Envy and Hope

So last week on my Monday, Thursday blog schedule I blogged on Tuesday and Wednesday, but I will try to get better at this schedule thing...

The Green-Eyed Monster is Mopey, but not angry

I have some amazing friends... not mere acquaintances, but people I've been friends with for YEARS that are having some amazing things happening right now. I want to share that news with you... and I also want to talk a bit about the emotional repercussions of our friends finding not just publishing, but HUGE successes. Three of these are ABNA friends—people I met in the first year I was in the contest in 2010, but let me start with the 4th case, since she is part of this blogging community.


Sarah Ahiers and the Freaking Agents COMPETING FOR HER

This is oldish news. Sarah's blog on the matter is from late January, but it totally fits the theme here, so bear with me.

You hear of this happening. A book so awesome that you don't just get one nibble, but several large BITES. But it doesn't happen OFTEN. It's certainly never happened to ME... and it happened to Sarah... her book was SO AWESOME that agents were competing to work with her.

I wish here an AMAZING giant congratulations... even if I'm a bit envious.

[note to self: one who fails to query will not have this happen. It is RARE if you query. It is IMPOSSIBLE if you don't]

Janet Oakley and Awards and Agent Requests

Janet writes historical fiction which has a smaller readership than some other sorts. She had some trouble traditionally, so she's self-published two books, Tree Soldier and Timber Rose. The first has won several awards and the latter WILL, once it's been out more than a couple weeks, so clearly Janet is doing well. And then this week she has gotten a request for a full based on a Twitter Pitch contest (who even knew they HAD these?] for another book—one set in WWII.

So HUGE congratulations for Janet for past and future success.

[Note to self: if you aren't paying attention, the opportunities are going to pass you by.]

Patrick Frievald and his Bram Stoker Nomination

Patrick writes horror, which makes me jealous already. I would LOVE to be able to write horror, but I seem to lack the imagination. He's had some great successes in publishing but the BIGGIE is that he was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for 2013: Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel (for Special Dead). I can't find who won, but I assume I would have heard if it was Patrick. STILL, you should SEE the names on this list—he is in AMAZING company... MADE IT kind of company.  CONGRATS Patrick!!!

AHA!  HERE are the winners!


And finally...

My Buddy Gae FREAKING Polisner got a Freaking NEW YORK TIMES Book Review!!!! (a really good one)

Gae's first book was quietly a raging success... and by raging success, I mean she sold movie rights and had teachers all over the country using it in their classrooms—a literary middle grade/YA straddler (14 year old MC). But the Summer of Letting Go seems to not want to make such a quiet appearance (yeah, we should ALL be so quiet as to sell movie rights)


So Hart... How do you FEEL about all this?
(yes, I talk to myself, doesn't everybody?)

A bit weepy with pride. Seriously, tears shed with joy and pride for my friends.
And jealous, a bit.
But mostly HOPEFUL... See, I knew ALL these guys before they MADE IT... that sort of means all of US might make it TOO, right?

So chins up, friends... WE WILL!