The world isn't small, by any means. But it is fantastically diverse and often you meet people you certainly wouldn't expect to in your given location.
NYC is like a mini world all it's own so anyone I meet here shouldn't come as a surprise, but still, it does.
I took a trip last Saturday to what was once Brooklyn Harley Davidson (before they lost the license, started selling Victory motorcycles and scooters, and then ultimately went out of business--very sad) to hang out with the owner and some other friends that still linger in the near-empty show room. As I pull into the lot, two other Harley bikes pull in alongside me, both decked out in animal skins and feathers and fringes. One of them, blasting Native American music. AWESOME.
I notice the helmet of the rider playing the music says "Cherokee" written in Cherokee. He's Cherokee, I'm Cherokee, so, naturally, we start talking. Turns out we're both from North Carolina, although he was born and raised on the reservation and I've never set foot on it. When I was young, my mom had wanted to move us to the rez, but because of the blood quantum there was a chance my sister and I wouldn't be totally accepted and at the time it wasn't a risk she'd wanted to take.
So in short, these guys turn out to be two of the nicest, most interesting people I have ever met. Little Hawk and Greywolf, of the North Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, an organization I didn't know existed.
I never expected to run into Cherokee Indians in NYC, who speak fluent Cherokee, and fly the rebel flag. And to form such a connection with them, like we're family, was an awe inspiring moment for me. It reminded me that people are three dimensional, and character inspiration can come from anywhere. Real life connections and real life characters are what enrich the writing process and help us, as writers, to create memorable characters with complex relationships.
Greywolf (left) and LittleHawk (right)
I'm back, more or less, from my semi-extended blog hiatus! You missed me, yes?
I've had a major lack of motivation lately, with holidays, birthdays, and school getting in the way, but then I met my agent. For the first time, I was able to see her for dinner, along with three other clients, here in NYC and it was fantastic! She's a real, tangible person, not a figment of my writerly imagination. I can't even tell you how awesome it feels to know I have such an amazing person in my corner. Her confidence is truly contagious.
I suppose the point of me telling you this, is that you can do it. Whether you are still trying to craft the perfect story, or you already have an agent, a publishing contract, a physical book with your name on it, you are a writer. I forget who said it, but there is a quote floating around the web that says something like, "Writing isn't something you do. It's who you are." Nobody understands that like a writer.
I know how daunting rewriting and revising can be, but don't you feel better when you do it? No matter how many bags of twizzlers, cups of coffee, or bowls of ice cream that it takes to get it done, you've done it, and that's an amazing accomplishment. So pat yourself on the back, because you are a writer.
Valerie had a great post yesterday about people and their many layers. It got me thinking (see how awesome it is to have great crit partners?) about my secondary characters. Do they really have all those layers? In my head, sure, but am I showing that on paper? **See Kristi's post on Being a Visual Writer**
My protagonist and her love interest, even her parents have all these layers. They see themselves one way, but are perceived differently by others, they have different mannerism, great motivation for their actions, even though the reader doesn't fully see it right away. But what about the best friend? The boy who wants the girl, but surely won't get her? Why does the cop do what he does? I mean, what's in it for him?
Every character is important. If they aren't, they probably shouldn't be in your story. Even if your reader never reads about why this minor character finally decided to come forward and admit that he's a cyborg, they need to feel that motivation. See it in his actions, even if your protag doesn't. Truck loads of backstory don't belong in your manuscript, but you should know every detail. Some authors even suggest that you sit down and interview every character. Ask them questions both big and small and see what they say. It'll give you a better understanding of who they are, why they do what they do, and that will reflect in your writing. If you don't know these people, they'll feel like paper to your readers. But you already knew that because you're awesome. ;)
Now. Back to adding those layers.
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On a side note, I want to wish my agency sister Miranda Kenneally a very happy book birthday! Her debut novel CATCHING JORDAN hits shelves today! *confetti*
I am deep in the bellows of my revision cave. Really, I'm sitting at the kitchen table staring at the breakfast dishes and willing them to wash themselves. But you know what I mean.
