Bad reviews. I have to remember, we all get them. And yet, perhaps it is my Italian temper or perhaps it is that I'm 9 months pregnant (consider me to be Mrs. Jumbo and FAIRY TALE to be my little baby, my Dumbo) and my hormones are going nuts, but I can't resist entertaining the thought of replying. My first thoughts as a response:
1) Obviously the book is beyond you because from your review it seems quite apparent that you have missed the whole point of it.
or
2) I'm just saying, some authors have mafia connections sworn to do anything to protect their family and whom the author has no control over. They are very good at two things: Finding "anonymous" people and breaking kneecaps. Notice how my book mentions Italian often and how I've sold foreign rights to Italy. Coincidence? Perhaps. But you may want to ask yourself which is more important, negatively reviewing a book you hated, or your ability to walk.
or
3) Ah, you must be a disgruntled author who can't get a positive response from an agent, and you are taking it out on me. I am sorry. Keep submitting. You will get there, and then I will give you a bad review for YOUR book.
or, simply,
4) You are an idiot, not worth my time.
Ok, seriously, though, I often read bad reviews that authors receive and picture them cowering in a corner, completely paralyzed from the horror of the review. Sometimes I even think that this is what a couple (few and far between, mind you) mean-spirited reviewers set out to do-- crush authors and their ability to ever churn out a new book, just for the fun of it-- they're the trolls of the literary set. I recently received a VERY negative review from a librarian on Goodreads, one I didn't read closely, but said things such as "If I could give a book zero stars, it would be this one" and how she would never recommend it to any of her teens. This didn't upset me too much, since the reviewer gave a slew of books which I LOVED horrible reviews as well. And really, I understand, my book won't float everyone's boat... not even the most honored and celebrated book does. However, I sat there and thought to myself, "What would be a nice, benign, goofy, self-deprecating comment that I could leave for the reviewer to let them know that I had noted their review, and to let anyone who saw it know that I was taking it with a sense of humor?" So I responded with, "So, you liked it, huh?"
Harmless, right?
Well, wrong. This anonymous reviewer then edited her review to state that I was "posting catty comments." Catty? Um, no, catty would have been #4 on my list above. I promptly apologized for giving her that notion that I was trying to be catty; however, I can't help feeling like I've been slandered. She has basically accused me, on her review, of attacking her. And all kidding aside, I appreciate negative reviews because most often I can see where the reviewer is coming from and it gives me something to go on for my next book. But now readers will read her review and think that my response to negative comments is to come after these people in the dead of night. That's a great image for an author to have, no?
In hindsight, I guess the old advice is best: Bite your tongue, and resist. Even your most benign attempt at a response can be twisted to make you look bad. It's tough because reviewers can remain anonymous and be as mean as they want... and unfortunately, YOU, as the author, do not have that luxury and have a bit of an image to maintain, even in the face of extreme criticism of your "baby". Consider it an occupational hazard of being an author. Bind your fingers if you must, eat lots of chocolate, but whatever you do, don't respond. I wish I hadn't.
This weekend was my book launch party at Southern Lehigh Public Library! I had a great time and we sold out of books!
Me, with cake. Oh, and my book.
The awesome cake that
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
jberkj got for me. Plus, fortune cookies!
Josh Berk, the author of The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin (Knopf, February 2010), who set this whole gig up for me (thank you so much!), Me, and Julie Slattery, a great writer I met at SCBWI NJ this month!
Also, after we sold out of books, I know a few people wanted to know where to get signed copies of Fairy Tale. If you would like one, all you need to do is contact Harleysville Books and they will arrange to send one out to you.
And, the winners of my contest...
The (easy route) winner of the copy of PRADA AND PREJUDICE is
p_sunshine !The (path less traveled) winner of the autographed copy of FAIRY TALE, the copy of PRADA AND PREJUDICE, and the SPARKLY fortune cookie necklace is...
CECILIA LARSEN!
Please email me your addresses to cyn@cynbalog.com by the end of the week and I will send you out your prizes! Thanks so much to everyone for making my release week such a success!
I forgot to mention... Amazon has only one copy of FAIRY TALE left. Who will be the lucky one to snatch that up? I am sure I am completely shattering all their (extremely low) expectations of me since the stock they ordered only lasted 3 days.
