After working with a local publisher on my first and second children’s books, I decided to publish on my own. That is, I started a publishing company called Maria Dismondy Inc. with the imprint, Making Spirits Bright: One Book At A Time. I have been very pleased with running the company on my own. I publish books that are making a difference (I do not publish titles not written by myself) I am consulting with aspiring writers and speaking at schools across Michigan using my books as part of my platform. It’s truly a dream come true. I love the work. I am reminded through fan mail from parents and children that I am making a difference in the lives of littles ones all over.
So what’s the problem? Ha ha! You knew that was coming didn’t you?
I’ve ALWAYS wanted to work with either an agent or a large publishing house. Why? I am not so sure. I guess I would simply love the experience to help me grow as a writer and business owner. In the last year, I have been putting extra efforts into submissions to agents and publishers. I have had a handful of interested agents (some I am still going back and forth with) but nothing has come to fruition. It’s exhausting opening the mail to another big. fat. NO.
But here’s the deal. Rome wasn’t built in a day. I know good things will come to those who wait. I am doing great things and if this is the path I am to go down, it will happen. Recently, I have had two sucessful children’s book authors contact ME about how to go about self-publishing. I was dumbfounded. Why would they want to do THAT? Here I am wanting the contract they hold with these companies in New York and California and they are trying to do what I am doing! It turns out they both want another experience, same as I do.
I took this picture of me holding a rejection letter last week. In the picture, I am wearing a ring I had made when I studied abroad in Thailand in 2000 (my wedding ring is feeling a bit tight these days and I am only 5 1/2 months into this pregnancy!) The ring says my maiden name in thai. It’s a reminder of where I have been and where I have come today. Maria Cini might have let these No’s turn into some story about how she was not good enough or that good things could never happen to her. Maria Dismondy knows that self doubt is crap and that ANYTHING is possible if you create the possibility. Maria Dismondy completes things and frankly, this mission is simply not finished!
Here’s to dreams, possibilities and going after what you are SO deserving of!