Because my brain is spent, today I am just going to pass along a blog post by Anita Nolan, on revising your manuscript, that my dear friend Rebecca Sutton shared with me. Enjoy.
http://www.anitanolan.com/theend.html
- I recommended this one a while back, but I haven't had much time for reading anything new, so I thought I'd give a favorite a bump.
- ***
- Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Viking Juvenile (March 19, 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 067001110X
- ISBN-13: 978-0670011100
- Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.4 inches
- Get it on Amazon here
Buy Indie
"Dead girl walking," the boys say in the halls.
"Tell us your secret," the girls whisper, one toilet to another.
I am that girl.
I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through.
I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame.
Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend's restless spirit.
In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since the multiple-award-winning Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia's descent into the powerful vortex
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! I assume most of you aren't in a sugar coma yet, so here are a few Halloween(ish) giveaways I found around the blogosphere.
Our sister
Valerie is having TWO giveaways this week! Check out her blog (click the links) to see enter to win the fun middle grade novel
THE WHITE ASSASSIN by Hilary Wagner AND the latest House of Night book
DESTINED by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast! Both contests end
Thursday, November 3rd.
To celebrate all she's thankful for, Beth Revis is giving away 19 signed books to one lucky winner!
Details. is giving away 5 copies of the YA paranormal, THE MEPHISTO COVENANT. Ends Nov. 11th.
Details.
Bells has a great interview with author Shona Husk, and she is giving away 2 copies of Shona's adult book THE GOBLIN KING. Ends Nov. 7th.
Details.
Today is the last day to enter to win this awesome "witchy-boo" charm bracelet at
On The Broomstick.
Play this fun
Halloween quiz and be entered to win a signed copy of MONSTERS in the MOVIES.
Hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween! And if you have any contests or giveaway, seasonal or not, please share them in the comments!
This is a formula learned by Stephen King back in his early years of multiple (multiple!) rejection slips. Like Mr. King, I find my writing style to be the opposite. I write a fast paced, skimpy first draft, and then add the meat later. But I'm just now figuring out what that really means.
I'd worry about themes, and character arcs and motivations, all of the things a good writer should be worried about. But I'm realizing now that I think I worried about them at the wrong time. I don't outline. I don't plot my first draft. I can't. I've tried, and it kills my creativity. Just...*bang*. Dead. I start with something--a situation, a character, a first line--and I go with the flow from there. Granted, I would probably save myself some revision time if I thought ahead, but that's just not how I work. I'm noticing now as I'm on draft # (I care not to mention the number) that I DO have themes! Or at least, snipits of things that I can make resonate, things I can flesh out and bring to the foreground and make thematic! OMG! And I have symbolism! What!? For real. It's all there. And I didn't even try.
I wish I'd come to this revelation sooner, and had I finished this amazing book called On Writing a little sooner, I probably would have. But I'm not one to dwell on shoulda, coulda, woulda.
I'm not saying every story needs themes or symbolism nestled in there. I don't think they all do, but if you find it, go with it. Why not, right?
Another question we tend to stress over is the "what's it all about?". What was my book all about? What was I trying to say with it? Why did I spend so many hours hunched over my keyboard, forgetting to eat, or shower, or wear suitable clothing? This is another question best saved for draft #2, not the first draft. At least, in my case. I can't speak for the rest of you.
During the first draft stage, you might keep this one tucked away in the back of your mind, I try to. But I personally can't decide what I want to say until it's done. You don't want to sit down before you write and think to yourself, "Well, I'm just going to teach these kids that doing drugs is a bad idea." Because then your manuscript of going to reek of morality. And if you want to write an honest work of fiction, you don't want to do that. I mean, unless that the sort of book you want to write. I don't want to step on any toes or anything.
