What makes a Winner?

Thanks for sharing your stories!

They were hilarious....

The winner of their very own Glass Slipper is

MPAX


Congrads email me at sjohannes@bilaninc.com and I will get you in touch with Kay!

What makes a Winner?

I was on a kidlitchat the other night and something someone said really struck a chord with me.

The topic was - "what makes a book a winner?"

People were saying voice, plot, hook, characters, setting etc.

Then someone chimed in with, "You have a winner, when you get an offer."

If we were in a room, the room would have gone silent. At least 10 seconds went by where not one comment came through the chat. As if tweetdeck had crashed....again!

Now, my initial reaction was "you got that right!" I mean, if an agent doesn't offer representation or if an editor doesn't buy a book - than obviously the book is not a winner, right? That's how most of us feel right? Am I alone?

But then, surprisingly, an editor chimed in first and said, "So if an editor doesn't buy your book, then you don't think your books a winner anymore?"

I don't know why but that comment made me sit up in bed. (yes I am a lazy chatter! I lay down and chat while watching tv.)

I thought about it more. All night in fact.

I started thinking about a book I put down a year ago. A book close to my heart. A book I love. A book that I really thought was a winner.

I put that book aside to focus on my tween angel story because I felt it was more marketable.

Now that the book is off my plate, I've been contemplating what book to focus on next. I went through my idea document and picked a couple. Started a couple. And for some reason, during this time, I didn't really think about the book I love. That book was somehow and for some reason - still on the back burner. Why was I not focusing on Grace? After all, I had several agent offers of rep on Grace. Grace was developed - flaws and all. Grace had evolved so much. Grace got me my agent.

Had I given up on it? Had I given up on a winner?

This morning, as I was doing the dishes, I started to cry. (yes I am emotional that way. And it wasn't over the crusted overnight dishes.) Over the crusted spaghetti and old oatmeal, 'it hit me.

Over the last year, I've lost my way a little.

You see once you get an agent, you no longer write for yourself. And I can imagine that only gets harder and harder as you move through the process. Get an editor, deal with marketing, sell to stores. Now your agent needs to love the book as much as you. You are a team. Their reputation is on the line as well as your career. When an agent takes you on - they are stamping their name on you professionally. I don't care what anyone says, your agent must like your work

Somewhere along the way, I started writing for my agent, for editors, for submission, for everyone else's revision ideas.

Until this morning. This morning I made a decision. I'm going back to my book and see where it leads me. IT may need some work, but it may not. Who knows.

But I'll never know if I don't try.

And now, I can breathe again.

I'm back to writing for me again.

Where I love to be. Where I need to be. Where my agent wants me to be.

And where my heart is.

So what do yo think? Do you ever find yourself writing for someone else? And why?

Untraceable Book Trailer

The award-winning and bestselling teen wilderness thriller

Untraceable

Music: Time is Running Out by MUSE

Help me with my Short Pitch - A little Contest

When subbing you novel, I've always heard you should include a comparison for books or movies in your pitch.

I have been trying to think of mine for Grace as I send it out into the agent querying world.

I want it to be commercial enough yet unique enough. I have good things to use but they don't seem known enough.

In a nutshell - Grace Under Fire is about a small-town teen who gets caught up in a big-time drama. After her ranger father goes missing, Grace is determined to uncover the truth, convinced someone is hunting on his animal santuary. She uses her self defense moves and wilderness training to uncover a local conspiracy that threatens her family, the nature of her beloved North Carolina Mountains, and her chance at first love. (you can see the longer pitch on the side.)

So what do you think? Here are a few I have been tossing around but are they too obsure?

Grace Under Fire is a Sammy Keyes and the Wild Things for teens.

Grace Under Fire is like James Hall's Gone Wild meets Nancy Drew.

Grace Under Fire is like James Hall's Gone Wild meets Veronica Mars.

Grace Under Fire is where Carl Hiassen meets Sammy Keyes.

