Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Wonderful Writers

I thought maybe I'd throw a little party today because... you know... it's Tuesday, and it's also W day for blogging A to Z, and what is W for besides Woot Woot! So I went looking for a party theme, and you know what I thought? (Course you don't—nobody has quite as twisted logic)... I have a couple friends who've had recent good news on the publishing front, so let's start THERE!



1st: Congratulations B. Miller for hearing that your short story 'Out of the Blue' has been accepted by Moonshine Review! B. has a gift for ambiance, which in a short story is no mean feat. I am very excited for her to finish the horror novel she's working on because if her shorts are any indication (not that she wears shorts—she has committed to the Naked World Domination tour *cough *) that is bound to be one CHILLING BOOK (so hurry and finish it, will you?)


2nd Congratulations, and this is a REALLY biggie: Megan Bostic has found a PUBLISHER for her Book, 'Mending Fences'. Megan is one of my ABNA friends, and I believe Mending Fences was her book that made the top 100 for ABNA in 2008, though I make stuff up, so you maybe should verify with her, though she DOES list the publisher as Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and I know it is Young Adult (so see, I know stuff)...


So Congratulations my friends on your success! May it grow and spread to all!!!


Wonderful Websites

There are LOTS of can't miss websites, but you know what I like? I like informative bloggers you NOTICE YOU BACK. I mean sure, following Nathan Bransford and Janet Reid is a good idea... to get the news and all, and I ADORE Moonrat and the Rejectionist, because humor from the inside does a lot to ease the pain. But the HOW TO and the WHATUP of the writing and publishing stuff, I THINK is more fun to receive from Elizabeth Spann Craig (who focuses on WRITING) and Helen Ginger (who focuses more broadly on the business.

That way you can actually ask questions, and I think they're just as smart. So there...




Wascally Wabbits

The Burrow has been a hive of activity of late. (this is five of a dozen of us) Some of you may not know, but the Burrow is my writing group—three years old now, but it had only been a central core of us who'd been doing much for over a year... we've decided to revive and vitalize, so I've been... you know... doing a lot of side stuff. I am trying to still do my blog reading, but some days I have other obligations.

The Burrow has been so important to my first finishing a novel, then polishing... it is my solid core of writing support, but also my family that likes me (as opposed to the one that lives with me and is hit and miss on the liking front). It's so exciting when a few of us had felt a little like... empty nesters or something... bring everyone home and get the activity going again. Expect exciting things from us in the months to come!!!

24 comments:

Natasha said...

"Expect exciting things from us in the months to come!!!"
Oh that those be prophetic words.

Lola Sharp said...

I love pay it forward type posts like this. Woot-wooting our fellow writers shows our support for one another and I think it's good karma. :o)

You picked some delightful, Wonderful Writers to showcase! WooHoo!

(Would have Worked Well on a Wednesday post! ;)

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Thanks for the mention! I really appreciate it. :) I like looking at the agent/editor sites too, but you're right--it's like talking to a brick wall. And who does THAT for very long? :)

I'm looking forward to hearing more about the Burrow's activities!

Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Wonderful post, congtrats to those who are in the process of having their books published.

Have a grand day.
Yvonne,

Hart Johnson said...

Natasha-you have HEARD the predictions of our resident seer!? teehee

Lola-I think it also is so encouraging for US--the query process can be so discouraging, but seeing REAL PEOPLE succeed keeps us plugging away--I will take that karma though!

Elizabeth-hey, your blog is SUPER helpful! (and you DO so kindly respond to everyone) I'm happy to promote you after following you around for so long!

Yvonne, thank you!!!

Sugar said...

Woot! Congrats to the two wonderful successes! (rubs hands and waits for her turn) lol.
How
does a writing group work my tartyness? Just curious..wondering if maybe it would help me some.. You girlies look so cute!

Megan Bostic said...

Thanks so much for the mention Hart. I am overwhelmed and grateful to have met so many wonderful people these last three years through ABNA.

And I will clarify. Mending Fences was not the novel that made the top 100. It was my 2009 entry that made it through the pitch stage, but no further. :)

Hart Johnson said...

Sugar, our group is all online--we found each other early in writing and have managed to all grow together. We have reviewing requirements and are trying to instill some peer pressure for writing. I KNOW that Lola up there recently put together a group just by posting that she NEEDED ONE and screening the people who responded, so I'm SURE there are people also looking--it just takes watching for them. They are DEFINITELY helpful in progressing with your work and expanding your network.

Megan--I am super curious how much revision then, you had on your beginning--it is about the 'accuracy of ABNA'--were they RIGHT that it wasn't ready, or do you think they missed the mark with their eval?

Sugar said...

thanks love, I'll try to keep my eye out :)

B. Miller said...

Wow Hart, thank you so much for mentioning me today! You're awesome!

I agree with Lola, I love the "pay it forward" attitude of this post! Yay! You really made me smile.

Megan Bostic said...

Hart, I did think the book was good, but I've learned a lot about writing YA. And many of the rejections I got after, said much of the same thing. The voice was too old. It's a much different book than it was in the contest. And it was a product of nanowrimo, so I didn't have much time to edit before the contest.

I love it as it is now. Though I loved it before too. :)

Hart Johnson said...

B. You're very welcome! (I like an excuse for a party) teehee--also very proud of you two, though.

Megan--that is cool that it needed some work... reassuring that the ABNA machine isn't broken AND encouraging that failure THERE doesn't mean unfixable... just not there YET.

Raquel Byrnes said...

Congratulations to B.Miller and Megan Bostic...woo hoo! Thanks for the blog links, they look interesting.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Congrats to B. and Megan - that really is awesome news for them both! :-)

Tina Laurel Lee said...

Wonderful party! W definitely is for Woot, Woot! I found your blog from Shannon's. Liked your name and comment!

Hart Johnson said...

Thanks Raquel and Shannon!

And Tina, welcome! I'm always happy to have new people. I'm probably sillier than most, but I try to have a point now and again...

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Elizabeth and Ginger have great sites!

Lisa K. said...

I'll definitely add a woot-woot for B. Miller and Megan. Way to go! Now off to check out those blog links...

Marjorie said...

Yay for success and here's wishing you as much success as you want/need as a writer.

jenny milchman said...

Megan!! I am so happy for you!!! And everyone else I'm meeting here too :) Now I must go look for more details about your deal. Hart, what a great blog round up of success--inspiring--and I'm seeing yours, too...

Ella said...

Nice post to pass the baton to others, very generous of you~ I love your group's name; they look like an amazing group of women!

Hart Johnson said...

Thanks so much everyone! Yes, DEFINITELY check out the websites!

Jenny-we need to add you on the success list! I KNOW how close you are!

Ellie--the Burrow IS an amazing group--I love them all!

The Daring Novelist said...

I found your blog through comments on Elizabeth's blog. I'll surely be checking out these authors. So much coolness....

angelarene said...

Hey Hart! I so wish I had a Burrow Group like yours! Looks fun!