMM Post--Welcome to Walter's Cancer On My Mind Query Letter Machine

I received a positive response back from a literary agent in LA on Friday, who asked for the first three pages of my manuscript. I sent the pages and received a reply, "Thanks for letting us look at this. Your story is remarkable but alas, this project isn't right for us. Best of luck. "

So, now I am one for 25 in book agent email representation submissions.

Hell, their are probably a thousand book agents in the U.S., so I have my work cut out for me.

After the email submissions, come the snail mail submissions with the enclosed SASE.

Still no word from Oprah Winfrey or Senator Kennedy.

COMM Post--Walter versus the Publishers

I started the second hardest thing next to completing a manuscript, publishing the manuscript.

I can't complain about the positive comments I have received from doctors all around the U.S.

I received another kick ass comment from a prominent neurosurgeon from UCSF. It took me five emails and a lot of patience to get this comment.

Dear Walter,

I’m glad to offer a brief comment.

"This is a riveting account of a patient’s own journey through the many challenges of having a potentially fatal disease. It points out that perhaps the most important medicine in life is determination and perseverance that this illness can be beaten and controlled. Congratulations for an outstanding account of your experiences. "

I hope this is what you had in mind.

Sincerely,

Mitchel S. Berger, MD, Kathleen M. Plant Distinguished Professor, Chairman, Department of Neurological Surgery, Director, Brain Tumor Research Center
University of California San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Avenue, Room M786,
San Francisco, CA 94143-0112

I started my query letter email campaign to 10 book agents on April 1. By April 2, I received three denials. I sent out five more on April 3, and received a reply from Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises, in Los Angeles, requesting the first three pages of my manuscript. Yippie!!!!!!!!!!

An actual positive reply. One out of 15! Not bad for a two day start.

I know that I have a long year ahead of me, filled with hundreds of email and SASE query letters until I find someone to represent me.

I will toss all the rejection responses to the side, keep my head down, think positive, and continue to run into the burning building, naked, and with gas cans and dynamite strapped to my body.

To me, this sounds just like trying to survive a grade two and three brain tumor.

From here on out, it is me against the rest of the cancer survivors trying to publish a book about a battle between a talking brain tumor and a guy that will never give on trying to live.

I bought Always Looking Up, by Michael J. Fox, and am excited about cracking it open this weekend. I loved his first book Lucky Man, and he will always be an inspiration to never give up on anything that you want to accomplish.