Friday's Fun Facts

Thanks to all who gave me a thumbs-up after Wednesday's post talking my 3 quick agent rejections...but not necessary! Really. There are so many outstanding agents out there. Maybe my book will spark an interest for one of them. Maybe not. Rejection is part of the publishing world. If my book isn't published this time around, maybe I'll rework it. Maybe I'll shelve it for a while. One thing I know: of course I'll keep writing. You must develop a thick skin as a writer, and you must have confidence in your own abilities and keep pushing onward. You must.

Writers' Wednesday: 3 Quick "No's"

Hi folks, no time to blog today except to give you the YA agent search update:

3 rejections since I sent off letters on Monday, two based on a query + 5 sample pages, and one based on query alone.

Now I'm off to bury myself under a pile of papers still waiting to be graded...

Monday's Mentionables: The Agent Search Begins

Yesterday I began my YA agent search and sent out about 8 email queries to agents in my "A" group (I have an "A" and a "B" group, for what it's worth - those who would be dream agents, and those who I'd still like to work with even though they might not be as perfect a fit). I'll admit, I did have a moment of thinking "Should I be sending queries at 8:00 pm on a Sunday night of a holiday weekend?" but then decided that agents who accept email queries are pretty open-minded about when those queries actually arrive in their in-box.

I focused my agent search in a few places: the forums at Absolute Write, because those people run the gamut from new author to published expert; AgentQuery, since it's a nice straight-forward compilation and you can search agents by keyword; and the latest issue of Writer's Digest, which listed 27 agents cuurently open to new authors (not all YA, of course, but there were quite a few who were). One thing I found interesting: on one agent's website (can't remember which one), she wrote that she was interested in any YA sub-genre EXCEPT those featuring vampires or zombies. Maybe the Twilight craze is finally dying down?

At this point, I'm sending out email queries only. I found it interesting that there are still quite a few agents (even well-known, well-established ones) who accept postal mail queries only. Seems like such a waste of trees and time, especially now in the 21st century.

So...I will keep you posted! Today I need to work on my synopsis for the book (hate writing those), since I skipped those agents last night who want synopses in the query. Blech. Sample pages, fine. Synopsis, yuck. But a couple of those agents are on my "A" list, so looks like I'll spent at least part of this holiday from school working on my summarizing skills.

Happy Monday!

Friday Fun Facts: Doing my Best to Make a Name

This past week, I was browsing in my local Borders, and I passed a table labeled "Featured Paperbacks." Imagine my total surprise and THRILL when I saw 2 of my books on the table - next to one by Jennifer Crusie! Wow wow wow...I have no idea what prompted it, but I do know the managers there. Maybe one felt like featuring a local author! Such a rush :)

I'm getting ready for my reading at Madame X's on November 1st - mark your calendars! At 7 pm I'll be joining 3 other authors, Stella Price, Sarah MacLean, and Terence Taylor for a featured reading at Lady Jane's Salon. I'm definitely nervous, but fellow author Cat Johnson, who read in September, was kind enough to share her tips. Among them: practice reading my selection OUT LOUD, bring water, and string together scenes that are engaging enough to be read but skip if I need to. It's not like anyone will be following along with the book!

And it's actually perfect timing, since Summer's Song releases the day after, November 2nd. Here's to keeping my nerves under control and making some sales! (And having some fun, since a few girlfriends are joining me for drinks and moral support)

Happy Friday!

Writers' Wednesday: Pop Culture

"I'll have what she's having."

One thing that's interesting about having an exchnage student are the cultural references that pop up and need explaining. And isn't it funny where they come from? The other day we were grocery shopping and in the frozen food section. I said, "What about tater tots? Should we get some?" She didn't know what they were, so I tried to explain - and then immediately thought of the movie Napoleon Dynamite, which became this weid cult-like cultural hit a few years back. I've seen it at least 10 times and still laugh.

And then yesterday I was shopping sans exchange student and texting a girlfriend - and all of a sudden a turn in the conversation both led us to think of the famous deli scene from When Harry Met Sally:



Isn't it interesting how certain movies can resonate for their silliness, for the phrases they add to our modern-day culture, even years/decades later?

Monday Mentionables: The End

"It's beautiful," I say as we watch flakes catch in the white lights strung along the tree branches outside. It's true. The first snow of the season always is.

The End.

Finished! I finally had a chance to finish the 3rd revision of my YA novel, All the Girls, over the weekend. Ahh...what a great feeling :)

It ended up at 60K words, a little longer than I had originally planned, but perfect length for YA. Sooo...my goal this week is to go through my list of agents and begin sending query letters. This will be interesting, as I haven't sent an agent query in a while. Have my letter written, but I need to go back through and refine now that the story is done.

