My sister said my new reading glasses made me look "smart," as in... like... I guess didn't look "smart" before. Soooo.... I decided, why not? I'll fool a few people on my book blog and change my picture. Maybe with my new smartie pants glasses I'll be able to fool everyone into thinking that I'm, well, "smart!" Haha!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
My Lunch with Al
So I met with this author guy like a month ago for lunch. And you're probably wondering why I haven't posted anything about it yet... I wish I had some fabulous excuse to give about a book contract in the making and all my time being completely consumed with the demands of suddenly becoming an overnight celebrity... but you five people that read this blog already know me well enough to know that that is certainly NOT the case! Ha! Really all I've got for you in the way of excuses is the normal everyday: life got busy. School started... new classes, 18 credits, last semester of law school, preparing for the bar... on and on! I've just been so frantic trying to breathe lately that I haven't had any time to focus on any sort of book stuff. But as I'm starting to get into the groove of my new schedule, I finally find myself with a bit of time to give an update on a very enjoyable lunch I had with a Mr. Albert Strickland!
My first impression of "Al" was: what a sweet guy! ... and nothing changed during the course of lunch. Albert was nothing but smiles and niceness all from the moment he shook my hand to greet me until we walked out the door laughing. It was probably one of the most enjoyable lunches I had all summer! He talked and talked and asked me all sorts of questions about my book and my progress, gave advice on how to catch the attention of agents in my query letter, and told the most outrageous stories. He had an air of genuineness about him and was completely engagning and entertaining.
Albert has a book--his first novel--coming out sometime around Thanksgiving. Its being published through Random House. I've had the privilege to read a few of the chapters and must say it sounds fabulous! As soon as it comes out and I've had time to read it, I'll be certain to post a full review on my blog! Anyway, Albert's novel is sort of the reason that I was able to make contact with him in the first place. He was doing a piece of writing on the technology used in Oral Surgery offices when he met my dad. He interviewed him and was fascinated over the high-tech equipment my dad uses and eventually they got to talking about some of the other things Albert was working on. Surprisingly enough, Albert's book is somewhat of a government conspiracy novel too, and when my dad heard this he mentioned that I was writing a similar novel (although the time periods and story lines for our two books are completely different). Albert was delighted by the sound of my book and told my dad to have me send him some material. I did so and over lunch he was nothing but positive about my story line, the flow of my chapters and accuracy in implementing real life bits of history into the book. I asked him for advice on how to make it better and gave me a few spectacular things to add to my novel--little bits of sparkle to make my novel shine. He also suggested a few changes to my query letter and promised to send me a list of agents, publishers and editors in New York he thinks would be interested in my type of novel. He already sent some of my work to his "people" at Random House and said he'd let me know if they get back to him about it.
Needless to say it was a fabulous meeting that left me glowing for the rest of the weekend! I left with lots of excitement to get home and hit the ground running again on that road to publication. Everyone needs a good pick-me-up now and again, and I definitely found that in Albert Strickland!
My first impression of "Al" was: what a sweet guy! ... and nothing changed during the course of lunch. Albert was nothing but smiles and niceness all from the moment he shook my hand to greet me until we walked out the door laughing. It was probably one of the most enjoyable lunches I had all summer! He talked and talked and asked me all sorts of questions about my book and my progress, gave advice on how to catch the attention of agents in my query letter, and told the most outrageous stories. He had an air of genuineness about him and was completely engagning and entertaining.
Albert has a book--his first novel--coming out sometime around Thanksgiving. Its being published through Random House. I've had the privilege to read a few of the chapters and must say it sounds fabulous! As soon as it comes out and I've had time to read it, I'll be certain to post a full review on my blog! Anyway, Albert's novel is sort of the reason that I was able to make contact with him in the first place. He was doing a piece of writing on the technology used in Oral Surgery offices when he met my dad. He interviewed him and was fascinated over the high-tech equipment my dad uses and eventually they got to talking about some of the other things Albert was working on. Surprisingly enough, Albert's book is somewhat of a government conspiracy novel too, and when my dad heard this he mentioned that I was writing a similar novel (although the time periods and story lines for our two books are completely different). Albert was delighted by the sound of my book and told my dad to have me send him some material. I did so and over lunch he was nothing but positive about my story line, the flow of my chapters and accuracy in implementing real life bits of history into the book. I asked him for advice on how to make it better and gave me a few spectacular things to add to my novel--little bits of sparkle to make my novel shine. He also suggested a few changes to my query letter and promised to send me a list of agents, publishers and editors in New York he thinks would be interested in my type of novel. He already sent some of my work to his "people" at Random House and said he'd let me know if they get back to him about it.
