Thanks so much everyone for sharing in my recent excitement over my book! It's a lot of fun to share my good news, but it's also inspiring to hear yours!
So, what's new with YOU??? It can be anything! Did you get a request from an agent? Did you get the best rejection ever that actually helped you with your query or manuscript? I got a few of those along the way! Did you finally finish a beloved WIP or write the best scene ever? Or is your news totally unrelated to writing, like my good friend Jen K Blom, who just gave birth to her darling Izzy in Berlin (and got a book deal two weeks earlier, the little brat!)
What the heck is going on with YOU???
Hit me!!
xoxo -- Hilary
Oh yay for Jen!!! Congratulations to the wonderful baby!!!
ReplyDeleteHooray for your book!!!
My good news is that I'm 36000 words into my new WIP and still going strong, hoping for another 2,000 words today!!
I'm having an amazing month. My 3rd novel was accepted by Lethe together with a collection of short stories, I found an agent, I have a new novella coming out next month, I've had a short story accepted by Harlequin and today I was short listed for a Lambda Literary award. I'm stunned.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Jen!
ReplyDeleteMy good news is my editing of my WIP is coming along much smoothly than I expected. Who knows, might be querying this bad boy by May. ;)
I got an awesome rejection from an agent. She said no, but she be willing to revisit if I made some plot changes! And yes, I'm working on those chages now!
ReplyDeleteawww, that rat is soooo cute!
ReplyDeleteMy good news. I just finished the first draft of a book, completely out of my genre and comfort zone. It took 3 and a half weeks from start to finish. It probably sucks LGDB but it was a lot of fun writing it.
Congrats on your book and also to Jen!
ReplyDeleteI had a good brainstorm session! I'm excited to add another mg book to my list of to gets. Perfect for my middle grader :)
I love your blog and all the mouse pics! My hubby would probably have a slight heart attack but the little fuzzies are so darn cute!
A generous lady who reads slush for an agent offered to critique query letters and the first 10 pages of my manuscript. She was extremely kind in her critique and said my query letter didn't do my writing justice. She loved my first 10 pages and said that once I tuned the query letter up a little more, I'd have no trouble finding an agent. (I hope she's right there!)
ReplyDeleteIt really meant more to me that she loved my writing. ;-) She even offered me a referral.
I'm finishing my edits on the last quarter of my novel, then I'm sending it my beta readers. I hope to start querying in May. I'm really excited now.
Teresa
Ah, love the name Izzy! My good news: received suggested revisions from an interested agent. I'm in the process of editing and hope to re-submit before May. :)
ReplyDeleteI met two deadlines for two separate books with a day or two to spare.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Jen in Berlin! Welcome to the world Lizzy :)..
ReplyDeleteMy good news: I'm about halfway through editing my current WIP which has been at times painful, but I'm making my way through it, and feel good that I'm closer everyday.
Jen!
ReplyDelete2,000 words!! You are ambitious, as you should be! I hope it goes awesome!
Erastes!
Holy cats! You are having a fantastic month!!! Congrats on your award and possible agent news!!! So exciting! I'm super happy for you! Keep us updated--please!!!
Karen! Good luck with the edits! Editing can be a lot of fun! Let us know when you start querying!!
Anon,
That's awesome! I got a rejection with specific changes the agent suggested! She is not my agent, but after my agent got Nightshade City a deal, I emailed her to say thanks for her advice! It helped my MS sooooo much!! Good luck!
Sue!!!!
No LGDB for you! Something new??? How exciting! Please post teasers!!! I have to read your new genre!!! GO FIRE!!
Kerri! Thanks so much! My little ratties are to to die for! I love them so!!! :)
Teresa! That's so awesome! I know you'll get an agent soon! One day you'll be at your library, holding your very own book in your hand!!!! How cool!! So happy about your news!
Samantha! Edit, edit, edit!!! I hope it works out! Lemme know!! :)
Scotti! That's awesome! 2 deadlines for 2 books is more than a little impressive! Great news!!!
Crimey! It sounds like your really taking time with the edits! I'm really happy for you! I hope the 2nd half goes smoothly!!!!
CONGRATS EVERYONE! I've had a crazy day so far, and hearing everyone's great news somehow makes me feel better! Please keep me posted on everything! I'd love to hear how it all pans out!!
xoxo -- Hilary
I was offered representation last month by Natalie Fischer of the Sandra Dijkstra agency for my YA chick lit time travel book, Clockwise. Hopefully soon the necessary revisions will be done and it goes off on submission.
