Hilary Wagner's Blog, page 17

WRITERS: What's YOUR Good NEWS????

What's your good news?

Thanks so much everyone for sharing in my recent excitement over my book! It's a lot of fun to share my good news, but it's also inspiring to hear yours!

So, what's new with YOU??? It can be anything! Did you get a request from an agent? Did you get the best rejection ever that actually helped you with your query or manuscript? I got a few of those along the way! Did you finally finish a beloved WIP or write the best scene ever? Or is your news totally unrelated to...

NIGHTSHADE CITY available for PRE-ORDER already! Wah?

So, I edited like a crazed editing maniac this weekend, making sure I had my copy edits done so I could FedEx them back to Holiday House today. I was up to the wee hours of the morning Saturday night, when an author friend of mine, Jill Myles, let me know she spotted NIGHTSHADE CITY on Amazon! Gah!!! How exciting! On top of that, I actually have a sales ranking which means people are buying it! Wuh, already???? Don't stop! Please don't stop! One more thing to make me nuts I suppose! Right...

WRITERS: You really can do it!!! You can get published!

So, come tomorrow morning I have a FedEx arriving!  Once I get it I need to buckle down with my shiny new colored pencil and get to work on Nightshade City's copy edits! I have to FedEx them back to my editor for arrival on Monday! Yeah, no pressure there! At least it's the good kind of pressure! My ARC is going to print next month!!! I can't believe I'll get to hold MY book in my hands.

I guess I want to inspire you if I can to keep writing and working and doing what we all LOVE so much! If ...

WRITERS: Who knows you write? Are you secretive or a jabber mouth?

I vowed to myself that only my husband (my free freelance editor) would know of my writing until I had an agent. It was just something I needed to accomplish on my own. I didn't want family members always asking me, "So, how's the writing going? Are you the next JK Rowling yet?" or have them whisper behind my back, "Yes, that's her, poor dear thinks she can get published." Insecure on my part--DEFINITELY! I just didn't want to put myself out there. It's scary sharing your innermost wants and ...

WRITERS: RATS VS POSSUMS...The Throw Down is ON!!!

WRITERS: FOLLOW JEN K BLOM & HER POSSUMS!

Jen K Blom(Someone needs to update their picture, e'hem!)

For months now there has been a RAT VS. POSSUMS throw down brewing between me and writer, Jen K Blom! And now that my good buddy has announced the sale of her debut, the throw down can officially begin!


Have you ever met one of those glittery people you just immediately take a shine to (despite their possum obsession)? Well, my good friend and fellow writer, Jen K Blom, is one of those special...

No Animals (or Teachers) Were Hurt During the Making of this Workshop. Ha!

So, the day finally came! I gave my workshops today! It went really well and no one threw rotten heads of lettuce or old shoes at me, so that was a success in and of itself!

I met some wonderful teachers, who really added to the workshop with great questions and a little humor of their own! I think if you can take even one thing new back from a workshop or presentation, one thing that gives you a little light bulb moment, it was worth it! Hopefully, I gave these wonderful folks one little...

WRITERS: EEK! My First Speaking Engagement! What's Your Advice???

So...I have my first official speaking engagement this Friday! I'm speaking at the Celebrating Language Arts Institute Day here in the Chicago area. There will be *gulp* 600 teachers in attendance, from all over the globe! At least there's no pressure! Yeah, right!

I'm working on my Powerpoint presentation (never thought I'd say that) and it's going very well! I'm speaking to teachers who write and want to learn more about becoming published! There are a lot of teachers who write (many of them...

It's Official! Sequel to Nightshade City--BILLYCAN, coming October 2011!

How can I possibly sleep tonight?

My waiting to hear has ended! It's official! BILLYCAN: Book II of Nightshade City, will release fall of 2011, one year after my first baby debuts (yes, I'm referring to Nightshade City as a baby)! I'm so excited! My publisher, Holiday House, has just been fantastic! I can't believe me and my rats landed at such a prestigious children's publisher, who opened its doors in 1935! Yes, 1935! Can you believe that? Now that's something!

Thanks again to Marietta...

Writers who Blog: Are you Prolific or Pathetic?

So there seems to be a lot of talk floating around lately concerning blog etiquette, leaving comments, followers, etc, etc. For whatever reason, it's become a hot topic.


As far as being prolific or pathetic, I fall somewhere in the middle...I think. I follow a lot of blogs because I love learning about the unique world of writers and illustrators that has become such an integral part of my life. For those who follow me, I always follow back, and not just because it's considered "proper blog...

WRITERS: What was your Light Bulb Moment? Toot Your Horn Friday!

It's time once again for Toot you Horn Friday! Today's Topic: Your Light Bulb Moment!

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received? It can be something solely concerning the writing itself, something inspirational to keep pushing onward and upward, or something that changed everything about you as a writer. It can be from a famous author, a critique partner, your Grandma Milly--it doesn't matter! What was YOUR "light bulb moment" and how did it help you become a better writer?

My ...