Great talk today  by my friend author Greg Neri to the Tampa Bay Area members of SCBWI. His topic: Finding the Story: The Journey from Real Life Inspiration to Publication.

Words I'd use to describe the talk: passionate and inspirational!

Thanks Greg!  

Let's take a literary pause ... Happy First Day of Spring!
Up early, per usual and on the road. Just before sunrise, the St. Pete sky was awash in spring hues.

Here are a few more spring things for this special day. Sprigs of basil, rosemary and cilantro from my maybe-they-will-grow-if-I'm-lucky, herb garden. I just learned to pinch the flowers off the basil, so the sprigs of flowers are in a tiny vase. The sprigs make my kitchen smell as if I'm cooking. I'm not. I'm blogging and soon will be writing. That too is per usual, spring, summer, fall and winter.

Okay so this searching for an agent and querying process isn't easy. With all the advice on how important an agent is, you have to be sure to find one that fits with you. On top of that, one that wants  your work. So what that you've spend years writing and editing or that it's the 10th draft.

Using agentquery.com to start the list and then reading interviews, watching videos and listening to pod casts.

I sent a query to Caitie Flum of Liza Dawson Associates -- no pages or synopsis, just a query per submission guidelines-- and received a rejection the same afternoon. A personal one, but 

Ouch! 

However, I was appreciative to get an answer. So many agents and publishers don't have time to reply to their onslaught of queries. I sent a quick TY email and truly appreciated her time and reply. 

Enter damning inner voice saying all those negative things writers tell themselves. But this time, I silenced it pronto. On to the agent list. Found one who wanted historical fiction and even had military listed as an interest. Off went the query and the first 50 pages. Hope raised it's glorious head. Remember:

Now it's a waiting game.

I intend to send  a couple more queries today. Meanwhile, I'm on the 3rd draft of a contemporary, edgy YA. My MG/YA group, the Skyway Writers, are the ones who can help me whip it into shape. 

Writing about the difficult process of finding an agent not only gives me something worthwhile 

( IMHO) to blog about; it's cathartic.

Keep the faith and keep reading. 

I think the reason I haven't blogged much is because I'm not yet traditionally published in the children's literature book world. That's  not an excuse. It's a fact.

I write about other's  successes because I'm happy for them. I know how hard my friends who write have worked to become authors.

But what can I add to the plethora of information out there?

I've felt as if I don't have much to say that's of value. But hey, I really do.
I'm the voice of the struggling-to-find-someone-in publishing-who-believes-in-my-book-as-much-as-I-do group of writers.  The writers-in-waiting.

And the waiting, stinks.

I left working as a registered nurse in ICU to write.  Writing was and is, my bliss. And I've written so much since that time.

Stop back by in a couple days and I'll share some of my journey. Some of the successes that I realize deserve as much attention on my blog as anything else. Why? Because all that writing has made me a better writer. All those newspaper stories, articles, and short stories.

The blog might be of interest if you're a writer-in-waiting, Or if you've just published to compare stories. Maybe just to read something different.

Until I have an agent to thank, an editor to gush over or a published YA novel or picture book to give away to adoring fans, that's what I'll write. Okay, so adoring may be pushing it,  I'll still give props to the writers who are no longer in-waiting!  But from here out, I'll talk about the writing process that will lead up to the day I publish, both the successes and the pitfalls. And I hope readers will find what's said of value.



   

Augusta Scattergood has a new book coming out in January. The Way to Stay in Destiny is a must read. I could go on and on about the book, but then I'd have to issue a spoiler alert. So, my review has been shortened to just the facts. 

The Way to Stay in Destiny weaves a Southern-charm spell on readers, casting them straight into small town Florida circa 1974. Young readers will enjoy the story, part mystery and all adventure with funny, poignant, and hopeful moments. Readers will step inside and feel the summer heat, tap their toes to the music and smell peach cobbler baking. And most of all, they will cheer for Theo.  

Check out the book trailer on You Tube:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjSns48zxkw 

                                    What a wonderful Christmas Party

                               Sandra Markle hosted for the Skywriters.                                                       

                She is not only an award-winning children's author, 

                                    but a hostess extraordinaire.

                                                                                    

.

                                                                                             

                             

                              HELLO, I'M JOHNNY CASH

                             By G. Neri

                                    illustrated by A. G. Ford

                                published by Candlewick Press. 

This beautifully illustrated picture book is a Junior Library Guild Selection. The gorgeous cover is even more eye-catching in person. But it looks pretty good under my tree and it's a great read. This isn't simply the story of Johnny Cash as a singing star. G. Neri uses his evocative writing skills to pull readers into Cash's story. The book begins with the hard-luck life of Cash growing up during the depression and follows the guitar-slinging, truth-telling singer/song-writer through his years dominating country music and crossing musical genres.

This picture book is Neri's nod to the Man in Black who like many Americans have struggled through tragedy and tough times while holding fast to their dreams.  Neri stays true to his own emotive and powerful style. Doing so he's created a soul-soothing and impressive book kids will love and  Johnny Cash himself would be proud to read.