This story is part of the "What if" fantasy blogfest found at http://morganshamy.blogspot.com/. I chose to be on team Plot Twist :)
I hope you like the story... this is Cinderella... with a twist. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cinderella stared at the glass slipper her fairy godmother presented. The tiny shoe, so exquisitely perfect, seemed too good to be true. “Take it, my dear. If you do, tonight you will fulfill your destiny.” Cinderella’s fingers shook as she reached toward the shiny stiletto. Everything she ever wanted laid in that shoe: to get away from her stepmother, to be free of her taunting stepsisters… To be with the prince. Her destiny. Carefully, she took the slipper and gently placed her toes inside. Her fairy godmother’s eyes shined and a smile curled on her lip as Cinderella pulled the shoe to her ankle. “To my destiny,” she sighed, hopes and dreams filling her head. When the glass covered her ankle, Cinderella’s eyes closed, and she pictured her prince. A few seconds passed and she felt her body tremble. In anticipation, she opened her eyes and saw not her fairy godmother, but her wicked stepmother glaring down at her. “You thought you could outwit me, Dear? Thought you could sneak out and steal myprince for yourself?” A chill rose from Cinderella’s ankle, up her leg and into her torso. It clamped around her heart, and she felt a squeeze. “What are you doing?” she gasped, slumping to the floor. “Fulfilling your destiny,” the old witch sang. The last thing Cinderella saw was her step mother’s hateful grin. She closed her eyes, took one last breath, and wished for a different destiny. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ by: Kelly Martin So... what do you think?
To celebrate the release of her New Adult novel (which is awesome, btw), Mila Ferrera is doing a blogfest today. This is your chance to post about a time that you decided to do something even though it scared you, either to get over that fear or because you knew it would be good for you.
While I was in university, I had the opportunity to work overseas in Finland for the summer. I was excited and also scared. My mother’s side of the family lives there, and I would be staying with my grandparents. They didn’t speak English. I barely spoke any Finnish. It meant figuring things out on my own since my grandparents couldn’t help me. And it meant traveling everyday from Vantaa to Helsinki for my job (cleaning staff in a recreational facility for the elderly).
There were a few situations where I got myself into trouble. Like when I disembarked the train at the wrong stop late at night and had to figure my way back to my grandparents’ apartment. I’m still not sure how I found my way home. I swear it was completely by accident. But the over all experience was worth it and it gave me the self confidence I needed. I traveled to Lapland and Saint Petersburg on my own that summer, and I returned a few years later to spend a semester in central Finland during grad school. Now I have all kinds of experiences I can write about in my NA novels.
Did you do anything in university that scared you but you knew would be good for you?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Nessa Cavanaugh, psychology student, knows how to stay on an even keel. Despite the urging of her mother and her academic advisor to get a life and have some fun, “all work and no play” sums up her plan to survive her grueling internship year at a children's hospital. She doesn't want to end up like her father, whose constant ups and downs broke her family, and avoiding unnecessary emotional entanglements is a must.
Then she (literally) runs into Dr. Aron Lindstrom in the middle of her disastrous first day on the job. The attraction is instant—and terrifying. Nessa knows she should stay away—especially when she finds out he has a reputation for being a player—but Aron is brilliant, intense, and as sexy as they come. When he challenges her to take a chance on him, her plans to stay focused on work start to crumble.
But what begins as passion takes on a dangerous edge, becoming an emotional roller coaster that’s frighteningly familiar. As things spiral out of control, Nessa must decide whether she should hold on for the ride or run … even if it means leaving her heart behind.
To celebrate the release of her NA novel (which is awesome, btw), Mila Ferrera is doing a blogfest Wednesday July 10th. This is your chance to post about a time that you decided to do something even though it scared you, either to get over that fear or because you knew it would be good for you. There’s even a chance to win some prizes.
Because I’m participating, I won’t be blogging next Monday. I’ll be blogging on Wednesday, instead.
What are you doing this week for summer fun? Are you getting any writing in?
Today I’m participating in the Exercise Blog Hop hosted by Michael Di Gesu and Steven Tremp, Alex J. Cavanaugh, and L. Diane Wolfe. This is where we talk about how we keep in shape, especially since writing means keeping our butts in the chair and having an ample supply of chocolate by our side.
I can answer that in one word:
Running.
I live to run. That’s when I dream up plot points and blog posts. But a few months ago, I discovered that running up and down the stairs in my house during the winter and yucky weather is a bad thing. I also learned that ignoring ankle pain is also a bad thing. Wow, who knew?
