OMG, the 2011-12 academic year is (almost) over. My course grades are marinating, waiting for me to tweak them one final time before filing them electronically before I go to bed tonight. In an hour or so I'm heading to campus for our department's graduation convocation. I get to give an award to one of our graduates for excellence in critical writing; I will see happy graduates and proud families; it's a good day.
In addition, I had a chat yesterday with the university press that offered me the advance contract, and they're willing to wait for my decision until I hear back from another press that's reviewing my proposal and two chapters. "Worst" case? I'll go with this offer (it's not my first choice of press, but it's respectable, and I've really enjoyed my two converations with the senior acquisitions editor). Best case? I'll have a second option to consider with another reputable press.
Bottom line: I'll sign a contract sometime this summer and have a home for my book. Exciting! And with contract in hand, I'll be applying at the end of this summer for a semester's sabbatical during the 2013-2014 school year to finish the book -- and I think I have a good chance of getting that.
Amazing. I've gone from quaking in my boots, feeling overwhelmed by having to write a book proposal (which I'd never done before) to landing a contract, all in one semester. I more than fulfilled the goals I had for the grant I received this semester (to write a proposal and go to a national conference to meet with editors).
I've accomplished a lot this year -- senior administrative experience, writing, awards. It's been the hardest year I've experienced in this job, including last year in which I went up for and got tenure, or the year before, which I think was our furlough year. But at least I have real progress to show for it.
This, despite a cancer diagnosis of malignant melanoma earlier this year (which, fortunately, appears to have been contained) and all the shenanigans of Frightmare Colleague and a university system which is in severe crisis.
I'm lucky. Very, very lucky.
