108
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WINTER
2015
“This subtle coming of age story, in
such troubled times, will touch your
heart and leave youwantingmore from
this up and comingCanadian author
of young adult fiction.”
~Goodreads
Escarpment: Writing a book is a dream for
many people but one that never gets real-
ized.Howdid theprocessunfold for you?
Judith:
Iwrote the first copyof thebook, in the1980s
when I still had little children at home. I wouldget up
early in themorningwhile thechildrenwerestill inbed.
In theeighties, computer technologywas in its infancy: I usedamodem tocon-
nect to thecomputer in theofficebecause therewasnocomputerat home. The
response timebetween typing thewords and their appearanceon the screen
was sometimes as longas twenty secondsmakingwritinga slow, laborious
process. Still, itwas an improvement over handwriting theentire script.When
I finished thenovel, Imadeaprintedcopy to send topublishers, and thatwas
fortunate because that one, hard copywas the only recordof the novel that
survived amove to two different homes and endured several life changes.
Everything that was saved to floppy disk became outmodedand eventually,
lost.
When thebookwas finishedandprinted in theeighties, I sent it off to twopub-
lishers.The first time it was returned, unread, witha kind letter saying thepub-
lisherwasnot looking for thiskindofmaterialat that time. Thesecondpublisher
had thebook for so long, I called tocheckon the statusofmymanuscript and
a rude secretaryasked if Iwould like it returned.
I replied that, no, Iwould like tohave themanuscript read.
Itwas returned tome thatweek.
Theprintedmanuscript sat ina filedraweruntil a fewyears
agowhen Igot thecourage to revive it. I retyped thenovel
intomyhomecomputerandwhat a refreshingchange that
was from the first time Iwroteonacomputer in theeighties.
As I typed, I edited. Andafter I finishedmy editing, I paid for aprofessional
editing. Although therewerenomajorchanges to thenovelafterediting, itwas
ahelpful process. Editorspickupon subtle lapses, omissionsoroversights that
escape thewriter evenafter numerous readings. I also hadaSerbian friend
read thebook toverify thehistoricaland linguisticSerbiancontentof thenovel
andanAustrian friendcorrectmypoorand limitedGerman.
Escarpment:Howdidyou finallyget ‘Tug-of-War’ published?
Judith:
I madea choice to self-publish thebook and sent it off to iUniverse.
At thevery least, Iwanted thisnovel formychildrenbecause is thestoryof their
heritageononeside. Ichoseapublishingpackage thatwouldprovidemewith
justenoughbooks for them.Butwhen thebookwasdesignatedEditor’sChoice
followedbyRisingStar, my confidencegrew. I hadmore copies printedand
gaveacopyof thebook to thepublic libraryand the local schools. Thebook
isnowavailableon lineandat local bookstores.
ESCARPMENT
®
CONVERSATION
|
Judith Somborac
Judith Somborac’s first novel,
‘Tug-of-War’ has been described as:
“A realistic, yet delicate, portrayal of
a young girl and her family as they
survive theGerman occupancy of
Serbia during the SecondWorldWar.”
