All of the electronic documents were emailed to JAC Publishing and Promotions on July 7, 2010.  On July 8, 2010, I began checking my email for a rejection notice from JAC.

After two weeks, the polish wore off of the anticipation, and I actually was able to think about other things in my life for short periods of time. 

After one month of waiting for a response, I started getting pissed. I mean, seriously! How long can it possibly take to write a brief email to me? “Mr. Hetrick. We read your play. It sucks. Don’t quit your day job.”

And then came the day that I checked my in-box and, lo and behold! There was a message there from JAC Publishing and Promotions!

My heart was pounding in my chest and my hands began tingle. (No exaggeration!) I closed my eyes and said to myself, “No matter what this email says, it’s not the end of the world. You’re still a good person.  Mary Ellen still loves you.” Then, I clicked on the message, and here is what came up:

“Good afternoon, Jim!

Your play, Blessed Event,  arrived back on my desk this afternoon (from the professional readers) with a ‘thumbs up’ for publication. One comment even read, “There won’t be a dry eye in the house!” So I’m looking forward to getting to read it myself!

I’ll prep your Publisher’s Agreement and have it out to you in tomorrow’s post.

Enjoy your day!”

My jaw dropped! They really liked it! These people who make their living evaluating and publishing plays liked my play so much that they wanted to give me a publishing contract for it and promote it! And they didn’t even suggest any revisions!

I didn’t sleep for two nights after that, and only recently have my feet started touching the ground again when I walk!

(By the way, if you are interested in submitting a script to JAC Publishing and Promotions, go to the following website: www.jacpub.com.

There was only one more obstacle to overcome now, and that was getting the script copyrighted. JAC would not publish the thing without it being copyrighted.

I didn’t have the faintest idea how to do this, and, as I always do when confronted with a new challenge, I panicked.

But, if I let fear rule my life, I would never do anything, since I am pretty much afraid of EVERYTHING! So I went on-line and Googled “copyright” and found a whole slew of on-line companies that would do all the work and “deal with the convoluted bureaucracy  and red tape of The United States Copyright Office”  for me for the measly sum of $100.00.

I’ve got to admit, it was VERY tempting to pay somebody to do all of that work for me!

I was almost ready to let this happen when something came over me, and I uncharacteristically decided to just go the U.S. Copyright Office website and check it out for myself.

So I went to www.copyright.gov, and…guess what? It wasn’t so complicated after all! I read all of the information that was there, and then I took the on-line tutorial that was provided.

When I had done all that, I went to the registration section of the site, and followed the step-by-step instructions that I found there. In less than fifteen minutes, I had filled out all of the on-line forms, attached an electronic copy of the script, and sent everything off to the Copyright Office with a click of the mouse!

 Next, I registered my credit card, and made the payment required to the government. (Which, by the way, was only $35.00!)

Now, if you register your manuscript by U.S. Mail, it takes up to 22 months to get your copyright certificate.  If you do it electronically, it takes 6 months.  However, you and your manuscript are protected the second that the Copyright Office confirms that it has received your manuscript and your payment.

I got this confirmation via email almost instaneously after making the payment on September 8.

***

Today, all the ducks are lined up. The manuscript is now in the queue for publication. The copyright process is underway.

My energies have now turned to The Windham Theatre Guild production of the show in Willimantic, CT this coming March 4, 5 and 6.

I will be directing the show. I’ve secured a producer and a lighting designer. Auditions for the show will be in early January. Rather than using The Theatre Guild’s default set designers and set builders, I’m working on getting my own – people who will consider it a labor of love.

By the way, if you’re going to be in the area in March, perhaps you’d like to see the show.  If so, you can go to www.windhamtheatreguild.org to get tickets. One of the best promotions I can give you for this show is an email I got from a friend of mine yesterday. Her name is Deb. She and I have been onstage together in a few shows. She is a professional theatrical lighting designer, and she will creating the lighting design for Blessed Event. 

Because she will be lighting the show, I sent her a copy of the script. After reading the thing, she sent me the following email:

“Jim,

What a wonderful and beautiful play!!!! I actually cried while reading one scene (and I don’t cry that often when reading. I might cry like a baby when I see a play or a movie…but this was touching!) Congrats on creating something so powerful! You have truly left your mark on this workd…your legacy . J Can’t wait to audition!

~Deb”

These are wonderful and engaging times in which we live, are they not?