Moonlight & Ella
The birth of Moonlight in Vermont Publications takes its inspiration from our muse, Ella Fitzgerald.
Each day Metro North commuters savor the visual feast of a five foot, ten inch bronze statue of Miz Ella, located in the Trolley Barn Plaza of Yonkers, New York. Erected by the city in 1996 to honor its most prestigious former resident, this exquisite life-sized replica always returns me to childhood when I played and replayed my parents' recordings of this "First Lady of Jazz," hoping one day I could write the way Ella sings with class and clarity.
During one of our million debates about self-publishing Outlaw Cravings, my agent/daughter/best friend, Seneca Johnson (link here) and I decided to make Ella the final arbiter in our dilemma one blustery March morning. Seneca presented her optimistic, youthful viewpoint directly to Ella, enumerating the factors of time saved awaiting decisions from conglomerate-based mainstream publishers, control over the finished product, and the adventure of working together. Then it was my turn to present my case as the elder, voice of reason, citing the enormous amount of work required and the biggest factor of all---a mountain of expense.
With the sound of a gurgling fountain as gentle accompaniment, we each took one of Ella's hands and closed our eyes, agreeing that we would wait five minutes for a sign. If none came, we would not proceed with this madness.
After about twenty seconds the always-competitive Seneca said, "I'm opening my eyes so I don't miss Ella's sign that I'm right."
No sooner did the words leave her mouth than twenty-five underground jets of water went off all around Ella's statue, replenishing nearby plants. Before I could inhale, Seneca hugged me, jumping excitedly around in a circle. We surrendered to the will of the Universe, chose one of Seneca's favorite Ella selections, and Moonlight in Vermont Publications has never looked back.
We keep Ella abreast on all details of the project and consult with her daily on every decision, asking her spiritual guidance in finding the perfect people to make Outlaw Cravings a reality and the great lady has come through every time. Thank you, Ella for sending us Darlene Schact to create the perfect cover, Lydia Wagner typesetter extraordinaire, the always reliable Boyd Printers, and web designer angel Irene Herz. We are in your debt and theirs.