Fortunately months of physio have gotten me to the point where it feels like someone is hammering at my ankle for only ten minutes when I run (at least it doesn’t feel like a sledge hammer anymore), and after that the pain is only mildly uncomfortable.
Did I mention I LOVE to run? *grins*
My tips:
1. When you exercise, multitask. This can be exercising while brainstorming your story, or lifting weights while watching the news.
2. Don’t ignore pain when you exercise. Sometimes it’s more serious than you realize.
What do you do to keep in shape? Or do you struggle to find time to exercise?
Today, I’m participating in Nick Wilford’s OvercomingAdversity Blogfest. This is in honor of his stepson who has cerebral palsy.
As some of you know, my eldest son was born thirteen weeks premature. For ten weeks, he lived in the NICU. And for ten exhausting hours a day, I lived there, too. We’re all familiar with the roller-coaster ride called querying. Compared to the highs and lows, fears and hopes that you deal with every day when you baby is extremely sick, querying feels like walking down a road with no dips and bumps. Crying over a rejection is nothing like crying because one of your NICU mommy friends has just watched her baby die. It nothing like crying when a pregnant mother (who was supposed to be a friend) goes on and on about how her baby is kicking, five minutes after she saw you baby on a ventilator and fighting for his life, and then berates you when you ask her nicely to keep her excitement to herself. And it’s nothing like the crying you do because you’re positive it’s your fault your baby is premature.
Christmas 1999
But with the darkness comes the light. One thing NICU mothers and writers share in common is their need to develop friendships with individuals who know about the day-to-day struggles we deal with. We support each other and give each other hope. We find ways to make the day brighter. One day, two of my NICU friends and I wrote a list to help give other NICU moms and families a reason to smile, even for just a moment. (The actual list is a lot longer that this)
You Know You’ve Been An NICU Mom Too Long When . . .
Your breasts takes on the shape of the plastic breast pump shields.
You are mistaken for a nurse and can actually help.
The residents come to you for answers.
You’re no longer modest in front of other Moms' husbands.
You don’t hesitate to leave a dirty diaper for a nurse you don’t like. (Yep, we all did this one. To the same nurse.)
Do you have friends who help you through the ups and downs of your life, and especially though the ups and downs of being a writer? What kinds of things do you do to keep your spirits up?
Today, I’m participating in the Please Re-Introduce Yourself Blogfest. It’s a chance to tell something about yourself that we don’t already know.
When I was twenty-one, I decided to spend the summer with my grandparents who live in Finland, and participate in a work exchange program through my university. I ended up working at a recreation center for seniors in Helsinki even though I knew very little Finnish. One of my duties was to clean the sauna at the end of the day. This was a very hot job, as you can imagine, since the saunas had only just been turned off for the night.
During one shift, several gentlemen came in while I was cleaning. I was wearing my uniform (which was already sweaty) and rubber boots. They were completely naked. I tried to tell them in Finnish that the sauna was closed, while strategically positioning myself so the wooden railings covered their, um, man parts. And trust me, my red face had nothing to do with the heat in the room.
They eventually got the idea and left. Turns out, they thought I was an Estonia refuge because of my poor Finnish language skills. They laughed when they found out I was really Canadian, because, naturally, they spoke perfect English. Groan.
Have you ever had an embarrassing situation like this? *grins*
Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion. (Jack Kerouac)
We constantly hear that we’re supposed to write what we are passion about. Only then will you achieve success. But what happens when the types of stories you prefer to write aren’t what agents and editors are looking for? For most of us, we are so driven to be published, we bow to their words of wisdom and follow their rules. We’re told, for example, that if your main character is eighteen years old and in college, your story is not YA and no one is publishing New Adult. The only time NYC will look the other way is when you’re already an established author, then you can do pretty much anything. And it’s not just Young Adult stories that are affected. I’m sure you know numerous examples in your genre that go against the “rules”, because of who the author is.
Fortunately, among us are the defiant and determined. They step out of the box, gain a following, and show NYC how wrong it is. And then a beautiful thing happens. Publishers, both big and small, start listening to the cries of the readers demanding more, and agents start scurrying to benefit from this new trend. A trend a few brave souls knew there was a market for. A few brave souls who introduced us to our newest (reading or writing) passion and proved that there is a demand for these quality self-published books.
And to you, brave authors, I say THANK YOU. Thank you for embracing your passion when others told you not to bother.
