The lady in the photo above is my old friend Minerva. Back in 2017 she saved my writing life by inspiring me to write a novella which won the Black Orchid Novella Award. Good timing, too, because I had just lost my job in Placer County. But I have vowed never to utter that firm’s name ever again, not even in my autobiography.
You will notice this blog declares me “the creator of Minerva James.” That’s because the old girl helped me place 10 short stories in various magazines and anthologies, including Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. Indeed, one of her stories rated the cover of AHMM, which I bragged about last May.
But I was keeping a secret.
See, after January of last year, Minerva and I sort of had a separation. I went a full year without writing a word about her. As you might guess, she was a bit peeved.
“I do all this for you,” she would tell me (in my head), “and you ignore me? No wonder you’ve been divorced twice.”
“I’m not good to my women,” I admitted, “though I’m never cruel or nasty to them. I just sort of lose track.”
“Sure,” she says, her arms crossed. “You get enamored with other, bright shiny objects. You write books about your old rock and roll band, or about your law school crush, or about some waif that turns out to be a serial killer. And how many of them have been published?”
“None, ma’am,” I say, looking to the floor. “I did write a novel which is with an agent.”
“You get points for that,” she said. “But until a publisher puts that out, that’s all you get. And what about the second novel? You’ve got it all mapped out. Why isn’t it written? And the third?”
“I guess I’m waiting to see what happens with the first book,” I said.
She shook her head, highly disappointed in me.
“I’m giving you one last chance,” she said. “But you’d better get going and don’t slip up this time.”
She gave me a new short story, “Minerva James and the Medusa.” It’s actually pretty good, considering I’ve been away nearly a year. I just sent it flying off to a publishing destination I hope will be fruitful. And I have vowed to write one MInerva short story per month. And to finish that second novel.
I knew she wouldn’t abandon me. Now, if I can only convince her not to strike me with a bolt of lightning if I fall short again…
Mark Bruce, Writer 
Yes, yes! Don’t wait for responses! Finish novel #2. Keep writing the Minerva stories. Flood the literary world with your material. You will then have backup writing to provide for every nibble from every agent or publisher. Rooting for you!
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