Grace Under Fire is where Thoreau meets Sammy Keyes (is this too cheesy)

I think I need to relate it to wilderness/nature/environment but still bring out the teen love and mystery/suspense elements.

Thoughts?

Help!

If I pick yours, I will give you 1 free hour of marketing/brand brainstorming. I'll keep this up until my interview goes live on Monday!

Can any of you think of a nature sleuth for kids?

Quarterfinalist in Amazon Breakthrough Novel!

When you get on Amazon - you've made it to the big time - RIGHT???

Holy crap guys!

I made it to the Quarterfinals at the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award!!!

You can go here and read my first chapter. They posted it (copyright me of course). It is so weird to see it online.

Please comment! I'll give you 10 extra points if you read it and comment on it!! Id love your feedback.


Publisher's Weekly is the next round.

The first round was decided by Sue Grafton (OMG I love here!) and Sue Monk Kidd.

They chose the top 500 out of 10,000 entries!!

I am 1 out of 78 in the Thriller/Suspense Category.

You'd think I'd won the lottery. Or got an agent. Or a 4 book deal! ;)

Right now, I get to use the little symbol and add it to a resume. But hey, I'll take it. It is one more confirmation for me that I am on the right track.

Only 499 to go! :)

My hands are shaking.

A web of terror - I'm going in!

Comment Your Butt Off Weekly Update
Thanks to everyone who is participating in my contest.
After all, the prize for chit chatting with me is a customized
5 page web site design valued at over $1,000.

March 1 - 7th (thru today at 2):
Unique Visitors: 797
Repeat Visitors: 552
Total Comments: 370
# of people commenting: 41

Remember the contest runs ALL OF MARCH. There a several people neck-and-neckbut it is NOT too late to start - you have 3 weeks and some people may slack off :)

A web of terror - I'm going in!

This week - I sent off a partial of my new WIP a couple of agents that requested it. My plan? Distract agents with my new WIP so I can be sure I am not forgotten while I am diving into book suggestions. (PS This will be about as painful as diving into an empty pool - twice!)

My first thought when I sat down today?

How in the F#$@ am I going to edit this book?

Part of me is excited, part of me is scared, part of me is pissed, part of me is overwhelmed.

For those of you who write YA (especially suspense/thriller/mysteries) will empathize with me on how hard this process is going to be. I basically have to come up with an alternate ending for the last 4th of the book. I think I have the WHAT, WHERE and WHO? After all it's something I've been chewing on for several weeks - even before I got any feedback.

It's the HOW that puzzles me

But to find all those little clues woven intricately through the pages and chapters (the subtle hints) and change them? ugh! Because you see the original plot will have to change in a way where every little hidden clue that I carefully hid along the way will have to be yanked out and either replanted or reinvented.

My books (like many of yours) are like a spider's web. Each little thread is carefully chosen and woven in a way that creates a pretty picture in the end. Where everything neatly comes together yet a few loose strands - that you may not notice - sway in the light breeeze, leaving me options for another book if I want to down the road.

So why the web analogy?

This morning - as I drank my delish coffee listening to Elmo singing in the background - I happen to glance out the window. I noticed a spider was weaving a web in the morning light. As I watched him slide across the thin strings, I appreciated how much time and effort was put into each link, each thread.

He (or she - how would I know? wait don't tell me. was probably full of glee, loving his work and hoping for a catch.

This made me think about my book.

When I started writing this book, I loved weaving the intricate web on the pages. And I too was hoping for a catch.

Well I did get a small one recently. And even though the catch didn't quick stick around, I think if I reweave my web and make it better, prettier, and a little different. Maybe, I will get lucky and attract that either that same great fly or possibly even a different one.

Maybe this time, I'll catch something for good.

So, now I am diving into this intricate web I have and hoping I that can somehow recreate another one. But what if I mess it up? What if it is not as good and I spend hours doing it? What if the fly doesn't like it? I'm kinda feelin' like Charlotte. Thinking about and hoping for the right way to help Wilbur make it.

