This story begins in the gutter. Literally. The first ever title of my book was actually The Gutter Battle. Now I realize that a title with the word ‘gutter’ in it was probably not the best choice for a children’s book. But, at the time I was working under the assumption you name the book for what it’s about. So how did a book that started in a gutter fight end up in such a lovely place – After the Rain?
The journey started right here in 2016, my first year in 12 x 12.
That first year I dove in with all I had. I wrote a draft a month. Revised a draft a month. Did at least three forum critiques every month. I believe doing those critiques, and reading other critiques, taught me more than the actual writing those first few years. I didn’t write the first draft of The Gutter Battle until September 2016, but the idea started in January when I participated in PiBoIdMo, now called STORYSTORM.
One of the posts that year talked about using events from our own lives to inspire our writing. In Kansas we often suffer drought. Rain is an EVENT. One day in 2015, the sky dumped on us. Beautiful, wet, drippy rain. We live on a corner, and north of the house is a huge empty field. The rain washed down from that field and pooled at the corner of our lot. After the rain, I took my boys and nephew outside to play.
Pantsless and barefoot, they ran through the water, floated various floaty items, and in general made a wonderful wet mess. As I watched, I remembered days from my childhood when my brother and I would run up and down our block through gutters, kicking up water and making mini lakes with dirt and rock dams. I also remembered how bossy I was (yes, I’m the inspiration for Polly) and how quietly, yet effectively, my brother would deal with me (Levi was inspired by my brother). This was the spark. The PiBoIdMo post was the flame. But it was a slow burn.
Throughout the year, the idea simmered at the back of my mind. In the fall of 2016 I finally wrote the story and submitted it to my new PB critique group, who I’d met through 12 x 12. (Hey Lisa, Jen, & Sam!) They are still my first and last stop for all manuscripts.
In January 2017 KIDLIT 411 hosted a birthday bash. They gave away all sorts of wonderful prizes, including free critiques from well-known picture book authors. I entered every rafflecopter I could, and I won something! I won a free critique from Josh Funk!
I was over the moon excited… for about five minutes. Then the terror set in. What could I possibly send him? I have NOTHING. Nothing is ready. I’m such a newbie. My writing is terrible. His books rhyme. Mine don’t. We are completely incompatible. ACK!
I consulted my critique group. Freaked out more. Then narrowed it down to two. I reached out to Josh, pitched the two pieces, and asked which sounded like something he’d like to critique. He graciously asked for both. (Side note: At this point the title had changed again. This time to Water War. Yep, my titles just get kidlittier and kidlittier. Insert eye roll.)
Josh’s critiques were kind, insightful, and when it came to my Gutter story, very encouraging. He gave me wonderful suggestions for formatting and wording changes. But most importantly he told me, “I think it’s really great – and frankly, pretty close. Well done!” I was elated. Someone, who knew stuff, was telling me I was close to done with a manuscript. As you all know, it’s a struggle to KNOW when a piece is done, especially when we are starting out. I took it as a sign.
I revised over the next few months, and in May, began submissions. Now, when I say I began submissions, I didn’t just start sending the manuscript everywhere. I started with submissions for scholarships and mentorships through my regional SCBWI. I took advantage of submission opportunities through webinars and conferences. I’d also renamed my story The Gutter.
Over the next year I submitted THE GUTTER on and off 13 times. Most of these were agent submissions and a few specific publisher/editor opportunities. I learned what form rejections and no response felt like. I also learned how to keep writing and submitting other work. It took time, but now I’m pretty good at sending off submissions and just forgetting about them. Mostly.
This is exactly what happened in April of 2018. I spotted a submission opportunity in that month’s CBI (Children’s Books Insider) with a small publisher. BEAMING BOOKS was traditionally a Christian publisher, but they were doing some rebranding and were looking for, not just inspirational stories, but stories about values. I thought my little gutter story about two kids fighting, then working together to solve a problem, fit the “values” criteria. I took a chance and sent it off. Then I forgot about it. I truly did.
On June 7th, 2018 I received this:
“Thank you for sending us ‘THE GUTTER’. We love it and would like to acquire it for publication in a future season. Attached is the official offer letter with more details.”
A two sentence email sent me screaming.
They asked for only two things to be revised. The title. And the opening line.
Two years later my book, has entered the world. I have a published book. I’m thrilled. I’m excited. I’m so very thankful for this group and all of the people who have helped me on this journey.