Needless to say it was a fabulous meeting that left me glowing for the rest of the weekend! I left with lots of excitement to get home and hit the ground running again on that road to publication. Everyone needs a good pick-me-up now and again, and I definitely found that in Albert Strickland!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Nervous
I'm having lunch with an already-in-the-making author tomorrow. I sent him some of my material way back in the day and we're finally meeting to go over it! I'm pretty excited... but very nervous. I keep telling myself that he wouldn't even bother with lunch if he thought I was a hopless cause... right?
Eesh. Nerves. Many nerves.
Eesh. Nerves. Many nerves.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Option Atlantris likely
So this week I sent five packets of sample book material to my new author buddy. The plan is for author buddy to read and review my material and pass said material on to his "connections" in the literary world. After that, the plan is a bit hazy. It could go one of two ways... the first, I never hear back from either author buddy OR any of author buddy's said connections. This option definitely has the greater likelihood of actually happening.
The second thing that could happen, is that defying all the odds, one of author buddy's connections will miraculously pull through and contact me about my book! Sadly, the actual likelihood of this happening is slim to none... I would guesstimate it having a 98.742 percent chance of failing. In fact, it's probably safe to say that scientists have a better chance at discovering the lost city of Atlantis than this actually happening. (Okay, I might be exaggerating slightly on that one...) However, looking on the much more brighter side, this IS better than the 99.9 percent chance of rejection I have at just about every literary agency I've sent my stuff to so far!
Progress, people, that's what this is all about!
By the way, without disclosing any names or other identifying factors, I found out that this particular author actually has connections to friends in high places in the literary world. For some reason, I didn't think the connections would be that great because my dad met him in my home town (and really, its pitifully small compared to the literary hub of New York City). But surprisingly, his book contract is with a VERY large, well-known publishing agency. Lets just say that if by some miracle I happened to get a book contract with this particular agency... well... there's not much further up I can go! I'd be thrilled!
Needless to say, fingers still crossed.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
So much bad, and then WHAM! Good news!
Yesterday, during a highly anticipated America's Next Top Model season premiere par-te (yes, law school girls are still girls... we love our drama!), I get a lovely call from my dad. I ALMOST didn't answer it. After all, its a girl party, and guys are most definitely NOT allowed at a girl party! But since I don't get random calls from my parents very often, I decided to give it a whirl.
Boy am I glad I answered it!!
Long story short, my dad meets this guy in his office who is doing some kind of article on Oral Surgery. They get to talking and my dad finds out he's a publisher. Then they get to talking some more and my dad mentions that I wrote a book and how I was trying to get it published. The guy then offered to read some of my stuff and pass it on to 5 or 6 more publishing companies that he has connections with.
[pause here for jumping up and down ecstatically!!!!]
Boy am I glad I answered it!!
Long story short, my dad meets this guy in his office who is doing some kind of article on Oral Surgery. They get to talking and my dad finds out he's a publisher. Then they get to talking some more and my dad mentions that I wrote a book and how I was trying to get it published. The guy then offered to read some of my stuff and pass it on to 5 or 6 more publishing companies that he has connections with.
[pause here for jumping up and down ecstatically!!!!]
Had my friends unexpectedly interrupted my conversation at that point, this is what they would have seen me doing!
But after I had my happy joy jumping session, I brought myself back down to earth and tried to sound like a professional as I finished the conversation up with my dad (not an easy feat!). And now, after a good night's sleep, I am trying REALLY hard to not to get overly excited about this. I keep telling myself, "Julie, it might be nothing. Julie, it might be nothing." After all, this guy hasn't read ANY of my work, and truthfully, when it all comes down to it, he might hate it. So I don't want to get myself all pumped up for a dead end lead..... Still, its hard NOT to get excited! Manuscripts with referrals have a MUCH better slush-pile-survival-rate than those without. Meaning, if this guy actually LIKES my book, and gives me a good referral, the chances of my manuscript getting published shoots up like a rocket!
So when push comes to shove, the bottom line of all this is that the life of my book is ridding on this one guy's opinion of my writing.
Nerve wracking? You bet!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
...
...18 and counting.
But on the bright side, other new authors are doing great! I'm almost finished with Amy Greene's debut novel, Bloodroot. Fabulous read. Go her. I'm feeding off her new author vibes, send 'em my way, Amy!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Patience, oh how I loathe thee
15 rejections to date.
Ouch. Might as well stab me and rub lemon juice in the wound! I'd be lying if I said that my heart doesn't sink just a tad bit, every time I see an envelope in the mail box addressed to ME in MY handwriting. Those depressing self addressed stamped envelopes always mark the assurance of yet another literary rejection.
