Brandon Sanderson also showed up last minute to do a signing, and his line was ginormous.

That was just the last 1/4 of the line. See, I’m not making it up. And here’s me and my critique group buddy, Shallee McArthur, waiting in the line.

Okay, so really she waited while I went to get my books signed… since I didn’t actually bring any of my Brandon Sanderson books to get signed because I didn’t get the last minute FB post announcing he would be there. #TechnologyFail But I guess that’s okay, because that would’ve been ANOTHER big bag of books to carry, and I’m doubting my back could’ve taken it.

ANYWAYS, what are some fun things you’ve been doing in your life recently??

Sorry I’ve been MIA, but you can find me blogging over at the Writer Therapy blog. The webseries is launching in TWO DAYS – yeah, I can’t really believe it’s actually happening. This has been a long time in the making, and sometimes it felt like it would never happen

Anyways, there are lots of contests going on at the blog, and on the FB page and twitter, so make sure you check it out!

You can check out the youtube trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=r79K75zVGVA

Emma Guthrie expects this summer to be like any other in the South Carolina Lowcountry–hot and steamy with plenty of beach time alongside her best friend and secret crush, Cooper Beaumont, and Emma’s ever-present twin brother, Jack. But then a mysterious eighteenth-century message in a bottle surfaces, revealing a hidden pirate bounty. Lured by the adventure, the trio discovers the treasure and unwittingly unleashes an ancient Gullah curse that attacks Jack with the wicked flesh-eating Creep and promises to steal Cooper’s soul on his approaching sixteenth birthday.

When a strange girl appears, bent on revenge; demon dogs become a threat; and Jack turns into a walking skeleton; Emma has no choice but to learn hoodoo magic to undo the hex, all before summer—and her friends–are lost forever.

So what do you think of the cover?

I’ll be back to posting next week, so see you all then.

Robison, Katie. Downburst. Quil Books, 2011.

Kit’s only goal is to stay alive. Right now, that means dodging brutal gangs while peddling fake I.D.s on the back streets of Winnipeg. But things get complicated when Kit sells a license to a girl named Aura—a girl who could almost be her twin. Caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, Kit is plunged into an underground society with heart-stopping surprises at every turn. To protect herself, she’s forced to assume Aura’s identity. But storm clouds are gathering on the horizon, and when Kit learns the truth about Aura, she knows she has to get out before the storm breaks. There’s only one problem: escape isn’t an option. Suddenly, staying alive just got a lot harder.

The Review

While it took several pages to get invested in this book, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the plot once I got settled in. The book is well-paced and full of action, with Kit proving to be a competent hero. I didn’t really connect with Kit as the protagonist, but the way she handles herself gives much to admire. The biggest surprise was the ending, which kept me riveted on my seat until the last page when all I could think was ‘when does the next one come out?’

Overall, a very satisfying read.

CONTEST

Now for the contest, where you can win a copy of DOWNBURST! All you have to do is leave a comment below and you’ll be entered into the drawing. Mention you are a twitter follower, and you’ll get an extra entry (just post your twitter name).

Contest closes one week from today, July 26, and the winner will be posted the next day!

My friend, Brodi Ashton is asking for nominations for Jack (or Cole) from her book, EVERNEATH. Which is just awesome. So if you happen to have an extra spot on your nominations ballot, please vote for Jack/EVERNEATH. Because seriously, he deserves it. And Brodi needs 50 nominations to even get on the board. You can also nominate Noah/BACK WHEN YOU WERE EASIER TO LOVE (check out my review here)

So who are your nominations for YA hotties? (boys, go ahead and put your choice of female protagonists)

As for me, I was just sorry I couldn’t also nominate the  guys from the various WIP I’ve been beta reading lately.

1. Make sure you spell the agent’s name right.

2. Mention if you are a twitter / blog follower. That means you know more about their tastes and preferences (hopefully you’ve been paying attention).

3. When you first send out that query letter, test it out. Send it to 5-10 agents to see how it’s received. If you start getting form rejections, then you’re obviously doing something wrong.

4. When you’re positive your query is in perfect shape, send out as many queries as you want. But don’t send too many in a single day, because you’ll end up making careless mistakes.

5. When sending queries, don’t rush. Hitting that ‘send’ button too fast is when the mistakes start happening. Misspelled names, sending the wrong requested sample material, ect. I personally saved my queries as a draft, and then gave myself a day before I sent it to make sure I had it right. It’s horrible to not make the changes you needed. (ie: if they ask for 5 pages, and you send 10 because that’s what your form query has listed).