And if you do want a signed copy of FAIRY TALE, your best bet is to COME TO MY BOOK LAUNCH PARTY TOMORROW!!!
Some reviews for FAIRY TALE have been coming in, and I'm excited to see that so many people seem to like it (seriously, I was worried). Here are a few snippets of what people have been saying:
"I am in love with this book. I don't think I've ever been as emotionally attached to any characters as I am to Morgan, Cam, and Pip. This book has made me laugh, cry, smile, and frown. Yes, it's that well put together."
The Book Blogger
"I loved Fairy Tale. It felt like my own personalized blend of fantasy and reality. Sometimes I'm a bit leery that fantasy books will be so much fantasy that I will be lost, I need fantasy that is extremely grounded in our own reality and I found that with Fairy Tale. It made it all the more exciting for me when fantastical elements were introduced. I just loved the way the author crafted her story."
Pop Culture Junkie
"Balog's debut is a dazzling one, full of fun dialogue, true-to-life emotions, and a suspenseful climax that will have readers coming back to this lovely novel again and again."
The Compulsive Reader
"The best book EVER."
Mom
Okay, so there have been a couple bad reviews, as well, but did you think I would post those? Pbbt. My mom will probably be reading this, anyway, and if I post those, the reviewers will have HER to contend with. Scary.
Well, I visited a few stores and signed books at all of them. Barnes & Noble in Center Valley, Lehigh Valley Mall, and Rt. 33 Allentown all had copies, and the Borders near the Lehigh Valley Mall had them in the back and hadn't yet unloaded them. Most of the people were so nice and happy to meet me. It was great meeting them as well!
Me outside the Lehigh Valley Mall Barnes and Noble.
Me at the Barnes and Noble Lehigh Valley Mall with my book. I think because my name is alphabetically almost first, only really tall people are going to buy my book.
A sales associate pointing out her pick for a book I simply MUST buy.
I couldn't resist snapping a pic of Mandy's book (it was at all 3 B&N's I visited!!) They also had so many other Deb books, I went nuts snapping pictures.
Thank you, also, to all the people who emailed me congrats today... it means so much to me. And to those who emailed me with pictures and letting me know they'd seen Fairy Tale in their store!
Oh, and and and... FAIRY TALE is a couple places around the web...
An Interview Wherein Both Cyn and the Interviewer (Josh Berk, author of The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin) are Completely Obnoxious
Book Chic Doing a Dramatic Reading of an Excerpt of FAIRY TALE
Fantastic Book Review Interview
Interview and Review at Presenting Lenore
Now I need to go and put my feet up and rest.
Omigosh, the day is finally here. I can't believe it.
Yesterday my parents took me out to lunch and then insisted we go to a B&N near my house. FAIRY TALE was nowhere to be found. My mom brazenly asked an associate if they had any in stock. He went into the back and brought us a copy. Then I admitted (all shyly, because I am shy) that I was the author, and he brought the entire pile to the front and I signed them! It was a thrill for my parents to be there and the associates were all so nice and said they'd display my books prominently. I didn't have a camera so I didn't get a chance to snap a pic... but it was so much fun. I could get used to playing "author".
Amazon finally says "In Stock." And as part of my contest, I've received some pictures from B&Ns and Borders around the country... FAIRY TALE is out! If you want to win a signed copy of FAIRY TALE, don't forget to send your pics to cyn@cynbalog.com! I would really love to see them.
Today I will be going on a scouting mission to a couple other bookstores. I am sure I will be walking around in a daze all day. After everything I have been through with this book, I just can't believe this day, this day that has been circled on my calendar even before I had a 2009 calendar, June 23, 2009 is here. And my book is out in the world, in places I've never travelled to, for everyone to see. It's surreal.
Maybe it's too early in the morning. More later, when I can better compose my thoughts.
So, I'm interviewed this week at Lucid Conspiracy. Find out the answer to such questions as what fictional character I would bring to life if I could. I am sure many of you would agree with my choice ;)
Also, I may not be around much for the next couple of weeks, but I am gonna try my hardest, because as you know, next week is a big week for me. You see, I have revisions on SLEEPLESS to do, which are due in early July. I have a book launching on Tuesday (don't forget my awesome contest!). Oh, and I have a baby making her debut in the next couple of weeks so I am so round, like Santa Claus, but not really all that jolly. Thus pictures from my book launch week may be severely limited.
