Wednesday, November 20, 2013

PITCH WARS Mentors and My Bio + Wish List!!!

Below is my Bio and Interests for PITCH WARS! After that you'll find the information on how to submit to me :) ***Be sure to read this all the way to the bottom because there is a secret word that when combined with the words from the other mentor's blogs can give you a chance to win a cool prize*** 

Bio: 
I'm a YA author represented by the amazing Jamie Bodnar-Drowley from Inklings Literary Agency for my YA Paranormal Romance novel entitled Judges. I'm a military spouse who married her best friend and we recently just had our first baby girl Lexi, and we have a spoiled english bulldog named Whiskey.

I love falling into books and losing track of time. Some of my favorite books (I say some because there is NO way to list them all) are--THE BODY FINDER and THE PLEDGE series by Kimberly Derting, THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS and THE INFERNAL DEVICES series by Cassandra Clare, and the SOUL SCREAMERS series by Rachel Vincent. 

What I'm looking for: YA Paranormal Romance--Even though this genre is saturated right now a fresh concept and plenty of twists can catch my eye (please no vampire falls for the clumsy girl next door) Also the romance has to be strong and the hotter the better :) 

YA with Biblical Themes--I enjoy everything from taking inspiration from the Bible to retellings to fallen angel stories! As long as it is believable and has a purpose in the story I'm ready to read it!

YA Fantasy--This genre needs strong world building and believable character motivations for me. I'd rather it be in the smaller scale verses epic and if there is a romance that is swoon worthy I'll be hooked! 

I’m pretty much open to anything YA with a supernatural/fantastical twist! 

Qualifications: I have a Bachelors degree in Creative Writing and read thoroughly in the YA genre. I firmly believe that reading in the genre you write improves the strength of your skills immensely. 

My agent and I are currently undergoing another round of edits on my YA novel and so my eye is in the editorial mode. Especially on cutting unnecessary scenes that only slow the plot down :) To stand out in the heavily crowded YA market your MS has to be fast paced and full of sharp scenes. I'm honest but never malicious and my comments are always geared to making the story as strong as possible. I understand the hardships of querying and being rejected (a number of times) and I know how subjective this buisness is. Some agents will hate the query + pages and others will absolutely fight for it! The key is to never giving up and to be able to take constructive criticism--especially if you’re getting the same remarks/comments over and over again. I’ll never say something out of personal taste (and if I have to I’ll let you know it is only because of my tastes that I’m commenting). I’ll look at the MS with an objective eye and try to see it as my agent (or agents I’ve worked with in the past) would see it. I want to help writers realize their dreams of landing an agent and the way to do that is make the story as sharp as possible :) 

For submission guidelines, go to www.brenda-drake.com

Here are the awesome agents participating and below is a list of all the amazing mentors!!!
Zachary Shuster Harmsworth - Lana Popovic and Natasha Alexis

My secret word is: I (as in "I want that word")  :) 

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For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.http://www.brenda-drake.com/

Monday, November 4, 2013

GIVEAWAY! BREAKABLE by Aimee L. Salter


Today I'm hosting a giveaway for Aimee L. Salter's debut YA novel BREAKABLE!!! 

I was lucky enough to read this before it released and if you haven't already you can check out my review here.

I also got a chance to interview this awesome author and she was kind enough to indulge my questions. If you want an even closer look at the author check out her blog!

You can enter to WIN a copy of BREAKABLE with the rafflecopter below the interview! Or if you can't wait you can find her novel here or here or here

Good luck and Happy Reading! 


What was the inspiration behind the interesting concept of being able to speak to your future self in the mirror?

About two and a half years ago I came across the website www.dearteenme.com in which authors write letters to their teen selves. I noticed how many of the letters included something along the lines of “I know you won’t listen to me when I tell you this, but…” That was a sentiment that really resonated for me. I knew if I spoke to my 16-17 year old self, she’d listen and nod and smile, but inside she’d be thinking “Yes, but…” and go off and do whatever she wanted anyway.

It got me wondering about whether, in that situation, it would even be possible to help my teen self overcome or avoid any of the mistakes that I made. 

The book was born out of that hypothetical conversation in my head!


Stacey has one major outlet in BREAKABLE and that is her art. How did you research this in order to make it so real and tangible for your character?

