Is a book ever really done? Probably not until it’s published. But, Ogilvy’s Garden & the Gypsy Gnomes is done. Done in the the since it’s ready to ship into the inboxes of unsuspecting literary agents unaware of the journey it’s been.
A “long & winding road” as some song once said. But that’s what it takes. That is the process. Writing a book is a marathon not a sprint. All you can do is hope you don’t lose it (and that you also find it) along the way. Like the famous Anne Lamott quote where she compares writing to driving with your headlights on, “you only need to see a few feet ahead to make the whole trip.”
So you keep going. You keep driving. Until you reach the destination. A book that’s done. Or ready. It takes patience & perseverance. Something I’m sure I’ll need for the next phase too.
Ogilvy’s Garden & the Gypsy Gnomes is 87,000 words of (slightly) magical (mostly) realism. Ellie Jean is twelve, friendless, and staying with her grieving grandfather for the summer. It’s her first visit since her gran passed and one morning she finds miniature gypsies no taller than a teacup have invaded his garden. When word gets out this peculiar presence divides the small highland village, bringing adventure but challenging what it means to belong. Along with their spirited neighbor Alfred & his timid grandson Jerome, they must pilot the prejudice & politics of the townspeople to stand up for their small friends. When the gypsy gnomes are blamed for stealing the town’s sacred stone, it’s up to Ellie and Ogilvy to vindicate them from the villainous busybody Miss Burlingame.
When you dig in, you’ll find…
Life lessons.
Silly situations.
Whimsical wordplay.
& charming characters.
It’s a modern fairy tale fable that feels like a classic. Uniquely wholesome and something all its own. It’s a story about finding where you belong & how sometimes it takes a little help to get there.
Anyway, time to go query.