Hey! Today I have Sarah Cross, author of the SO awesome book I just finished this week, DULL BOY.
About Dull Boy
What do you do if you can deadlift a car, and you spend your nights flying to get away from it all? If you’re fifteen-year-old Avery Pirzwick, you keep that information to yourself. When you’re a former jock turned freak, you can’t afford to let the secret slip.
But then Avery makes some friends who are as extraordinary as he is. He realizes they’re more than just freaks—together, maybe they have a chance to be heroes. First, though, they have to decide whether to trust the mysterious Cherchette, a powerful wouldbe mentor whose remarkable generosity may come at a terrible price.
About Sarah
Sarah Cross used to spend all her babysitting money on comics, but because she couldn’t draw very well, she decided as an adult that she’d write a superhero story in novel form. This is her first book. Sarah lives in New York, and you can visit her website and blog at www.sarahcross.com.
Hi, Sarah, fabulous to have you here today!
What was the first piece of fiction you ever wrote? Come on, think back now.
I think the first complete piece of fiction I ever wrote was an illustrated book from the POV of my cat. I was her favorite human, naturally. ;)
What was the biggest change that happened in your manuscript, from idea to completion?
I rewrote the entire book from scratch, something I never thought I'd have to do when I started it! But it was the right decision, and I've never regretted it.
What is your least favorite letter of the alphabet and why?
G, because it's kind of goofy looking? Poor alphabet, you work so hard for me. *feels bad for dissing one of the letters*
Ok, now Morgan will tell your book's fortune. And here it is!
"G", and the fact that poor Sarah feels bad for dissing letters, signifies Guilt. She will receive so much fan mail soon that she will be unable to keep up with it, and will therefore feel very guilty.
Thanks Sarah, and good luck with DULL BOY!
Ok, to shake things up a little, as if they're not shaking enough already, I am holding a contest from now until June 27.
Two roads diverge, and all that crap. Because I know we're all busy, you get to decide your level of involvement.... either:
Take the Easy Route: Just comment here and you will be entered to win a copy of PRADA & PREJUDICE by Mandy Hubbard!!
OR
Take the Path Less Traveled: Go to your bookstore. If you see FAIRY TALE there, snap a picture. Email it to me at cyn@cynbalog.com and you will be entered to win a copy of PRADA & PREJUDICE by Mandy Hubbard, a signed copy of FAIRY TALE by um, me, and a BELIEVE fortune cookie necklace! Or, for the more visual people among us:
+ +Shiny thing = AWESOME PRIZE!
You can also do both and be entered to win BOTH prizes.
As I said, contest ends June 27 at midnight EST. Good luck!
FAIRY TALE comes out in ONE WEEK!!!!
Also, watch this space. In a couple of days I will be featuring a really easy-to-enter (easy because I don't have time to think of anything more elaborate) contest to give away one of my FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEAR!!! Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard, which just came out June 11. It is just so darn cute that I had to buy a couple extra copies to share with all of you.
And yes, for those who have asked, I do have some book signings coming up. Not much planned in July, but my release party is June 27 outside of Allentown, PA. Then I have a few in August and September. I will update my website with all the details soon.
Today I am busy at work on a new project which will be my 2011 release from Delacorte, I hope. Another paranormal. Exciting. I love starting on new projects!
I'm so everywhere this week that even I am getting sick of myself. Check out my interviews here:
We Love YA Blog
Ravenous Reader
Tainted Poet
YA Athenaeum
Also, if you would like to win a signed copy of FAIRY TALE, as well as other amazing books, check out Sarah Ockler's Scavenger Hunt!
