Paths to Getting Published

Hi Friends, I am in a whirl wind of creativity with a new book I have been working on. There is no title yet, but it is interesting and exciting. A historical fiction time travel book. For my beta readers, get ready. This year will be a big one! This is my first historical book. So there is a lot of research. I want this book to be believable. My girl Jinx (book in the works) and I are at odds. I need to set her aside for a while. Perhaps some books get finished and others do not. I am unsure about her. All the best to everyone! Jennifer aka JL Cooper

     Jinx’s parents are well aware, that normally the fifteen mile long drive should take around twenty minutes. However today being a special kind of day, it takes only ten minutes. They have made this trip often. Jinx has earned her name the hard way, with an emergency room file as thick as a phone book. Jeopardizing his own life by trying to joke with the angry mother, Dad Hill teases “So Jade none of the stop lights really mean stop today? And all those funny octagonal shaped red signs are just suggestions?” “Shut it Herm, not at all in the mood for jokes right now!” Jade rants as she fishtails into the ER parking lot. She skids the truck to a crooked halt directly in front of the emergency room doors. The truck obscures a large sign posted next to the automatic glass doors.      EMERGENCY VEHICLES ONLY      This does not seem to matter in the slightest, to Mom Hill, who does not even bother turning off the car. Anyone watching this would think the sign must read:      SPECIA

Chapter III The Skeleton Key Receiving a letter in the mail is always exciting.  After all Jinx gets so few letters.  Pretty much only birthday cards from family.  She walks while reading the envelope.  On the front it is addressed in fancy calligraphy writing.   To: Miss Jinx Hill 87 S. Hill Drive Hill Lake, Indiana, USA, Earthly World From: Light Council 1313 Council Way Salem, Massachusetts USA, Earthly World There is an ink stamp of a lit candle in place of a regular postage stamp.  The back the envelope has been sealed with a blob of red wax “Very cool” Jinx thinks.  Imprinted into the wax is a circle with a crescent moon and the Roman numerals for thirteen.  Once Jinx reaches Grandma’s car, the two take off down the road.  As they turn onto the main highway, Jinx sees her mail man pass them, heading back toward her house.  “That’s weird” Jinx says.  “What is my dear” Grandma asks while concentrating on the slippery road.  Baffled Jinx continues “We just passed

     Resembling a modern Eskimo mixed with a Viking, Dad is out ice fishing on the lake.   He sits on an overturned bucket, wearing a thick brown snow suit, oversized insulated boots, gloves, hat and scarf.   His dense bushy dark blond beard protecting his wind burned face from the frigged air that is whipping across the barren lake.   With auger in hand he drills into the thick ice, sets the auger aside and places the line of his small ice fishing rod into the hole.   With a mill worm skewered onto the hook and a round colorful orange and white bobber tied closer to the pole.   The bobber floats on the surface of the exposed water to alert him when a fish nibbles at his hook.         He smiles under his beard, waving one of his oversized mittened hands in the air.   This is the signal the children have been waiting for.   The ice is thick enough for them to skate on.   The four quickly go to gather their skates and rush down the hill to the lake.   They are very lucky the ice between

(In the short story series "Stories of a Lifetime") The memories of her childhood meld together.  One year indiscernible from the next.  She recalls the enjoyment of breathing deeply the warming damp air of a sunny spring day.  Wondering through the yard discovering the new life that comes with the change of season.  The tips of tender green shoots poking their heads through the dark ground.  She witnesses the stalks grow and buds emerge.  Then one day the flowers are in full bloom and the air is sweetened by their fragrance.  The warm strong breezes kiss the petals and rustle her hair. The bees awaken and busy themselves to their task.  The joy of finding the secret spaces where the tiniest of flowers hide themselves away.  Blue bells, violets and bleeding hearts quietly surprise their visitor.  The baby bunnies venture from their nursery nests.  As the robins hop around on the early morning grass.  This time of year awakens blurred moments from her childhoo

She lay on her back in the quiet room.   Her eyes blinked slowly while she gazed around.   Most of the things she looked at were out of focus.   This mattered little as she was warm in her bed which lead to her to drift off to sleep.   She dreamt of simple things that made her happy; a good dinner, her loving family, a car trip and a warm bubble bath.    Then upon waking she stretched her arms and arched her back.   It felt good.   She looked around her room at a picture close to her on the wall.   Even seeing it fuzzy she was able recognized it as her family.       She yawned and kicked off the covers.   Soon her stomach began to hurt.   This feeling grew and became painful.   She grimaced then unintentionally her emotions took over.   She began to tear up then cry.   A few moments later a familiar voice spoke kindly to her.   It made her stop crying as a pair of gentle arms lifted her body far above the bed.   She looked into the angelic face of her Mother.   She felt pe