I’m glad it felt real for you. That’s one of the two parts of this book that’s really seeded in my own experience. Art was a passion for me when I was in high school, something I pursued for a couple years as an adult (I sold my paintings online for a while).  From that perspective, I just thought back to what I experienced back then – though, Stacy is much more accomplished than I was. And I’m not just being modest when I say that. One of the virtues of writing fiction is that I can take my own knowledge and apply it so my characters act and achieve in ways that I wish I could have!


Stacey undergoes a daily battle with bullying--both verbal abuse and sometimes even physical. Did you do any special research to depict these gruesome scenes or did you pull inspiration from real-life experiences, either your own or stories from those close to you?

And there you’ve hit on the second part of this book that is drawn from my life. Unfortunately, I was bullied severely between 7-11th grades. Some of what happens to Stacy is essentially replicating what happened to me. Some of it is “themed” along the lines of my experience, and some of what I experienced that used to be in the book has come out. Ironically, early readers found it “implausible”. (Insert teeth grinding here).

One thing I have noticed as an adult is that people who haven’t experienced bullying tend to either think the impacts are being exaggerated by the emotions of the person experiencing it, or that the person could ignore or “walk away” from the targeting and thus solve the problem. I know that’s not always possible. But it seemed prudent to let people stay in the story even if that kind of experience didn’t resonate for them. 

One thing I should probably point out though: While I did experience some physical bullying, my life was never endangered. So on that score, Stacy’s journey outpaces mine.

Are there any novels that helped inspire you to write Stacey’s story? 

I can’t think of any novels that inspired the premise. But every time I read and enjoy a book I try to figure out what it was about the writing that was so effective for me and emulate it.

The day an early reader told me they’d found the experience of reading Breakable along the same lines as reading Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher I think I actually cried. That book is incredible. One of my favorites. And definitely has a raw tone and thoughtfulness I wanted to achieve with Breakable.

Are you hoping that YA readers will be moved by Stacey’s story and take action against the bullies in their own life?

Um…that’s a hard question. I always hope that if I come in contact with a teen who is being (or has been) bullied, that I can encourage them in some way, or help them feel stronger. But having experienced significant bullying myself, I know there’s often little that can be done in the middle of an altercation to stop it in its tracks. And sadly, many of the adult figures who are informed about bullying don’t understand how it works, or its impacts. Their input can – only at times – make the situation worse. It’s a very fine line to walk, and one I’d encourage everyone involved to take very seriously, and with mind to future ramifications.

More than some kind of revolution, what I really hoped for in writing Breakable was that teens going through that would see that I really do understand how that feels. And that not everyone who goes through it is ultimately defeated. I wasn’t. 

The truth is, bullying doesn’t just happen in childhood and it doesn’t just happen at school or with peers. It happens at home, with parents and siblings. It happens at school – sometimes from teachers. And it happens to adults too (though it tends to be a little more sophisticated at that point). So patterns can emerge in anyone’s life. If anyone reads this interview who is experiencing that, I’d want them to know that I understand. That I’d never marginalize them for the fears and self-doubts they’re having because of it. And I’d encourage them to keep talking to adults until they find someone who takes the issue seriously.  

If the adult has the opportunity to impact what’s happening, keep talking to them until they do something useful (like bringing victim and bully together privately). If they don’t, then keep talking to them so you know you aren’t alone in it. Draw whatever support and comfort you can. You need it. And that’s okay.

Bullying is incredibly isolating and can make us think things about ourselves that are wrong. The best way to counter-act those destructive effects is to find people who help us understand that those messages aren’t true. The more we understand what’s valuable about ourselves, the less we become a target for people who – consciously, or subconsciously – are looking to exploit weakness.


Was it hard for you to write the scenes in which Stacey is abused by her peers? Especially the scenes with Finn--he is incredibly cruel. 

The first draft of this book was harrowing for me. It brought a lot of pain and anger to the surface which I thought I’d already let go. But over time, it actually became very therapeutic. 

One of the advantages to being the author of this kind of book is that I’m behind the eyes of every character – including Finn. I know what drives him and what he experiences off the page. And I know he’s doing this out of his own pain. I’m far enough away from the years I spent targeted this way to have had some pretty interesting conversations and interactions with my former bullies. I’ve also learned a lot about some of their lives from other people in later years. One of the things that helped me let go of my anger towards one particularly bad perpetrator was learning about the hell she lived in. Much, much worse than what she brought into my life.

So now when I read or work on any of those scenes I just feel sad because I know there are kids (and adults!) out there going through that every day. It breaks my heart.

