First Times and Spring Cleaning
This week has been full of firsts.
I received my official contracts from Bantam Dell this week, signed them, and sent them back. The feeling is like arriving for the first day of work at a new job. You're excited and just a little freaked out because you wonder if anyone is going to like you. It's even weirder as an author because you know someone at the publisher obviously liked your work enough to want to publish it. But what will the readers think? The readers are the ultimate test and it won't be administered for at least another year. No amount of studying can fully prepare an author to face it, either. It's one of the "trail by fire" type tests. All I can do now is wait and work on the next book.
Another first took my completely by surprise. I've been invited to speak to a group of 7th graders at a local private school. Their English teacher heard about my book and that I was local and asked if I would come speak to her class about what it means to be a published author and about writing in general. I was both flattered and floored. I don't write YA fiction and have no idea what to say to a bunch of 12-13 year olds, but I said I'd do it. It's a good opportunity to give back to the community and to maybe encourage one or two kids who are creative and may not have a lot of support for that creativity. I know I didn't when I was that age. My parents encouraged me, and a few teachers as well, but I was also gently steered in the direction of "having a real job/career." So, I think it's time for me to nurture, or, at least, plant the seeds for the next generation of writers. Now we just have to work out a time that is good for their schedule as well as mine.
Now that HELLFIRE is completely wrapped up, I'm taking a couple of days off to attend to some mundane life issues. Basically, I'll be spending the next few days doing a late version of spring cleaning. The office needs to be reorganized before the fall semester starts in a couple of weeks and before Ms. Editor sends me her comments on CRIMSON SWAN. The rest of the house needs a good de-cluttering session. The recycle pile has grown and needs to find a new home. All the usual spring cleaning stuff that was partially neglected must now be addressed.
The website redesign is finished....finally. The new look should be live by next week. Just have to do a final "walk through" with my designer to be certain we covered everything. I'll make the announcement as to the "grand opening" as soon as the new site is available.
Until then...
TTFN JKH
I received my official contracts from Bantam Dell this week, signed them, and sent them back. The feeling is like arriving for the first day of work at a new job. You're excited and just a little freaked out because you wonder if anyone is going to like you. It's even weirder as an author because you know someone at the publisher obviously liked your work enough to want to publish it. But what will the readers think? The readers are the ultimate test and it won't be administered for at least another year. No amount of studying can fully prepare an author to face it, either. It's one of the "trail by fire" type tests. All I can do now is wait and work on the next book.
Another first took my completely by surprise. I've been invited to speak to a group of 7th graders at a local private school. Their English teacher heard about my book and that I was local and asked if I would come speak to her class about what it means to be a published author and about writing in general. I was both flattered and floored. I don't write YA fiction and have no idea what to say to a bunch of 12-13 year olds, but I said I'd do it. It's a good opportunity to give back to the community and to maybe encourage one or two kids who are creative and may not have a lot of support for that creativity. I know I didn't when I was that age. My parents encouraged me, and a few teachers as well, but I was also gently steered in the direction of "having a real job/career." So, I think it's time for me to nurture, or, at least, plant the seeds for the next generation of writers. Now we just have to work out a time that is good for their schedule as well as mine.
Now that HELLFIRE is completely wrapped up, I'm taking a couple of days off to attend to some mundane life issues. Basically, I'll be spending the next few days doing a late version of spring cleaning. The office needs to be reorganized before the fall semester starts in a couple of weeks and before Ms. Editor sends me her comments on CRIMSON SWAN. The rest of the house needs a good de-cluttering session. The recycle pile has grown and needs to find a new home. All the usual spring cleaning stuff that was partially neglected must now be addressed.
The website redesign is finished....finally. The new look should be live by next week. Just have to do a final "walk through" with my designer to be certain we covered everything. I'll make the announcement as to the "grand opening" as soon as the new site is available.
Until then...
TTFN JKH