Next, I need to find an agent. Yes. You read that right. I did this sans agent. It wasn’t for lack of trying, but my agent search has been far less successful. I also want to sell another book. I’m not sure what order these two things will happen in, but I’m determined. They WILL happen!
Throughout her childhood, Rebecca Koehn would hide books in the bathroom towels when her parents grounded her from reading. Don’t judge them for this. Rebecca read A LOT. This habit kept her from doing many things she should do, like chores and obeying her parents’ instructions. Now Rebecca is a teacher and a writer, living on the windy Kansas prairie. She enjoys splashing in the gutter after a rain, walking her Husky Hazel, and playing board games with her husband and sons. She no longer hides books in the bathroom towels, but still skips her chores to read. Rebecca is giving away a copy of her book to one lucky 12 x 12 member at the March check-in. Go get your March draft written for your best chance to win!
262 Responses
Your post was a joy to read! (I think I’ll go read it again!) Now I’m eager to read your book! Thanks for sharing your path toward publication—both the hard work and lighter side. Happy splashing success!!
Thank you Karen!
Loved your writing journey. I lived in kansas 12 years and was present when a big tornado hit Topeka. Yeah,. Kansas
What a fantastic story! Congratulations & best of luck on finding an agent to help you get more books published. I can’t wait to read After the Rain!
Thank you Heather!
Congratulations, Rebecca on your story. After the Rain sounds like the kind of story my boys would love. Can’t wait to read it.
Congratulations on your GUTTER book! So excited for you and inspired to work harder on my stories. Thanks for sharing with us here.
Thank you Pamela!
Congrats, Rebecca! I’m so excited for AFTER THE RAIN! And I like what you said about the idea being a “slow burn.” Sometimes ideas take awhile to simmer before they take shape. But it’s worth the wait!
Yes. That wait is sometimes sooo important but it is so hard to wait! We are all impatient to write something amazing and be published yesterday.
Love this story and congrats!
Thank you Nell!
What a great story! Thank you for your post and congratulations on After the Rain!
Hi Rebecca – I am thrilled for you! What a wonderful and inspirational story. I love the photo too! I’m so excited to read your new book!
Thank you! It’s one of my favorite photos. They aren’t that little anymore.
Yay Rebecca! Great post about the origins of such a fine book!
Thank you Jen! You were there from the beginning. Soon we will be celebrating yours! I know it.
Enjoyed your post. Congratulations on placing your book and good luck finding an agent. It’s always encouraging to read stories like yours.
Thank you Barbara. I hope it is encouraging. This can be such a discouraging business sometimes, but hang in there.
What an inspiring post! Thanks for sharing the story of your book and its ever changing title. It’s amazing that you forgot about the submission. I try to do that too, but I fail more than succeed! 🙂
Ha! It took me a long time to get there. I have over 100 rejections so far and it keeps growing. If you can get to the place where you can submit and forget I think you will be healthier and happier, and probably a more productive writer. But it doesn’t happen over night by any means.
Love your, Insert eye roll. Thanks for telling us your story. I enjoyed it very much.
Thank you Kathleen. You’d think I’d learn…
Thank you for sharing your journey!! Congrats on your book!
Thank you Charlotte. Congrats on your new deal as well! I’ll look for it next year.
That’s awesome! Congratulations!
Thank you Sharalyn!
Yes, I too have found it’s easier to get published than get an agent – go figure! Onwards and upwards and congrats on the book!
Isn’t it funny how we all have different paths? Not all of us will have an agent first, and not everyone with an agent gets a deal. It would be much easier if there were a solid step-by-step process. But what would be the fun in that;)
Congratulations on your book! It sounds like such a fun story!
Thank you Laurie!
Congratulations, Rebecca! How wonderful that your first book was inspired in part by your own children. I bet they are so proud of their mom! Enjoy!
I think they are. They were just as excited as I was to open my box of author copies.
I enjoyed reading about your original title with the word Gutter in it. Coming up with a catching, heartfelt, and inspiring title is so tough. I look forward to reading your book.
Oh good! I hope I’m not the only one who has title issues. I do this with everything…
Thanks for sharing your path to publication. And I love the hiding books in towels secret, too. Congrats!
Yeah. That is a family joke now. Now I’m wondering if I’m the only one who’s ever done something like that…
Loved your story and your persistence. Hiding books in towels might make another great story from your childhood. I will look for After the Rain. You ended up with a great title. Can’t wait to read the first line. Hooray for all the support that 12 x 12 gives us.