Who are some authors that have inspired you?

Oh, gosh… so many! And for so many different reasons. 

Even more than being inspired, I wish I was in the head of Katja Millay. Her book The Sea of Tranquility is the book I wish I wrote. (If you want to talk about someone who mines the depths of personal hell and self-destruction, that’s the book to read. And she’s funny too).

Earlier I mentioned Jay Asher and his book Thirteen Reasons Why, mainly because it hit really hard for me. That’s probably the other book I wish I could write.

Sarah Dessen writes in a way that is a very different style to mine, but she really gets into the hearts and heads of her characters in a way I’d hope to emulate. I’ve read and loved something like eight of her books, but Just Listen is my favorite.

When I think about it, the authors I admire are always really strong character builders. They don’t shy away from the hard questions, or the real conflicts of a story. They don’t generate action or arguments purely for dramatic value. Their characters feel like real people, responding realistically to the circumstances they’re experiencing. 


If you could pick a theme song for Stacey’s experiences, what would it be?

That’s easy: Breakable by Ingrid Michelson. It’s actually quite a “light” song in its tone, but the lyrics, to me, do an amazing job of accurately describing the true fragility of people’s hearts and how we often ignore or take that for granted.

I should probably note her e that my Breakable was originally titled Listen to Me. When I realized I had to change my title for commercial reasons, there were only two words that really fit for this book – and Breakable was one of them. It wasn’t until later I realized I’d subconsciously been given the idea from that song.


Is there any advice you think your future self would give you if you could see her in the mirror?

She’d know she should be brutally honest with me, that I only want to deal with what’s really going on. Right at the heart of whatever is happening. So I have no doubt she’d have some very hard-hitting advice. And that would suck. But at the same time, I’d do better than my teen self. Now, I’d actually listen!

(Oh, and I also hope she’d tell me to figure out how to deal with being a bestselling author, ‘cause, you know, that wouldn’t suck at all). 


Will Stacey’s story continue?

Oh! Another hard question! (You’re good at those). 

Here’s the thing – I know what happens in Stacy’s story later. And yes, there’s a book in it. But I don’t know if it’s a book my readers would want to read. So I’m going to have to see how people respond to this one, and see whether the sequel is worth putting “out there”. 

(If you’re still curious after that very vague answer, there’s a clue earlier in this interview, and some extra / deleted scenes on my website that might offer some insight…)

Thank you so much for having me, Molly! That was a really thoughtful interview. As an author it’s so great to see people thinking about my story and wondering about the actual implications of it. So this has been a real blessing to me. Thank you!

Aimee L. Salter isa Pacific North-Westerner who spent much of her young (and not-so-young) life in New Zealand. After picking up a Kiwi husband and son, she’s recently returned to Oregon. She writes novels for teens and the occasional adult who, like herself, are still in touch with their inner-high schooler. Aimee is the author behind Seeking the Write Life, a popular blog for writers at www.aimeelsalter.com. You can also find her on Twitter (www.twitter.com/@AimeeLSalter) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/AimeeLSalter).
Aimee’s debut novel, Breakable, releases November 4th for Kindle, Nook and in paperback. You can add Breakable to your to-read list on Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18377058-breakable

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

BREAKABLE by Aimee L. Salter COVER REVEAL!!!


If you can’t trust yourself, who can you trust?
When seventeen-year-old Stacy looks in the mirror she can see and talk to her future self. “Older Me” has been Stacy's secret support through the ongoing battle with their neurotic mother, relentless bullying at school, and dealing with her hopeless love for her best friend, Mark. Then Stacy discovers Older Me is a liar. Still reeling from that betrayal, Stacy buries herself in her art. But even that is taken from her when her most persistent tormentor uses her own work to humiliate her - and threaten her last chance with Mark. Stacy’s reached breaking point. Literally.

Aimee L. Salter’s debut YA novel BREAKABLE is a heart-wrenching story of survival and self-discovery with a magical realism twist. 
BREAKABLE’s main character is 17 year old Stacey who has the unique gift of being able to see and speak to her future self in the mirror. This future self is six years older and is trying desperately to help younger-Stacey through the trials of High School life and attempts to alter their future by giving younger-Stacey indirect hints on how to change the outcome of their lives. 

