Another Year Come And Gone

Agh, I haven't posted on here since last year! Yikes, boy, have I been lazy!

Just kidding.

Today is the first day of 2009. Can you believe it? 2008 just flew by, didn't it?

Well, I accomplished a lot this year. I started this blog, which has been so much fun! I also completed The Ultimate Evil and submitted it to Literary Agency #1: Firebrand. I have nearly completed the first draft of Khaladin and a children's chapter book called The Clef Brothers and started many other projects. I held my first Q and A with author Marianne Mancusi and even talked (over e-mail) with Bruce Coville. I joined my first writing forums, FW and AW. (For those who don't know, those websites are www.fantasy-writers.org and www.absolutewrite.com.) I have discovered my writing voice and networked in a way that I never have before. I tied for second place in my first writing competition and, for the first time, submitted a story to Highlights magazine. I also wrote a few articles for one of the blogs I follow: http://youngadultsciencefiction.blogspot.com.

As with previous years, I remain unpublished. But, hey, regardless of that, I did do a lot this past year. Overall, very successful and I am happy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!! :D

54K!!!!!!

Who'd have thought that I (with all my struggling) would get The Ultimate Evil's word count higher? Not me. Nope, definately, not me.

But guess what? I did! As you can tell from the title of this post, the story is up to 54,000 words! My friend's suggestions were great (haven't fully completed them yet) and there's a chance that I will be able to get The Ultimate Evil up to at least 55K. Wow, I can remember when it was only 48K. That was a long time ago.

It's been a week since I first submitted to Firebrand but I haven't heard back yet. Not surprising, but I will continue to keep you updated.

Merry Christmas Eve!!! :D

Can anyone believe that it's Christmas tomorrow? I can't. 2008 has flown by!

I finished my final edits for The Ultimate Evil yesterday, now I'm just waiting on friend's comments. Once those are done this story will be 100% finished! Good Christmas present, huh?

But you know what would top that? Firebrand Literary e-mailing me requesting a full. I'd scream so loud! :D

Merry Christmas Eve, all!

I've Got A Problem

On my last blog post I said that I would be sending out my query letter on January 15. Since my query-several-agents-at-the-same-time policy hasn't worked in the past, I was going to query The Ultimate Evil off one letter at a time. Slow, but seemed practical for me.

I still have a problem.

I found out this morning that Firebrand Agency is having a query holiday. What does that mean? It means that when you submit to them you don't send a query letter, but rather the first chapter of your complete (only one submission, please) WiP. This started Dec. 15 and ends midnight Jan. 15, the day I send my query letter that I've worked six months on to the Nelson Literary Agency.

My finals edits are not quite done, but chapter one is all set and ready to go. I don't know, should I take part in this query holiday? It sounds like fun whether I hear from them or not. (This is a don't hear, not interested thing).

So, what do you think I should do? I'll tell you this though, I'm asking all of you before my mom! (That's saying something!) LOL :D