Thank you Carole! Yes, 12×12 is invaluable.
What an inspirational post!! Thank you for sharing your journey and congratulations!
Thank you Katie!
Congrats! But I gotta say that I love The Gutter title, LOL. Thanks for sharing your story!
Thank you Jilanne! I did too!
Congratulations Rebecca. Would love to read your book. Wishing you all the best in the future.
Thank you Diane!
Work, persistence, finding opportunities and belief – a winning combination. Congratulations on your book, Rebecca. It looks gorgeous.
Aw…Thank you Anne!
A boy Mom! You go girl. Those boys will lead the way for so many good ideas buckle up and get ready for the ride!
Oh man, you are so right! I need one of those five-point belt buckles…
Thanks, Rebecca for sharing your journey. Titles are hard to come up with as you have noted. The one you finally landed on seems perfect. Good luck with your next steps and thanks again for your inspiring post.
Thank you Jane. Titles are difficult. Thank goodness my editor read past that!
What a hopeful and inspiring post. Thank you and congrats on your adorable story.
What an inspiring story and sounds like you have a winner there. So glad you didn’t give up, and found your own path to publication. Kids will love this one.
Thank you Sherri! I hope so!
What a wonderful success story. You’ve inspired me to try to be more active on the forum. Congratulations on your new book!
Thank you Maria. That forum can be so beneficial for learning. Use it!
Great to hear the way this book came about…and a great new title to boot!
Thank you Tanya!
Thank you so much for sharing your journey. And congratulations! I’m looking forward to reading After the Rain.
Thank you Rose!
Rebecca, friend and Critique Partner,
Tossing confetti! My goosebumps ripple as I read your tenacious journey to publishing this delightful debut book. An encouragement for us all! You’re pure spark and inspiration! Your critique counsel over the years has helped nurture and develop my own writing journey. I’m ever grateful for you.
After the Rain sits proudly on my shelf unless it’s being held in my hands to read again . Your wordplay and rollicking rain story charm me more with each read. Our local library has ordered your book and is in the works to arrange an After the Rain Story Hour, featuring its amazing author! Woo-wee!
Clap! Clap! Clap! That’s my standing ovation for your talent, perseverance, and candor. And…at the “right” time, I know the “right” agent will be snagging you. Keep the faith, my friend!
Aw Marsha! I couldn’t ask for a better CP or cheerleader. THANK YOU! I look forward to when I’m the one commenting on your featured author post.
Congrats! My kids loved playing in the gutters, too. Looking forward to reading AFTER THE RAIN.
Glad to hear it! Gutters are fun childhood memories!
I’ve always considered my titles as working titles, open to change, but I particularly enjoyed the journey your title took. Thank you for sharing your path to publication; it is inspiring.
I love your persistence with this story and I, too, enjoyed playing in the rain on a summer day but didn’t like long spells of rain in the summer. I think my kids would have liked this story, too. They loved to float boats and have water fights when it was raining after a heatwave. Good luck with your new submissions and your persistence. I’m inspired to send more manuscripts and try for an agent.
This is very encouraging for me, a newbie writer. Persistence and continuing practice, support, and education are key. And thanks for sharing the mistakes you made along the way concerning your titles. I’m reminded that I’m in good company and that we are all always learning! And congrats concerning publication – yahoooooooo!!!
Congratulations on your story and thank you for sharing your path to publication! I smiled when I read your bio. because the reading to the point of parents stopping you sounds exactly like one of my daughters.
Thank you, Rebecca, for sharing your journey with your book from tapping into your inspiration to your perseverance and finding ways to get support. I loved how you connected watching your boys with your own experience with your brother. I appreciated your wisdom about learning what rejection feels like but also not giving up. Inspiring!
I never tire of hearing the process behind the success story. Thank you for sharing and congratulations!
It was wonderful to read your story, Rebecca. Persistence pays. Congratulations and best of luck in the future.
This is an amazing, wonderful story — especially the encouragement you got from Josh Funk. I am in awe of that sort of generousity. I’m sure it helped to remember his words when you received rejections.
This is an amazing, wonderful story — especially the encouragement you got from Josh Funk. I am in awe of that sort of generousity. I’m sure it helped to remember his words as you went through the submission process.
Thanks for sharing your journey to publication. Congratulations on your book!
Thanks Rebecca, for an inspiring post. Your persistence is encouraging!
What a great story. Congrats on the book!
Thank you for sharing your inspiring journey.❤️
Stories take time…encouraging.