Oh yeah, and I got THREE today... just in case anyone was wondering.
But then again, I suppose I can't complain... I'm really just impatient.
Oh patience... how I loathe thee. Thou art the worst of all the virtues, highly despised above all others. But, oh patience, the lack of thee acts as a vice upon my heart, ensnaring my senses and skewing my reality! How I hate thee, patience! How I loathe thy very existence!
There isn't really anything I should be worried about....yet.
I suppose in the real world--like anything else worthwhile--publishing is a PROCESS. It takes time. Writing and publishing a good novel doesn't happen overnight. Alas, Stephenie Meyer really was a novelty after all. In the real world, hot, sexy vampire novels don't just magically appear in print after a week (okay, so it was three months), or sell like hot-cakes in the aftermath. Still, regardless of the incredibly short time it took her too get published, and however ABNORMAL that time period was, it sure as heck doesn't keep me from feeling incredibly JEALOUS that my book hasn't sold as fast (oh wait... it hasn't sold at all!!) Shoot, there go all my hopes and dreams making millions on opening weekend.
Life's a drag.
Then again, maybe if I added a unearthly, god-like man with smoldering golden eyes and a hard, marble-like chest into my book, it would sell in three months too.... note to self: add Edward's twin to my political thriller. After all, who says hot guys aren't in politics?!
So while I'm busy re-writing my novel to include a man with non-existent beauty, charm and sparkly skin, I find myself at a cross roads. A point at which my dreams are being challenged. Unlike our beloved and well-known divine vampire writer, the windows of heaven have yet to open up to accept my book as a renowned piece of literary prowess that will live in the pages of history forever. Instead, as I sit here struggling to move forward with continuous optimism, I must ask myself if I will continue to move on this path. After all, the choices are simple. Will I take the easy, well-traveled road, forget about my lofty dreams and come slamming back down to earth with cool indifference? Or will I make the most out of the hard, road less traveled, and fight like the devil with a vengeance to keep my head in the clouds with my dreams?
Ouch. Might as well stab me and rub lemon juice in the wound! I'd be lying if I said that my heart doesn't sink just a tad bit, every time I see an envelope in the mail box addressed to ME in MY handwriting. Those depressing self addressed stamped envelopes always mark the assurance of yet another literary rejection.Oh yeah, and I got THREE today... just in case anyone was wondering.
But then again, I suppose I can't complain... I'm really just impatient.
Oh patience... how I loathe thee. Thou art the worst of all the virtues, highly despised above all others. But, oh patience, the lack of thee acts as a vice upon my heart, ensnaring my senses and skewing my reality! How I hate thee, patience! How I loathe thy very existence!There isn't really anything I should be worried about....yet.
I suppose in the real world--like anything else worthwhile--publishing is a PROCESS. It takes time. Writing and publishing a good novel doesn't happen overnight. Alas, Stephenie Meyer really was a novelty after all. In the real world, hot, sexy vampire novels don't just magically appear in print after a week (okay, so it was three months), or sell like hot-cakes in the aftermath. Still, regardless of the incredibly short time it took her too get published, and however ABNORMAL that time period was, it sure as heck doesn't keep me from feeling incredibly JEALOUS that my book hasn't sold as fast (oh wait... it hasn't sold at all!!) Shoot, there go all my hopes and dreams making millions on opening weekend.Life's a drag.
Then again, maybe if I added a unearthly, god-like man with smoldering golden eyes and a hard, marble-like chest into my book, it would sell in three months too.... note to self: add Edward's twin to my political thriller. After all, who says hot guys aren't in politics?!
So while I'm busy re-writing my novel to include a man with non-existent beauty, charm and sparkly skin, I find myself at a cross roads. A point at which my dreams are being challenged. Unlike our beloved and well-known divine vampire writer, the windows of heaven have yet to open up to accept my book as a renowned piece of literary prowess that will live in the pages of history forever. Instead, as I sit here struggling to move forward with continuous optimism, I must ask myself if I will continue to move on this path. After all, the choices are simple. Will I take the easy, well-traveled road, forget about my lofty dreams and come slamming back down to earth with cool indifference? Or will I make the most out of the hard, road less traveled, and fight like the devil with a vengeance to keep my head in the clouds with my dreams?Fear not, fluffy cherubic-like clouds, vast amounts of open blue sky and brilliant bright sunlight... my place is still with you.
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Way the Cookie Crumbles
Retrieved from a fortune cookie during a delicious meal of greasy Chinese food, a little slip of paper told me this:
Start believing in your dreams, others will catch the fever.
Well I'm believing.... anyone else catching on?!
Start believing in your dreams, others will catch the fever.
Well I'm believing.... anyone else catching on?!
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