 |
| Dear Readers & Friends,
November is the grateful month. |
 |
| Today I hope, like me, you’re grateful for ordinary miracles that occur when you least expect them. A fresh pot of coffee you didn’t make yourself. An unexpected phone call from an old friend. Green stoplights on your way to work. A second chance for a love affair with an old flame. The fastest line at the grocery store. A good sing-along song on the radio. Your keys found right where you left them. A story you found that you loved. |
 |
| I’ve been busy this past month writing and submitting essays. I wrote an essay about my dog that was published in a pamphlet by the Inland Northwest Writing Guild. Also submitted a 2,000-word essay to Writer’s Digest, a 3,000-word essay to Memoir magazine and a 4,000-word essay to Three Ravens Publishing Co. Recently, I wrote an Op-Ed Guest Essay about healthcare and submitted it to The New York Times. I also entered my spy thriller in some book contests. Like they say, “If you don’t try, you’ll never win!” |
 |
| I’ve also been taking a Writer’s Digest class on Media Lab Pitching. I was told pitching for a fiction book is really really hard. The instructor wasn’t kidding. One of the class assignments was to do a possible pitch to get on a TV show. OMG! This was hard. Wish me luck! Again, “If you don’t try, you’ll never win!” |
 |
| My boyfriend booked a flight to Spokane which inspired me to clean house and organize/get rid of a lot of files in my office that I’ve accumulated for the past 20 years (a daunting task because I’ve been known to print the internet). Four large black garbage bags full of material were shredded plus I have two more (including three thick files of rejection letters I kept). I guess I was saving the rejections in case I ever became famous to show those literary agents what fools they were. Ha, ha, the joke might be on me. |
 |
| I was lucky to receive another stellar review of The Spy from Beijing. This one was on Goodreads; written by a girl I didn’t know named Soren Rae:
The Spy from Beijing is the kind of thriller that grabs you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. What makes it stand out isn’t just the espionage, danger, and high-stakes tension—it’s the emotional core at the heart of Jenny’s story.
Jenny is a character you can’t help but root for. A Chinese-American FBI agent, caught between her duty to her country and the shocking discovery of her true identity, she’s forced to navigate impossible choices. The twist of learning that Yìchén, her dangerous Beijing counterpart, is actually her twin sibling, adds such a powerful layer of conflict.
The international settings—spanning from Seattle to Beijing—are vivid and gripping, pulling you deeper into the web of lies, betrayals, and moral dilemmas. The pacing is sharp, the plot twists are both chilling and believable, and the emotional weight behind Jenny’s choices makes this so much more than just a spy novel.
If you enjoy thrillers with depth—where the action is just as strong as the heart behind it—this book is a must-read. It’s suspenseful, thought-provoking, and unforgettable.”
Please do me a big favor by writing a brief review on Amazon. (click for the link.) I appreciate any and all reviews.
|
 |
| Now, for more exciting news. After working on a romantic-comedy book since 2008 (17 years, yes, 17 LONG YEARS), I am pleased to announce that YOU SAID IT WOULD ONLY BE TEMPORARY will be published early next year. (I thought readers would enjoy a break from more serious books.) I spent bookoo bucks on editing–it has had four developmental editors, including one who has passed away. |
| Here is a brief description of the book:
Emily’s high-flying San Francisco life collapses during the 2008 recession. Adrift, she moves to beer-and-cowboy-boots Spokane and takes a ‘temporary’ phone job selling pet insurance. Emily fears telemarketing will be a nightmare, fears she won’t last, fears she will. Her hostile boss, Margaret, is a thorny twit. Yet, Emily finds connection with her quirky coworkers—a wannabe comic, an obsessed medical issues matron, and a casino addict.
Romance sparks with Harry, her Texan team leader. Their bond grows. But after Harry is fired, he reneges on a loan which causes Emily heartburn. After a series of interviews that could curdle milk, Emily decides rock bottom is a nice place to rethink her life choices. She finally understands she is the problem, not everyone else.
Feeling her life is in the toilet, Emily manages to finish writing a book and at her launch party, Harry returns. Was it temporary, or is this their true second chance? |
 |
| My writing coach for 15 years, Robert Gover (now deceased) had this to say about the novel:
“Not very many pages into this, I was laughing out loud, alternating with admiring your sly description of the corporate culture. The further I got into it, the louder I laughed, and the more I admired how adroitly you capture the rift between ‘management’ and ‘labor.’
“In some descriptions, your choice of details is brilliant. Showing us who these telemarketers are (what a wild crew) and putting them in their working context—this fresh perspective quickly becomes high comedy. I’m loving to pieces the who and what this novel is about.”
I’ll include a sneak peek in the next newsletter. |
 |
| For fun, my boyfriend and I have been doing sports betting on NFL games. We fill out a Pick Sheet every week and make a $5 bet/week on who will win. Winner of 5 weeks or the Playoffs gets a $25 gift card. Mostly I am donating but I did squeak by with a win one week. I am a big fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and Bill is a fan of the Washington Commanders. We would’ve bet on baseball, except there would be a pick sheet every day. Great diversion! |
 |
| Koda, at age 13, is still hanging in there. He has an enlarged heart and has been on medicine for over a year now. He also has a mass on his chest which is probably a cancerous tumor. Still loves to walk and still has a good appetite but I wonder how long he will last. My poor baby! |
 |
| As always, I am extremely grateful for all the support I’ve received from family and friends (and especially my boyfriend) and I sincerely appreciate when you hit return and leave a comment or two to brighten my day.
Until next time…
All best,
Joan M Kop |
|