ReplyDeleteI like your new colours. Much easier to read than red.
Elle! Thanks so much! I'm so glad it's easier to read! I never knew it hurt anyone's eyes! :(
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS ON THE AGENT!!!! And what a great agency!!! I'm so happy for you!!!! Going on sub is torture! Hopefully you'll get a deal ASAP!!!!
xoxo -- Hilary
Just discovered your lovely blog. Those photos are so cute! Congrats on your book!
ReplyDeleteThanks for asking! :) My good news is I just finished another, hopefully more or less final before submitting to agents, of a WIP that I've been reworking over and over for 3 years. So I'm psyched. :)
ReplyDeleteBut, really, I wanna hear the rat play the banjo.
Hey Hilary,I was just on Sazze the other day and thought of you! What a cool blog you have. I have to get me one of those countdown timers. My novel HOW TO BE AN AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE (Putnam) comes out Aug. 5 and my husband wrote the countdown on our calendar.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I guess my good news is that Ingram, the world's largest book distributor, chose the book as one of its Premier Picks, which I think means more libraries will be picking it up. Your book sounds great. Are you going to be doing those autographed bookplates if you can't get everywhere to sign? Put me down for one, I'll get your book for my daughter! It's right up her alley.
I've had lots of good writing news lately. The latest is I got a wonderful blurb from author Nicole Mones.
ReplyDeleteJust don't ask me to choose between Team Rat and Team Possum! I like 'em both.
Following on the heels of your blog getting a lovely new look, I finally, finally got a website!! That's good news, isn't it? It was a lot of work, but gosh I love it: www.IvysEverAfter.com
ReplyDeleteNisa, thanks so much!!! It's been a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteFaith! 3 years!!! It must be a relief to be so close to submitting! Good luck and keep me posted--PlEaSe!!!!
Margaret! How are you??? My gosh, our books are so close together! Congrats on being chosen! It must feel sooooo good! Buy Margo's book everyone! She is a superstar!!
Dawn! My agent/publisher sister! I've seen the site and I LOVE it! Great, great job! Everyone, by Dawn's book too! It's going to be a smash hit, Ivy's Ever After!!!!
xoxo -- Hilary
Hello LAYDEE!!
ReplyDeleteTHanks for giving little Izzy a shoutout on your blog! She dearly loves her Auntie Rat Queen! LOL!! XOXO
And I LOOOOOVE the new colours of the blog! LOVE LOVE LOVE! Beautiful!
My good news ? Well, you wrote it! HA HA! But a particular bit of good news is having you for my bestest Chicaaago bud on earth! XOXO
I like the positivity of this post! I wish I could share all my good news -- but it seems to have a bit on the dry side. So I'll say this: I'm going to a book launch party tonight with one of my besties! Yay!
ReplyDeletehmmmm... MY good news is that my query letter is all ready to go =) (Now if only I could finish ms revisions *dies of nervousness*)
ReplyDeleteOH and I'm very much looking forward to an ARC from someone whose book I am DYING to read ;-)
Other Lisa! I'm so excited for you and your book! Not too much longer now!!!
ReplyDeleteJKB!!You know just when I need to hear something sweet like that! You is the bestest, even if you are the Possum Queen of Berlin!! ;)
Elana, book launch party??? Soooo jealous! Lucky Elana! Have fun!
Sara!! ha, ha! They print next month! My ratties are sending good luck vibes and rat love Karma your way!!!!! I hope your query snags an agent faster than you can say "I LOATHE POSSUMS!!!" Ha, ha! JKB thought she was getting off easy!!! Silly girl!
xoxo -- Hilary
Hey Hilary - you've inspired me to redesign my blog using Dotty Dot. GORGEOUS layouts! So that's my good news - I now love my blog a little more than before. :)
ReplyDeleteNice layout, Hilary. You're right, it is you and it's much easier to read. Love the countdown timer. :)
ReplyDeleteMichelle! I love it! It seriously took me forever today to find a design that spoke to me!
ReplyDeleteThe Tart! I'm so glad I asked you last night! I know you are painfully honest with me and that's what I love about you!!!
xoxo -- Hilary
My good news is that as of this week I can legitimately call myself a novelist.
