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I may never get my book published, but I can grow the perfect onion.

March 25, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner 33 Comments

first harvest!Underneath an endless sky, I have no concept of time. I gather kale and purple lettuce and baby spinach and the first onions from my garden. Perfect onions, like the ones momma grew on our farm when I was a kid.

Such a bountiful first harvest surprises me, especially the onions—fat, white bulbs topped with hearty greens and a tangle of roots filled with soil. Soil I worked with my hands. The same hands that string words together day after day. All day. Except when they are busy in the garden.

Even my husband is impressed. That onion came from our garden?

Everything came from our garden. Well, except the tomatoes. No tomatoes yet.

He stares, amazed.

And then while eating freshly harvested salad, I tell him about the email I received only an hour before. It was a good rejection letter, if there can be such a thing. She said I had a “light, delightful style” and her “decision was troublesome”… like maybe she almost said yes to publishing my book…

I ramble. Frustrated. Disheartened.

My husband listens. Condoles. She doesn’t realize what she’s missing…

I laugh yet don’t feel like laughing. I know I can sell my book. I told her that. 

You did? 

I nod.

I can’t believe this came from our garden, he says.

Well, I may never publish my book, but I can grow a perfect onion. And that’s worth something.

You should tell her that too.

onions!

Grace Grits and Gardening

“Life is an onion – you peel it year by year and sometimes cry.”
― Carl Sandburg 

 

Filed Under: Gardening, Life, Writing Tagged With: Promise of Peace Community Garden, publishing

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Comments

  1. [email protected] says

    March 25, 2014 at 8:50 am

    That is a perfect onion! Maybe I need to try some in my garden this year! Don’t give up on the book dreams. No just means not now, keep pushing!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 25, 2014 at 9:09 am

      Thanks DeDe. You should definitely try onions!

      Reply
  2. Laura Lewandowski says

    March 25, 2014 at 8:53 am

    After 60 rejections, a friend had her book (The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte) published in December by Amika Press. I read it, although I wasn’t sure about the subject–and to my surprise and delight, was blown away. My book group is going to read it. What I’m trying to tell you is that you too have a jewel to share with the world, so keep trying. And remember that you can grow a perfect onion!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 25, 2014 at 9:08 am

      That’s great Laura! Don’t worry, I’m not giving up, just blogging – LOL. How’s your book coming along? Hope to see you soon.

      Reply
  3. Taylor says

    March 25, 2014 at 8:59 am

    Beautiful veggies! We just bought our first home and we plan on starting a garden. Any tips for these first time home buyers???

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 25, 2014 at 9:07 am

      Spend time enriching your soil before you plant anything:))

      Reply
  4. Pary Moppins says

    March 25, 2014 at 9:19 am

    You’ll get it published. Your harvest looks beautiful as was the language in this post. Well done.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 26, 2014 at 2:18 pm

      Thank you:)

      Reply
  5. Becky @ lovetobeinthekitchen says

    March 25, 2014 at 9:21 am

    Beautiful onion! I am jealous of your garden! It sound amazing! Keep trying to reach your dreams! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Barbara Tate says

    March 25, 2014 at 9:53 am

    A wilted salad sounds wonderful for your first harvest. Onions look great. That book will get published, just don’t give up.

    Reply
  7. Gary Henderson says

    March 25, 2014 at 10:10 am

    A personal rejection is a step up from form rejections. It’s still a rejection, but it means they read it all the way through and not just the first paragraph.

    I hope to get to “personal rejection” stage at some point. 🙂

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 25, 2014 at 1:58 pm

      Very true Gary! Thanks.

      Reply
  8. Carlene Henderson says

    March 25, 2014 at 10:19 am

    Growing a perfect onion is no small thing. Keep on trying with the book. I have a feeling you will get it published.

    Reply
  9. Dorothy Johnson says

    March 25, 2014 at 10:31 am

    Your vegetables are beautiful. Make me want to grow a garden. And your book will find a publishing home. Don’t give up.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 25, 2014 at 2:44 pm

      I won’t:)) As always, I appreciate your vote of confidence.

      Reply
  10. Linda Beason says

    March 25, 2014 at 11:13 am

    Yep beautiful onions! Beautiful book! It will be published ! Proud of all your hard work .
    Keep on growing onions and books!!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 25, 2014 at 2:44 pm

      Thanks Linda Gail!

      Reply
  11. Skye says

    March 25, 2014 at 2:42 pm

    Love this post. Maybe your second published book will be called “The Perfect Onion”?

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 25, 2014 at 2:43 pm

      Maybe that will be the title of my first book Skye. Thank you.

      Reply
  12. Taylor @ Pink Heels Pink Truck says

    March 25, 2014 at 8:14 pm

    Jealous of your first harvest! I wish I was in one place and could take care of one as my previous garden was so calming to me. I was able to grow those kinds of onions, but I never mastered the yellow sweet onion. My grandfather was a master gardener and I always remembered how big his onion bulbs would get. I’ve yet to figure it out. Maybe one of these days! The right publisher will come a long and you’ll have the opportunity to write back to all those that said no and tell them thank you.

    Reply
  13. Shilpa Garg says

    March 25, 2014 at 10:59 pm

    The harvest from your garden looks gorgeous, Talya!! Have faith, everything works out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out, it’s not the end!! ♥

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 26, 2014 at 2:19 pm

      Very true! Thank you for the reminder.

      Reply
  14. Pixie says

    March 25, 2014 at 11:13 pm

    The onions look gorgeous! Perfect really!
    And I’m quite sure you will get your publisher for your book soon! All the very best! 🙂

    Reply
  15. Tim says

    March 26, 2014 at 9:04 am

    Awesome post, Talya, and as with all your writings, I enjoyed reading it, very much. Your extraordinary talent as a gardener comes an no surprise to me; it’s in your genes.=) And just as extraordinary is your talent for writing. I have no doubt that the right publisher will come along at the right time to give you the right contract deal to share your amazing writing talent with the rest of the world. And speaking as one of your biggest fans, I am very much looking forward to that day.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 26, 2014 at 2:20 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  16. Michelle Liew says

    March 26, 2014 at 9:38 am

    Tayla,that really is the perfect onion!

    Reply
  17. Jacqueline says

    March 26, 2014 at 11:09 am

    It will happen! I am building my book proposal now and I just know that for you, for me, and for all of us who are working so hard to make stuff happen that it will. Have faith, you!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 26, 2014 at 2:18 pm

      Yay! Good for you Jacqueline. I hope you’re right!

      Reply
  18. Kathy Combs says

    March 26, 2014 at 12:18 pm

    I have no doubt in my mind that one day the right person will read you book, it will be the right time, the stars will line up, and your book will be published. Anyone that can grow an onion that looks like THAT and write like you do is destined to be a successful author. It will happen. It is bigger than the both of us. ♥

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 26, 2014 at 2:17 pm

      You are so sweet. Thanks Kathy!

      Reply
  19. Shailaja V says

    March 27, 2014 at 12:51 am

    This is WAY better than what I can ever hope to achieve. I have the blackest thumb in thw world. I kill plants that cannot be killed 🙁 So, you go girl and make those onions 🙂

    Reply
  20. Fab says

    March 30, 2014 at 12:00 am

    Isn’t it immensely satisfying to grow your own vegetables? Your onions look perfect!!! I would never have thought of comparing life to an onion, but that quote actually makes sense 🙂

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 3, 2014 at 3:21 pm

      Growing veggies is satisfying! Thanks for commenting.

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

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