And, I would like to point out one eensy weensy thing for the record, since I've noticed a lot of reviewers accusing me (and other writers) of ripping off concepts from their favorite books. If you do say so in a review, it sometimes serves to show how little you understand the publishing process. For example, I have been accused of ripping off WONDROUS STRANGE or WINGS or other fairy novels out there However, the only way I could have ripped off those books is if Ms. Livingston or Ms. Pike and I were sharing brains at the time our books were written. These authors did not "invent" the concept of changelings or of people sprouting wings, any more than I did. All fiction "borrows" concepts; nothing is truly unique. I wrote FAIRY TALE in 2006, which is, incidentally . . . before WICKED LOVELY came out. So, reviewers, I don't mind if you hate my book, but hate it because it is just a piece of poorly-written, unenjoyable crap. Don't hate it for the wrong reasons. K?
Many, many years ago (okay, about four), I met a girl on LiveJournal named Mandy Hubbard. She had this one book she wanted me to critique, JETSETTERS SOCIAL CLUB, which I jumped at. I traded with her ME & ME & ME, another book I'd written.
Since then, though we live on opposite coasts, we quickly became inseparable. We've probably traded somewhere near 50,000 daily emails, sharing our angst and our successes, since few people in our "real worlds" could understand like a fellow writer. When I sold my book, she was the first person I called, and even though her day hadn't come yet (which I knew it would), she was genuinely happy for me. Six months later, when she sold, I was ecstatic, but it was something I expected... because Mandy never, ever gives up. Her middle name is perserverance.
Since I am normally a negative person, I know that I would not be where I am today without her. I'd like to think some of her positive attitude has rubbed off on me. Mandy had more ups and downs than any writer I know, and I am honored that she has shared them with me and that I have been with her since the beginning, because it makes this day even more sweet to me. I can't think about it without getting a few tears in my eyes, but...
YES, today is the release of Mandy Hubbard's first (of many) novel: PRADA & PREJUDICE.
Even though our paths have been different, the fates have aligned to make it so that we both release our first novels in June 2009. How sweet is that? I am so excited and honored to know her; if anyone deserves huge success, it is Mandy.
HAPPY, HAPPY RELEASE DAY, BFF! Here's to many, many more.
About Prada and Prejudice
Fifteen year old Callie just wants to impress the popular girls when she buys a pair of Prada heels on her class trip to London. She didn’t plan on tripping, conking her head, and waking up in 1815! Now she’s wearing corsets with her designer pumps, eating bizarre soups, and breaking up engagements. If only the nineteen year old Duke of Harksbury wasn’t so bloody annoying, she might have a little fun in Austen-Era England…
About Mandy Hubbard
Mandy Hubbard grew up on a dairy farm outside Seattle, where she refused to wear high heels until homecoming—and hated them so much she didn’t wear another pair for five years. A cowgirl at heart, she enjoys riding horses and quads and singing horribly to the latest country tune. She’s currently living happily ever after with her husband (who, sadly, is not a Duke) and her daughter (who is most definitely a princess). Prada and Prejudice is her first novel.
Hi, Mandy, thanks for being here! This is about you. What is the first piece of fiction you ever wrote? Come on, think back now.Excluding school assignments, I started a book that was a total knock-off of THE SADDLE CLUB, about three girls who hung out a horse stable and solved little calamities and crisis. (They saved a pony who was stuck in the river within the first ten pages.) I didn't write more than 20 pages, and promptly forgot all about wanting to write. The first project I ever completed was about a girl who falls for the boy next door. It was loosely based on my won experience of dating the boy next door.
This is about your book. For most writers, their book goes through many changes from initial idea to finished product. The characters change, the plot changes, a new and more logical ending is discovered. What do you think is the largest or most surprising change that happened in your book during this journey from idea to finished product?
Aside from the fact that it took me 9 drafts? I suppose the biggest changes were to Callie as a character. Her original character was an 18 year old college freshman. She was as snarky fashionista who was way too self centered. Today, she is 15, and a total clumsy geek girl. She's about as far from her old persona as possible!
This is about your future. What is your least favorite letter of the alphabet, and why?
R. It stands for Rejection!!
Now Morgan will tell your book's future. Here it is:
"R" signfies "Rights". When the popularity of PRADA is known, your book will sell foreign rights to all corners of the globe!
Congrats on your release, Mandy! I am so proud of you!
A little note to readers, if I have any: This blog will now be a strictly Tuesday-Thursday blog, due to my new schedule. On Tuesday I will be giving writing advice, and on Thursday I will be talking more about personal things. I will be bringing you FAIRY FORTUNES, my mini-interviews with other writers either day.