Rebecca, Such a great story. It’s a joy to read about your publication journey. It echoes so much of what we all go through at one time or another and ends on such an optimistic note! Hooray for you and AFTER THE RAIN. Good luck with your agent search and with future publishing success!
I loved reading your story about your path to publication. LOVE it! What a fun story! I’m so glad you found the perfect home for After the Rain. Congratulations!
Thank you for sharing your story. And congratulations on your book!
Thanks so much for sharing your story to publication it feels very real and attainable with a bit of luck and a lot of hard work. Super inspirational for the rest of us who are pre-published. Thanks so much for sharing
I enjoyed reading about your writing journey! Best of luck to you, Rebecca!
Rebecca, your recollections in the piece above are so evocative. Thank you for sharing your journey to publication of this fun story.
Congratulations, Rebecca! And thank you for the reminder of how important community can be!!
What a great story, Rebecca! Thank you for sharing your journey.
My writing partner and I were talking about titles this week, and I had said we don’t need to stress too much about them because titles often change. If someone likes a story, the title won’t stop the acquisition process. So glad to have you validate that.
You and I have a couple of things in common. We both started querying around the same time, and we both got published without having an agent. My book, Let’s Dance!, was released two days ago!
I wish you continued success in your career.
Congratulations Rebecca for sticking with your Gutter story and getting it published! You are an inspiration for all of us who are still hoping to one day publish something of our own. Your belief in your manuscript and your persistence paid off. I am sure it won’t be long before your next manuscript meets a similar fate. Regarding when a manuscript is done, I have a feeling a manuscript will never ever be done until it is locked in by a publisher. It is quite impressive that you only had two tweaks to do on your manuscript – the title and the opening line.
Loved the photo of the boys playing in the rain, brings me back to my own experiences as a child and a mother with my own children. Great bio too 😉
Thank you for sharing your story and your positive energy! Love the theme of persistence and dedication, as well as using resources well. Good luck getting an agent!
Love the behind the scenes look at your path to publication. Encouraging words for all of us!
Rebecca, what a great story – your story about submitting so many times and just keeping on going. Loved it! I look forward to reading ” After the Rain” too. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much for this encouraging testimony of the universal experience we all share! I’m so pleased for you, to hear of your hard work paying off, and I truly feel empowered by your story. It only takes one yes, right? Let’s keep putting ourselves out there, and putting in the work. Congratulations to you!
What a terrific post, Rebecca! Thank you for giving us a peek at your publishing journey and for sharing your story. Congratulations on AFTER THE RAIN and best of luck with your agent search.
Thank you for sharing your story. I’ve been thinking of spending less time trying to land an agent and more time seeking out small publishers directly. Very inspiring!
What an interesting journey your little story has had. Thanks for sharing. I have been thinking lately of instead of putting so much effort into finding an agent, maybe I should approach publishers directly. Thanks for the insight.
Thanks for the inspiring story of your journey to publication!
This looks like a wonderfully sweet and relatable story. Congratulations!
Hi Rebecca,
This isn’t exactly about writing. Those boys are too cute! So now about the writing…do you stick to a schedule or do you just write when you can? New to the site do I don’t even know where to check for your response!
Happy for a fellow writer’s success.
Congrats! Thanks for sharing your story with us. I have a story coming out with Beaming Books in 2021 and so far, I’ve loved working with them! Good luck and I wish you continued success.
Submit and forget! I love that strategy because it saves your creative energy for future books!
Also your details help us know JUST how to learn from you!!
What a wonderful, inspiring post! Thank you for sharing your journey Rebecca – and your book sounds wonderful. Here, in Australia, I can totally understand the excitement people feel after rain – the smell, the feel in the air and the joy of splashing in puddles.
Thanks for sharing! I enjoyed your post. Congratulations and best of luck finding an agent.
Congratulations on getting published! It’s a wonderful feeling to read lines like that or get word of publication. Wishing you the best with AFTER THE RAIN and finding an agent!
Congrats on the book! This is a great post. It’s encouraging to know that people are out there making their dreams come true. Also, a reminder to take all opportunities that feel right for your MS:)
Great story! Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful post! Congrats, and all the best for After The Rain.
Rebecca,
I loved your telling of your writing journey. It was so genuine! I can’t wait to read “After the Rain”. Happy agent hunting!
Keep spreading your magic,
Lucy Staugler
What an inspirational story. I would totally be screaming too if I got a critique from Josh Funk. Your book sounds really cute, I can’t wait to read it!
