My local SCBWI group had their 'Great Critique" meeting last night and thanks to the computer not spiting me out this time around I was able to attend.  And attend I did!  I don't know if I have mentioned this before but I break out in hives when I know I have to read in public. 
I remember once as a High School student I won a poetry contest at the Portland Zoo (I still love that poem by the way) and I actually made my teacher read my poem (I was studying ASL at the time) and I signed it, just so I wouldn't have to read it aloud. 
Anyway, so I read my most current piece, 'We Share the Stars' to the group and you know that awkward pause, that some times last for minutes after a reading... well this time there wasn't one.  As soon as I finished everyone took in a breath and said, "I love it!  What a sweet story".  Then they loved it even more after I told them why I wrote it, (my husband and I are trying to adopt a child from China) it is for our "child" we haven't met yet.  And you know, they loved it even more.

My favorite comment of the night, "This is a tightly written piece, perfect for a picture book.  No unnecessary words, well done."  Oh the sigh of relief I had after reading.

So now- onward and upward.  I have spent all day working on submissions for agents.  I sure hope one sticks this time.  I will look into publishers tomorrow.  I am happy with the manuscript, but I am darn tootin against writing up a long "query letter" for it. 
After speaking with our moderator last night, I don't want to focus too much time on that, he didn't need to, why should I?  It is holding me back, so I will look to submissions that aren't bulky and turn my attention back to writing.  I have a ton of new idea's I am kicking around.  Not to mention that my regular critique group seems to be growing. So maybe, just maybe 2013 will be a fantastic one for my stories and me.  Fingers crossed.

Until next time-
Laura