Despite younger-Stacey’s incredible gift, she is subject to a slew of horrendous bullying. A target from people who used to be her friends in middle-school and quickly turned into enemies once they caught her talking to herself in the mirror. From then on she is treated to a daily onslaught of verbal abuse and even physical abuse from one of her overtly egotistical male tormentors. She learns quick that her attempts to stop them by telling her mother or teachers is futile--her mother betrays her trust and emphasizes that she must have done something wrong to evoke that kind of treatment from her peers. Things only get worse when her best and only friend Mark (who also happens to be the boy she’s madly in love with) starts dating one of her sworn enemies and is completely oblivious to the torture she undergoes on a daily basis. Throw in an old flame who only thinks she’s good for one thing and we’ve got a recipe for an incredible and heartbreakingly real story.

The bullying depicted throughout BREAKABLE is absolutely shocking, heartbreaking, and cruel--at times I found myself putting the book down for a second to catch my breath, wanting nothing more than to punch Stacey’s antagonists in the face. Salter doesn’t sugar coat the High School experience for a girl who isn’t in the “IN” crowd and the raw perspective is a fresh take at the YA genre. In following Stacey’s story, readers are in for a real awakening on the effects bullying can have on a person and how it can be just as detrimental when the people closest to the victim don’t notice. 

Salter gives us an underdog heroine to pull for and incredibly evil antagonists to hate. Stacey’s story will leave you questioning how well you can really know yourself and if you had the opportunity to change your future, would you be willing to risk it all? Breakable is an emotionally fueled read with Stacey’s journey to self-discovery filled with social land-mines, family betrayal, and survival amongst the greatest of odds. 


Aimee L. Salter is a Pacific North-Westerner who spent much of her young (and not-so-young) life in New Zealand. After picking up a Kiwi husband and son, she’s recently returned to Oregon. She writes novels for teens and the occasional adult who, like herself, are still in touch with their inner-high schooler. Aimee is the author behind Seeking the Write Life, a popular blog for writers at www.aimeelsalter.com. You can also find her on Twitter (www.twitter.com/@AimeeLSalter) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/AimeeLSalter).
Aimee’s debut novel, Breakable, releases November 4th for Kindle, Nook and in paperback. You can add Breakable to your to-read list on Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18377058-breakable

Thursday, October 3, 2013

WINNER!!! EFFORTLESS WITH YOU by Lizzy Charles

***Rafflecopter has randomly selected a winner! Congratulations to Chanpreet Singh! Thank you all for entering! Please check back often for more GIVEAWAYS and writing updates :) 
Happy Reading!***



I'm GIVING AWAY an e-copy of EFFORTLESS WITH YOU by Lizzy Charles! This is an incredible contemporary YA you really shouldn't miss and I've given plenty of reasons below :) Enter the rafflecopter after the review for your chance to win! 

EFFORTLESS WITH YOU by Lizzy Charles is an incredible contemporary YA complete with a genuine and lovable heroine, a swoon worthy male lead, and a slew of real-world problems that occur when you’re sixteen.

There are tons of reasons why I love this book. I could go on and on about the amazing writing technique of Charles, about the sharp and crisp dialogue, or about how round her characters are, but instead I’m going to narrow it down to the three main reasons why I couldn’t put this book down. 

First reason: Lucy. 
Our main character is a realistic high-school girl that is incredibly easy to relate to. She has the stunning ability to be completely clueless about how amazing she really is, yet it is evident to everyone around her because she quickly becomes the target of blatant bullying and covert undermining from her supposed best friend. Lucy only begins to understand who she really is and what she stands for when she is forced to take a job with a crew of guys painting houses. It is here that she gets to know Justin―the most popular and super hot boy from her school, who she had always thought of as an egotistical jerk. Through getting to know the real him, she finds the real her, and is finally able to face the demons that have haunted her both at school and at home. Her journey to self-discovery is intense and riddled with social land-mines, heart-wrenching family conflicts, and an unexpected love worth risking everything for.

Second reason: The family dynamics. 
Charles does an incredible job of creating a realistic family for Lucy and the role they play is a huge factor in Lucy finding herself. This aspect―for me―is a fresh take for the YA genre where more often than not the familial aspect, including parents, are almost non-existent. Lucy’s parents take an active role in her life, not only showing their love for her, but making their character’s more realistic and relatable. The fact that they are still married and act as a team to help guide their teenage daughter going through one of the hardest periods of her life―despite it driving Lucy nuts―gives the story an authentic edge that I believe any teenage girl can relate to. 