What do you think of the current trend of NYC publishing self-published books that have hit the major bestselling lists? Do you feel this will open doors for those pursuing traditional publishing? Do you shy away from writing genres that are considered niche, because NYC isn’t publishing them?
Giveaway
I’ve recently read the above New Adult novels* and thought they were great (there have been others but NYC has already grabbed them). If you are interested in winning one of these ebooks, let me know which one in the comments, and I’ll pick two lucky winners this weekend. Just click on the picture for more information about the book. If your email address is not on Blogger, please include it in the comments.
*I haven’t read Rouge yet. It’s on my TBR pile. Down to You comes with an adult content warning.
For more info on this blogfest, click on the picture.
If you're here for the Indie-Giving Blogfest, my post will be going up on Monday, and will include a giveaway for several books I think are great. Hope to see you then.
Falling 4 Fiction is having a bloghop. Sign up, and post your last sentence from three or more chapters, for a chance to win two fabulous prizes.
Here are the Hangers from my YA contemporary novel, Shot in the Dark:
Anything to keep from slipping back to the horrific memories of the night I’d rather forget.
If things had been so serious between Travis and Isabelle, what the hell happened to make her dump him?
“Surrender yet?” (This ended the scene before the one that begins with Daniel's muscular thighs, which were feature on my Monday post.) “The battery must be dead!” Do you struggle writing the final line of your chapters?
<<<3
Hope everyone has a great July. I’m leaving later this week for the RWA nationals in Anaheim. I even bought a fancy dress and shoes (2 ½ inch heels) for the award ceremony. Now, I just have to practice walking in them. I’m more of a sneaker kind of girl. Hopefully, I don’t fall on my ass in front of an agent or editor. That’s not the lasting impression I want to make. *grins*
Falling 4 Fiction is having a bloghop today and on Wednesday. Sign up, and post your first sentence from three or more chapters (today), and your last sentence from three or more chapters (Wednesday), for a chance to win two fabulous prizes.
Here are the Hookers from my YA contemporary novel, Shot in the Dark (revision request novel soon to be sent out to waiting agents *nervously chews fingernails*):
Biology is supposed to be the study of life, yet everything I see screams death death death.
If someone asked me to pick a word to describe myself, sexy wouldn’t even make it to my list.
“Never,” I say, suddenly aware of Daniel’s muscular thighs on either side of my hips, his face close to mine.
Do you struggle writing the opening line of your chapters?
<<<3
Natalie from Literary Rambles is interviewing the awesome Lenny Lee today on Ask The Expert. You also have a chance to win one of two popular YA novels. If you don’t *gasp* know Lenny, you’ll want to check out the interview. He’s an amazing boy.
This week, Elana Johnson is hosting the Never Surrender Blogfest. All you have to do is blog about a time you didn’t surrender. It can be about anything. It’s not too late to participate and you might even win a prize.
<<<3
During my senior year of high school, my guidance counselor told not to bother with university. I would never succeed. Granted, he was partly correct on that assumption. One of my finest achievements was skipping Social Studies 30 and not getting into trouble. Okay, almost not getting into trouble. My grades reflected my lack of enthusiasm in the course. And even though I never skipped English and Math, those grades weren’t looking too hot, either. My strengths definitely lay in the sciences.
I decided to prove my guidance counselor wrong. I did end up going to university (after I repeated Social Studies and English), and studied like I had never studied before. Okay, I still skipped some of my boring courses, but I worked super hard on the courses that meant more to me. Yep, the science-based ones. Not only did I graduate with a Bachelor of Physical Education (now known as Kinesiology), I went on to do my Master’s of Science degree in exercise physiology, with a focus on energy metabolism. I spent a semester at the University of Jyväskylä (central Finland) and was invited to do my PhD in the department of sport sciences. I decided not to pursue the degree for numerous reasons. My education also resulted in a summer research position with the Defense and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine (Toronto), where I studied the effect of various drugs on anaerobic performance.
In the end, I decided I’d rather write novels than research grants (I became a drug rep instead), but I’m so glad I never surrendered when my guidance counselor told me not to bother with university. I would have missed out on so many awesome opportunities, and my educational and research background has been an inspiration for some of my stories.
Is there a time that you never surrendered(e.g. trained for a marathon, queried agents, studied for an entrance exam)?
