Fredericksburg, VA
I adore Fredericksburg, Virginia. I’d go back in a heartbeat. I walked the streets of the old historic town, marveling at the historical markers on the fronts of the buildings, many of which date to 1700’s, still in use. Same brick! One is a cupcake house. Yup. A houseful of cupcakes. That’s all they sell, cupcakes. I giggle thinking about it and saying that happy word: cupcake. I think I’ll write a picture book about the Cupcake House.
I found a great children’s bookstore....
Fredericksburg is a huge reenactment, and the Civil War history is in every brick and cobblestone in this city, and cemeteries. It's very well preserved and a step back in time.
I sold about a hundred books. I also nearly froze. It was pretty, about 58 degrees with a strong breeze from the north. I hadn’t brought my winter cloak; I was sure it would be much too warm for that. I’m so thankful it wasn’t raining. I learned it had rained at home all of the eleven days I was gone. Cashiers was building an ark.
While I was strolling up and down Caroline Street I wandered into an antique store and found the perfect display item, an antique toy truck, for my table when Waiting with Elmer gets published. It’s not found a publisher yet, but someday it will, and I’ll have a super table decoration when that happens. It’s important to have a positive and optimistic outlook in the publishing industry! Notice I said “when Waiting with Elmer gets published?” I don’t say “if Elmer gets published.” It’s easy to become negative and pessimistic during these long waits, which ultimately could become giving up. Waiting is part of the process of publishing. Never give up. That's what the soldiers in Fredericksburg said, too. Never quit. Never give up.