Third reason: Justin. 
Our male lead is not just swoon worthy. Charles has given him a wide range of depth and emotion―something that shocks Lucy as she gets to know him. Justin has a wealth of good qualities that could make any girl fall in love, but Charles reveals them in quick snippets throughout the novel, adding to his mystery and fueling Lucy’s intrigue. Charles’ technique in this matter is flawless―making the discovery of why Justin is such an amazing character as rewarding as dipping a pale in the shallow of the ocean and each time finding a different beautiful seashell waiting at the bottom. 
The dynamic between Justin and Lucy is filled with witty banter, genuine compassion, and some serious heat. As their friendship grows stronger, Justin is able to pull Lucy out of the shell she’d retreated into as a result of bullying and family problems. With Justin, Lucy finds herself again and the person she discovers is humble, non-judgmental, and has a sense of maturity well beyond her years. The characters complement each other in an effortless way, each one bringing out the best in the other, giving readers a complex relationship that blossoms from a solid friendship. 

Add to the above tangible antagonists, heartbreaking mother-daughter fights, and a crew of goofy guys who quickly turn from co-workers to confidants, and readers will be left shouting the iconic “I Love Lucy!” for an entirely new reason. 


Wednesday, August 28, 2013

WINNER of THE APOLLO ACADEMY by Kimberly P. Chase


***And the WINNER is Danielle Willis! Congrats! You'll be getting an email from me shortly! Thank you to all who entered and please check back for more giveaways! Happy Reading!!!***



Today I'm holding a giveaway for a copy of Kimberly P. Chase's debut NA ScFi novel THE APOLLO ACADEMY.

I'm lucky enough to say I know the author but even if I didn't I would still be recommending this book to anyone who loves NA. Chase brings a fresh twist on the NA genre by making it ScFi and her talents as a writer are evident with every sentence. 

Check out my review and then enter the rafflecopter below to win a copy! 

THE APOLLO ACADEMY by Kimberly P. Chase is a fast past NA ScFi novel with a fresh concept, a slew of characters worth falling for, and a futuristic world easy to get lost in.

Told in alternating points of view readers get to live through a cast of incredibly distinct and three-dimensional characters, each of which is swoon-worthy. 


The main character Aurora Titon is a badass female pilot with a good heart and plenty of ambition. She goes after her dreams with no excuses and doesn’t even let attempts on her life get in her way. She’s the kind of girl I’d want to be friends with and a character that is easy to look up to. 

Secondary characters Zane and Sky are both beyond sexy and yet completely different. Each has a closet full of problems and an eye for Aurora and Chase intertwines the three’s stories effortlessly into the plot, creating an intriguing keep-you-guessing until the end story. 

Chase’s talent for world building is evident within the first pages of the novel. She submerges you into a futuristic setting that is flush with fascinating (and at times frightening) technology, cutting edge fashion, and surroundings so visual in description they jump off the page. I was immediately sucked into Aurora’s world and found myself flipping through the pages furiously to find out what happens next. 

This is a great read for anyone who loves strong female characters, action packed and high stakes scenes, super-hot men in flight suits, and a story with discovery and survival for more than one character. Did I mention all the sexy pilots? I call this a must read and I’m anxiously awaiting the next installment! 


 

Monday, August 12, 2013

Newborn, New Agent, New Chapter


On June 6 2013 I received a letter from my super awesome agent, Brittany Howard, explaining a hard decision she had been forced to make. You see, between the time that I signed with Brittany and now, she wrote a book, self-published it and ended up selling a floppity baljillion copies--okay so that is an exaggeration but not buy much. She became a world-wide sensation--operating under the pen name Cora Carmack. She let me and my agency sisters in on this cool top secret info before she came out to the public--which was pretty awesome. Anyway, sadly and understandably with her growing fame and the demands of her new writing career she had to make the hard decision to leave agenting. 
Several emotions went through me after reading the letter. 

At first I was like:















Because I absolutely loved Brittany as an agent and a friend and couldn’t imagine my YA Paranormal novel being in anyone else’s hands. I mean she just got me. 

And yet a big part of me was like:















Because I was so happy for her writing career! Her book was incredible and the world was recognizing it! She was traveling the world meeting and reaching her readers--basically living every author’s dream! And all the hard work she’d put into her writing was paying off in the best way and Brittany completely deserved it. 

