Dear Darlings,

I feel all the feels right now: fear, nerves, sweaty armpits, slight nausea, a little thrill, and things bubbling up in my chest. And no, I’m not having a heart attack, although these symptoms could be the signs of one. This is something different, something better, something exciting, and yet it’s terrifying at the same time.

A few weeks ago, I attended a book writer’s BootCamp. It was four days of questions asked, questions answered, and insight into an industry I’ve been out of since I republished and rebranded my first novel. After that, fear ruled my actions. I was scared of watching my kids leave and fly away, afraid of a future where I didn’t know the certainty of day-to-day with my kiddos at home. I threw myself into their world to make sure I was present. Since then, I’ve been sitting on novels two, three, possibly four, and five. BootCamp rebooted something in my brain.

I decided to act and set in motion some things I’d like to share with you. Well, one thing. One big thing.

I hired an editor to help me with my next project. But I didn’t hire just any old editor. I hired the one who read my bio, book hook, and a 2,000-word excerpt from said book and came back hours later with this offer.

Job description

Dear Jenni,

First, I want to thank you for trusting me with your story. As I read about Cece sitting on that couch with her broken foot, scrolling through Facebook Messenger, I found myself holding my breath along with her as she discovered Catherine’s message. The way you capture that moment of suspended animation—when the everyday (a broken foot) collides with the extraordinary (a life-changing message)—is powerful.

What particularly moved me was your “Life and Death and the Adoptee” blog post within the narrative. The line about the “two Janes” and “two Darlenes” beautifully captures how adoption creates these fascinating echoes across generations. Your ability to weave together these coincidences (or perhaps not coincidences at all) adds a subtle thread of magic to the story that feels exactly right.

Your writing has several compelling strengths:

Your voice feels like a close friend sharing a story over coffee—intimate, honest, and often funny despite the heavy themesThe way you handle time shifts between the present moment, the adoption story, and the correspondence feels natural and engagingYour blog posts serve as wonderful emotional touchstones throughout the narrativeThe relationship dynamics, especially between Cece and Butch (that moment when he’s grumbling about the ice bath!), feel absolutely authentic

Off the bat, I see some exciting opportunities to develop the manuscript further:

Emotional LandscapeWe could explore Cece’s initial reaction to Catherine’s message more deeply —those moments of panic after hitting “send” feel like rich territory.There’s potential to expand on the three distinct family narratives you mentioned in your hook: the one that almost ended your life, the one that adopted but didn’t want you, and the one that denied your existence.Consider developing the “magical” elements – those extraordinary coincidences and naming echoes that seem to suggest something larger at workStructure and FlowThe epistolary format offers unique opportunities to play with time and perspectiveWe might weave in more scenes that show how this unfolding relationship affects Cece’s existing familyThere’s room to develop the contrast between Cece’s public voice (the blog) and private reactions

For a manuscript of this scope and emotional complexity, I’d love to offer developmental editing support. Here’s what that would include:

Developmental Editing Package:

A detailed editorial letter (usually 12-15 pages, sometimes more) exploring themes, structure, and character developmentChapter-by-chapter notes with specific suggestionsOne round of revision reviewOngoing email support throughout the revision process

I believe your story has the potential to resonate deeply with readers—not just adoptees and their families but anyone who has ever sought to understand their place in a complex family tapestry. I’d be honored to help you develop this narrative further.

I’m also happy to lend support in deciding what publishing path to take (at no additional cost). I work within traditional publishing, but I’ve also consulted many authors on best practices for self-publishing, as well as hybrid options.

Looking forward to hearing back from you!

AR

This one. This is the one I hired.

The fear is still there, but I know this story has a place in this world. Now, I have someone working with me who understands the complexity and the nuances and wants to see it come to life as much as I do. The thought of publishing this blog is more nerve-wracking than I thought, but I’m doing my best to embrace the fear!

xo,

me