So that's basically it. Often bringing these things to light in what you've already written takes a great deal of cutting (killing those pretty little darlings) and moving, shaping, rewriting. But when you sit back and read what you've written, and it actually resembles a real story, it's so worth it.
Does anyone here follow this formula? Start of with a whopper and file it down to the good stuff? Please share!
The early info for October's Secret Agent contest is up at the Authoress blog! This is not the call for submissions, that opens next Monday, October 17th. This is just the info, so get that manuscript ready!
And because today is a holiday (whether or not it really should be a holiday is totally debatable, but it is) I really don't have much else in the way of contests for you. Hopefully most of you are still snuggled up in your beds. I would be if my Tiny Human wasn't such an early riser.
Enjoy your day off! But not too much. You have work to do.
I'm in one of those moods this morning--the sun is shining, the air is crisp, there's a crow out my window--where everything feels a bit euphoric, I suppose. And I've been thinking.
Don't be scared.
I've been thinking about life and creativity and spontaneity. In my last post, I mentioned I'd hit a wall and I asked you all for advice on how to jump over it, or smash through it. You offered great suggestions! But for some reason they weren't working for me this time. This time, I was allowing non-creative thoughts to consume my mind, especially when I sat down in the quiet to write.
I'll skip the long story on how I came to this realization, and get right to it. Most people replay the same thoughts over and over in our minds (total "bag-lady moment", as Dean Winchester might say). Rarely do we stop thinking and just enjoy what we're doing in that moment. Think about something you really like to do, like read a book, watch a movie, or listen to music, or for most of us, write. When you're doing that thing, you're immersed in it. You're not thinking about anything but that thing you're doing, right now.
Unfortunately, when we're down to draft #25 or so, really enjoying writing can be difficult.
I'm finding that creativity comes easier when I stop thinking those obsessive thoughts over and over, and just live in the moment no matter what that moment is. For example, I'm drinking a cup of coffee. I am enjoying that coffee and I'm not thinking about getting an oil change, or washing the dishes, or buying laundry soap. I'm just drinking coffee. I go for a walk, I listen to the birds and look at the trees and again, push those nagging thoughts and concerns aside.
Of course, we can't do that ALL the time. We'd all be a bunch of care-free vagrants (which is great, if you want to be that). But I think it's healthy to just let go and live in the now.
And now that I sound like a hippie, I'm going to go write.
Lately I have had no motivation for writing. There. I admitted it. For the first time since I started writing, I feel like I have nothing to say. Nothing to create. Just...nothing.
This is a very bad feeling.
So today I ask you, how do you get yourself out of the no-writing funk? Does reading help? Do you force the words out of you? I've tried that and it just ends up with more cutting. I have a lot of things I'd like to blame for this lack of motivation/creative energy, but blaming things doesn't fix it! So what does?
Please have a magical answer for me.
My Scribe Sisters and I would just like to say thank you to those of you who spread the word or bid on our crit auction at Read For Relief! You guys are seriously awesome, and to our super awesome auction winner, we can't wait to dive into your manuscript!
Thank you all!
Now, here's what's going on around the web:
The info is up for the September Secret Agent contest! This is such a fun contest and a great way to get honest feedback on your work (and really awesome things might happen if you win!). Definitely worth entering! Contest opens for entries TODAY Sept. 19th
Novel Novice is hosting a fab book giveaway! Two winners will each receive the LEVIATHAN trilogy by Scott Westerfeld! Ends today, Sept 19th, so get over there and enter!
And there you have it. If you've got any giveaways or contest to share, Mr. Linky wants your love.
Once again, the writing community has come together to raise funds for the American Red Cross, this time to provide relief for Hurricane Irene victims. And Kristi, Valerie, and myself are happy to be a part of it!
Read for Relief opened the bidding for a 30 page crit from EACH of us! That's three 30 page crits on your YA or MG manuscript! Come check out the auction website and browse the other items up for grabs, along with ours! Happy bidding and good luck!