Then finally I was like:














Not only was I HUGELY pregnant--my due date a mere 13 days away and the idea of bringing Lexi into the world with me agentless made me feel like a failure (hormones were reeking havoc on me)--my options were limited. I had seven full manuscripts out with editors from Brittany’s submissions. Three of them I wasn’t holding my breath for because they’d had it forever and hadn’t gotten back to us after several nudges--which left me feeling like this.














So Brittany sent off a final nudge to those left--explaining the situation and gave them a respond by date if they were still interested. If they were then I’d go about signing a contract myself and the agency would collect the commission like normal. Unfortunately three didn’t respond and one passed. 














I could’ve went with another agent at the same agency, which wouldn’t have been a bad path to take, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I loved Brittany and didn’t know any of the other agents at the agency or their tastes. Plus, I wanted someone who loved the manuscript and had to have it, not someone who was forced to take it on. 

I could’ve self-published with Brittany’s expert advise and wisdom guiding me along the way. This option is always in the back of my mind, but I haven’t brought myself to do that either. You see, I have this dream of being traditionally published. It’s been a dream of mine since I was 14 years old and I’m not going to take matters into my unexperienced hands unless it’s my last and final option. I admire those brave enough to go the self-publishing route and some day I may be one of them. But not today.

So that left me with diving into the murky rejection filled waters of querying. The thought of querying again felt a little like being pushed back to square one. I mean I’d already done this. I’d suffered through two manuscripts worth of queries--re-writing each of them a million times and re-reading every rejection to try and find the hidden words that would illuminate how to make my book absolutely perfect and sellable, even if they were forms! The thought of having to do all that over again had me debating this:














After I took some deep breaths and hashed it out with my husband I knew querying was really the only path for me at the moment. For me, it was the best decision, because I had to believe there would be another agent out there that would love my manuscript as much as Brittany did and because I knew an agent understands the market and business side of writing WAY better than I do. 

Turns out my husband knows and understands me better than I do because he suggested I ask one of my close critique partners if she would talk to her agent for me. See, her agent had been previously employed at Brittany’s agency before going out on her own. So she knew the players and might have some sound advice for me. When he suggested this to me--which I would’ve never come up with on my own--I was pretty much like:


















Of course because my critique partner is AMAZING she forwarded the dilemma to her agent--Jamie Bodnar Drowley--who immediately emailed me to talk. I was floored with how incredibly helpful she was. Here I was an unknown connection to one of her clients in an awkward predicament and she opened her mind to me. Gave me advice and talked out options with me and even asked to read my manuscript! Even though I had no idea if she’d love it or hate it--I sent off my manuscript feeling like I actually might get through this. 















After a few more emails back and forth and after Jamie finished reading the manuscript she asked for a time to talk...on the phone! This is a huge deal for writers--if an agent wants to speak with you on the phone it usually isn’t to reject you, at least not that I’ve ever heard of...that would be a new kind of awful. 

The call went incredible and not only because my newborn baby girl Lexi didn’t wake up in the middle and demand to be fed, but because Jamie was wonderful!

She understood the manuscript and me as a writer. She also loved the fact that her client and Brittany both had endorsed me as a writer and to them I say:
















And she offered me representation! Which I eagerly accepted!













I’ve always said everything happens for a reason and perhaps the reason I was signed with Brittany first was not only to make an awesome friend who gave me priceless advice and helped shape my manuscript to an even better version...but to set me on the path that led to Jamie--who happened to used to read for Brittany. And maybe, just maybe, Jamie will take my novel to the one place I’ve always dreamed it to be...the bookshelf. I have every confidence that she will and even though these past few months have been an emotional roller coaster ride...having my first baby, losing my first agent (which is almost like being broken up with on a writer level) and finding my book a new home where I feel it will be represented in the best possible way...I can’t really complain. 

I’m lucky enough to say that my first agent is a best-selling author who is living the dream and that she actually loved my book enough to take it on for as long as she could. I’m lucky enough to call her my friend and know that if I ever need any advice she’s there to call upon. I’m lucky enough to say that I made some connections in the way of agency sister’s that are unbreakable. I’m lucky enough to say that after thinking all hope was lost, a helping hand opened a new door for me and welcomed me inside. So instead of being mad at the crazy turn of events, I’m beyond thankful and can’t wait to see where this new path will take me and my novel. 

So thank you to all who listened, offered advice, and even offered her agent to me, THANK YOU!