I'm participating in the Is It Getting Hot In Here? blog hop. If you're looking for my Origins Blogfest post, click here. This is an excerpt from the YA suspense novel I’m currently querying. Maddie and Daniel were cross-country skiing. Daniel truck battery died (Ha! I know that feeling), and they’re stranded, waiting for a friend to rescue them. In an attempt to keep warm, they’re in a sleeping bag together, and she’s on his lap. Daniel is the ex-boyfriend of Maddie’s best friend. <<<3 A moving shadow on the ground outside the truck startles me and I let out a strangled yelp. “What’s wrong?” Daniel asks. The “shadow” moves again. I can’t see what it is exactly, but it could be a rabbit or something. The tension in my muscles fizzles. “Your story spooked the hell out of me, and I thought I saw a werewolf. But it was probably just a killer bunny. And I doubt he can break into the truck. So we’re safe.” “Sorry.” He removes his hand from around my waist and brushes it against my cheek. I twist my body so I can see him better. “Somehow I never thought of you as the type of girl who scares easily.” His words are velvety soft and send another shiver through me. Only this one feels very different to the last one. “You’d be surprised,” I whisper. My gaze drops to his lips. “I’m scared of all kinds of things. Werewolves. Vampires. Monsters.” My growing feelings for him. Being hurt by someone I trust. Never being in control of my life. It all scares me. He leans closer, his mouth only inches from mine. He traces my lower lip with his thumb. I inhale sharply but the sound is soft. Then he’s kissing me, the touch of his lips ever so light. My insides do a double somersault and I slide a hand to his shoulder. A voice in the back of my head tells me I shouldn’t be doing this, but my mind’s too fuzzy to figure out what that means. A bright light trails across us. Startled, we pull apart. With my jacket sleeve, I wipe the steamed-up passenger window so we can see who it is. “That’s Chad,” Daniel says, tone bordering on disappointment.
I'm participating in the Origins Blogfest. The idea is to share how my writing dreams began.
<<<3
As a child, I was a reluctant reader. But at nine years old, I discovered an author who not only hooked me into reading, her popular children’s series (in Britain) sparked my interested in becoming a writer. The author was Enid Blyton and the series—which later became a popular TV series in England—was The Famous Five. The page-turning stories were filled with mystery and adventure. My parents wouldn’t have been able to get me to stop reading them even if they’d tried.
One of my friends and I decided to co-author a book, even though we knew nothing about plotting or characterization. We only managed the first couple of chapters before giving up, but deep down, I never gave up my dream—it just lay dormant for many years until the moment was right.
Was there a book or author who inspired you to become a writer? Or, when you were a child was there a book that you loved more than any other?
In case you haven't heard, Brenda Drake is having a blogfest/contest. It not to late to enter if you haven't already.
After everyone’s wonderful comments this morning, I decided to do some editing and this is the newest version of my YA contemporary novel, Still.
<<<3
My stomach clenches as Dad cranks up the volume on the TV, and my fork pauses mid air. The news reporter’s talking about the seventeen year old who went missing a few days ago. Still no leads. I squeeze my eyes shut as a memory from last summer assaults me. Fingers tightly gripping my shoulders. My heels dragging along the damp forest ground. Fallen branches digging their spikes into my bare legs. The darkness suffocating me.
“I’m so glad that isn’t you, Calleigh. Calleigh?” Dad pulls me back to the present, my heart still crashing against my chest. I open my eyes to find him watching me from across the dinner table, a frown on his face.
“You okay?” “Huh? Yeah, sure. I just remembered something I need to do.” The lie slips out before I can stop it. All I want to do is escape to my room and pretend I have no clue what the girl might be feeling. Instead, I push the remainder of my tofu casserole around the plate, fighting against the memory.
Mom cuts her broccoli into pieces. “Do you remember my friend Amy Platter?” A hopeful smile breaks on her face. Something about it makes me squirm. Like she knows whatever she’s planning to tell me, I’m going to hate.
My eyes dart to the kitchen door. What are the chances I can make a break for it without her stopping me? I mean really, what’s she going to do, trip me?
<<3
I currently have fulls and partials out, but I've made some changes to the beginning based on suggestions from the Secret Agent during last month's MSFV contest (and from this contest so far). I would love some feedback before I start querying again with the new start. :)
In case you haven't heard, Brenda Drake is having a blogfest/contest. It not to late to enter if you haven't already.
Here are the first 250 words from my YA contemporary novel, Still.
<<<3
A memory from last summer assaults me. Being dragged along the damp forest ground. Branches digging into my bare legs. The darkness suffocating me.
“At least you know better than to go off with a stranger, right?” Dad pulls me back to the present, my heart still crashing against my chest. He’s sitting across the table from me while the TV news reporter blabs on about the seventeen-year-old who went missing last month. Still no leads.
