tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248677546122546242024-03-13T11:03:46.411-05:00Angie's Writing AdventuresYA & MG Author repped by Brooks Sherman of the Bent Agency. A.C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232543025049614992noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224867754612254624.post-8380033394037213232016-06-28T18:22:00.003-05:002016-06-28T18:24:36.032-05:00So long, blogThe past year has been amazing. Ah-ma-zing! For those who need a short recap:<br />
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1. <a href="http://acthomaswrites.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-post-no-seriously-post.html" target="_blank">I signed with my superhero agent, Brooks Sherman.</a><br />
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2. <a href="http://acthomaswrites.blogspot.com/2015/11/so-this-happened_3.html" target="_blank">I was an inaugural winner of the Walter Dean Myers Grant from We Need Diverse Books.</a><br />
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3. <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/69501-balzer-bray-prevails-in-13-house-auction-for-ya-debut.html" target="_blank">My debut novel, THE HATE U GIVE was acquired by Balzer + Bray/Harper Collins in a 13 publishing house auction.</a><br />
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4. As of now, it has sold in 13 countries!<br />
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5. <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/bookmark/hunger-games-actress-star-black-876333" target="_blank">Fox 2000, Temple Hill, and State Street bought the film rights with George Tillman attached to direct and Amandla Stenberg attached to star!</a><br />
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So many great things, yet I haven't updated my blog nearly enough. Unfortunately, I think it's time to say goodbye to this place.<br />
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But....<br />
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You can find me on my official site - <a href="http://www.acthomaswrites.com/">acthomaswrites.com</a>. And look! <a href="http://www.acthomaswrites.com/blog">There's a blog, too.</a><br />
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I'll keep this blog up in hopes that it will inspire other writers on their journey. No matter how many rejections you get, remember ANYTHING is possible. I'm proof of that.<br />
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Looking forward to the future!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07449944284406812010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224867754612254624.post-61190782188579941682016-03-03T15:38:00.001-06:002016-03-03T15:38:49.032-06:00This Happened, Part II (The Holy Crap Edition)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/69501-balzer-bray-prevails-in-13-house-auction-for-ya-debut.html"><img alt="This is me. No, I can't believe it either. " border="0" height="395" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zH1sWx0dMQw/VtiuBxFlcjI/AAAAAAAAAEY/4erQh_IXCTo/s640/unnamed.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/69501-balzer-bray-prevails-in-13-house-auction-for-ya-debut.html" target="_blank">Yes, this is me. No, I can't believe it either.</a></div>
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A huge shout out to my superhero agent, Brooks Sherman. B, you truly are a dream agent. Thanks for making my dreams come true :). The next item on our agenda: take over the world. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07449944284406812010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224867754612254624.post-6710756642205018652015-11-03T15:51:00.004-06:002015-11-03T16:00:11.712-06:00This happened:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-avwhkN4HMd0/VjkqYBk-xfI/AAAAAAAAATM/jCGF95v6NQw/s1600/Walter%2BDean%2BMyers%2BGrant%2BRecipients-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-avwhkN4HMd0/VjkqYBk-xfI/AAAAAAAAATM/jCGF95v6NQw/s640/Walter%2BDean%2BMyers%2BGrant%2BRecipients-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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See that name underlined? Yep. That's me.</div>
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I won a Walter grant.</div>
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I won a freaking Walter grant!</div>
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A huge thank you to the judges and to We Need Diverse Books. I cannot say that enough. I am honored. Stunned. Floored. Mr. Myers' works have inspired me greatly, and to receive a grant that was named after him...</div>
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Wow. </div>
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Just...wow. </div>
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Thank you. </div>
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I'm off to write :-)</div>
A.C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232543025049614992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224867754612254624.post-30825305922788424092015-08-24T09:30:00.000-05:002016-06-03T12:01:12.005-05:00The Post. No, seriously, THE Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Soo...it's been crickets around here for a few months, but I swear it's with good reason. Great reason, actually. Drum roll, please.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">I HAVE AN AGENT! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Yes, me. I'm more shocked than anyone, honestly. I don't think people understand when I say this does NOT happen where I’m from. Seriously, it doesn't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, to that "How I got my agent" story, because I'm sure that's why you're here. Well for that and the gifs. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Be warned, it’s a long story. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The short version, using stats:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Manuscripts: 3 (2 versions of my MG and a YA)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Queries sent: 52 for MG (overall), 7 for YA</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Requests: 17 for MG (includes contests), 4 for YA</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Agent: 1 Superhero</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Now the long version:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Back in December, I sent Her Royal Sharkness, the Query Shark, the query for my revised MG manuscript. She posted it, called it splendid, and I was stunned. I sent that baby out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The requests came. But so did the rejections. Everyone says that the best way to deal with the roller coaster of querying is to start another manuscript. So that’s what I did. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4YaLjgMCWxo/VdTZ5H6xMcI/AAAAAAAAANg/BXtMwlaqwwQ/s1600/tumblr_ne52y6dOcd1roxnapo2_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4YaLjgMCWxo/VdTZ5H6xMcI/AAAAAAAAANg/BXtMwlaqwwQ/s320/tumblr_ne52y6dOcd1roxnapo2_500.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I recommend that everyone do this. The querying process is crazy at times, and if you don’t want it to drive you crazy, distract yourself with another manuscript. Preferably something different than the one you’re querying. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">And boy, was my new manuscript different from my MG. Waaaay different. YA. Contemporary. Realistic. Darker. No need to front, I’m from “the hood,” and this manuscript is about neighborhoods like mine. Plus it deals with the Black Lives Matter movement. It was easier to write in some ways though. I was loving it. I sent it out to some CP’s, and they were loving it too. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FyBhe8cp-kM/VdTaDdHM7cI/AAAAAAAAANo/Th3eZZwHlH0/s1600/tumblr_ng7ravEmkq1sl8ko9o1_400.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FyBhe8cp-kM/VdTaDdHM7cI/AAAAAAAAANo/Th3eZZwHlH0/s1600/tumblr_ng7ravEmkq1sl8ko9o1_400.gif" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I hadn’t given up on the MG yet though. I entered the raffle for The Writer’s Voice contest, and I was chosen from the raffle. Then, I posted my query and first page of my MG on my blog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">And holy crap, two mentor teams wanted me. Two! </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HSVzhsGON1w/VdTaLPajx4I/AAAAAAAAAOw/3bbEzulIgv4/s1600/tumblr_msrnlxEmhx1qlitzvo9_400.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HSVzhsGON1w/VdTaLPajx4I/AAAAAAAAAOw/3bbEzulIgv4/s1600/tumblr_msrnlxEmhx1qlitzvo9_400.gif" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I could’ve gone either way and had a great experience, but I went with Team Coffeehouse, which is made up of three awesome ladies—Brenda Drake, Nikki Roberti, and Kimberly Chase. I owe them my first born. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">They helped me polish up the first few chapters, synopsis, and query letter for my MG. As I waited for the Writer’s Voice to begin, I worked on the YA and decided to query it if the MG didn’t work out in the Writer’s Voice. However, I was terrified of querying the YA because it deals with such a sensitive topic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Now, here is where things get a little crazy. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d5hrhjNl9-U/Vdjq-Lp8oTI/AAAAAAAAAPg/JHtTz2YwRZc/s1600/sophia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d5hrhjNl9-U/Vdjq-Lp8oTI/AAAAAAAAAPg/JHtTz2YwRZc/s1600/sophia.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">*In my Sophia Petrillo voice* Picture it: Twitter, June 3, 2015.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">An agency, who shall remain nameless for now, had a question-and-answer session on Twitter. Since I was on the fence about querying my YA, I asked about it. Let me clarify – <b>I did not pitch it</b>. I asked if the topic was appropriate for YA. I got a response from a Superhero Agent. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m66-2Jw9VJk/VdjrPRNvKFI/AAAAAAAAAQA/nKbADFszbpY/s1600/SuperheroTweet1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="89" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m66-2Jw9VJk/VdjrPRNvKFI/AAAAAAAAAQA/nKbADFszbpY/s640/SuperheroTweet1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cX6NDNzh7BM/VdjrO1XXQPI/AAAAAAAAAQM/ZHcvEHChhJU/s1600/MyTweet2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cX6NDNzh7BM/VdjrO1XXQPI/AAAAAAAAAQM/ZHcvEHChhJU/s640/MyTweet2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Phew! What a relief. I wouldn’t be exiled in query land for my manuscript. But who could I query at this agency? I crossed my fingers and toes that it would be a fit for Superhero Agent because he had always been one of my "dream agents." The Q&A session was winding down. I took a chance and asked:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mUt1cnx89SY/VdjsdpjOfeI/AAAAAAAAAQc/Ozrn0y54uUk/s1600/MyYaTweet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="89" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mUt1cnx89SY/VdjsdpjOfeI/AAAAAAAAAQc/Ozrn0y54uUk/s640/MyYaTweet.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I got this response from Superhero Agent: </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bFS34_exUc0/VdjrQQ9uvsI/AAAAAAAAAQU/gRTVwO1dZzo/s1600/TheTweet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="88" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bFS34_exUc0/VdjrQQ9uvsI/AAAAAAAAAQU/gRTVwO1dZzo/s640/TheTweet.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the record: </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">PLEASE DO NOT PITCH TO AGENTS DIRECTLY ON TWITTER</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">. Unless they ask you to. Twitter Pitch contests? Great. Asking questions during Q&A’s? Fine. But never pitch them directly. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I was still editing and assured the agent I would query him when I was done. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">About a week or two after the Twitter conversation, the Writer’s Voice began. My MG entry was posted, a</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">nd I got FOUR agent requests.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I prepared to send out the fulls. I hadn’t read the MG in its entirety since I started the YA. I decided to read through it before I sent it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">And holy crap, I saw issues.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It’s true what they say – once you step away from a manuscript for a while, you see the problems when you come back. I was heartbroken, yet I sent it out to the agents who requested in the contest, because you never know. Plus I’m my worst critic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Thankfully, I had my YA. It softened the blow so much. I was in the last of my edits, which proved to be a great distraction when two of the contest rejections came in. I assumed the other two would also be rejections and decided to focus on the YA. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then Superhero Agent from Twitter announced he was closing for queries in July and wouldn’t reopen until September. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Not a long time, I know, but I thought, “What if he forgets our conversation? Wait, he may have already forgotten. Holy crap, I need to query him.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I went back and forth on it, but my amazing CP, Michelle, encouraged me to query him and other agents with the YA. So </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I queried Superhero Agent right before he closed. Soon, I finished my edits and sent it to a few more agents. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Less than a week after I queried the YA to the other agents, I got an e-mail from a contest agent, who's a Rock Star, about the MG. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">She wanted to talk on the phone.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Say whaaaat?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We arranged to talk, and since I’m the Queen of Assumptions, I assumed it would be an R&R call. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nope. It was an offer. On the MG. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qfYRq2OiVEA/Vdj2QIYdN2I/AAAAAAAAARI/qf6CirAszx4/s1600/ezgif-2854352495.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qfYRq2OiVEA/Vdj2QIYdN2I/AAAAAAAAARI/qf6CirAszx4/s1600/ezgif-2854352495.gif" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I told her about my YA and that I'd already started querying it. She loved the premise and wanted to rep me for both. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I nudged agents who had the MG AND agents who had the YA, which led to a lot of full requests. Superhero Agent requested the full for the YA and later for the MG too.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then a Powerhouse Agent, who was another one of my "dream agents," requested the full for the YA. Two days later, Powerhouse Agent offered.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jjmgZiaPDuU/Vdj8hmZjq0I/AAAAAAAAARY/PAAJCHn2hv8/s1600/tumblr_lqpsiaLZZ81qci7eh.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jjmgZiaPDuU/Vdj8hmZjq0I/AAAAAAAAARY/PAAJCHn2hv8/s320/tumblr_lqpsiaLZZ81qci7eh.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">She love love LOVED it. And I was shocked, shocked, shocked. I was upfront with her and explained that the initial offer was for the MG. She asked to see it too, but her offer remained. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I let Superhero Agent know that Powerhouse Agent offered. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">He asked to talk.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lc7PlGhV8RY/VdTaIYPtcsI/AAAAAAAAAOA/AORFKYYWd0o/s1600/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lc7PlGhV8RY/VdTaIYPtcsI/AAAAAAAAAOA/AORFKYYWd0o/s320/giphy.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Now, word on the internet streetz is that Superhero Agent went crazy over my YA. But you didn’t hear that from me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We talked. He had spot-on ideas for revisions, and the love and passion he expressed for the YA was nothing short of amazing. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">He offered. I internally freaked out, but I kept it cool. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EXGWy-QDLKA/Vdj8-jk13YI/AAAAAAAAARg/z2ufwzbgB_s/s1600/tumblr_mq9or4MyiL1s3xzico1_250.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EXGWy-QDLKA/Vdj8-jk13YI/AAAAAAAAARg/z2ufwzbgB_s/s200/tumblr_mq9or4MyiL1s3xzico1_250.gif" width="188" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Although I think I broke the Guinness world record for the number of “okay’s” said on a phone conversation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It was an overwhelming week. The agent offers hit me like:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-biZQ1VOkcts/VdTaIYrR9sI/AAAAAAAAAPE/DWrYEzD0AOg/s1600/offer%2Bhit%2Bme%2Blike.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-biZQ1VOkcts/VdTaIYrR9sI/AAAAAAAAAPE/DWrYEzD0AOg/s320/offer%2Bhit%2Bme%2Blike.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">My best friend, Christy, kept me calm, and like I said, I owe Brenda, Nikki, and Kim my first born because they talked me through the chaos too. All the while, Brenda and Nikki were preparing for Pitch Wars. Crazy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had a tough decision ahead of me. Three offers from three great agents who loved my work. I talked to their clients who</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> told me about their respective agent’s approach, etc. It's true - e</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">very agent isn’t for every writer. I could’ve chosen either one of them and been in great hands, but I went with the one whose agenting style better suits me. It didn't hurt that he was so passionate about my work and as I talked to him, I knew he was The One. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">And I’m happy to announce that Ant Man is my Superhero Agent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Also known as Brooks Sherman of the Bent Agency!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--QokK7UlbTc/Vdj-Q8bYOPI/AAAAAAAAAR0/3GExMzqpJlk/s1600/Brooks_Sherman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--QokK7UlbTc/Vdj-Q8bYOPI/AAAAAAAAAR0/3GExMzqpJlk/s1600/Brooks_Sherman.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But seriously, he does resemble Paul Rudd and he truly is a Superhero Agent. I am so happy to join the B-Team, and I’m amazed at how all of this started from a Twitter conversation. My book babies are in good hands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Only hip-hop fans will get this reference, but: *In my Suge Knight Voice* if you’re a writer and you want an agent who is part superhero, part Slytherin, part amazing, query Brooks Sherman! </span><span style="text-align: center;">(When he re-opens for queries, that is.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Let’s do this, B! </span></div>
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A.C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232543025049614992noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224867754612254624.post-63445511628322542692015-01-23T10:31:00.003-06:002016-08-27T11:59:19.599-05:00Who I am<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They say no news is good news. In this case, that's true. Although I'm still amazed/shocked/etc about her Royal Highness, the Query Shark, calling my query letter splendid, I have not hit the query trenches yet. I'm going through my last rounds of edits with my CP's, but I hope to hit Query Land soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the mean time, I realized I haven't said much about myself on this blog. I think waaay back I mentioned that I would blog about my journey so far, but I never got around to it. I recently entered SCBWI's Diverse Voices grant contest, and although I wasn't chosen, I decided to post a tweaked, longer version of the bio I submitted. So, here goes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was born, raised, and still reside in
the poorest state in the nation, Mississippi, in one of the poorest
neighborhoods in its capital city. If you say the word, “Georgetown,” to anyone
who is familiar with Jackson, they will define it with images of crime,
drug-infestation, and poverty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, I saw something different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Books have been my refuge from the
moment I could read. They ignited my imagination. For me, the neighborhood
crack house was a dragon’s lair that I scurried past every day before the
red-eyed, scaly-skinned dope fiends attacked. My imagination was, and still is, my blanket. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was hard to keep it at times, though. I have a vivid memory of being six years old, riding my bike in the neighborhood park as kids do when gunshots fired off. I didn't know which direction they came from, but I rode off, not realizing I rode straight into the line of fire. Miraculously I wasn't hit, but I remember asking God to give me super speed so the next time it happened, I wouldn't even be close to the line of fire. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, I never got my wish, but this began my fascination with superheroes. From the Flash to Storm to Black Panther, I was in love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also fell in love with writing. I wanted to tell my own stories. I wanted to pull my friends into the worlds I imagined, away from our hardships. Obviously I still have this love since I received a degree in Creative Writing and recently completed my first
manuscript, an upper middle grade superhero novel. I hope to inspire kids
in the “Georgetowns” of the world to see
things differently. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Diverse books and writers are important not because it's a good look or because diversity is a "trend." It's because kids need to be able to see themselves and see what they can become. If it wasn't for authors like Maya Angelou, Zora Neale Hurston, Nikki Giovanni, etc, showing me that someone who looks like me can do this, I probably never would've considered becoming a writer. And while I don't have an agent and haven't been published, I know it's possible because of them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, to all of you diverse children's writers out there. No, scratch that, to ALL children's writers out there - keep going. That kid who hears gunshots every night needs to see a world beyond their circumstances. We have the power to fuel their imaginations and their dreams. </span></div>
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A.C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232543025049614992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224867754612254624.post-73626146987255239662014-12-08T16:24:00.000-06:002014-12-08T16:28:21.261-06:00Still StunnedWhen I finished the latest draft of my book, The Time Traveler, I dreaded doing a query letter. Seriously dreaded it. I prayed about it a lot and made lots of attempts at writing one. I'm sure if search my blog, you will find some of my failed attempts for the old version of my book.<br />
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I also did tons of research. I've read every entry on Query Shark at least twice. If for some reason you've never heard of Query Shark aka literary agent Janet Reid, <a href="http://queryshark.blogspot.com/">visit her blog</a>. Read every entry. Digest her comments. Look at your query letter. Realize you've probably been doing this wrong. Mope about it. Try again. The end result will be a much better query letter.<br />
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That's basically what happened to me.<br />
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One day, I sat at my computer and decided I would not get up until I wrote a query letter that not only described my book, but one I was happy with. I read <a href="http://thinkingthroughourfingers.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-4-cs-of-writing-query-letter.html">this article by author Shallee McArthur</a>, which helped a lot as well. It took several hours, but I finally did one. I let it sit for a day or two, sent it to my best friend/Critique Partner/ awesome person Christy for critique, and made edits. I then participated in the Query Letter Blog Hop. The feedback I've received has been amazing. It's always awesome when your fellow writers tell you something is good.<br />
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But then, something totally unexpected happened.<br />
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On Friday, December 5th, I decided to send it to the master of query letter critiques, the Query Shark.<br />
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On Sunday, December 7th, <a href="http://queryshark.blogspot.com/2014/12/266-ftw.html">she posted it and called it splendid.</a><br />
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Splendid! My letter! Written by me, the black girl in the hood who still hears shootings every night.<br />
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This doesn't happen to people like me.<br />
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I'm still stunned.<br />
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Maybe this writing thing is possible after all.<br />
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Now, excuse me as I go make sure my book is as good as my letter.<br />
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- A.C.<br />
<br />A.C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232543025049614992noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224867754612254624.post-47306109443177095022014-11-09T11:11:00.003-06:002014-11-09T11:11:47.715-06:00Hellooo out there*Crickets*<br />
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I know this place is dead.<br />
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I know I'm probably just writing this for myself.<br />
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However. . .<br />
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I'm back!<br />
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I had to step away from the online literary world for a bit. Well, by the looks of it, for about a year.<br />
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The online literary world is great, don't get me wrong. Tons of awesome people, awesome advice, awesome tips and insight.<br />
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But. . .<br />
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Of course, there's a but.<br />
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But once you start reading all of the blogs, the critiques, the tips, the do's and don'ts, it can become the biggest ball of yarn in your brain, full of knots that make it nearly impossible to see the core.<br />
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For me, my core is my book.<br />
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I've used the past year to step back, re-evaluate things, and re-write my book. I purposely avoided the online literary world. I can honestly say it was the best thing I've done for my book and for myself as a writer. I took the knowledge I gained, ate it, and stepped away from the table to let it digest. As a result, I have a better book.<br />
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A much, much, MUCH better book.<br />
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Another thing my time away has taught me is patience. Yes, it is my life long dream to be published, and since that means so much to me, it's okay that it takes time to get there. So, if that means taking a year to start from scratch and write a book, then that's what I will do.<br />
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That's what I did.<br />
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I'm back and happier with my book than I've ever been.<br />
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And that's what matters.A.C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232543025049614992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224867754612254624.post-89660482730871644552013-10-04T15:02:00.001-05:002013-10-04T15:02:46.661-05:00Dealing with Writer's Block & Other ThingsIn my last post, I shared the awesome news that I won a contest to get my WIP critiqued by Brenda Drake. Since then, I've received the feedback and wow! It was just what I needed. Amazing is the only word to describe the experience. To my surprise, she didn't tell me I need to quit writing. Ha! She actually told me that I'm almost there with this manuscript. With her words of wisdom and suggestions, I ended up on a roll of revising and writing. The finish line was so so close.<br />
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Then, the worst happened. Writer's Block attacked.<br />
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I don't mean your regular writer's block either. I mean the, "I doubt every single word," "I'm ready to throw this manuscript out of the window," "I don't know why I ever thought I could do this" kind of writer's block. It's frustrating and it's draining. This sucker has literally brought me to tears.<br />
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Lately, I even doubt if a person like me could even be a writer. When I see people online sharing the news that they've gotten an agent or landed a publisher, it seems like they're in this exclusive country club, and I have little chance of getting into it. I doubt they've been on welfare or had to run from bullets as a kid. I know, it's a stupid assumption to make about people I've never met, but folks from neighborhoods like mine don't become writers. Most of them avoid reading all together.<br />
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Deep down, I know it's not about where you live, but where I live is making it hard for me to see something better. I've isolated myself from the online writing community lately because I don't feel like I fit in.<br />
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This sucks.<br />
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However, I'm not giving up. I can't.<br />
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These are the same doubts I dealt with when I was in college. In most of my English and Creative Writing classes, I was the only person who looked like me or grew up in "the hood." On my first day of classes, I cried for over an hour in my car because I didn't think I belonged. I didn't have the experiences of my peers who had seen parts of the world that I'd only seen on television.<br />
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But a professor/author by the name of Howard Bahr helped me realize something. No, I didn't have the experiences of my peers, but my experiences were just as important and deserved to be heard just as much. He told me to write what I know. With that advice, I ended up winning first place for fiction in my program's annual writing contest.<br />
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No, folks in my neighborhood don't get agents or publishers or put out books. They also don't win writing awards or even get a college degree, but I did both.Therefore, this writing thing IS possible.<br />
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My hope is that one day I can inspire some kid who's been on welfare or had to run from bullets that they too can achieve their dreams as a writer. For now, I gotta get over this writer's block.<br />
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I hope this made some kind of sense.<br />
A.C.<br />
<br />A.C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232543025049614992noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224867754612254624.post-67973910108098391062013-08-17T11:41:00.000-05:002013-08-17T12:11:08.580-05:00Eeeeek! - A reaction in gifs <div style="text-align: center;">
So, the other day I posted about how I took down my query letter from Write On Con. There's a chance, dear reader, that you thought I was all cool, calm, and collected about it. However, this is how I really felt:</div>
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<i>What the heck have I done???</i></div>
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Cue the "Oh my God, I may have just ruined my chances" freak out as I read about tons of writers with works in progress getting requests from literary agents.</div>
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Of course, I was happy for my fellow writers, but,</div>
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<a href="http://proteas.microlab.ntua.gr/ksiop/phd_funny/research_in_progress__funny/When%20your%20method%20is%20re-discovered%20without%20any%20citation.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://proteas.microlab.ntua.gr/ksiop/phd_funny/research_in_progress__funny/When%20your%20method%20is%20re-discovered%20without%20any%20citation.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>What about me?</i></div>
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This went on for approximately 24 hours. </div>
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And then, this happened.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z5-qNteQJ5E/Ug-hDg_x9uI/AAAAAAAAADQ/qeXEmKteRyU/s1600/Eeek!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z5-qNteQJ5E/Ug-hDg_x9uI/AAAAAAAAADQ/qeXEmKteRyU/s320/Eeek!.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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What is this, dear reader? Well, a while back, on a whim I entered a contest on the awesome Brenda Drake's Blog <a href="http://brenleedrake.blogspot.com/">which you can find here.</a> The contest was to celebrate the release of the also-awesome Kimberly P. Chase's book, The Apollo Academy, <a href="http://kimberlypchase.blogspot.com/">which you can find out about here</a>. An app would randomly choose the winners, and I didn't think I'd win anything. I haven't won anything in my life. </div>
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Wait, no, that's a lie. When I was four, I won a bike at school by accident. According to my mom, I would get down on my little knees and pray to God every night for a bike, but she couldn't afford one. Pre-Kindergartners weren't supposed to be entered into the drawing at school, but my teacher did it by accident and I won. They had to trade in the big mountain bike for something my feet could actually reach. Twenty-one years later, and I'm the reason no other Pre-Kindergartners are entered into the drawing. Sorry, kids!</div>
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I kinda had that Pre-Kindergarten experience again. I don't know how much you believe in prayer or God, and I'm not going to bog you down in religious talk or come at you like this lady:</div>
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My point is, for the past few months, I've been praying that I can get out of this isolation I'm in in the writing world. That I could get some kind of insight, advice, critique from somewhere. I have one CP (my totally awesome best friend. Hi, Christy!) but I always read of people having tons of CP's and betas. I never knew where to start just to make those connections. Being that Brenda is so well known in the online writing world, I tweeted her a while back, asking about how to get myself out there more. She gave me great advice, and I've been putting myself out there bit by bit. </div>
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But wow, wow, wow. </div>
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Like I said, about 24 hours after I beat myself up about removing my query from Write On Con, I get the e-mail that I won a 3 chapter critique from Brenda Drake! </div>
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Considering how I'm a big fan of this guy, appropriate gif is appropriate. </div>
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No, it's not The Call or even a request, but for me it's an answer to a prayer. Whether she tells me my first 3 chapters suck or not, it's critique! Just what I've been praying for. I believe in this book and want it to be good, and I'm willing to do whatever I have to do to get it there. </div>
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Now, off to bite my nails as I wait on that critique. Until next time.</div>
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A.C.</div>
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A.C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232543025049614992noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224867754612254624.post-63136840102209832272013-08-13T17:50:00.000-05:002013-08-13T17:50:29.476-05:00Why I removed my query from Write On Con and other random thoughtsI'm back again with another post. I know, shocking since I'm Ms. I-Blog-Every-Six-Months. Blogging is turning out to be more fun than I expected. Especially when I actually take the time to do it. <div>
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Anyway, if you have any clue about the world of children's writing/publishing, you probably know that one of the best things in the whole wide world is going on right now. That's right, Write On Con. <div>
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Don't know what it is, dear reader? Well, let me give a quick explanation as I clutch my pearls at the fact you don't know. (Seriously, you SHOULD know).<div>
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Four words: Free online writer's conference. </div>
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Nuff said. </div>
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Today is the first official day, and I happen to be home sick. No, I'm not faking it. Really, I'm sick. Sore throat, fever, shakes, coughing, sneezing. Awful. But the conference has helped me survive the day. I've already learned some amazing things from even more amazing people. I'm hoping to use it to network more since I tend to hide under a rock as I clutch my dear manuscript while telling myself, "They can't see my precious." Yes, I do a lot of clutching. </div>
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Anyway, I posted my first 250 words, my first 5 pages, and my query letter. Got great critiques, though the folks at Write on Con tend to be nicer/softer than most places. However, yesterday I made what could be a life-changing decision:</div>
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I took my query letter down.</div>
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One of the perks of Write On Con is having "Ninja Agents," read your work and offer comments, critique, and maybe even request something. They're also more likely to read query letters than the first 250 words and first five pages. So, think about that for a second. I took down my query letter, the one thing that could've gotten me some kind of attention.</div>
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No, I'm not crazy. Well, I may be a little bit, but there's a reason for my madness: </div>
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My manuscript isn't ready, and I'm not ready. </div>
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I mentioned in all of my posts that my MS is a work in progress (WIP), and I could've very well left my query letter up and gotten some critiques/comments from agents. However, knowing myself the way I do, I felt I would be doing Stevie and the rest of my Blake gang an injustice. Even worse, I would be doing myself an injustice. </div>
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You see, if by some crazy chance I got good feedback on my query from an agent, I would've hurried through my MS so I could query them, and guess what? My book would suffer. Had an agent told me this query needs work, etc., I would've focused on my query and therefore, my book would again suffer. </div>
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Make sense? </div>
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The biggest thing I'm learning in this process is patience. I have to take the time to get this right, and sometimes that means missing opportunities. I struggled with that decision to take my query down, but I feel better about it. My MS isn't done, and that's what I need to focus on. As my mom lovingly told me, "Girl, you're putting the damn cart before the damn horse!" Yes, that's exactly how she said it. </div>
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So, instead of focusing on putting together a good query letter right now, I'm focusing on writing a good book.</div>
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Until next time.</div>
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A.C. </div>
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A.C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232543025049614992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224867754612254624.post-60263854011012049202013-08-08T11:42:00.000-05:002013-08-08T11:42:10.121-05:00Resources for Writing a Superhero Book<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">People always say "write what you know." If you're not writing what you know, research, research, research. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been reading comics since I was a kid, and I've always loved superheroes. I lived in (actually still live in) what is known as "the hood." I can remember running away from gunshots when I was six. So I always felt like I needed superheroes in my neighborhood. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wait, I'm getting off track here. I'll get more into that one day soon :-). My point is, I know about superheroes and comics, but I still do research as I write this book. Here are a couple of resources that are helping me along the way.</span></div>
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<span id="btAsinTitle"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">KA-BOOM! A Dictionary of Comic Book Words, Symbols & Onomatopoeia </span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By Kevin Taylor</span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Shouldn't all dictionaries start with AAAA and end with ZZZZZZZTZZZTZZZ? Ka-BOOM! does: it's a collection of sound effects from comic books, each one rigorously defined and cross referenced. Nowhere has the art of onomatopoeia been raised to higher heights than in the humble comic book."</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This book is a gem for writing action scenes. I like to include onomatopoeia's in my fight/action scenes just to give it a feel of a comic. This book is awesome for that. Need to know the sound of Spiderman swinging from his web cord? It's in this dictionary. The book is available at Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/KA-BOOM-Dictionary-Comic-Symbols-Onomatopoeia/dp/1430314419" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BBpWmL3oM_M/UgPHsCY09aI/AAAAAAAAACw/jHXpIZFNUsw/s1600/Wiki-wordmark.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BBpWmL3oM_M/UgPHsCY09aI/AAAAAAAAACw/jHXpIZFNUsw/s1600/Wiki-wordmark.png" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Superpower Wiki: The wikipedia of superpowers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This site is amazing. Seriously, ah-maz-ing. It lists superpowers under various categories including mimicry, mental powers, enhancements, etc. There's not a superpower that isn't listed on this site. The wiki provides the various names of powers, the capabilities, applications, techniques, variations, levels, associations, limitations, and the known users. So, if you're unfamiliar with a certain superpower, <a href="http://powerlisting.wikia.com/wiki/Superpower_Wiki" target="_blank">check it out here.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.superheronation.com/">SuperheroNation.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is just an overall great resource for writing superhero books. There are tips on there that can be applied to non-superhero books too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, that's all I can think of for now. Off to do some writing and revising. </span></div>
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A.C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232543025049614992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224867754612254624.post-83049989586081882542013-03-30T14:20:00.002-05:002013-03-30T14:20:59.339-05:00So, about that book, Part IIYou see that query letter down there? *points to the post below* Yeah, the one I worked on for weeks and sent out only to get rejected? Yeah, ignore it. Act like it doesn't exist. Why? Because in some ways, that book doesn't exist. After prayer and thought, I have decided to overhaul my book. It's still the Blakes, its still about Stevie, it still has superpowers and awesome super-fights, it's still got time travel...but it's different.<br />
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And honestly, it's awesome. Anyone who knows me knows I'm the last person to compliment myself, but this re-write is 100x better already. Funny what prayer can do.<br />
