The Road to Publication

        My book is not signed yet, but I see clear signs it is close and will get there.   In the meantime, I want you to know I now have an article in a national publication with the Kent State University Press. 

        It is a long story.  A couple years ago my agent had something come across his desk that caught his eye.  It was a call for articles on the life of a country doctor.  Talk about being in the right place at the right time! 

        He sifted through his files.  I can see the scene.  “Let’s see now, here’s the vampire writer, no, no that won’t do,  hmm, cookbooks…I don’t think so…where did I put that….uh…that resume from that doctor who plays bluegrass music…. I wonder ….”

        He sent me an e-mail.  “No promises, but send me a draft on this and I’ll consider it.”

       I was like a dog with a bone.  My wife was gone to a meeting that weekend so I spent the whole time on the draft.  I sent it off Sunday night at midnight.  Monday morning I got an e-mail from him.  “Needs work, but has potential.”  

        Let me tell you if you want unconditional love find a good spouse or call your mama, but don’t sign on with an agent.  These guys know more about rejection than Charlie Brown, and have seen it all twice.

         I will say one thing for my man though.  He’s as persistent as I am.  He helped me with it over a few weeks, and we sent it on.  (Since then I have added editor Dorrie to my list of co-dependents; wish I’d known ‘ya back then Sis.)  We waited.

        Months went by.  Then one day there it was.  They were interested.  I recall the word ‘charming.’  They also felt it needed a bit more work, but wanted to use it in the publication.  Ecstatic wouldn’t cover the emotion I felt.  I was so taken by the fact that anyone as smart as Dr. Therese Zink would find anything about this old country doctor’s words charming that I ’bout had a near falling out spell.      

         You see, Dr. Zink has been published in JAMA.  I always found her work clear, honest, and to the point.  She knows all the big words, but never uses them to cover up the truth.  Just my kind of writer.  If I’m thought to be half as good as her, it would be more than enough.  Heck it’d be like if somebody said I play the mandolin like Darin or Wayne.  (Wish I could, but it ain’t true.  I don’t.)

          So there you have it.  Dr. Tommy Bibey, who in real life ain’t nothing but a slightly above average country doctor and second-rate mandolin picker, mixes it up in the world of medical journalism and borders on one foot in the door of Literature.  Next thing ‘ya know I’m gonna be playing my mandolin for English Professors.  

        Along with my wife and kids, agent, and editor, I owe the most of it to my far-flung bluegrass and blog pals around the world.  It seems to me as improbable as if Walter Mitty was to be voted King of the World. 

        So today I’d like to refer you over to Dr. Zink’s website.  The link is below and I’ve added it to my blogroll.  I’m listed on the biography page along with the other docs around the country who contributed to the compilation. 

        Go check it out.  Tell Dr. Zink some old mandolin picking doctor sent you.  She’ll likely have the same reaction as my wife, my nurses, my editor Dorrie, and all my old English teachers had.  “Lord have mercy, what am I gonna do with this boy?”

Dr. B

thecountrydoctorrevisited.com

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