4 Year Blogging Anniversary

Well... it was four years ago today that I created my Live Journal. I didn't actually make my first post until August 29th, but still... today is the official anniversary, at least in my puny little mind.

So... let's do a little montage of the last four years to see how I got here. Hey! Comeback! This might be interesting... to at least one of you! Hey!

We have to start with that first 'legendary' post. Right?

Posted August 29th, 2006
Not really sure what to right on this journal. I'm a writer trying to get published. I have written four novels. The first three were so-so and I was able to score a few bites from a few agents.

My most recent novel has generated a 20% request for partial. Not sure if that's good or not, but I'm quite thrilled with it. The problem, though, is that only one agent has requested the full after reading my partial.

I haven't received any comments from the rejecting agents to understand why my partial is getting rejected. Anyway, that's all for now.
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Yes, I misspelled the word 'write' in that first sentence, the spell check didn't catch it.

I was querying with my first ever YA called CUPID IN THE REALM OF PURPOSE, a redo on the Cupid myth. When I originally wrote Cupid my MC was 19 years old and I was submitting it as an adult fantasy. I didn't know that YA existed. Can you believe it. Just FOUR years ago I knew nothing about Young Adult books.

But one agent responded to my query calling it a YA novel. I did some quick research, read lots of YA books... and discovered that my 'voice' was fit much better into the Young Adult category. So I changed my query and kept sending it out.

August - 2007
It was almost a year to the day of first LJ anniversary that I signed with Rachel Vater (at the time she was with Lowenstein-Yost and later moved to Folio). CUPID went out to a dozen editors over the course of a year, but never found a home. During that year I was writing a humorous MG as my next book to submit. Rachel didn't have the love for this new book so we parted company. I was DEVASTATED, though Rachel offered recommendations and always answered my emails promptly.

So I spent the last few months of 2007 completing my humorous MG called CHRONIC JOE AND THE HEAD OF VLAD THE SLAYER.

September 2008
I queried the hell out of CHRONIC JOE but couldn't find the right fit. Then, after amanda_marrone and jennifer_d_g gave me the thumbs up to their agent, I signed with Wendy Schmalz. For the next 8 months CHRONIC JOE went out to ten or so editors, but just like CUPID, couldn't find a home.

While CHRONIC JOE was out and about, I was working on my next manuscript a YA paranormal romance. And, as with Rachel, Wendy didn't feel the love for this new book. And... we parted ways. But Wendy was also very generous, offering recommendations and such.

February 2010
As with my first two books, I queried the crap out of my latest YA called CRUD - A LOVE STORY. And after rewrite after rewrite after rewrite... I accepted representation with Mark McVeigh of the aptly named McVeigh Agency. And, as I type this, CRUD sits on the desks (or computers actually) of several editors. Meanwhile I've almost completed my next humorous young adult novel HONESTLY BOGUS.

And there you have it... that's four years of LJ in a nutshell. ("Help... I'm in a nutshell!")

Without LJ I'm not sure I would have made any of this progress. What I'm saying is... it's the friends I've made here that have kept me going, made me feel competent and wanted. That's the best part about LJ... the friends we make.

I have no idea what I'll be adding to this on my FIVE year anniversary, but whatever it is, I'm sure all of you guys will be partially responsible for it.

I'm Hoping I'll Finally Breakout!!!!