“Say That Again” is the title of my next book due to be released this summer.

It didn’t take long to discover that the new book title might cause a little confusion. My wife, Kathie, was visiting with her friend Shirley on the phone explaining to her the theme of the new book.

During the discussion Shirley asked Kathie what the name of the book was. Kathie responded, “Say That Again”.

“What’s the name of the book?” questioned Shirley again.

And of course, Kathie was chuckling now and responded once more, “Say That Again’!

Shirley was now getting frustrated and responded, “Are you deaf, what’s the book’s title?”

Kathie’s chuckle turned into a hearty laugh as she had to explain the book’s title really was “Say That Again”. 🙂

I don’t think Amazon will get confused by a that title though, do you? Hopefully not!

The children’s book is in rhymes and discusses the double meanings words may have in nature.

There are two kinds of shovelers in nature. Cat tails can have two different meanings. Yellow jackets also conjure up two different images as well. And don’t forget butterflies and dragonflies.

The books twenty- eight pages are filled with fun, wacky rhymes and Janine Ringdahl Schmidt’s beautiful illustrations.

The rhymes and illustrations will entertain readers young and old as well as sneak a little knowledge into the mix.

Contracts were signed to produce “Say That Again” in November and Janine, my artist had yet to start the illustrations. They were scheduled to be completed by the end of February.

So, I had four months to wait until the book production could move forward and be completed.

That was the four longest months my writing career has ever had to endure.

But there was a reason for that tension.

My previous book was titled “Nature’s Rhyming Riddles” and it was my first attempt at producing a rhyming children’s book. The book sold very well and even won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for 2020. It won in the category of Children’s Interest.

Pen House Publishers, Sheridan, WY were the producers of the book and my first hint that storm clouds were on the horizon was when after many reminders of how my artist, Janine, wanted her artwork displayed in the book they failed to follow through with her request.

Pen House advertises as being a Christian publisher and its home page is filled with beautiful biblical quotes. But as time would reveal sainthood would not be in its future any time soon. 🙁

Flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder build as the storm clouds continued to approach. Royalty time came and went and when I enquired why I had not received my royalties Pen House explained they would be sent out in the coming December.

That was several Decembers ago and my $300 in royalties still have not appeared.

Not only that, there is a box of twenty-five soft cover Nature’s Rhyming Riddles books that have been paid for but haven’t been shipped to our house yet.

What are the chances they will arrive after two years?

I have called numerous times and left messages to return my call and so far, the silence has been deafening! 🙁

Emails have been sent and they too go unanswered.

I bet those biblical quotes on Pen House’s home page are starting to curl up and disintegrate as their sacred meanings are being disrespected and mocked. 🙁

So, if any of my blog readers are contemplating becoming authors, I would say steer clear of Pen House and since they are a division of Lettra Press LLC I would further suggest skipping both publishers unless you want to develop ulcers, high blood pressure or other anxiety related illnesses. 🙁

Thank goodness the book Nature’s Rhyming Riddles was only twenty-eight pages long. What if it had been a 450- page novel?

A 450-page novel,’ down the drain’, would have insured a life-long state of depression. The 28- pager resulted in just a couple depressed years. 🙁

I’m still recovering from my poor decision of getting involved with a publishing house without adequately checking them out. Injured pride is a painful anchor to drag around, and I have been doing just that for the last couple of years. 🙁

Contacting the Better Business Bureau is my next step if I can just get up the energy to start that battle.

So, making the decision to publish another book was risky for me to say the least. Can you say, “gun shy”?

My new publishing company has helped to buoy my confidence as it has been positive, quick to communicate and willing to work with our ideas. Also, it has been publishing books for over a hundred years so it must be doing something right. 🙂

The front and back covers are being completed and the illustrations and rhymes are being formulated on the book’s pages.

All that is left is for Janine and I to give the “thumbs up” and the presses can begin to roll and “Say That Again” will become a reality.

And I won’t even mind if I have to repeat the title of the book a few more hundred times to confused buyers.

Yes, that is the title of the book, “Say That Again”! 🙂

Until next time.