Helping Me Out

It's a dog eat dog world. As I sought representation for my book -- then a publisher -- most responses were short and matter-of-fact. There was no time for any real interest or fellow-feeling. But "once in a blue moon", someone would send me an e-mail, where I thought, "What?" They didn't say as much, but they were helping me out. I think of one well known publisher, who wrote me a page. It was a vital page, which may have sealed my success. But what did she get out of it? Nothing.