Pay It Forward Contest from Shelli Johannes-Wells!!

Hey all! Wanted to let you know about a great contest hosted by my friend, YA Writer & Marketer Shelli Johannes-Wells! She'll be taking queries staring Monday (tomorrow!!) for her Pay It Forward Contest and the winner gets a referral to her agent! A real live referral!!! How awesome (and super generous) is that?  

http://faeriality.blogspot.com/2011/01/pay-it-forward-contest.html

Click on the Pay It Forward pic for deets...
Happy writing & GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!!

xoxo -- Hilary

What Writers Should Worry About...

Whether or not we're querying or published, agented or un-agented, we've all received some good advice at one time or another on the long and laborious road to publishing, sometimes bad advice too, but let's stick to the good stuff.

I think the most important piece of advice I've received to date is that writing trumps all. It doesn't matter how often you social network, post on your blog, join new forums or market yourself, if the writing is not there, it's simply not there. In other words, stop dwelling on everything else and worry only about the writing. If you are throwing yourself into your work, making it as compelling and captivating as it can be, working out the plot holes, uplifting your characters, the other things have a way of working themselves out. My agent told me this about six months back and she is so right. She says she's seen careers tank because a writer is worrying about everything but their writing. Now, whenever those nasty voices creep in, telling me I'm not doing enough, those significant words she said talk well over them, "Only worry about your writing. The rest will come."

And That's What Little Girls Are Made Of!

My adorable niece Olivia Wagner & her friend, Maggie

Just last Saturday, I was lucky enough to be invited to speak at the Beverly Arts Center in Chicago! Usually I talk to adults so it was a great treat for me to be speaking to such a bright group of girls, most of which have read or are reading NIGHTSHADE CITY! These girls were a riot and honestly asked some thoughtful and brilliant questions! I'm still getting used to the whole public speaking thing (at least in terms of not making a fool out of myself!) and these little girls made my day easy! What fun! Thanks to Dave, Terrie and Olivia Wagner who hooked me up with Penny Golden, the facilitator of the event. The Wagner family ROCKS!!



How cute is this little girl?? ;)



This is Elizabeth. She's a Chicago writer who follows my blog and came to see me speak!
How cool is that! You can follow her blog here!

Okay, I have no idea why I'm making such a weird face in this shot, but here is my niece again, at least she looks cute! My husband would tell me that's a face made for radio!
But if we can't laugh at ourselves... :)



Speaking of husbands, here is Eric, Nomi, Vincent & me!

 

This girl is Penny Golden's daughter, Callie, she's super cute, even though you can't see her face! You see my girl in the background? She stole the show...and a book too! ;)









More book reading cuties! :)

All in all, a perfect day!!!

xoxo -- Hilary