Dying to Get Published Read Online Free PDF

those tabloid reporters who's out to scoop something Moore is ready to tell anyway." She really should have a clearer mind if she were going to discuss anything more complicated than her list of dreaded date questions. Those she could answer while plotting an entire twenty-page short story.
    "But I don't think Moore's book addresses Browning except from the aspect of his so-called suicide. Moore will capitalize on the publicity surrounding Browning's death, but he won't dare speculate on murder."
    "Why are you so sure Moore knows something?"
    "He has to. They were friends for years, and when Browning came to Macon, Moore worked with the man every day. He may not even realize what he knows."
    They sat in silence for several seconds as Sam studied Jennifer's face. "So, what do you say? Will you help?"
    Jennifer plucked off another piece of bread, swirled it in the sauce on her plate, and ate it. "Now why in the world would I do that?"
    Sam shrugged. "I want to write a book exposing Browning's murder, but there's no way I can collect this information on my own. I need someone undercover, someone not connected with the news media, someone Moore likes. Someone like you. I'll pay you—just not right now. Part of the advance and part of the royalties. Once I get a contract—"
    Jennifer's head suddenly cleared. "I want my name on the cover—first. I may not have any hard news experience, but I'm lousy with book smarts. I've got eight full-length novels finished, all with a beginning, an end, and no sagging middles—at least, not too saggy—which is more than you've got. If I even breathe on pages that actually go into production, I want credit."
    "We'll have to hash out that name thing. I personally think it'd be more fair if we did it alphabetically."
    "I just bet you do, Mr. Culpepper ."
    "We can work out the details later, but for now, have we got ourselves a deal?" Sam offered her his hand across the table.
    Jennifer took it and shook it. "I want it in writing."
    Sam's book had about as much chance of happening as a snowstorm hitting Macon—and that was only if it turned out that Browning had actually been murdered. Still, Jennifer couldn't resist any opportunity that might put her name on a book cover. She'd go ahead with her plan to kill Penney Richmond, but she'd help Sam, too. She'd consider it multiple submissions, as eggs in different baskets. One way or another, she was going to break into print.
     
     
     
    Chapter 7
     
    Dear Ms. Richmond:
    It's people like you who give book publishing a bad name. The careless manner with which you treat unpublished writers is inexcusable. You had my manuscript, The Corpse Found a Home , for close to a year and then refused it. Just what were you doing with it? Learning how to read?
     
    Too subtle. Jennifer wadded up the sheet of personalized stationery and tossed it at the wastepaper basket next to her desk. 
    Muffy leaped from a curled position on the floor and batted the paper wad in midair. After knocking it to the floor, she collapsed onto the rug.
    Jennifer sighed and stared out the open window that faced the grassy common area of the apartment building. Tulips and jonquils splashed color around the budding trees.
    A couple spread out a blanket and settled beneath the shade of a blooming, pink dogwood. A pleasant way to spend a beautiful Sunday afternoon. And a pleasant place for a grave site. Would you like to be buried there, Penney?
     
    Dear Ms. Richmond:
    I hate your guts. I wish you were dead.
     
    Not subtle enough. She scrunched the page into a tight ball and sent it off to join its brothers in the growing paper pile. 
    Muffy yawned widely, whined, and watched the paper as it flew past.
     
    Dear Ms. Richmond:
    A disease exists in the literary community, a disease that attacks and cripples the creative forces of young writers. It sucks the life from them, draining them of their talent, their hopes, and their dreams. And you—Penney Richmond—are the virus that