Thank you Rebecca. Your journey to publication is a wonderful example of how things can work out when you put your work out there. Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to reading your book.
This brought back fun memories of my brother and I playing in the flooded gutters after a good rainstorm. I am so looking forward to reading AFTER THE RAIN. Love the title! Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Rebecca, and congratulations!!
What a great origin story for this book! I can’t wait to read it!
Congratulations, Rebecca, on your debut book! You gave us a double feature in your post: the spark behind your idea, and the journey you traveled with that spark to create a beautiful picture book.
Beautiful book! Congratulations!
Thank you for a very inspirational post. Congratulations!
This is one of the most engaging featured authors posts I can recall in my years w/ 12×12 (which also happens to be 2016)! I think that means I’ll like “After the Rain”! Congratulations on your debut book!
This is a great story, thank you for sharing your journey!
Congratulations, Rebecca! Rain is definitely an event in these here parts, too.
I loved reading your journey to publication, esp the part where you’ve launched your first book agent-less. I’m doing the same & debating whether the next book (because there will be a 2nd & a 3rd…) will be agentless or not. One step at a time, right? Unless it’s a puddle–then we have to jump right on in!
Congratulations! And thanks for sharing your journey. This book looks wonderful. Can’t wait to read it!
Thank you so much for sharing, Rebecca! It’s really encouraging to hear from published authors who still have their journey to publication fresh in their minds! After The Rain sounds like an adorable story!
Your post was very encouraging and honest. I appreciate both aspects! Seeing the picture of those beautiful little boys running to fun made me wistful for life before the present situation. Stay safe and keep writing!
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your story. Wishing you all the best with your agent search.
Awesome post, Rebecca! Congratulations 🙂 Thank you for sharing the inspiration and background of your journey to publication–you give hope!
Congratulations! What an adorable-looking story! I can’t wait to read it. I love that you forgot about having submitted. Sometimes I think if I can just forget about it long enough, that magic email will come!! 🙂 Thanks for your encouraging post!
Wonderful post! Very encouraging.
I grew up in small town Kansas too! It is so fun to read your success story. Thanks for sharing!!
Hearing individual journey to publication stories only serves to emphasize that each of us will find our own path, in our own time. Thanks for sharing yours.
How fun!
How do you find the time with two littles at home?!? I’m a teacher: currently remotely, which I thought would mean I’d have MORE time… hahahaha. That doesn’t seem to be happening. How do you do it?
Also, I wanted to say, as a Californian, I feel you about rain being an EVENT, though after a week + of it during this SIP time I’m ready for it to be done so I can get outside more comfortably.
This is a great post, and I’d love to read the book. I can remember playing in puddles as a kid, and also taking my boys out after a rain, wearing their bright boots. Congrats!
Congrats on your book! Your story reminded me of a very funny gutter story from my dad. Once when he was five, he came home chewing bubble gum. His mother asked him where he got the gum. He said, “From the gutter!” Aaaaagh! Glad your story has a happier ending.
Congratulations, Rebecca! I loved reading about your journey. I’m so excited for you and I can’t wait to read your book!
Thanks for sharing the story of your story! I’m always looking for rain books so I’ll be sure to check it out.
Yay! Love this!
Loved your fun and inspiring behind-the-scenes story, Rebecca! Thank you for sharing your journey. Congrats on the book and best wishes for future success!
Love this story!
Love this story! Thanks so much.
What a wonderful story! I think we all can relate to the nerves before sending out work out to anyone. But to Josh Funk! I can feel your nerves now! I love how you describe what things can be like after a rain. Sounds like a beautiful books.
Congratulations on your publication. It does prove online platforms like 12X12 critique groups and Rafflecopter do help bring success.
Hi Rebecca – I’m not sure if I commented yet or not but just wanted to let you know how much we have been enjoying After the Rain. It’s been this month’s popular read aloud (via zoom) I hope your book finds its way into the hands of many children. Congratulations!
What a lovely concept for a story! And your path to publication gives heart to this yet-unpublished PB writer. Re compulsive reading,: after lights out, I would kneel on the wood floor of my bedroom with a book positioned to catch the light coming in under the door. Desperate times call for desperate measures!
Such an inspirational post! Thank you for sharing! Your book sounds wonderful! Can’t wait to read it.
Thanks for sharing! Congratulations!
Thanks for sharing your journey! It’s so encouraging to see others succeed. Congrats on your book!
