Yesterday I got a big “No, thank you” on James, Smith and Pioneers, all from a single editor. She seemed to like my subjects a lot more than she liked my writing style, which is somewhat troubling — I come up with new subjects every week, but my style changes a little less often.

Oh, well. This means a new chance with a new editor — maybe three new chances with three new editors — starting next week.

And maybe, to quote Duke Ellington, “Fate is being kind to me. Fate doesn’t want me to be too famous too young.” Of course, it was funnier when he said it, because he was in his 60s at the time. And famous.