I went to the bookstore for storytime and browsed through the aisles, getting psyched for revision process to begin. The rows of neatly placed books stretched along side the wall calling to me, begging me to join their club. I came home inspired, ready to work. My hubby took the dog to the vet (don't ask why he spent 400$!) and I put the kids down for a nap/quiet time (AKA my sanity time). After miraculously doing another load of laundry, the dishes, cleaning up toys, finally getting a chance to pee, and shoving down lunch - I sat down to write. (of course after I blog - it stretches out my brain - like yoga for the brain.)

I decide to dive in.

Grace - here I come again to shake up your world. hang on - it's going to be a wild ride! Who knows where we will end up! But at least, we'll get there together.

Then, I looked out the window and noticed the beutiful, delicate web had been destroyed by a fly or leaf or something. The silky pieces floated in the wind and the spider was off to one size as if accessing the damage and making a plan.

Poor spider.

I know how it feels.

Analyze Your Audience/ 09 is mine!

Update: My thought sgo out to the 2 Greenwich librarians killed on the way to airport from ALA. It reminds us that Life is so precious.

Day 2: Analyze your Audience

1) So you have identified your audiences (3-5).

2) Now you need to analyze your market. Where do they go? What do they do? What orgs? What Magazines? You can easily find all this on Google. For example for my knitting mystery for teens : I'd google knitting book organizations, knitting books, knitting teens, knitting stores, knitting magazines, teen knitting etc.

3) Create a spreadsheet for EACH Book and begin logging the information you find.

4) Create a worksheet in the Spreadsheet for each audience. Focus on 3-5 largest audience.

• In each worksheet, you label the following columns: Name of Channel, Channel type, Contact Name, Contact Address, Contact Phone, Email, and Comments.
• Example: Knitting Mystery
• Name of Channel : Knitting R Us
• Type of Channel: Magazine or Organization or Club or ezine
• Contact Columns: Jane Smith; 1344 book Lane, 444-444-5555; jsmith@book.com
• Comment: Joined 1/29

5) Join organizations ad contact people. Introduce yourself. Even if you don't have a book out or coming out. These connections can still be made.

Next Week:

• Don't forget Monday - Jas Asher is our Magnificent Marketer.
• I will continue the 30 days series next Tuesday.
• And I have a Secret Guest On Wednesday.
  

09 is Mine!

So I am in the throws of subbing my Grace book right now.

2 years ago, my first book made 2 acquisitions meetings with publishers (*sigh), last year my nonfiction book made Acquisitions at American Girl (*sigh). I have never queried agents before.

This time, I decided to focus on getting an agent. And I have taken my time. I have made my short list of Dreamy agents based on their clients and likes and wants. I am only subbing to a handful of selected agents at a time. I am not doing the mass query thing.

Currently, I have a few fulls requested and out. Now? I am just waiting. So far, pretty much every agent I have queried has immediately requested a full. And that is a good sign. But the waiting game is tough. No matter how far you or where you are in the process, I am sure the waiting exists and is just as hard.

But for some reason, I feel like this is my year. I don't know why, I just feel an energy pulling me. Doesn't mean I dont have my down days (I am actually having one today :( b/c I do. I am a go-getter and I push myself hard. So to sit back and let go of control is hard for me. But this has been a good lesson. I am also used to things happening for me pretty quickly for me so putting in my dues and time with little in return is hard as well.

I've given up alot to be here and it has all been worth it. But doubt creeps in and rears its ugly head no matter what requests or feedback I get.

You see I had the chance to be a high - high- high level executive at an International Bank. But a few years ago, I left alot of money and alot of experience and walked away from my fast track in Corporate America to write. Of course, I have had 2 kids in the process so it has not gone as quickly as I had planned or hoped.

In the meantime, with my degrees and experience, I started my marketing biz on the side to help pay the bills. It allowed me to work from home, be with my kids, and control my own days of when to write and when to work.