Bidding closes at 10:00PM EST, Saturday.
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab.
- Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (August 2, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1423137876
The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.
If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.
And there are no strangers in the town of Near.
These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.
But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.
The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.
As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.
Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.
***************************Seriously, go buy this book. It's so rich and timeless. Beautiful storytelling, with a setting as vivid as the characters. I could say a zillion wonderful things about it, but really, after reading that description, how could you not already want to read it?
My Tiny Human started pre-k today!!!! Granted, it was only one hour, orientation for parents and students, but it was amazing. She was right at home, and because her school is around the corner from our home, I feel okay too.
So. Summer is over, and the publishing world is in high gear! My agency sister, Miranda Kenneally just announced her knew TWO BOOK deal! On top of the Dear Teen Me anthology! How awesome is that? So if you want, you know, go congratulate her. She rocks.
As for my scribe sisters and I, we are in full-on write mode! Kristi and I have now sent our tiny humans off to school and Valerie returned home from Amsterdam safe and sound. Unfortunately, I don't think she brought us pictures of pretty Dutch men. *sigh*
Hope y'all are having a productive week!
Summer is winding down. My big kid is back in school (2nd grade!!!) and my Tiny Human starts pre-k next week, so I am back in writing mode! Of course, writing mode never truly stops, but my blog hiatus has been long enough. I've missed you all.
You'd think after taking about a month off that I'd have something awesome to blog about, but alas, I do not. I could ramble on about my mandatory evacuation, thanks to Hurricane Irene, that turned into a party with my folks out in the sticks, but you don't want to hear about that.
*whispers* Husband is no longer a tattoo virgin.
But I want to hear about you! How was your summer? Did you get a lot of writing done, or are you a total summer slacker? Did you attend Write On Con? My super awesome agent, Sara Megibow, was a guest during one or more of the chats! What have I missed in the blogosphere?!
Sooo my title probably ruins the surprise a little bit, huh? This is the news I have been promising you on
twitter and
facebook! I’ve signed with an agent!
Me!
A real, live agent! Not to be confused with a not-live one. Like a plastic one. Or rubber.
My story is a short, fast-paced, crazy-lucky one. The condensed version: I received offers! And I accepted one from Sara Megibow of the
Nelson Literary Agency!!!!
(I am also REALLY bad at photoshop)
You all probably remember when Sara was a guest judge here on the Sisters in Scribe blog, yes? If not, that post is
here. Sara is fantastic! She’s professional, assertive, super nice, and about a zillion other gushy things. And now she's
my agent!
And to celebrate, I’m giving away books from Nelson Agency authors, over at
my blog! For full giveaway details, and the slightly longer story of how Sara and I came together, check out
this post.
(Very) Happy Thursday!
Happy 4th of July, America!!
(I took this, *grin*)
I know you're all probably outside right now, lounging in plastic chairs, sipping sweet tea, or chowing on a greasy burger, but in case you happen to stop by the intre-webz today, check out
this post by Miranda Kenneally (CATCHING JORDAN, Dec. 2011). She's got ARCS! And she's celebrating with a contest. Ends July 10th.
And as always, if you've got a contest link to share, Mr. Linky wants your love.
Also, unrelated but still cool, a friend of mine made
this awesome t-shirt design, and because I think it's awesome and I'm proud of him, I'm sharing it with you. You can "like" it, if you want, or just take a peek and marvel at the awesome. :D
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
- Reading level: Ages 9-12
- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st ed edition (September 30, 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 9780060530921
- ISBN-13: 978-0060530921
Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place-he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their timely ghostly teachings-like the ability to Fade. Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead? And then there are things like ghouls that aren't really one thing or the other. This chilling tale is Neil Gaiman's first full-length novel for middle-grade readers since the internationally bestselling and universally acclaimed Coraline. Like Coraline, this book is sure to enchant and surprise young readers as well as Neil Gaiman's legion of adult fans.