And then, well, we'll see. YA is a tough market right now, since it's so popular. Dystopian worlds along with vampires are big, and my book is neither. But I still believe contemporary can hold its own. Let's hope, anyway.

I'll keep you posted on my journey!

Friday Fun Facts: The Raven Halloween Hunt Begins!

Raven Halloween Hunt begins today! Click on the banner below for more information - lots of great prizes, including a signed copy of my novel One Night in Napa! Have a wonderful weekend, and happy hunting :)

Writers' Wednesday: Let's Talk About Muses

"Muses work all day long and then at night get together and dance." ~ Edgar Degas

Any time I interview a fellow author, or any time I answer interview questions, one of those questions inevitably is "What inspires your writing?" or something similar. This question is not, in fact, the same as "Where do you get your ideas?" though it's a close relative.

I find the idea question much easier to answer. Ideas come from everywhere! Dreams, newspaper articles, personal interactions, "what-if" thoughts while working out. A single image, or a single sentence, can sometimes become the impetus behind a storyline.

But the inspiration question is a little trickier. What inspires us to write? What moves us to pick up the pen and build something out of nothing? For me, I started writing romance because I loved the idea of two people together. I loved the twists and turns of emotion. I also loved the power of language, the way a simple phrase could make your heart ache. And I still write for all these reasons. But let's be honest: it becomes harder to find "inspiration" when you have a deadline to meet or when the pressure of another book looms over you. We lose the freedom to let emotion and fantasy move us with the wind, whenever the mood strikes.

Let's talk about Muses for a minute. Anyone have one? The most famous, of course, is probably Dante's Beatrice, whom he met when they were both children. Even though she never returned his love and in fact died young, history tells us he wrote in her honor, to put his great unrequited love on a pedestal. Sigh. What a love story, huh? I'll be honest: I think Muses today are a lot harder to find. Maybe it's just that I don't hear about the Dantes of the 21st century. Maybe it's that times have changed, and writers don't need the angst of emotion to move them.

What do you think: do we write in the abstract honor of a soulmate? Do we picture an unrequited lover as we're creating our next story? Or do we simply take inspiration from the family and friends and everyday life experiences around us?

How do you answer this question in your own author interview? Is there a single person in your life who makes your pen (or keyboard) sing? Or are you inspired in other ways?

Monday Mentionables: A Timely Article, A Scavenger Hunt, and A Picture to Remind You of Summer...

Sigh. No time to write these days. Barely time to keep up with the dishes, laundry, and all the essays that need to be graded by moi in a timely manner. My YA is beckoning me, waiting for me to finish that 3rd revision, but I'm stuck about 30 pages from the end.

In an interesting sidenote to my YA (which you might recall is a modern-day Lysistrata where the girls of a small-town HS band together and stop dating the boys 'til they stop partying so much)......this article appeared in my local newspaper. Perfect for my cause. Now, do you think I can photocopy it and include it with agent queries? Hmm. Maybe not.

Oh, and in other news, I'm a participating author in the Raven Halloween Hunt, which will run through October and include fantastic prizes by a multitude of authors. It opens October 1st, and I'll have more information about it right here on Friday.

Finally, here's a picture of how I did spend part of my weekend, enjoying the lovely summer weather at a local state park with our exchange student from Norway:

Happy Monday!

Writer's Wednesday: Facebook 150 Years Ago

Busy, busy morning for me, so the only thing I'll leave you with today is the nudge to go on over and visit my writing friend Liz's blog post - a spoof on what if Facebook was around at the time of Gone with the Wind?

Of course, if you're a regular Facebook user you'll find it funnier than if you're not, but it's still a good chuckle. Clever job, Liz!

Monday Mentionables: Writer's Digest October Issue

My regular monthly Writer's Digest summary:

My favorite feature this month: a round-up of literary agents who are actively seeking new material (most of them list YA, so even better!)

Also included in this issue are sample query letters that were successful in landing agents. I do find those helpful, but only to a certain extent. A letter that appeals to one agent will cross another's desk and receive a rejection. Some agents like a certain "hook" or a funky voice, while others don't. Beyond that (a couple agents actually admitted this), luck is part of the process as well.

Rachel Kincaid, assistant to agent Ann Collette, shares her thoughts on what gets a query past the first reader to the agent herself: make sure your query covers the basics with NO errors in grammar or spelling; keep your query short and simple - no long, flowery descriptive passages of your plotline; make sure the pace of your book (especially the sample chapters you send!) is crisp and fast-moving.

An interview with Alice Walker and advice on how to revise from a critique round out my top reads in Writer's Digest this month. If you don't subscribe, you should!

Friday Fun Facts: Neat Word Trivia

Next time you're at a cocktail party and need some word trivia:

Almost is the only word in the English language in which all the letters appear in alphabetical order.


Facetiously is the only word in the English language in which all the vowels appear in alphabetical order.

Have a great weekend!