I loved hearing the story of AFTER THE RAIN’s inception and journey to publication. Thank you so much for sharing!
Rebecca, I loved hearing about your publishing journey. Congratulations!
Thanks for this inspiring post!
Thanks so much for sharing your journey to publishing AFTER THE RAIN!!!
Thank you for reminding us of the simple things- small, but huge.
Really enjoyed this lovely post!
Thank you for your encouraging post! I loved hearing all about your inspiring journey from unpublished PB writer to published PB author! Congratulations on your success, Rebecca!
Wonderful success story. I love that Josh Funk was someone in that journey who supported you. =)
Great post – similar trajectory!
Thank you so much for sharing such an encouraging post! Congratulations on your book!! 🙂
Thanks for the inspiration that ideas come from everywhere. Congrats on the book! Can’t wait to read it.
I feel like I know you Rebecca because your writing journey sounds just like mine. Congratulations on your book and thanks for inspiring hope.
Rebecca, what wonderful story! I loved hearing about your journey to publish After The Rain. Thank you for sharing what the inspiration, the steps you took, your feelings through it all. It is so encouraging to see how things align when you out in the work. I am very motivated to give it my all. Thank you so much!! 💗
Rebecca, thanks for the encouragement for those of us just beginning. Cant wait to read the book and congratulations on being published.
I absolutely love your determination, Rebecca; so inspiring! Huge congratulations on your book! I look forward to reading it to my sons and to seeing what you write next. 🙂
I remember splashing in the gutters too. Such a great childhood experience to capture. So glad you persisted.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Wishing you more success down the road!
I love to hear about your journey Rebecca – congratulations! Can’t wait to share this story with my kids!
Thank you so much for sharing your story!
Thank you for sharing your journey, Rebecca. I remember my brother and I making dams and waterways, too. Such a long forgotten memory brought back to life. Can’t wait to read it!
Thanks for sharing your story of publication–very encouraging. Your book looks fun and I look forward to reading it.
Thanks for a very encouraging post. During this difficult time, it’s nice to read something so upbeat.
Your post brought me so much joy. Thank you for sharing your journey!
Congrats on your book, Rebecca! And thanks for sharing your inspiring story. I love CBI, so it’s nice to hear about success stories from those monthly opportunities.
I recognize your story. I have books coming out this year and I am still submitting to publishers and looking for an agent. And we keep on writing.
Congratulations! I’m eager to read your story!
I love hearing or reading writer’s stories of their first book deal and the path it took to get there. Gives me some hope.
You are a champion fighter/writer. Your story inspires us with the knowledge that the process works; with will and patience. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing your journey—I love your story! Congrats!
Reading these stories gets my heart pumping, especially the “we want to buy it!” parts.
Thank you for sharing your journey to publication! So inspiring!
What an inspiring journey! Thank you for this glimpse into the process and the possibilities for the rest of us newbies.
I loved reading your story to publication! How inspiring! Congratulations on your book!! I can’t wait to read it!!!
I love your honesty in telling us your journey from seedling to harvest! It gives me hope that maybe, a couple years down the road, I’ll have a lovely, published story to share with the world too. Best of luck in the steps ahead.
Your story is such an inspiration to me. Thank you for sharing it with us. Best wishes for continued success!
Thank you for sharing your story. I imagine what it must have felt like to receive that letter. What a thrill! It’s such a great reminder to all of us that — it’s POSSIBLE. Congratulations!
Congratulations, Rebecca. I’m inspired by your story, particularly two things: your determination, and your trust in and reliance on your critique group. What an exciting time for you — and them!
Thanks so much describing your journey and congratulations on being published. I look forward to reading your book.
Thanks for sharing your writing journey. Love the way you use your Kansas environment to find inspiration. I lived in Kansas for 12 years. Great place
Congratulations on your beautiful book. You are a fighter and persistence will prevail in your hunt for an agent I just know it. Good luck.
What a terrific piece. I love that the inspiration came from your own childhood and that of your children. Beautiful. Congratulations on your debut!
Can’t believe I missed this first time around. I love how you were inspired by a current event that then linked with your past … and that the idea wouldn’t go away. Congratulations on the book and may it lead to many, many more!
Congratulations on the book! Thank you for sharing your journey with us. It is so “real” and you have inspired me to keep pushing forth. Best of luck for all your future endeavors!
Wow! Your enthusiasm for learning and your confidence in your writing really shines through in this lovely story behind the story! This sounds like a really fun book. I wish you much success in your continued writing career.
