The Handbook

What Comes Next?

Greetings.

I’ll be honest. I’ve been feeling a touch of postpartum since publishing the last chapter. My dog has been looking at me inquisitively, wondering why I keep asking her if she’d like to go for another walk.

My goal remains the same— to get The Handbook into the hands of as many high school students as possible. Ask #1— please have anyone (parent, student, teacher, counselor, or school principal) reach out to me at brockwalsh@gmail.com and I will send an electronic copy at no charge.

As I have said previously, writing this book has had the benefit of keeping my otherwise restless mind occupied. But another upside is having a resource to send to students, my counselees included, when a deeper take is desired. I have a fresh crop of rising seniors today who have read it and found it useful.

Before pondering what comes next here’s a recap of what has gone down since I finished the latest draft.

Dave Hirshey and Susie Squire did me the enormous favor of giving the manuscript a careful read and offering extensive notes. The later posts you read featured chapters that were reshaped to their suggestions. I owe them. I also wrote two drafts of a 40 page book proposal in preparation for attracting an agent.

I chased two leads on possible representation and came maddening close. Life intruded on the first when the prospective agent had to drop everything and attend to an ailing mother. She resurfaced yesterday and we’ll see how that develops. The second individual got more and more more interested until, two months into the relationship, we reached the point where a commitment might have been offered but wasn’t. We faltered at the altar. Onwards.

Thanks to all the talented photographers who provided art for these pieces through Unsplash.

Everyone knows, and surely I knew going in, getting a book published is hard. One friend and former publishing executive summed up my challenges by describing me as “male, pale, and stale.” She was only half joking. Since a zebra can do nothing about its stripes, I’ll continue braying.

Ask #2 of the hive mind— if you have an inkling of agents or publishers who might be receptive to a pitch, I welcome your suggestions. I also invite your thoughts on the book as a whole. Those who have done so already have helped me more than you know. Reply here or privately at brockwalsh@gmail.com.

If I’m not able to seduce the publishing establishment, my plan B is to raise sufficient charitable dollars to print and distribute two copies to every high school in the US. There being nearly 25,000 of them, that would necessitate the printing of 50k books. At $4/book printing costs I’d need to raise close to $250k. Someone suggested I reach out to Melinda Gates and MacKenzie Scott so #3 if anyone can facilitate a friendly introduction with either, dinner’s on me.

When I have something worthy to share, I’ll again crash your Friday.

I thank you for your forbearance. I wish you a summer by the lake waking up to the sound of water lapping at the rocks.

Photo by Ian Keefe on Unsplash