I spoke on a debut author panel at the NJ SCBWI Conference in Princeton this weekend, and the first thing I mentioned was how invaluable going online was in my journey to publication. Frankly, I can imagine that I'd still be sitting at my desk, moaning about how I'd never get published, if I hadn't gone online.
The first thing I did was start reading agent blogs. I then started up my own LiveJournal, and began friending as many writers for Young Adults I could find. There are many of them-- all I had to do was visit an agent blog and see who had friended them, and then I snatched them as a friend. Some would not friend me back, but once I started commenting on their journal often, we eventually became close friends. At one point, they (or I) put out a call for online crit partners. Through this, I became friends with
mandywriter , whose book, PRADA AND PREJUDICE is coming out this week (yay Mandy! I will be featuring her on my blog on Thursday). She loved my work and referred me to her agent, who signed me.Ok, so I was lucky. But was I? I have heard dozens of similar stories from people who just online-networked their way to publication. It works.
All right, though . . . don't believe me. Maybe it was a fluke. However, I will tell you that when my agent and I parted ways, I immediately put out a call to the friends I'd made online, to ask for recommendations. I received several. And from that, I was offered representation and signed with my new agent, whom I love, within a week.
So here's what I recommend, especially if you are living on a shoestring, like I am:
1) Set up a livejournal. Find other writer friends. Keep your blog active. Try to keep it interesting. DON'T give away everything, though. Remember that agents and editors will read your blog and they won't want to hear about how many times you're being rejected.
2) Don't feel the need to set up an expensive website until after you are published. Simply purchase your URL and have that direct to your LJ account. You can even buy a paid LJ account to dress up nicely. This will run you about $30 a year.
3) Don't think you need to sign up for any expensive membership sites to find out agent info, like Writer's Digest or Publisher's Marketplace. Agent Query, which is free, is all you need.
4) Set up a Facebook account and start friending people. This is also a great way to get in touch with other writers.
5) Don't get overwhelmed. There are a lot of sites out there that will compete for your time and attention, so be cautious with which ones you devote your time to. For example, I recommend holding off on Twittering until after you've sold your book. It can be a time suck and until then, you don't want to waste time tweeting or reading other people's tweets when nobody is going to read you. Spend the majority of your time WRITING!
And have fun out there, ok?
Today I have with me Sarah Ockler, author of TWENTY BOY SUMMER!
About Twenty Boy Summer
While on vacation in California, sixteen-year-old best girlfriends Anna and Frankie conspire to find a boy for Anna’s first summer romance, but Anna harbors a painful secret that threatens their lighthearted plan and their friendship.
TWENTY BOY SUMMER is a debut YA novel that explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.
About Sarah Ockler
Sarah Ockler wrote and illustrated her first book at age six—an adaptation of Steven Spielberg's E.T. Still recovering from her own adolescence, Sarah now writes for young adults. After several years of wandering between New York City and Denver, she and her husband Alex now live in Upstate New York with lots of books and an ever-expanding collection of sea glass. Twenty Boy Summer is Sarah's first novel. Visit her online at www.sarahockler.com.
Thanks for being with us today, Sarah!
This is about you. What is the first piece of fiction you ever wrote? Come on, think back now.
E.T. was my first book. I wrote it when I was 6, just after seeing the movie. Illustrated it, too. Does copying someone else's idea count as fiction? Hmmm...
This is about your book. For most writers, their book goes through many changes from initial idea to finished product. The characters change, the plot changes, a new and more logical ending is discovered. What do you think is the largest or most surprising change that happened in your book during this journey from idea to finished product?
In the early days of Twenty Boy Summer, main character Anna had another best girlfriend aside from Frankie -- Emily. Frankie and Emily despised each other, and in an effort to bring the two closer, Anna ended up getting Emily into some pretty serious trouble that almost ruined her chances at going to California with Frankie. It was all drama, all the time, until I realized Emily had to be killed. LOL Sorry, Em!
This is about your future. What is your least favorite letter of the alphabet, and why?
N. It's just sort of nn-nnnn, and it hardly makes an appearance in the ABC song. You know? We just rush through it, like, LMNOP, and it's gone. Not that I'd want to live without it or anything. But I think N really needs to work on its marketing plan.
