THE ROUNDABOUT

Once again I've been rejected; this time in a roundabout way. If you'll recall from an earlier post (Another Pitch) I sent the Arts Editor of the Detroit MetroTimes a proposal regarding a book review of George Dila's "The End of the World." The editor loved it--well, actually she said, "Good idea," and suggested a 500-word limit and a deadline.


Enthused, I read and reread Dila's short story collection, and pondered and repondered common themes, and wrote and rewrote my review. Deadline? No problem. I sent it off with two days to spare. Then I waited and waited and waited ... We had both agreed that it should be published in their Summer Fiction Issue along side the contest winners.

I sent three follow-up emails, and here's the ONLY response I got: "I don't think we have room for it. When did you send it?" Ugggghhhh! I could've torched this lovely little bridge of editor/writer civility, but instead, I emailed a two-word message: "I understand."

Ironically, I skimmed through this week's issue and discovered that Eric C. Novak, local author and publisher of Elitist Publications, helped judge the contest. He and I corresponded through emails approximately two years ago, and I remember him complaining about how the MetroTimes refused to review his novel "Killing Molly." Consequently, a review of his book and a short story of mine ended up getting published in the very same issue of a small lit magazine. I'm hoping to reconnect with him, to see whether he'd be interested in posting my book review on his website, www.thedetroiter.com. Here I go again. Wish me luck.