*************
This was the first Gaiman book I've read and it was awesome! Charming with just the right amount of creepy, and fantastic illustrations to go along with it. I've had it for a few years and was a little hesitant to pick it up--I don't read a lot of MG and it is written in third person
While I’m waiting for notes on my WIP from my Scribe Sisters, I’ve been doing some research on things, including agents, revisions, candle making, how to properly skin an animal (don’t ask), and I’ve come across some gems.
- Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Simon Pulse (May 4, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 9781416994060
Love ties them together.
Death can't tear them apart.
Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.
Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.
Well, sort of.
Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Sh
When I get stumped in a project, or just need to get back in touch with my characters, I turn to music, something that fits the characters or the mood of the scene I'm writing, and
www.weheartit.com.
If you haven't wasted spent some time browsing the collection of images there, you totally should! I've found so many that are PERFECT representation for my wip. Like this one, for example:
That is so completely Jack and Charlie! It could only be more perfect if her dress was green. Really, this post was an excuse for me to share that picture with you. The downside is that I have no idea who the owner is. Is it yours?
What's your favorite procrastination inspiration exercise?
And we're back! Blogger ate my Thursday post and wouldn't allow Kristi to post on Friday, but it looks like everything is back to normal. Whew!
The writing community has come together once again with auctions to generate funds that will go directly to the American red Cross to help with disaster relief for those affected by the recent storms and flooding in the US. Visit HelpWriteNow.blogspot.com for details on how you can donate or bid on the amazing writing/book related items up for grabs!
The ladies at Adventures in Children's Publishing are hosting a fabulous Middle Grade prize pack giveaway! Books included are: Fibble: The Fourth Circle of Heck by Dale E. Basye, The Golden Ghost (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)) by Marion Dane Bauer, The Door in the Forest by Roderick Townley, and The Forever Crush (Pink Locker Society) by Debra Moffitt. Winner will be announced on Thursday. Details at ACP blog.
The Bookshelf Muse featured author Janet Gurtler on the blog, talking about the importance of voice in your novel, along with a giveaway of Janet's YA novel, I'm Not Her. Read all about it here.
Reading Teen is giving away an ARC of Divergent by Veronica Roth. Ends June 1st. Check that out here.
Author Gail Carriger is hosting a facebook contest. If you have facebook, all you have to do to enter is join her new group. Up for grabs is a signed copy of the French version of Soulless and your pick of Soulless, Changeless, and Blameless in either American English or the UK versions. Ends midnight Thursday, May 19th. Go here for full details.
Not a contest, but Write On Con is hosting a "trifecta of awesome" chat tonight! Editor Molly O'Neill, Agent Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, and agent Michelle Andelman will be chatting live at www.writeoncon.com at 9pm EST. Topic TBA. Deets here.
Tuesday night I hopped on the Harley (on the back--I'm not that cool) and rode into Manhattan with my husband for the release and book signing of DEAD RECKONING, book 11 in the Southern Vampire Mysteries (True Blood) by Charlaine Harris. I will admit, I was a little bit starstruck. Most of the pictures that my husband took, I'm making crazy faces, or squealing like the fangirl that I am. So I'll just share these ones with you.
I took my smaller camera, which takes kind of crappy pictures, because I went on the bike and my big camera is...big.
That is me on the right in the tan sweater.
Charlaine Harris was the author who got me back in to reading. The minute I picked up DEAD UNTIL DARK, I was hooked in the world she'd created, and totally in love with her characters. Because of this, I started writing. I even named my protagonist in my current WIP after Charlaine. Her books are for adults, and I write YA, but I didn't
chose YA. It chose me, I suppose (in fact this is the ONLY adult series I read, ha!). There are so many great YA authors who have inspired me, but when I look back, Charlaine and Sookie were what made me realize I was a writer. My favorite quote from this signing was from Harris: "Writers are born, not made."
