What is that thing they say about luck? That it’s when preparation meets opportunity? Then yes, this is the lucky story of how my novel, The Goddess Twins, found its path to publication. When I finished my novel, there was no sudden feeling of completion. I was mentally exhausted and dizzyingly proud, but I knew it needed to be edited. Then edited again. Then possibly another fifteen rounds of more…
We’re writing about paths to publication this week and, on reflection, I think mine began with violin lessons and the Suzuki curriculum my parents foisted upon me as a child. I started playing at age three and stopped abruptly at eleven when I shoved my violin under my bed in a fit of anger. I swore I’d never play again. Let the circle be unbroken, then, because when my own…
There’s nothing like the feeling of being completely seen by a story. When I was growing up, I loved tales with magic and mystery, self-discovery and danger. My family had a collection of science fiction and fantasy that I gobbled up. Mercedes Lackey and Frank Herbert were some of my first loves. I read anything supernatural I could at my local libraries and was front row for the Harry Potter…
When I began writing MINOR DRAMAS & OTHER CATASTROPHES, I was in my fifteenth year of classroom teaching, a job I love. In fact, I never deviated in my desire to become a teacher since first having an inkling at age eleven. I idolized my teachers and coaches, desperately wanted to please them, and delighted in the quirks they brought to their work. I couldn’t wait to join their professional…
We are thrilled to introduce Yodassa Williams to the 2020 Debutante Ball! Yodassa’s debut novel The Goddess Twins will be published in May 2020. Yodassa is a writer and award winning performing storyteller, who crafts from intense life experiences and a wild imagination. An alumnae of VONA/Voice’s workshop and the Fortify Writer’s Retreat, she completed a residency with Yefe Nof and has performed at Lit Quake, Burning Man, and Moth…
Publishing They Could Have Named Her Anything has already been more satisfying than I could have ever expected. I worked with a phenomenal illustrator to design the cover, deepened my work and artistic vision with my fantastic editor at Little A, got invited to panels with my literary heroes, and have read GoodReads reviews of my book that are lovelier than I could have ever imagined. And this month, I’ve already…
I am beyond thrilled to be hosting my agent sister, YA author Lana Wood Johnson, on the ball today! Lana was born and raised in Iowa in the time before the internet but has spent the rest of her life making up for that. After years working in wireless communication for companies of all sizes, she now works doing the same for a local youth shelter. Lana lives in Minnesota…
Today my book They Could Have Named Her Anything is finally out! When I first started writing this novel, I couldn’t really imagine anyone else reading it. I certainly didn’t think of myself as an “author” yet. I’m proud of how far my mindset has changed–I’m no longer afraid to put my ideas into the world. I’m especially proud of not giving up on sending out my book to agents…
As we prepare to announce the 2020 Deb class (soon!!) we thought it would be fun to check in on last year’s Deb Class and see what they’re up to these days. Cass Morris has a kick-ass Patreon account where she, among other things, performs in-depth rhetorical analysis of the musical Hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda himself is a fan, no big deal. Lara Lillibridge‘s second book Mama, Mama, Only Mama came…
Today, I want to talk about Layne Fargo’s TEMPER, a book that came out just a few days ago and has already set my summer on fire. I usually stick to literary fiction, and I’ve read some popular psychological thrillers years ago like GONE GIRL and GIRL ON THE TRAIN and LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE. I liked those books, but Layne’s book, which is filled with complex yet totally relatable…