6. Research the agent thoroughly before you send. I ended up crossing off some names on my list because of last-minute changes the agents had made. Either they weren’t accepting my genre anymore (even though they were 3 months ago, when I first formed the list), or I realized after a deep search that they just wouldn’t be a good fit.

7. If your gut says ‘no’ about an agent, don’t even query them. You are wasting your time and the agent’s time if you already plan on saying ‘no.’

8. Send out your query to as many agents as possible. This is a personal opinion, but this is your first chance to get your story out there. My querying process was really, really fast. I actually aimed to query at least 100 agents, but I was only at around 75 when I got my first offer. But in the publishing world, it’s all about the buzz. So if you have more agents requesting your material, then there is the possibility of more buzz, especially if they liked it. I had so many agents say they would be looking to see my book on the shelves soon. On my previous querying attempt, I queried a total of 5 agents before I thought the book stunk and moved it to the drawer of doom. (And one of those agents requested a partial. I’m kind of glad now, because I can make that book so much better, but seriously? 5 agents wasn’t even trying on my part.)

9. Sometimes, querying will lead you back to the drawing board. You’ll have to hit a hard revision. Take your time and make it work.

10. Look at Publisher’s Marketplace for what is currently trending in the market, and to see an agent’s sales record. It is totally worth the money.

So here’s a little checklist of questions to ask yourself to know if you are prepared to query. See how far you can get down the list.

1. Is your manuscript THE ABSOLUTE BEST YOU CAN MAKE IT? (If not, go and hit those pages with your best revision efforts)

2. Have you had Beta Readers / critique partners give you feedback on the book as a whole? (Your mom, your spouse, and any other significant person doesn’t count unless they’re a.) giving honest feedback and b.) qualified to tear apart your story. I have my sisters as Beta Readers because they fit both of those categories. They are voracious readers and seriously brutal–I think my sister Sarah is the only one who’s ever made me cry during a critique.)

3. Have you researched all the nit-picky things about your book to make sure it’s right where it should be? (ie: acceptable wordcount length for the genre you are going for, ect)

4. Have you written a short pitch and 1-page synopsis? (short pitch being about 5 sentences, and what you’ll use in your query letter. Agents also usually ask for a 1-page synopsis, though sometimes they want it 2-4 pages. Sometimes it’s good to have both prepared.)

5. Have you looked at how to write a query letter? (Check out queryshark for great examples)

6. Have you written your query letter? (you might want to do that then…)

7. Have you had people review both your query letter and your synopsis?

8. Do you have a list of agents you want to query?

9. Have you researched each agent to make sure they really are a good fit? (this is an important step some people seem to miss. You want to make sure the agent represents your audience/genre at least. Try to find what they are looking for, and what they’ve sold. Publisher’s Marketplace is a great place to check their sales record and Casey McCormick has a great site that gives details on lots of agents.)

10. Are you following those agents on your list on twitter, or other online social media? (Dude, seriously make sure you’re doing this one, and then mention it in the subject or the query letter itself. Agents like to know you are savvy with the social media. Plus, if you read their recent tweets, or even the not-so-recent-ones, they’ll mention things they are looking for or other tid-bits of advice.)

If you said ‘yes’ to all these question, CONGRATULATIONS! You are ready to query.

ps. If you have any questions, post them below and I’ll put that in the next post.

So what does it mean? It means, dream big. Dream of being a NY Times Best-selling author. Dream that your book becoming a HUGE movie. Dream that you will be the literary smash of the decade… or the century.

Do that for five minutes.

Okay. Now focus on reality. Some of that stuff might happen, but then again, it probably won’t. You might not be the next J.K. Rowling, but that’s really okay. Not every basketball player can be a Michael Jordan, but a lot can still play for the NBA. So for now, accomplish goals within your reach. You CANNOT personally make every person in the world buy your book. But you CAN polish your pros until they shine. You CANNOT make an agent ask to see your book. You CAN send out a good query letter, though.

Someone else dared to dream. He dreamed something everyone thought was impossible… and yet, he made it that dream a reality. So aim high, and work hard to make that dream come true.

Focus on what you CAN control.

So what are your dreams? And what is your list of the things you CAN accomplish?