She didn't mean that you're born a great writer, you do have to write and learn how to write well. Charlaine answered questions for about thirty minutes and then for the next two hours or so she signed books. She is a signing machine. By the time she got to me, about an hour into signing, her signature was still perfect. During the Q & A fans asked the general questions about her writing process, which now consists of a lot of the business side and not as much writing as she'd like to do, how much coffee she drinks (three cups in the morning), and how she feels about the differences Alan Ball made between the books and the show (she thinks he's fantastic, and she wishes she had thought of Jessica).
The thing I found most interesting was that, despite the fact she'd written mysteries for years before she wrote the first Sookie Stackhouse novel, it took two years for her agent to sell it. Mainly because nobody knew where to put it on a shelf. When she wrote the book, she thought it would be fun to have a mystery series that involved the supernatural, melding mystery and urban fantasy together. Then she thought if she threw in a juicy sex scene for Sookie, she could get the romance readers too. And when the question "Where do we shelve this?" came up, Harris said "everywhere". A logical answer, for sure!
It was an amazing opportunity for me to be able to meet her. Her Sookie novels have inspired me in so many ways. I do believe it is important for writers to read and gather inspiration from "the masters" of literature, especially in your chosen genre, and not only the current super hits (Sookie, Twilight, Harry Potter, etc), but the thing that inspires me most about Charlaine Harris's Sookie novels, is just how much I love them. How immersed in that world I become when I sit down to read. That is what I want to do to readers. That is what is so inspiring. And that is how I knew I was a writer.
Have you had the chance to meet some o
Like Kristi, I'm deep in revision mode and my signs are pretty much the same as hers. But have you ever thought about how revising a manuscript if a lot like finding a new boyfriend? Thankfully, I'm married (today is my anniversary) and don't have to worry about new boyfriends. Unfortunately, the revisions never seem to end.
1.) In the beginning, you feel great about it. You spend every free minute together. You even share your Good & Plenty candy with it. It's amazing.
2.) Then. Oh, then. Your revision does unexpected things, makes you cut thousands of words and just throw them away like they never meant anything to you. You completely change your story for your revision. He forces you awake at all hours to jot things down in your sleep stupor and spend hours the next day deciphering your scribbles. But it's for the best. You know this revision is making you better. It's making your book better. Right?
3.) Finally, the day comes when this revision has polished your manuscript and made it sparkle like unicorn feet. It's fresh. It's beautiful. It's worth every sleep deprived candy binge. You say "I do" and send it out into the query trenches!
Unless you read your manuscript again and realize this revision has blinded you, destroyed everything you've worked for and made it a sloppy mess! Better than it was before, but still a sloppy mess. He's not the one for you.
In that case, you toss him out and start a new one.
Tuesday night was the release of the much anticipated sequel to Gayle Forman's IF I STAY. The WHERE SHE WENT launch party was right here in NY, so of course I had to go. :P
There were cupcakes and quarters and curse words. I took a seat next to Elizabeth Eulberg (author of The Lonely Hearts Club and Prom and Prejudice) to eat my cupcake and catch up. Mitali from Alley of Books was also there, as was YA writer Frankie Diane Mallis! Frankie is giving away a signed copy of WHERE SHE WENT on her blog!
Gayle has a rule at home--for every curse word, her kids get a quarter. The signing was no exception. For every kid under 14, Gayle promised a quarter every time they heard the F-bomb in her reading. She owed each of them only one! Go Gayle!
Gayle's first words, before she read the subway scene and the following chapter where Adam becomes "a guy", were "If you fell in love with Adam in IF I STAY, well, I'm sorry."
I won't go into any detail in case you haven't read IF I STAY, because I know you're going to read it because it's great.
Gayle is one of my favorite people. Her books--emotional and raw--are definitely not to be missed.
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I needed this today. How exciting you met your agent! Yay!
That's so cool that you met Sara! I need to come to New York so I can meet my agent--and you, because it's bizarre to me that I haven't met you in person yet! Inspiring post. :)