Writers' Wednesday: The Value of a Backlist

My tip for the day: keep writing. I just got my royalty statements for last month/last quarter, and they supported what pro writers say all along: when you release a new book (or have a big promo push on one), inevitably your sales for the others go up. Yes, it has happened for me every time. And this isn't just true for e-books or print releases; I've found the sales cross over. My One Night in Boston ebook sales have been high for a few months now (thanks to Samhain's Amazon Kindle Freebie back in April), but I noticed for the first time that the print sales of that book were also up in the months following, as well as ebooks and print copies of my other titles. Looks like those who buy in both formats will seek out their favorite from you.

Sidenote: this seems to be true even if your reviews aren't what you hoped. As I mentioned a while ago, the Amazon reviews for One Night in Boston hover around a 2.5/5 - certainly not stellar. Despite that, sales weren't incredibly hurt by those reviews. So develop a thick skin and take reader reviews with a grain of salt (or don't read them at all, which is what I've taken to doing, honestly).

So if you're a first-time author and are worried that sales are low, yes, work on promo and establishing a name for yourself especially online - but also keep writing. You'll find your royalty profits grow with every release you have.

Monday Mentionables: An Interview with Fiona Jayde

Welcome and happy Monday! Today I'm hosting Fiona Jayde, whose book Night Haven releases next week. She's stopping by to visit with readers and tell you a little about herself and her writing...so enjoy!

Fiona, can you tell us a little about your background?

I’m actually from Russia, having learned English by watching "Growing Pains" and reading Nora Roberts. I’m lucky in that I was in an age where I could learn English while retaining my love for Russian books (I re-read Three Musketeers in Russian every year).

When did you first start writing? Any particular experience jumpstart your writing career?

I’ve always wrote but never have finished anything I started. A few years ago, I discovered Angela Knight, who literally jumpstarted my writing career. She is such a terrific lady – and is incredibly supportive of newbie authors. I had read a blog she had written which talked about those of us striving for perfection in those first three chapters and never moving past them to finish a story – which was me to the letter. Following her advice I had finished a story, and had been writing ever since!

Tell us about your latest project/publication.

My latest release is called Night Haven, a kickass paranormal romance coming September 21 from Samhain Publishing. Night Haven is a first glimpse into the world of bloodwolves who were created to protect humans from vampire hunger for blood. In Night Haven, the bloodwolf Dina finds herself dangerously attracted to a vampire – and looses her ability to shift as a result.

What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

I would probably give the same advice that got me over the hump from “wanting to write” to actually “writing”. Stop expecting perfection and write. Keep that butt in the chair and write. Finish something, even if the first draft is complete crap. Its always easier to fix a bad page then a blank page. (I think Nora Roberts said that last part – and its so true!)

What do you find most challenging about writing?

For me, the most challenging aspect is cohesively tying together the plot lines in such a way that builds the story and the characters. I’m fairly dyslexic and I change my mind A LOT – so keeping track of 100 mile per minute ideas can be hard! Luckily I have a number of tools to help me – including a husband with exceptional memory.

Most rewarding?

The most reward aspect is to actually find the “road map” to tie in all the pieces together. I think my Sci Fi novella Cold Victory accomplished that really well – I had a hard time connecting all my ideas together – the biological bond between the Hero and Heroine, the intergalactic war, the politics of ravaged government, the shortage of supplies… And in the end, I wouldn’t have been able to build the story without any of those plot strings.

What is your favorite spot to write?

I usually write somewhere comfy where I can sit cross-legged and slouch and let my fingers fly on the keyboard. I’m finishing up organizing my writing cave actually – complete with a water fountain and miniature Chinese terra-cotta warrior statues. Hopefully they’ll bring me some ideas!

What writing project will you be working on next?

I’m currently working on the next novella in the Bloodwolf series – Night Legacy, which explores deeper the ability of a bloodwolf to shift, and their age-old war with vampires.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Oh man, what DON’T I like to do? I paint (I love Bob Ross videos), I play piano (amateur jazz), I do graphic and web design, and when I get really motivated I go to the local Mixed Martial Arts club to learn from the guys how to really stick it to a punching bag. I also love to read and watch Netflix (currently watching the Tudors), spending time with the hubster and the cats (I have two).

Any favorite movies? Have they inspired your writing in any way?

I LOOOVE Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. The sexual tension between Han and Leia is legendary. I also am a big Buffy The Vampire Slayer fanatic – the episode where she lost her strength actually was the inspiration behind Night Haven!

Thanks so much for being here today, Fiona! Readers, mark your calendars and watch for the release of Night Haven, coming next week!

Remembering September 11th

"The attacks of September 11th were intended to break our spirit. Instead we have emerged stronger and more unified. We feel renewed devotion to the principles of political, economic and religious freedom, the rule of law and respect for human life. We are more determined than ever to live our lives in freedom." ~Rudolph W. Giuliani


Tomorrow it will be 9 years since that terrible day of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In honor of those who lost their lives that day, a moment of silence and respect...