Thank you for sharing your book journey. Congratulations!
Reading this feels so soothing in contrast to the news right now. Maybe encouraging is the better word. Great example for me, as I am not so much a ram but a chicken when it comes to sending things out, and would feel less intimidated to do something similar – finding the less mainstream but equally wonderful submission opportunities. Thanks for this post. It’s helped in many ways.
Thank you for sharing your story. The book sounds wonderful! Congrats on its publication.
Love hearing the origin stories of picture book. That picture of the gutter race is awesome.
Thank you for this post. Hearing your story is uplifting and inspiring me to keep going!
I loved hearing about the moment of inspiration! This brought back happy memories for me, isn’t that what a good story is all about? Congratulations!
Oh Rebecca, I’m so glad I didn’t miss your post (which I almost did)… what an inspiration! Just keep on keeping on, and don’t be afraid of the simmer, eh? Thank you for the reminder. And congratulations on your new book. I am really looking forward to reading it!
Thank you for sharing you journey. Congratulations on your lovely book.
The story of your book’s journey is very inspiring. Congratulations on your success and good luck with your agent search!
Thank you for sharing your inspirational journey.
Thank you for sharing your publishing journey with us! This is very encouraging and inspires me to keep going!
Thank you for sharing your publishing journey with us!
Thanks so much for sharing. I love Josh Funk! Great story!
A wonderful piece about patience and persistence. Sometimes it is tough to be a writer when things seem to take forever to move forward. Your words are the inspiration to keep going! Thank you. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your publishing journey with us. Very encouraging!
Congratulations, Rebecca! Thank you for sharing your inspiring journey to being published. Your picture book sounds lovely, and I can’t wait to read it. I’m sure an agent is just around the corner waiting to snap you up!
Thank you for sharing your journey to publication. Amazing to see the timelines.
What a great journey this book has been on. I also love playing in puddles. Puddle jumping was and still is one of my favorite activities. Good luck with your next book and agent search!
Thanks for sharing your journey with us. Congrats Rebecca!
Thank you so much for your inspiring words. I am also new to children’s book publishing and I enjoyed your frank honesty. And, as a child, whenever a huge rain storm would come, there was a low section in our yard. It would flood and the long grass under the water made for the best slide ever!
Diane Sammet
Rebecca –
It is always to know the journey other writers take to get published….in some ways it is the same….keep trying! Thank you for your post and congratulations….
Thanks for sharing your experience! And loved hearing the backstory and the spark of inspiration for your characters. Congratulations.
Can’t wait to read your book—the cover is adorable! I enjoyed reading about the title changes your story went through. Your path to publication is inspiring. Thank you!
Love the journey (and your sense of humor about it all)! Congratulations on this success and the many more to come.
Congratulations! Loved your story and really can’t wait to read the book!
Thank you for sharing your journey, Rebecca!
Thanks for sharing your story. I especially liked how your title changed.
Listening to your journey gives me hope- and this month, we all need that!
Incredibly inspirational – thank you for sharing.
Congratulations! I loved the story behind your story!!
Good luck on your agent hunt and future book submissions!!
I have a daughter I used to have to ground from reading! 🙂 I’m not sure if she hid them in towels, but I’m sure she figured out a way to read!
What a truly inspiring story. I felt like you wrote that for me. I am sitting here feeling so uninspired with everything that is going on with the virus and your story really brought me some hope. I am a new writer that just began this journey in January just before all this started and feel like I’ve been derailed in my thought process. I am trying very hard to get my mind in writing again. I wrote a manuscript this month and am in the process of revising it now. It is a story I’ve been pondering for a long time as well. Thank you for writing this post.
Thank you for sharing your story with us! I am in the same boat as you as I have a published book, and am trying to find an agent as well while trying to get a second book published. There’s hard competition out there and this group has been wonderful to motivate me, and help me feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck with your continuing success and your search for an agent!
The cover is beautiful. And After the Rain is a catchy title! Congrats.
What a beautiful story, Rebecca. I’m just starting out — it’s my first time with 12×12 and I found this so inspirational. Thank you! And good luck in your agent hunt.
Thank you for this inspiration – just what I needed.
What a great journey for you! Congratulations on your book.
Rebecca…thank you for your detailed account of your path to publication…I LOVE that the only thing they changed was the title and the opening line. All good wishes with this beautiful book!
