April, 2015

I am officially a published author

I began novel writing many, many years ago.

After toying with a story idea for years, in 2004 I went to graduate school (for an MA) and again in 2010 (for an MFA) to find some guidance. ThereI completed not one, but two, manuscripts. My third manuscript, In A World Just Right, I began writing in the fall of 2011 and finished in January of 2012. More than three years later–April 28, 2015–In A World Just Rightis now a book that anyone in the world may (hopefully) enjoy.

To mark the occasion, I will share a little something from my workspace.

Here is a picture of my favorite items on my desk:

(I will note that just outside the frame are about 100 post-its and index cards of varying colors reminding me to do stuff. I have spared you the clutter so you may focus on what’s important!)

Note the piece of paper lying underneath all my lovely objects? Here is a close-up of the words on it:

I can’t remember now where I got this info. It’s been so long. The words are a bit difficult to make out in the photo, so I copy them here:

*–The first Harry Potter book is reported to have been rejected by 14 publishers.

*–Stephen King’s Carrie had been rejected more than 30 times before being picked up for publication.

*–Richard Bach’s Johnathan Livingston Seagull received more than 140 rejections.

*–After 743 rejection slips, British authorJohn Creasey went on to have 564 mystery novels published!

*–Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time received over 30 rejections. It took 10 years to get pubished, and then went on to win a Newbery Award.

*–Dr. Seuss’s first book was rejected 29 times before being picked up by publishers.

I have looked that this piece of paper every day for more years than I can keep track of. It has served as both an inspiration and a reminder of my goal.

On this important day in my life, I am going to read it one last timethenput it away in my keepsake bin. It’s not that I don’t need inspiration anymore, but today, for me, marks the end of one phase of a journey.

Thank you to all who have helped me get here!

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YA Scavenger Hunt!

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receiveone signed book from each author on the hunt on my team!But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!

Go to the YA Scavenger Huntpage to find out all about the hunt. There are EIGHTcontests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the GREENTEAM–but there is also a blue team, a pinkteam, a gold team, a redteam, an orangeteam, a teal team, and a purpleteam for a chance to win a whole different set of signed books!

If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.

To add to the celebration, I’m giving away a signed ARC of my forthcoming YA novel, In A World Just Right. You can enter for the ARC below. Make sure as you continue to blog hop that you’re on the lookout for other individual author prizes being offered in addition to the YASH grand prizes!

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Below, you’ll need to find where I’ve written myfavorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the green team, and then add them up.

Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by April 5th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

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