My hubby has been so supportive and equally agreed to give up 50% of our income for me to follow my dream. And now I am so close. And what is interesting is that no matter how bad I want it for myself. I also want to do it for him so he knows we haven't struggled for nothing. He has given up so much for me to pursue my passion and his support and faith never waivers.

So now? I just wait... and hope....and believe....and write.

And more importantly, I start another book, a new series that I am very excited about.

I just hope that when my time does come, I find an agent and editor that I connect with, that believes in my story enough to take a leap of faith with me, that gets me and my character. That sees the uniqueness and timeliness of my subject matter. I dont just want anyone, I want "the one". And I know "the one" is different for everyone. And I will wait until it feels right.

Lindsey Leavitt gave me some good advice over coffee last fall and for some reason it stuck with me. She said, "I never knew who my dream agent was until I met her." That is so true. You pick people based on reputations and clients. But in the end it is the connection that matters. Their love for your story.

Now I finally am at a place where I can devote myself to my writing. My daughter starts K this summer, my son turns 2 in May, and my hubby has said "there will be no more".

I've cleared the path - 09 is mine.

Dear Grace, Thanks for the Good times

Marketing ReMinder:

Don't forget tomorrow marks the first interview in the Marvelous Marketer feature for Mondays.

Lisa Schroeder - author of I Heart You, You Haunt Me is up first.

See you then!


Dear Grace

Dear Grace,

We have been together almost 2 years now and I have thoroughly enjoyed our time together. We have captured your story and I hope to share it with the world soon. On this long journey together we have shared tears, laughter, frustration, fear, worry, and secrets. You have made me a better writer and I appreciate everything you have given me. You will forever and always be a great friend.

Now that I am sending you out into the world, I must get a little space. This does not mean we cannot be friends or hang out. I just need to take a little time away so that I may recoop and regroup for our next adventure together. In the meantime, I have to help another friend, Gabriella (Gabby) and tell a different story.

Without you, I would never be where I am today. I would never have learned to love flyfishing, about the true beauty of the North Carolina Mountains, the history of Cherokee Indians, nor the true of pain of losing a family member. Throughout the process, you have never wavered in your strength, humor, trust, loyalty and grace :).

Thank you and I look forward to seeing you again soon
Love Shelli.

WTPDF Writer seeking NFSW Agent

I am a Witty, talented, passionate, dedicated female writer seeking a nice, funny, smart, well-connected literary agent.

An agent who is seeking a YA suspense or a Tween paranormal. One has a witty, self-sufficient, smart, sarcastic, outdoorsy, electronic-savvy protagonist named Grace. The other, a deadly girl named Gabby.

I would like an agent who can happily commit to a long-term relationship.


One who:

• loves to carry my manuscripts in his/her briefcase
• refuses a kindle until my books are on it
• love my characters, loves my humor, and absolutely adores me
• believes with all their heart that my book will do great things
• laughs in the face of economic times, knowing my book will prevail all recessions
• calls me every day and showers me with compliments and multiple offers
• has no edits for any of my subs knowing they are from pure perfection

My perfect agent is:

• a relative or close friend of Oprah's
• well-connected
• funny
• patient
• nice
• works 24/7
• someone who loves my voice
• prophetic
• free or freeish
• doesn't mind 15 emails from me a day
• responds to every email with care and love
• wants me as his/her only client so thy can focus 150% of their time on my book
• laughs at my jokes
• refers to me as "my #1 writer"

In return, I promise to:

• write good...I mean well.
• revise with a smile
• offer 20% instead of standard 15% commission
• only email once a day and turn off the "return receipt"
• never prank call editors using your name
• never use a dangling modifier, or a comma, splice
• stay true to my character' arcs
• mention you in my book acknowledgements...at least twice
• give you a shout-out when I am on on Oprah
• not complain too much about my book cover
• not send you holiday cards with glitter
• never use any cliche - to safe the life of me
• to always show and not tell

Contact me in any way you wish if interested - twitter, myspace, facebook, email, phone, address, telepathy, bike messenger, telegram, in my dreams, when hell freezes over, sky-writing, cookie message, letter, television plea,

Shouldn't be too hard to find, right?