“Right.” The lie slips out before I can stop it. All I want to do is escape to my room and pretend I have no clue what the girl might be feeling. Instead, I push the remainder of my tofu casserole around the plate, fighting against the memory.
Mom cuts her broccoli into pieces. “Do you remember my friend Amy Platter?” A hopeful smile breaks on her face. Something about it makes me squirm. Like she knows whatever she’s planning to tell me, I’m going to hate.
My eyes dart to the kitchen door. What are the chances I can make a break for it without her stopping me? I mean really, what’s she going to do, trip me?
“Well,” she continues when it’s obvious I’m not going to answer, “Amy suggested that maybe you and her daughter, Abby, could train together this summer to get ready for the tryouts. What do you think?”
I stab at a carrot. “Not interested,” I say in an overly sweet voice.
<<3
I currently have fulls and partials out, but I've made some changes to the beginning based on suggestions from the Secret Agent during last month's MSFV contest. I would love some feedback before I start querying again with the new start. :)
This is an excerpt from my WIP, Shot in the Dark (YA contemporary). Maddie and Daniel were watching a movie at his place. She fell asleep and had a nightmare. This is their first real—and I mean steamy—kiss together. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, they’re not dating—yet.
<<<3
“Sorry,” I say, voice little more than a croaked whisper. “I guess I should have warned you about the nightmares.”
He sweeps a strand of hair behind my ear, the same worried expression still on his face. “Are they because of the attack?”
The intensity in his eyes ignites a spark inside me. The warmth of it flickers hungrily, wanting, needing something more.
Half aware of what I’m doing, I lean toward him. His faint spicy smell soothes me, makes me feel safe. My gaze drops to his mouth then we’re kissing.
It starts out sweet and tentative at first, but the desire to soak him in, to taste him becomes overwhelming. With my teeth, I gently tug on his lower lip. A muffled moan escapes him. He tangles his fingers in my hair, pulling me closer, if that’s even possible.
The warmth inside of me swells as his lips part and our tongues dance together, touching, teasing. It never, ever, felt this way when I kissed my last boyfriend, and I never want it to end.
I tentatively slide my hands around the waist band of his jeans and inch them under the edge of his t-shirt, eager to touch and explore every part of him. Okay, almost every part of him. There’re some places I’m not ready for yet.
My earlier exhaustion has vanished. All I want to do is keep kissing him and escape the memory of my nightmare.
<<<3
For more steamy kisses, check out the list on Christina Lee's blog (my partner in crime for this blogfest). There are tons of great ones to get you in the mood for today.
First, I want to remind those of you who signed up for the Kiss Already Blogfest that it's for this coming Monday. I can't wait to read all the entries.
Now for the That's YAmore Blogfest . . . .
This is an edited version of an excerpt from my WIP. Maddie is Nordic skiing with Daniel, the potential love interest. She's faking a sprained ankle after he attacked her with a snowball.
<<<3
Daniel’s so busy examining my ankle, he doesn’t notice me scoop up a handful of snow until it’s too late. He tries to dive out of the way, but doesn’t move fast enough. I shove it squarely into his face.
Laughing, I roll onto my side and try to scramble to my feet. Only this time Daniel’s the faster one. He grabs my wrists and pins them on the snow above my head while I try to squirm my way to freedom.
An evil gleam appears in his eyes. “You surrender yet?”
“Never,” I breathe, suddenly aware of his muscular thighs on either side of my hips, his face close to mine. If I thought my pulse was fast from skiing, that was nothing.
For a long second, I wonder how his lips would feel against mine, but then shove the thought aside. It’s so wrong on too many levels.
I try to twist away from him, but he tightens his hold. He then shifts his weight so that one hand keeps both of my wrists in place, and with his free hand, he unzips my jacket. The cold air kisses my bare stomach. My long sleeve t-shirt must have wiggled its way up during our wrestling match.
He takes a handful of snow, and with a devious grin, rubs it onto my stomach. I shriek at the freezing sensation and try to buck him off.
“You asshole!” Maybe it would have sounded more convincing if I wasn’t giggling.
He grabs another handful of snow. “Surrender?”
<<<3
There you go. For a much steamier excerpt, check out my entry on Monday's post.
Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, and Christina Lee had a brilliant idea:
Why don’t we have a JUST KISS ALREADY BLOGFEST?
So here’s the deal, on Monday February 14th at 7 am EST, post an excerpt that is no longer than 250-words (it’s tiring to read long excerpts) in which there is actual kissing. No near misses allowed!
