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A NOTE FROM MY "REJECT FILES"
I have a wonderful file of "rejects" . . .some were cutting, others are encouraging.
About thirty years ago, ar'u- ~J Aggie -- and senior editor of Atheneum Publishers (122
East 42 St. NY 10017) -- was on the A&M campus. During a reception for him, I
mentioned working on a manuscript titled "The Making of a WAVE." He seemed interested
and asked me to send it to him. I was quite excited, of course, because I had never
published a a book before. Several weeks later, he wrote:
The "Making of a WAVE" is a thoroughly professional memoir, told with skill,
deftness and with much lighthearted humor. But the problem I have is that I
can't envision a market for it, even among the most rabid "NOSTALGIACS." But I
urge you to continue submitting the manuscript elsewhere, it's definitely publishable
and you're likely to find someone who may not be as skeptical as I am about the
potential readership.
I enjoyed meeting you while I was at A&M and hope you'll give my best
regard to Henry and all the other Aggies.
Yours sincerely, HERMAN GOLLOB.
*****
Herman Gollob returned my manuscript, and after several years, I decided to rewrite
it and change the title to "The Way of the WAVES". After several more query letters and
rejects, Henry convinced me to publish it myself. I was editor of a National WAVES
newsletter ("White Caps") for the first eight years and had access to a long W AVES
membership list. The book sold out quickly. . .and has been reprinted several times. All
remaining copies are in the WIMSA (Women In Military Service of America) gifts shop in
Washington D.C.