Ode to Writers Everywhere

Janet Reid at Fine Literary had a great link to a Rachel Gardner's post yesterday which is just what I needed. No matter what your personal views are, or what you believe it - the premise of this post is so true.

Also Pub Rants post on hope for the debut author. Good news for us newbies. Keep to your calling and know there will always be markets for good writers/stories.

All good points.

Right now, I realize the journey of me being a published writer is not about the end result (yes it is! yes it is! says the crummy little book devil sitting on my shoulder!)

But I know deep down, it's really not. Writing is about the journey (blah blah blah :) I have to have faith that I believe in myself and my writing with my whole heart and soul.

This is my calling.

I gave up so much to be a writer - an executive job, great pay, my ego - all to walk along the ledge on the mountain of publishing.

If I can't write, I am not living. My soul does not sing and my spirit just wants to sleep.

I am focusing on how far I've come. It is about the journey. It is about faith. It is about hope. It is about the process. It is about the feeling we get when we write. I know I will make it. I will be passionate. I will make revisions with a smile on my face. I will work so hard! When (not if) I am given the chance.

I'd like to take a moment and celebrate how far we've come.

So to all my fellow writers - no matter what stage you are in - writing your first book, published, unpublished, pre-published - this song's for you:

Somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true ooh ooooh

Somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
And the dream that you dare to
why, oh why can't I?

Hang in there and follow your dreams. If writing was not your calling - you wouldn't be reading this right now :)

Good luck

Finding Grace

When I first started writing my book - almost 2 years ago - I needed a name for my character who was tough yet soft. To me, everything is in a name. Names give you feelings about a person before you even know them. It's funny how names fit people, isn't it.

I immediately thought of the name Grace but Grace was one of the names we had on our list for kids. We almost called my daughter Grace but she ended up a Madelyn (Maddy) - which suits her perfectly. I always loved the name Grace and what it stood for. But decided to save it for my next baby, b/c I was prego at the time. That was, until I found out my baby was a boy, who we named Gray (close to Grace :)

That left Grace fair game.

A few months after I started getting to know Grace and her story, I came across this beautiful U2 song that totally inspired my book and its core message of love and overcoming evil. Then, I watched this video - and it touched me deply. (FYI - the first girl crying with mascara running feels like Grace to me! It is so wierd! Wish I knew her name.)

I use this song when am beefing up details around Grace's character. She is a tough cookie and this song helps me keep an underlying femininity to her that she has yet to explore.

Some lyrics:
Grace
It's a name for a girl
It's also a thought that changed the world.
And when she walks on the street.
You can hear the strings,
Grace finds goodness in everything

What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stings
Because grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things
Grace makes beauty out of ugly things

Enjoy!

How did you come up with names for your characters?

My method of writing to music

Those who know me know that I write to music. (this along with lots of gum and MMs and coffee and coke zero. ugh!)

I know it seems crazy but it's true! Maybe it is my ADHD. But I write better with noise.

So - that's how Grace Under Fire came to be. Thanks to a list of great songs. I have completed that book and already working on book 2: A Blazing Grace.

I have a playlist for each book I am working on. And a song that represents the essence of each chapter - that gives me a vibe of what the chapter is about. So if I am writing on that chapter - I listen to that song. Now, I only use this when I just want to get a chapter down on paper and I don't want to think about editing or cliches. Once I am working a chapter to death, in detail. I usually listen to some form of instrumental music with no words.

I thought I could start sharing my playlist songs with you.

Here's is the one I writing to today - "Let me go" by Cake.

be prepared to bounce. Though the song is not truly happy, the beat it.

Enjoy!

PS I am so proud I figured out how to do this. Man I am computer savvy. :)



This one is not on my playlist but it was too cute to pass up. :) This country gonna have a Par-ty!