Writers' Wednesday: Revise, Revise and Repeat

"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." ~ Ben Franklin

As a new school year begins, I inevitably start my list-of-things-to-mention to my new students about their English essays. I always have a standard list of words to avoid in their writing, which includes "thing" "got" "stuff" and "etc" though I do sometimes add others.

But in prepping for my classes, I do think about my own writing too (one of the definite perks of teaching writing: it makes you self-reflect). And I think of my own words/actions/cliches to avoid. It's funny, but I find myself falling into using the same word/action/phrase/sentence structure often in a work. I'm getting better, but it still happens. In my early writing, it was the word "sigh." All my characters were sighing around: as they spoke, as they fell in love, as they pined over their lost love...well, you get the picture.

In my YA, it seems to be either shrugging or cocking/tilting the head. I don't know why, but as I'm revising, I find that my major characters have this mannerism at one point or another. Odd, right?

Of course, the easiest way to solve this is to use your Find/Replace option in your word processing program. I find it incredibly helpful, and I'm always amazed that even when I think I've found them all and changed enough of them, others pop up that I missed.

Writers, what about you? Do you fall into the trap of using and re-using a certain term or phrase or character trait?

Monday Mentionables

Mentionable #1: Spent the weekend in Washington, D.C. with our Norwegian exchange student (pics to follow!). We were blessed with wonderful weather both days and had a chance to see the major memorials and a couple of the museums. Worth mentioning: the newly established WWII Memorial. It is just gorgeous: a circular memorial with a pool & fountains in the center and quotes engraved around the entire monument.

Mentionable #2: Am currently reading We Need to Talk About Kevin, an award-winning novel about a 15-year old school shooter - told through letters written from his mother to his (estranged) father. Really, it's a study in motherhood, and what happens when a child isn't the burbling, happy, normally-developing child you thought you'd have, and when motherhood isn't the traditionally fulfilling experience you expected. It's very, very good so far. Anyone else read it?

Mentionable #3: It's so hard to find time to write once school starts! I have about 75 pages of my YA to finish revising, and I can see the end in sight, but between grading papers and planning lessons and keeping up with the basics of the household, somehow all my time in every day is just gone! Must figure out a way to work in a little writing before months pass by...

Friday Fun Facts: Lady Jane's Salon!

Have any plans for the long weekend? (That don't involve visits to the East Coast beaches??) We're spending 3 days in Washington D.C. with our exchange student - got a good deal on hotel rooms and figured it was one of those must-do trips for someone visiting from another country. Any suggestions for best things to see and do? We've been once before, but it's been a while...

***

And in totally unrelated news, here's a plug for my fellow writing friend Cat Johnson, who'll be appearing at Lady Jane's Salon in NYC on Monday, September 6th. She'll be reading from her latest release as well as signing and selling books. If you're anywhere nearby, stop by and support her!

Writers' Wednesday: Ruminations on Hosting an Exchange Student

Continued from Monday...reflections on the first week of hosting an exchange student.


First, it's fun. Experiencing a new person from another culture gives you a lot to talk about.


It's also interesting in ways you don't expect. Language barriers (even when your student speaks pretty fluent English) can lead to trouble communicating. Best to speak slowly and using common terms if possible.


It's exhausting. I'm sure this is partly the adrenaline of the whole change/experience of meeting someone new, but for us it's an added exhaustion because we don't have other kids. I'll be honest: having to consider someone else in your house (besides hubby, who can pretty much fend for himself by now) isn't something I'm used to. It's OK, and I'm getting used to it, but it's definitely a psychological change.


It makes you think about things you hadn't thought about before. Your own politics. Your own country and quirks about the culture. How big everything is here. Which qualities and thoughts and values you want to communicate to your student (and which are better left unspoken).


And this is only the beginning. I'm sure there's much more in store (and hey, maybe a story idea or two as well). To sign off, some pictures:

Outside her adopted American high school

Opening a Chinese fortune cookie for the first time!

At a wedding over the weekend

Volunteering at a local pet shelter (each student actually needs 10 hours of community service for the year)

Husking corn for the first time!

Monday Mentionables: Welcoming our Foreign Exchange Student

“To cement a new friendship, especially between foreigners or persons of a different social world, a spark with which both were secretly charged must fly from person to person, and cut across the accidents of place and time.” ~Cornelia Otis Skinner

Just 1 brief thing to mention today, because it's crazy back-to-school day for me today!!:


We welcomed our exchange daughter Hanna from Norway last Friday, and she's settled into our house wonderfully :) I'll have time Wednesday for a full report, so please come on back; until then, a picture from our first day together, at the local exchange program orientation: