You are so sweet!!! Sadly, we had to put Clover down. Tough but it's a part of life.

Wishing you all the best with all of your success! XOXOXO I will keep following all of your work. You're a magnificent person!

- Terra

Thank you for adding me as a friend. =)

www.myspace.com/dreamsbane

I'm going to try! I haven't been able to take any because I'm usually too busy signing and presenting, but my publicist and media escorts have taken quite a few, and they've promised to send them to me.

Hope Clover is feeling better!
<3

You are so sweet. Although it wasn't me that was sick, it's my little baby, Clover (my cat). Well at least you will be in AZ again. That gives me a glimmer of hope!!! Hope all is going great for your tour!! Are you going to post pics as well??

Aw, I'm so sorry you were sick, Terra! I'll probably be back at changing hands next year, and we can keep in touch online in the meantime!
:D

MZ

PS. Feel better!

Morning Michelle. I am so sad to say that I had to miss your signing last night. I have a very sick kitty at home. I hope it went well and I look forward to hopefully meeting you soon.

Terra wrote: "I am so excited to meet you at Changing Hands on monday!!! I can't wait!!!"

I'm excited, too, Terra! And it's RIGHT around the corner!
:D

See you there!

MZ

Gary -

I just sent you en email with my cell phone number, but I'm not sure if I I have the right email address. Can you let me know if you don't receive it?

MZ

I am so excited to meet you at Changing Hands on monday!!! I can't wait!!!

Michelle! Congrats for coming to So Cal. I would like to invite and bring the girls that read the pre-pub book. Can we put something together? You can call me any time and let's see what we can do. Looking forward to actually meeting you and I know my students are as well.

Hey Michelle! Thought I should give your goodreads page some love. x) Just posted my review for POTS on my blog-- maybe you wanna check it out? Oo and according to my mom, a package from you is waiting on my bed! Can't wait to get home to check it out! x)

Writers House I have heard of. One of my favorite librarians was telling me about it. She says it is pretty sweet for those who are new to the field. And that would definitely apply to me. Ha ha.

But I agree with you, the agent who advocates his own passion is the best for you since that is what he is supposed to do for you. And I know there are a lot of writers out there who publish or will publish works on their own due to the fact that they cannot afford an agent. That is kind of the road I will be taking for my debut sadly, but hey, I ain't made of money. Sometimes though, I wish I was older so I could afford one, or at least be married (hah, married at 18. Ha!). I feel...well...kind of lame when people say, "Oh Random House is the best...St. Martins Griffin they got the works man!" These are places I would only be able to drag myself on my belly to. At least that is what it feels like when you are small and not at large, like you and Lisa. lol.

Prophecy is the fifth?!? What happened to the others? Are they part of the series? I have always been very curious about how other writers go about breaking into the writing world. And it is wonderful to hear that you didn't have to go through game plans the way Edison went through light bulb ideas. But then again, the end result is all the more sweeter when it is finished. There is usually one avenue of writing that just really gets writers, and most of them go for it. I can see that is how you are. For that I give you a hearty slap on the back. Good for you Mrs. Zink (should I adress you some other way?)

As for me, I started with novel ideas and novel manuscripts. But then I realized that I shouldn't be ready to shove myself out into the world at the tender age of 15. I should wait. So I did, and I let my writing skills fester, mass and finally molt. And I was ready. That was last year suprisingly. But now I am feeling that self-doubt all over again.

I also realize that you are not a shrink...but when writers need a crutcj for their wounded courage, it is best to grab onto another who is very sure of their craft. You know what I mean? I talk to people like you, published authors and soon-to-be published writers, who are pretty much complete strangers to me. I never, ever, tell any of my family all of this I tell you and others I know. I just know writers relate well in the business and emotional sense to other writers.

Now if you would be so kind to take the time and give me a brief summary of how that went for you? The editing process. I am afraid that is the hardest part for me. :( I am SO horrid with my structure grammatically and no matter how hard I screen my words,there is always more than twenty mistakes that I missed. But Pre-Submission editing? Forgive me, but what, pray tell, is that?

Aw, not at all! I'm with Stephen Malk at Writers House. I found him by looking online at agents that had a history of selling quality YA fiction and then cross-referencing that info with the Publishers Marketplace Deal Report and anything I could find with Google! He's a gem! A true advocate for kids lit and the biggest advocate I have personally as well, which is just what you need!

Prophecy was my fifth finished book. I never tried to break into anything else (writing Shorts, for instance), but I know many people do. I think you just have to do what works for you. Writing novels came naturally and felt almost effortless for me, so that's where I focused my time. I had a different agent and tried to sell another book about a year before Prophecy sold, but it wasn't the right book at the right time and didn't have the benefit of all the pre-submission editing that my agent now gave my Prophecy.

You should write whatever you want, whenever you want - including literary fiction at eighteen! Only when you're writing something you feel passionate about will your talent shine. Everything else will take care of itself.


I hope this helps and look forward to seeing your progress. Keep in touch!
<3

MZ

Uhm, scratch that last comment about an agent...that is a little too personal.

That is very true Michelle...and I agree with everything you have said. It is very important, to me anyways, for the author of a work to connect with society in some way, somehow.

It improves your writing, and your smarts in the writing world for promotion become stronger too. Normally, I tend to avoid bestsellers, but after speaking to some of the authors, not exactly heart to heart but still a nice conversation, I am not so biased about it. The brand names I mean. I used to the think that they were probobly all full of themselves (I am not saying that is never true though, lol).

I am a big kid at heart...no lie. :)

I don't blame you for being so "behind" in your reading and writing. I notice that when I get writers block I cannot read at all! Ack! That was the most horrid discovery I ever had. And hey, you are published now. I don't think you should beat yourself over anything anymore. There are many other uses to your time, believe me.

Oh, I already found you and Lisa on twitter. I recently got an account and it added you two from the myspace account.

I hope you do not mind personal questions, but I am curious. How many rejections did you go through before becoming published? Did you practice with short stories and magazines like Lisa before going to a publisher? Where did you get your agent (I am wondering if I have heard of her). Personally, I have my sights set on Maria Massie...but she might find me too immature. Do you think it is foolish of me to write literary fiction if I am only 18?

Aw, thank you!

We have a vibrant online community of YA writers and readers, and that keep us talking. And I've found so many true friends online - I'd really miss them if I didn't have them to talk to! My interaction with them is very genuine. I enjoy their company and they remind me why I love what I do. It could also have something to do with the fact that our readership tends to be younger, so THEY are online more.

Or, um, maybe we're all just big kids at heart!
;)

I'm pathetically behind on both my reading and reviewing. I'm so fortunate to get ARCs all the time, but I can't read when I'm drafting (weird, huh?) and since I write a lot, my reading has been slow of late. I really need to update my Goodreads reviews...

But hey! Thanks for the conversation! And you should look for Lisa and I on Twitter - we're there pretty much every day chatting it up with bloggers, librarians, and readers, though I'll warn you that you're just as likely to find us talking about coffee, cupcakes, and kids as you are to find us talking about books...
:D

MZ

Yeah, she is. I am not really much of a YA person, but I find myself checking out goodreads to hear what your and Lisa have to say before I start work each day. You make it go well, the flow of your comments anyways.

Say, is it just me or are YA writers a whole lot talkative with each other than adult writers? Lol. Maybe just the mass population anyways. But thanks for being so...on top of things...it makes me want to read your book! And if it does that to me...imagine what reaction you will be getting with your younger readers. Brava.

Not at all. Carrie's a terrific writer and I'm always happy to hear when people read and enjoy her work!

There are plenty of readers to go around - no competition necessary!
<3

Have you read The Forest of Hands and Teeth yet?? Wowee...what a book! Carrie sure knows how to hook ya! I guess I am being a traitor and starting with her book...haha. I cannot find yours and Mantchev's anywhere in my town. I guess the shipment is not on shelves yet. *sigh*

Michelle wrote: "K.l. wrote: "Gosh, it seems such a short time ago that I was posting a widget for your book on myspace! Now the day has finally come Michelle...I hope it goes well for you!"

I know, right?! I can..."

Oh, I should be thanking you. Because of however briefly I DID talk with you and Lisa...I now feel more connected with new authors and I get more excited about writers debuts. I suppose it is because my hope for my work has returned thanks you guys. I watched the video of you and your cohorts on your site...SO cute! I am happy that you have such willing, loving supporters. A lot of writers don't ever even make it to the point of sending that proposal in because people don't believe in them. I was almost one of those.

K.l. wrote: "Gosh, it seems such a short time ago that I was posting a widget for your book on myspace! Now the day has finally come Michelle...I hope it goes well for you!"

I know, right?! I can't believe the BIG countdown has begun... Thanks for sharing the ride!
<3

MZ

Carrie wrote: "Michelle I just finnished Prophecy of the Sisters and loved it! YOu are so talented! "

Thank you SO much, Carrie! I just now saw this comment or I would have waved hello sooner!

*waves frantically*
:D

MZ

Gosh, it seems such a short time ago that I was posting a widget for your book on myspace! Now the day has finally come Michelle...I hope it goes well for you!

Michelle I just finnished Prophecy of the Sisters and loved it! YOu are so talented!

My new book, The 9 Ghosts of Samen's Bane
is available now.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Hi Michelle, I just became a member 2 days ago. Thanks for being my friend.

Really? Aw, that's so great to hear. She's a fantastic editor. I feel so lucky to have her on Prophecy.

Did you have fun?

MZ

Michelle. Your ears must be ringing. Nancy Conescu had nothing but great things to say about Prophecy at the SCBWI Asilomar regional conference. She talked about your fabulous writing, the journey to the final cover,and how great you are to work with.

I kept wanting to jump up and shout, "I e-know her! She's a 2009 Deb with me!"

Congratulations on having such a great editor.

Lee

Thanks for adding me. The first chapters of Avenging Autumn and The Wintermen are on my profile now.

Thanks for the add!
:D

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