Thursday, May 28, 2009

My Question

Hey, guys, so far you have been great helping me! But now I have a new question for you.

I know that there are some great agents out there who are newbies, but I have a hard time finding these. I would be willing to take a risk and try and agent with no sold projects, provided their training is reputable.

But where do you find these agents? I know some of them are at conferences, but I can't afford to go to those. Is there a newbie agents website or some way I can search for them?

Thanks for your help! You guys rock! :D

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Rejection, Dejection, Whatever You Wanna Call It, I've Got It

Well, you've probably already guessed that the agent I queried, the one I really wanted, decided to pass on my work today. Ah, well. Guess it's time to hit the old drawing board again.

Which leaves me with a problem. Normally I always have a plan for querying agents, but this time around, I don't. There is one agent out there that I am really thinking about querying, but I'm not sure yet. Why? I have no clue. I really don't know why I have ever queried him. He's one of the best in the biz and I have never sent him a query in all my five years of querying.

Who is this mystery agent, you ask?

Well, it's Ethan Ellenberg. He represents everything that I write (but that doesn't mean he will want my work) and I know he's good and what he does, so why don't I shoot him an e-mail?

That's a very good question. So, which story should it be?

The Heart and the Horn: a YA high fantasy where a Princess is dethroned and has to destroy an evil shape shifting Unicorn

Khaladin: a MG fantasy where a horse gives birth to a unicorn foal and Judy has to keep him hidden from all eyes

Help! My Parents Are From Outer Space!: a MG science fiction where a girl finds out her adopted parents are aliens and she has to save two worlds before it's too late

Which is your fav? Which do you think I should query off? Khaladin is a very emotional tale, The Heart and the Horn is epic good verses evil, and Help! My Parents Are From Outer Space! is a fun, humorous story that makes you laugh.

So, help me out here, guys. Please?

Monday, May 25, 2009

Happy Memorial Day!


Please remember our troops in your prayers.


Tuesday, May 19, 2009

A Trip Down Memory Lane Part One

Mom has been going through some old boxes and has found a lot of stuff that I wrote when I was younger. It's so funny to go back and read all this stuff that was so good then, but crap now. Well, maybe not crap, considering it gives me a good laugh! :)

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to share some of these "fantastic" stories with you. Here is a story I wrote when I was in second grade. Considering the ending, I don't think it was finished, but it very well could have been. I have no clue.

Disclaimer: For your convenience, spelling errors have been omitted. I had really bad spelling skills that still plague me somewhat today. But grammar and POV errors have not been omitted. I hope you enjoy it! :)


The Bad Easter Bunny Who Almost Stole the Magic Easter Egg

Dedicated to my teacher, Ms. Harris

Once in a small village in the village there was a very bad Easter bunny her name was Dafney. Dafney knew in the museum there was a Easter egg and the Easter egg made Easter come every year. Dafney hated Easter that's why she wanted the Easter egg so much. One night when everyone was asleep, Dafney snuck into the museum and got the Easter egg. Dafney did not know that they had night watchmen. One of the night watchmen saw Dafney take the Easter egg soon they were running all over the museum knocking stuff over here and there! Dafney was faster than the night watchman.

Dafney was wondering what to do then something came to her mind she was thinking about sneaking out the door without the night watchman knowing it and he would still be running around the museum. Finally the night watchman realized that he was not chasing anything. Both of the night watchmen did not know that in the village lived a wise but old Dog her name was Anna. The night after the robbery happened the night watchmen found out about Anna they went to her and told her about the robbery. Anna said that she would put a spell over Dafney. "The spell will make Dafney good" said Anna

I'm guessing the spell worked, because that's where the story ends. I vaguely remember writing it. My teacher was happy to hear that I dedicated this story to her.

I wish I knew if this story is finished or an old forgotten WIP. I guess I'll never know. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it! :)

Monday, May 18, 2009

Dream Agent...One Last Shot

I have only one more manuscript that my dream agent hasn't rejected and I just pitched it to her today. I have no clue if she will reject it or read it or what, but that's just part of the biz.

