Here’s the link to my story about busting out in Norway. It was published in Viking Magazine. This ended well, but for awhile it felt like a travel writer’s nightmare.

I went to Norway in March 2009. I went without an assignment, confident that I would place the story upon my return After all, what’s not to love? A cruise up the Norwegian coast, the possibility of Northern Lights,  tons of on-shore activities, great food…it had all the makings of an easily placed story…except…no one was biting.

I shamelessly flogged queries, I followed up, I sent out more queries,  found a million new markets and was rejected by them all and then it was published in the Travel Writers Tales newspaper syndication. This was good.

And then, Viking Magazine said yes, but could I get back to them in a year or so, perhaps the fall of 2010 to follow up?

For those of you who know me, you will know that patience is not one of my best virtues. Some would even suggest it might not be one of my virtues at all. Some might even accuse me of being distracted and having a short attention span. Those people might be right.

But I made a note to follow up, I practiced deep breathing and calm intentions,  and then, Yes! It published in January…almost two full years since I set foot on that Hurtigruten ship.

Probably you can now understand a little more fully why I love this blog. I write. I upload a photo or two. I hit the button that says, Publish. No glacial waiting. No patience required. Just me and that big blue button.