How I stayed (kind of) sane while on query

So how I was able to stay relatively sane while I was on query boils down to two things.

1. My amazing writer friends who encouraged me and advised me through the process, especially Beth and Lorin. Thank you!
2. querytracker.net

Querytracker is the bomb and there's just no two ways about it. Not only does it put a huge list of agents at your fingertips, but it also gives you links to interviews, client lists, average query response times and much more. Aside from that, it helps to you keep track of who you queried when and pretty much keeps you from falling into a giant black hole of disorganized hell.

I LOVE it, so I was thrilled to share my success story on their site to help encourage others to use querytracker.

And the $25 a year for the premium account? Affordable and totally worth it.

Cannibals!

Okay, before you think I'm crazy based on the post title...

It starts with this:

Then this:

Which leads to this:

And this...

AND THIS!!!

And thissssssss:

It keeps going!

Bad post-it!

So I was organizing my notes for HOUND and I found this post-it. This is my "what characters say which curse words" guide. Pretty funny, considering I did a pass on the manuscript specifically looking for swear word consistency.

I also find it pretty funny that my handwriting hasn't improved much since grade school!

BIG HUGE GIANT Announcement!

Well, for an aspiring author this is about as big as news gets. Here goes:

I HAVE AN AGENT!

EEEEEEE!!!!!

I've officially signed with Joanna Volpe of Nancy Coffey Literary and Media Representation!!!!!!

I'm really excited for the chance to work with Joanna. We clicked when we had "the call" and she shares my vision for HOUND IN BLOOD AND BLACK to the letter - well, aside from her ideas for making it EVEN BETTER and, you know, my typos that still need eradicating.

Thank you, Joanna! I'm thrilled to be your client and I can't wait to see where things go from here!

And thanks to everyone out there that has been and continues to be a part of this crazy adventure.

Desk Dragons and Book Releases!

He nips at fingers when I stop writing. He's my "work" desk dragon. I think I'll get another one for home.

On a much more exciting note, if you've been following my blog for any amount of time, you already know that Beth Revis' Across the Universe launched today. An awesome YA sci-fi, and you can read the first 111 pages here (today only) or read/listen to chapter one on the badass offical website.

What is the connection? I bought my desk dragon at the same time I picked up a copy of Across the Universe!