Free critique by The Editor!

A great opportunity for writers--a free critique of the first 20 pages of your YA or MG novel by The Editor! Go to theeditor.com for details.

Oh, I hope I win... I could so use some feedback right now for the MG I wrote years ago and am completely re-writing now.

Manuscript copyedit offered for charity

I'm offering a manuscript copyedit of up to 100,000 words in a benefit auction to help a fellow writer with cancer. I don't know Bridget Zinn personally, but she and I are represented by the same literary agency, Upstart Crow, and I'd like to do everything I can to help. Here's the link for the auction site: http://bit.ly/bridgetauction
In addition to my copyedit, there are many manuscript critiques up for bid, as well as other items.

Here's the info from the auction website:
Auction: Season of Love and Hope
Starts: November 22, 2010 08:00 AM CST
Ends: December 04, 2010 09:00 PM CST


All proceeds from this auction will go to Bridget Zinn and Barrett Dowell. Bridget was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in February 2009. After receiving treatment in Portland for 18 months, Bridget and her husband Barrett are now traveling to Phoenix for one week every month for innovative treatment at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Not all of their costs for this promising treatment are covered by insurance. Bridget & Barrett's friends and family are rallying to help them pay the bills so that they can focus on Bridget's health and kick cancer. Artists, authors, and other friends and acquaintances have donated items in the spirit of love and hope.

Highlights sale!

A nice early Christmas present... Highlights is buying a non-fiction article on a pillbug scientist that I wrote years ago, literally. They've had it for 21 months, so I'm thrilled they're buying it. Part of it explains how to create your own pillbug farm, based on experiments my daughter and I did when she was in first grade.

Agent Appreciation Day!

This blog is almost totally inactive, except for times like now when it's not! I must acknowledge my fabulous and funny agent Chris Richman with Upstart Crow Literary.
First, he's always responsive, even when I'm at my most neurotic. When I have a question or issue, he gets back to me almost immediately.
Second, his editorial eye is superb. I wanted an agent who would work with me closely on revisions, but I also wanted someone whose vision I trusted. Even in the instances when I don't agree with a suggestion, I understand where he's coming from (and those instances have been few.)
Third, he's fun and nice and down-to-earth and real. He seems to truly understand what writers go through, and reflects that in the way he deals with his clients.
Finally, I've been impressed with his sense of integrity. That's probably the most important thing to me, and he proved it early on, even before I signed with him.

I truly feel fortunate to have such a wonderful agent!

Rutgers One-on-One

I just received word that I've been accepted to the Rutgers One-on-One conference in October. I'm so excited! I'm hoping two of my Cyntenced to Write critique partners will be there as well. And my wonderful agent, Chris Richman of Upstart Crow Literary, is a mentor, so it will be nice to see him. Now to find out what airport is closest... I have absolutely no clue.

This is such good news, on the same week that Chris is submitting my chapter book manuscript to editors. Yay!

Vacation pictures

I've made this blog inactive-- too busy with writing projects and so much freelance work that I can barely keep up. But... where else do I post my wonderful vacation photos? We just got back from Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks. I hadn't visited for more than twenty years, and it was just as beautiful as I'd remembered. Plus remarkably uncrowded, which is something I never expect in California.

Some numbers

47 days walking on crutches
1 day walking in a boot
? days before being able to drive again
3 manuscripts copyedited or proofread in the past two weeks
400 pages (approximately) edited for these clients
42 pages of SAMMIE SHERMAN written as the first draft
42 pages still needing to be revised!