Thanks, Sarah! Now Morgan will tell your book's future! Here you go:
"N" signifies Entertaining. Meaning movies. Twenty Boy Summer is destined to be coming to a theater near you in 2014!
Thanks for being with us today, Sarah, and best of luck with Twenty Boy Summer!
Oh-- and don't forget, you can win a copy of this amazing book and a gift certificate to OLD NAVY! Check out the details here!
My friend Brooke Taylor, author of UNDONE, is giving away a signed copy of FAIRY TALE, a Glamourkins necklace, and a bottle of TWILIGHT perfume!!!
All you need to do is help write me into a fairy tale. Just go right here to enter! And please, please, please give me a happy ending. Good luck!!
This Saturday, June 6, I will be at the New Jersey SCBWI Conference in Princeton, speaking on a panel of debut authors. Very ironic that that is D-Day. I'm kind of a late entry to the mix, but yes, I will be there. Most of the time, I will be staring out into space and trying to look like I'm having deep, "writerly" thoughts. I will not be signing copies of my books because they are not yet available, but if you are there, please say hi to me and I will give you some bookmarks to thank you for saving me from sitting all alone, looking like a doofus.
Also, June 27 at 2pm is my FAIRY TALE launch party at the Southern Lehigh Public Library in Center Valley, PA! I am pretty sure there will be very few people there as most of the people I know live in Jersey and think PA is another, foreign country, so if you are in the area, or if you have family in the area, please send them along so that they can take up a seat and make me look popular. They don't even have to buy a book; just ask them to stare at me adoringly.
jberkj is coming and bringing cake (we really, really like cake) so I don't want his cake to go to waste. There are children starving in China, people!Over the weekend I was very pleased to be interviewed by some very wonderful people:
A MAZE OF BOOKS
and
MY FAVORITE AUTHOR
Thanks, ladies!
I just love doing interviews and stuff. And especially since my book is coming out soon, I would love the publicity. If anyone else wants me to invade their blog and cause havoc, please email me at cyn@cynbalog.com.
Also, authors and others: the Shooting Stars YA Book Carnival is coming up at the end of June! To find out how you can participate, visit this link here.
Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day Weekend!
Today I have with me the fabulous Aprilynne Pike, author of WINGS!
About Aprilynne
Aprilynne Pike has been spinning faerie stories since she was a child with a hyperactive imagination. She completed her BA in creative writing at the age of twenty at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. Aprilynne currently lives with her husband and three kids in Utah, where she dreams of warmer climates.
About WINGS
Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.
Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.
In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.
This is about you. What is the first piece of fiction you ever wrote? Come on, think back now.
Man, I don't think I CAN remember back that far! The earliest story I remember writing was a story about how I turned into a fairy princess (go figure) with wings and brought a bunch little ponies back to my house. The End.:D
This is about your book. For most writers, their book goes through many changes from initial idea to finished product. The characters change, the plot changes, a new and more logical ending is discovered. What do you think is the largest or most surprising change that happened in your book during this journey from idea to finished product?
The biggest change, I think, was in my first draft. I was about 20,000 words in and having so much fun that I totally lost track of my common sense and jumped the storyline-track and flew right into the plot of what will eventually be book four.
It was a very bad decision.
I had to erase about 10,000 words and get my story back on track. But it was worth it!
This is about your future. What is your least favorite letter of the alphabet, and why?
The letter O.
It is in everything! Everywhere! Sprinkled shamelessly! Except in this paragraph. Clever, huh?;)
Wow, you are clever! Ok, so now Morgan will tell the future of WINGS. Wait for it... ok, here it is:
O of course, stands for Outstanding. Meaning that WINGS is destined to hit #1 on the NYT Bestseller list. Wait, what? It already is?? Wooooooooo! yay Aprilynne!
Thanks for being here, Aprilynne, and best of luck with WINGS!
Ok, so today is technically the 22nd but I won't be around tomorrow to say this, but:
FAIRY TALE IS COMING OUT EXACTLY ONE MONTH FROM TOD
Exciting! Oh, and I got an email from my editor saying she is putting a little something in the mail for me to arrive today. Could it be my finished copies? Stay tuned!
