Hi John E...
Yes! Getting published seems mysr´´ifying when see what does get into too many books.
I reckon you should press on. Ive had people here showing instant disbelief like one stiff German saying, Boy soldiers -- copying Adolph? Nein, never!
Had several technicl articles published whilst still performing as an engineer. I got fed up with the IMecheE in London when they changed their logo from a horse standing on the world to juszt the initials in what looked to be a drunken rectangilar Box (rhombus). That is a good example of what I mean with publishers.
My first two novels were reviewed by two women the like of which I made inro a story for my famila to have a laugh. I only met one of them: Wrinkled Mrs Kennedy wearing a miniskirt, with her hair looking as if she had had an enormous elecric shock, shooting vertically upward to wht could well hav ebeen a birdnest! I hate to tell how much I paid. i realised later how much had been severely DONE. Both MSs still unpublished -- I just cant be bothered -- but the family loved them. And my C-in-c I read to her evey day and she reckons I am a brilliant author but that is because I do the cooking...... ever day....
Cheers!
John-Boy -- Oh Lonely me of 44a A Coy.....