Anyway, I'd talk longer, but I'm pressed for time. Just want to keep everyone updated. :)

Friday, May 15, 2009

Congrats!


Congrats to my BFF, Sarah, on graduating high school! Great job, girl! Very, very proud of you!

Monday, May 11, 2009

New Job

So, I am going to tell you about my new job. It's completely volunteer, which I don't mind. It is also just a ten minute walk from my house, which I don't mind.

Up the road from me, there's a place called Shining Hope Farms. Basically what they do is give riding therapy to special needs kids. Today was my first day.




I have loved horses ever since I was little and have always wanted to be around them. The opportunity has never arose until recently.

Today was my first day and I absolutely loved it! The lady who heads it up even said that we might be able to let my volunteer work pay for me to get some riding lessons up there, which would be sweet!

Does this cut into the writing time, you ask?

Well, of course. But I don't mind. I am a writer through and through, so I will always find time to hone and perfect my craft. But learning how to be around the horses is amazing, especially since a constant in my writing is the unicorn. But don't worry. I think there's little danger of me finding a unicorn in the barn like Judy did in Khaladin. It'd be hard too, since all of the horses are male! ;)

(Oh, and if I did find a unicorn in the barn, y'all would be the first to know. *wink*)

Friday, May 8, 2009

Shh! Can You Keep A Secret?

Cause if you can't, then you can't read this post. OK, most of you don't know my mom, but there are a few on here that do, so whatever you do, don't tell her!

I drew a picture for my mom for Mother's Day. She has seen the pencil version (unfinished) but has no clue about this.

I had my mom in mind the entire time it took me to write and finish Khaladin. She was really on my mind when I created Khaladin's horse mama. My mom used to work with show Saddlebreds. She also loves a penny Palimino. So, when I created Penny, Khaladin's mom, I made her a penny Palimino Saddlebred.

So now I am going to show you the picture for Mom. It's a tender moment between horsey mama and uni baby.

A Mother's Love


A mother doesn't care if her child is different. She loves that child for who they are....even if they stick out like sore thumb, as Khaladin does in our world.

My mom is not a fan of fantasy, but she has heard enough about Khaladin to know that she likes it. Maybe one day she will ask to read it. :)

I wish I had the money to buy a frame for this, but I don't. She'll like it anyway. But what do you guys think?

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

I Hate This

This is one thing I can't stand in writing. It is when I have nothing to write.

I have so many ideas it is not even funny. But which one to work on? Nothing seems to be coming at the moment. Right now, I'm teetering between two YA fantasies I have called Your Reality, My Fantasy and The Unicorn Maiden. I am also thinking hard about my MG fantasy series, The Unicorn Queen. But which one to write?

I have no clue right now. This is the most frustrating thing for me. Yes, it is worse for me than waiting on literary agent responses (or lack thereof). I always want to write. I get joy out of writing. But when that stupid, evil little demon called Writer's Block pops in, I'm in for a stressful time.

What about you? If you can't write, does it drive you up the wall? Or do you act like a normal person and find something else to do besides search through your story notes and ideas for something to write?

Sunday, May 3, 2009

This Is For All You Unpublished Authors Out There

Have you ever wondered if you will get published?

I do. Sometimes I read what I have written and think there is no way that anyone would want to read it and no wonder that no literary agents have offered to read my work. I stare at it and think it's crap, wondering if I should shelve the whole dang thing.

Then I think, who am I kidding? Of course will be published one day, it's only a matter of time. So what if the agents don't want to read my work? I have to look at it as their lose and move on. One day I will be read and published.

I think every writer teeters between these two trains of thought. It's only natural. Sure, it can be frustrating, but that's part of what makes success so sweet when we finally achieve it. The road to publication is long and hard and the road won't get any shorter or easier even after all the contracts are signed, but yet we are willing to do it anyway.

Why?

Because some people are just born to do something. I know I was born to write, whether I get published or not. How about you?