ReplyDeleteI just (and by "just" I mean 5 minutes ago) finished up reading and answering questions about the last dreadful short story of the quarter for my lit classes.
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere around 50 short stories and 4 novels for class this quarter, and not a darn thing happened in any of them (well, not entirely true... Persepolis was fantastic), so I'm very happy to be done :)
I have two manuscripts finished! Well, one and a half - redoing the first one as per a fantastically helpful no from an agent (LOVE it when they give feedback).
ReplyDeleteChris, I find it so hard to read and enjoy something when I HAVE to read it! I'm glad you liked at least one thing; that's something, right? I can only imagine your relief!!!
ReplyDeleteRuthanne, I got little helpful feedback from agents, barring a small handful. The ones that did give feedback though, helped me so much! Their insight was amazing! I hope your rewrite goes smoothly and the 'no' becomes a BIG FAT YES!!!! :)
xoxo -- Hilary
I'm almost through another revision of my MG ghost mystery with my crit group. Still aiming to start submitting in fall!
ReplyDeleteJim! That's so exciting! I LOVE ghost stories, but I think I'd be terrible at writing one! I watch Goose Bumps with my son and we both get jumpy and he get's downright scared! That being said, I won't let him near the books!
ReplyDeleteGood luck!!!! Fall is my favorite time of year!!
xoxo -- Hilary
I'm going to my second conference this summer.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I received some fantastic suggestions for my wip, and it feels so good working on it again.
Medeia, I wish our IL chapter had more than one big conference! I have to wait until November. I'd really LOVE to go to LA, but making it to out of state conferences is hard! Maybe next year!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck on your WIP!!!
xoxo -- Hilary
Congrats on your book!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMy good news is pretty simple, but it feels oh-so-good! I've emerged from the fog and have broken through my writer's block. Yesterday, I redesigned my WIP outline, scene by scene, and I'm excited to get writing, again. Second drafts can be tough, especially when you decide to change a major element. What a learning experience this project is turning out to be!
When you get a chance, swing by my blog for an award I left you there!!
Happy St. Patty's Day!
Nicole, thanks so much for shiny award! I already put it up!! The ratties and me luv it!
ReplyDeleteI wish you only the very best on your 2nd draft! You'll get through it! I know it!!!!! It's all one big learning experience! ;)
xoxo -- Hilary
My book's going to the printer this week... finally!
ReplyDelete(thank @CliftonHill for my new knowledge that you exist)
T.D.! That's awesome! My ARC's go to print next month and I'm freaking!!! Can't wait to hold my very own book in my hands! It's all so weird (in a good way!)!
ReplyDeletexoxo -- Hilary
Congrats on your book!!! YOU HAVE AGENT! WOW!
ReplyDeleteLove the new look! Colors are beautiful and much easier n the eyes!
ReplyDeleteNothing too exciting going on with me. But my agent does love my new fractured fairy tale idea. Hopefully, I can execute it to her satisfaction!
M! My agent is just the best! She is a wonder! I could not have done this without her in my corner!
ReplyDeleteCorey, I know you can! Can't wait for your 2nd book to debut! Nomi will love it!
xoxo -- Hilary
Love the new look!
ReplyDeleteMy writing life is good, but what really has my tail wagging is it hit 70 degrees here (NJ) today!!! GORGEOUS.
And I finally fixed my blogger following glitch!
~Lola
Congratulations, thats wonderful. Thanks for following my blog :-)
ReplyDeleteI was offered representation last month from Artists and Artisans! I am thrilled and hope to have my revisions done in the next couple weeks! After years of hard work, this was good news indeed!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your book! Can't wait to read it!
Lola! It was close to 70 here too! By Sunday, they say back down to 40 and snow...wuh? Ah, Chicago... :) Good to see you!
ReplyDeleteEliza! Anybody who calls their workplace the cupboard is someone I want to know--seriously!! ;)
Kelly, Congrats! They are a wonderful agency! You must be over the moon! Hard work DOES payoff! Just when you think you're spinning your wheels--bam--it happens!!! So happy for you!
xoxo -- Hilary
I received the best rejection. Ever. The agent told me not to give up on my story. I needed to hone my writing some more. She gave me some feedback (talk about a lightning bolt moment), and I signed up for some writing workshops. And what a different it's made so far. And the best part is I'm allowed to requery her with the project once I'm finished. Yay!
ReplyDelete