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So, when I get the query done for the new, more awesome book, I'll post it up here. Until then, I'll keep you updated on my journey of re-writing: what to keep, what not to keep, that is the question.<br />
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Right now, I'm working on a chapter that has many of the same elements of one in the previous version and the same motivation - to introduce our villain, Artimus D. Smiles, a former sidekick with a flair for bright clothing and who talks like his nose is constantly plugged up. Don't let that fool you, though. Smarty Artie (he hates that nickname) is bad with a capital B. Or at least he thinks he is ;-).<br />
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Until next time.<br />
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A.C.A.C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232543025049614992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224867754612254624.post-13186741715671458312013-02-14T16:54:00.004-06:002013-02-14T16:54:36.943-06:00I got 99 problems. . .And my blog is one. Eeek, I haven't kept this thing updated nearly as much as I should. But I have good reason, or at least good excuses. Well for one, I started a new job recently so I'm getting into the swing of things with that and two. . .Well, there really is no two. I need to post more around here. Maybe even post some stuff about my book. That would help, I'm sure.<br />
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Well, I tried querying and failed. Rejection sucks. So I'm taking a break from it and plan on coming back with a new query in a few weeks and going at it again.<br />
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In the midst of my "woe is me, I can't get an agent," the best thing that has helped me has been focusing on my books. The plots, characters, etc.,. Hopefully one day, some agent will read my query and go, "That's the one!" Until then, I'll keep my eyes on the prize.A.C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232543025049614992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224867754612254624.post-78575824195814119142013-01-28T10:07:00.002-06:002013-01-28T10:07:14.468-06:00No, honest! I swear I haven't forgotten about this place. Update coming soon!A.C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232543025049614992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224867754612254624.post-87783937166756983172012-10-25T17:10:00.001-05:002013-02-25T17:45:53.814-06:00Still alive, still choppingI should really update this blog more often. I do have good reason though for being away though. I've been working on my query letter and editing my manuscript. I got a couple of more beta readers and although the process is scary, it's been very helpful. I've made more edits and thanks to my query letter, found weak spots in my manuscript.<br />
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In the meantime, a couple of readers pointed out something I should have done a long time ago - explain some of this stuff on my blog. So, here goes.<br />
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The Adventures of the Blakes is the planned series of middle grade superhero books that I'm currently working on. The first book is "The Time Traveler," and I hope to post the query letter here soon.<br />
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In the Blakes' world, a Remarkable is a super-powered human. Some people would say superheroes, but not everyone with superpowers is a hero :).<br />
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I'll post more soon, but in the meantime, back to query letter hell.<br />
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A.C.<br />
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<br />A.C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232543025049614992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224867754612254624.post-12578137439347964472012-08-18T12:35:00.001-05:002013-02-25T17:46:06.285-06:00Chop Chop!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, from the looks of it, I have finally reached a draft of the first book of "The Adventures of the Blakes" series, "The Time Traveler," that I can submit to agents. I should be excited, but holy crap, that's frightening! It feels like the equivalent of chopping off a body part and sending it to someone for their approval. Is this arm too flabby? What about this leg? Yeah, just ignore that cellulite there, it's nothing a good edit can't fix. </span><br />
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The comparison may be a bit exaggerated, but that's what this feels like. </span><br />
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But it has to be done. And in order to do that, I have to start my query letter. There is so much information on the net about query letters that it's easy to get brain gas from it. </span><br />
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Brain gas? What on earth is brain gas? It's when your brain gets filled to the point it's uncomfortable, and you desperately need to release it. It usually results in the brain fart - that moment where you lose a simple train of thought, and you start wonder if you need to be in a nursing home being fed applesauce. </span><br />
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I've gotten a lot of brain gas and had a lot of brain farts while working on this book and researching the query letter. But two of the best articles I've read on query letters come from the Adventures of YA and Children's Writing blog. If you're suffering from brain gas, they may help you as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What agents DO want from query letters: <a href="http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-agents-want-in-query.html">http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-agents-want-in-query.html</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What agents DON'T want from query letters: <a href="http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-agents-dont-want.html">http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-agents-dont-want.html</a></span><br />
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Off to begin chopping. </span><br />
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A.C.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>A.C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232543025049614992noreply@blogger.com2