Oh, Rebecca, I love the from to to stories. Thanks for sharing with us. How important it is to ask our honest critters for opinions. Thank you again.
What a fabulous origin story for your book, and your break into publishing! Congratulations!
What a fun story! I love the illustrations as well. Jumping into puddles seems to illustrate the very essence of being a kid – fancy free! Congrats on your publication!
I really loved reading about your experience. It’s a great reminder to keep trying and keep submitting despite all the challenges. And I love the story about your original title – I did something very similar with one of my titles 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration and motivation! Congratulations!!
Congratulations!! I can’t wait to read it!!
Rebecca, what an exciting story about how your book got started! It’s inspiring that you were able to get your first book published without an agent.
Thanks for sharing this story and congrats. No foolin’!
Thank you for sharing. I love knowing that you had a story simmering for so long before it came to fruition. It gives me hope that one of the ideas burning in my brain will make it to paper. Congrats!
Thank you for sharing your story! Very relatable and informative! Congrats on your success!
Thank you so much for sharing your journey. This greatly inspires me to keep up with my 12×12 challenge!
Thanks for sharing your story, Rebecca. Congrats on the new book!
Thanks, Rebecca, for sharing your journey! I love that an idea you had during Storystorm became your first published book.
Thank you for sharing your story! I can’t wait to read your book!
Rebecca,
What an amazing journey. And congratulations on your first book. And thanks for the laughs. Hiding books in towels, that’s a new one.
My son also LOVES books, he was being so naughty one day that I told him there would be no books at bedtime. I had to follow through and I felt like the worst mom in the world, but he never messed that up again. He’s 14 now and still loves books.
Best of luck with your agent search. I’m in that with you.
Love the title, and I can’t wait to read the book. Congratulations!!
Rebecca, congratulations on your debut book, AFTER THE RAIN. What a beautiful testimony of how you persevered to become a picture book author! I was inspired by your willingness to share with transparency and also your willingness to share how you benefitted from the help of others in the kidlit community.
Thank you for the encouragement I received from your post.
Rebecca, Thank you for sharing your encouraging story. Congratulations!
Thanks, Rebecca, for sharing your story! And congratulations! 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your story. Very inspiring. And congrats on your first book! I love the cover!
Such an inspiring story Rebecca! It truly resonates with me to “submit and forget”. If you’re not obsessing over every submission after you hit send, then it clears the way to keep going forward. Thank you for sharing your journey!
I really enjoyed reading your journey. You are so authentic, I felt like I was on the ride with you. And I look forward to reading After the Rain.
Congratulations! What fun to read about your journey. Can’t wait to read your book.
Rebecca, I loved reading your journey to publication. I’m also thankful that Josh Funk was so generous in his guidance to allow you to see how close your manuscript was to publication. There is hope for us all! Congratulations!
Thank you for sharing your writing journey. It really gave me a lot of hope and inspired me to keep working on my manuscripts and to put myself out there. Congratulations and I wish you continued success.
Love the inspiration from your journey. Congrats!
Rebecca, What a great story about how your book came to be! I wish you the very best in finding an agent and writing (and selling) even more.
Thanks for this post! It was really inspiring — really, truly! I actually stopped in the middle to write down an idea! 🙂
Looking forward to reading AFTER THE RAIN!
So awesome to read about your journey! Thank you!
I really enjoyed reading about your writing journey! I love how you incorporated your own life experiences into this story. I think our pesonal connections to story is what gives them the most heart. Congrats on getting this joyful story out into the world!!!
What a lovely story and wonderful inspiration! Congrats to you. I look forward to reading your book!
Great evolution of a story! Congrats!
Thanks for sharing this inspiring story, Rebecca. I look forward to reading After the Rain!
I love hearing your journey! I also have some experiences with my two boys splashing shoe-less and pants-less in the rain. There’s not much better. 🙂
I love that you wrote a story inspired by memories from your childhood AND were also able to incorporate your relationship with your brother. I love the title and can’t wait to check it out. Thank you for the inspiring post.
Thanks for sharing your journey to publication. It is always inspiring to hear about hard work turning into happy endings (or book beginnings). Good luck to you!
I love such wonderful “happy ending” stories like yours! Especially ones with the cold, sometimes, hard facts like it went through 13 rejections and years of development, simmering and revising etc.
Thanks for sharing!
Wow! What a wild ride you’ve had so far. Thank you for sharing. It’s good to see positive stories like this amid the rejections. I can’t wait to check this out— we love the rain! Best of luck to you.