Happy New Year and 2011 in review

This is my 399th post, according to blogger. That feels like a big number. It demonstrates how long I've been at this. ::Fist Bump:: Do I look weird when I do that?

Anyway.

2011 was a great year for me. I signed with a fabulous agent (Vickie Motter of Andrea Hurst Literary Management). I finished two work-for-hire projects with Capstone Press (about ancient Egypt, they'll be out this month, stay tuned). I wrote 20K words in a new (read: NEW) MG fiction project. And my YA novel went out on submission for the first time.

2011 was also a good learning year for me. I learned that signing with an agent and being on submission doesn't necessarily mean a book deal. It IS one more step up the ladder toward publication, but you still have to work hard and bust your butt. At least now I've got a partner in the industry invested in my work. For anyone keeping track, the novel is heading back to the drawing board. I'm working on figuring out a way to make the plot stronger and working on the umpteeth revision. Shannon Messenger's recent blog post gave me great inspiration as I contemplate revisions. Again.

Total side note: For anyone interested in querying Vickie. DO IT! She's amazing--her comments are spot on, and she has undying enthusiasm. Make sure you follow her guidelines, though, and query what she's looking for.

I'm looking forward to 2012. I'm most excited about finishing my middle grade, getting back in the saddle with the YA. AND, the 2012 NESCBWI conference in April. Guess what? I'm meeting my agent this year--We are appearing on a panel together with superstars Kate Messner and her agent Jennifer Laughran; and Christine Brodien Jones and her agent Stephen Fraser. I'm also the Special Interest Group coordinator (and local readers, I'm still looking for a handful of moderators for SIGs--basically roundtable discussions) AND I'm the Submission Strategy Consultations Coordinator being facilitated by Harold Underdown and Lionel Bender, link here to read more.

Cheers to 2012!