You can include a short intro if it’s really, really necessary, but the key word is SHORT.
It doesn’t have to be YA, and it can be an excerpt from an author you admire (just make sure you give credit where credit is due).
Just sign up with Mr. Linky below or on Christina's blog and check out 3-5 other posts involved in the blogfest (more if you like). It can’t get easier than that.
Oh, and don’t forget to spread the word. Thanks!
Any questions?
Powered by Linky Tools Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...
As you may remember, a few weeks ago I won a blog contest. My prize was a ten page crit and a five minute phone conversation with Joanna Volpe (agent). This is NOT a transcription of the phone call. I scribbled some notes and as soon as I hung up, I was typing the answers like crazy.
1. What are your biggest pet peeves when reading the first chapter? (Note: Joanna doesn’t request sample pages with the query. Her manuscript requests are based on query alone.)
• When the writer starts at the wrong point in the story. Maybe she should have started on page three or on chapter two.
• When the story starts with forced back story. In other words, the back story doesn’t have to be there for the reader to get what’s going on. It can be delayed until later, if it’s needed at all.
• When a character has powers and the beginning opens with her using the powers just show she has them. It comes off sounding forced, and that’s a big turn off.
2. If you have key background information but don’t want to reveal for awhile to create suspense, how can you do this without driving your readers crazy?
(I’m going to use an example here without naming the book. I was stunned when Joanna knew which book I was talking about. Turns out she had been involved with the project when she was an editorial assistant.)
Example: In the YA book, the main character has witnessed her best friend being raped. She’s the last person to see the friend alive. The main character was drunk at the time and doesn’t report what happens. Her friend goes missing. Near the end of the book, her body is found. However, even though the mc knows about the rape from before page one, the reader doesn’t find out the truth until the climax. (If you want to know which book I’m talking about, send me an email. It’s a great book.)
Joanna’s answer: You have to determine what the main focus of the story is. In this case, it was the main character coming to age, not the rape and disappearance of her best friend. The latter part was the inciting incident, but the story was really about how the main character grew as she dealt with her guilt. Pacing, storytelling, and tension also play a role.
3. What should a writer do if they query an agent and land a request, but before they receive the request, they win a critique from a different agent for a portion of their manuscript? The feedback resulted in substantial changes. Should they mention this to the requesting agent?
If the agent is responding to a query alone, the answer is just send the requested material. But if the writer sent sample pages with the query, she should mention to the requesting agent that the writer won a critique in a contest, which resulted in rewrites to the sample pages.
4. When someone participates in a conference pitch session, how long should the pitch be?
It depends on the length of the session. Basically, the pitch should be half the length of the session. If it’s ten minutes, then your pitch should be five minutes long. It gives time for the agent to ask questions, but it’s also long enough so the agent isn’t still left wondering what your book is about. And it should definitely be longer than a one liner.
Can the writer reader her pitch? Yes. Agents don’t expect you to memorize them. [Remember, you’re selling your book, not auditioning to play a role in a movie.]
5. What do you wish writers would ask you during THE CALL?
She didn’t have any specific questions, though she likes it when potential clients ask how she works so they know if they’ll mesh together as a team. If she’s calling the writer, it means she’s passionate about the book and really wants to represent it. She’s trying to sell herself to the writer.
6. Do you have advice for writers who want to write in different genres, for example MG and YA, or different subgenres within YA (paranormal, contemporary, and thrillers)?
Write what you want to write. It really depends on the writer, and it’s something that the individual and her agent would discuss. It certainly isn’t a problem. Published authors are doing it all the time. For example, Suzanne Collins had a successful middle grade series before The Hunger Games trilogy was published. Joanna pointed out that maybe because Suzanne had the successful series first, the violence in The Hunger Games wasn’t as much of a problem as it might have been if she had been a new author.
She also said that if you write a middle grade fantasy series, writing a YA one makes sense. Your readers will eventually outgrow the middle grade series and will move onto your YA one. Bonus for you.
I hope you found the answers helpful. If you’re interested in querying Joanna (and I highly recommend it. She’s super sweet), check out these sites for more info about her. And make sure you’re querying what she’s looking for.
Mother. Write. Repeat
Literary Rambles
<<<3
I’m not a big fan of blogfests. But Steena Holmes is having one you don’t want to miss out on. Why? Because there’s an ultra cool prize for the best logline.
That’s right. Steena is hosting a logline blogfests/contest on Monday (which means there’s no photography post next week) to help us prepare for the MSFV December auction.
.jpg)
