Embracing Criticism

As you may well remember, I have posted Chapter One of ANJIDIA on CreateSpace in conjunction with ABNA. It's open to any and all comments, and I've been pleasantly surprised by the feedback. Most is incredibly helpful, and the rest is incredibly encouraging. Knowing how cruel people can sometimes be, and fearing for my ego, I was a bit hesitant at first. But, apparently the gods of criticism have been on my side and kept away anything that wasn't constructive.

Since I've always been a temptress of Fate, I have decided to post another part of my baby for public dissection. The venue is Miss Snark's First Victim, and the piece is the last 250 words of a chapter, a "strong chapter ending." I understand that some of you may not like spoilers, and if that's the case, I'll understand you not wanting to pop over there to read and leave comments. But, if you don't have that objection...

Visit my submission (Post 43).

Please also feel free to browse and leave comments for others. I'm sure they'd all appreciate the feedback. That is, after all, why we all submitted.

Embracing Putting Yourself Out There

I come bearing a gift, whether it's a metaphoric "Cosby sweater" or a metaphoric (and iconic) powder blue box is completely up to you. Alas, I seem to be unable to compel people to love what I want them to love. I think I may have slept through "Get Your Free Superpower Day".

What's all the fuss about? I created a CreateSpace preview for Chapter One of ANJIDIA. You can read and review it here.

It's a very scary step, having it out there for anyone/everyone to read and say whatever they like about it. It's one thing to hear agents' opinions, it's another to actually be reviewed. But, I decided that if my pitch carries my ABNA entry through to Round Two, my excerpt will be reviewed. I might as well get used to it now.

Here's hoping people don't show me all the ways I could have made it better...now that it's too late for this contest. Then again, advice is advice, right?

Are all things better late than never?

No, seriously, are they?

Embracing ABNA

In case you haven't been over to the Web site of ABNA (Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award), here's the gist of the contest:

How the contest works

Enter your unpublished, English-language, fiction manuscript until 11:59 PM EST February 8, 2009 or until 10,000 entries have been received, whichever comes first. The contest consists of four judging phases by expert reviewers, publishing professionals, and Amazon.com customers. The winner will be announced on May 22, 2009.

Initial Round: Expert reviewers from Amazon select 2,000 submissions from the 10,000 initial entries based each novel's "pitch." The 2,000 entries are then rated and receive two excerpt reviews from Amazon Editors and Amazon Vine Reviewers.

The field narrows to 500 entries...

Quarterfinals: Excerpts of the 500 are displayed on Amazon.com along with the reviews from the previous judging round. Publisher's Weekly now reads, rates, and reviews the 500 remaining full manuscripts.

The field narrows to 100...

Semifinals: Penguin Group (USA) reads and ranks the 100 semifinalists, taking into consideration the reviews from the two previous judging rounds.

Penguin chooses three novels to move to the final round of judging...

Finals: The three remaining manuscripts receive reviews from industry experts, including authors Sue Grafton and Sue Monk Kidd. Amazon.com customers select the Grand Prize Winner for 2009.

Exciting, no?

Well, considering that right now some reviewers could be reading my pitch after finding out about the death of loved ones or breaking up with their significant others...or being drunk out of their minds, I thought I'd share my pitch with you.

If nothing else, this will have come out of the contest. Uh, maybe I'm the one who needs the drink. Excuse me.

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By blending the rich world-building of high fantasy with the edgy chick lit voice of its protagonist (seventeen-year-old Aryli), ANJIDIA modernizes the "hero[ine]'s quest" and makes it accessible to gossip girls and magic-obsessed muggles alike. It is coming-of-age, thriller, adventure, romance, and fairy tale all in one uniquely contemporary mythical journey.

There may be a smart-mouthed phoenix that cries healing tears, but she also acts as Aryli's metaphorical spirit guide and, when needed, as her "reality check" giver. There may be talking dragons that breathe fire, but they also discuss politics and make great personal sacrifices to support Aryli. And Aryli may fit the mold of a flawed, journeying heroine trying to win back her throne, but she also relates her story, her flaws, and her pain in a raw and accessible way unlike any other. And then there's the fact that she's literally incapable of harming any other living being, can talk to trees, ages years in mere days...

In this "golden age" of YA literature, teens are a consumer force to be reckoned with. The creation, and success, of imprints like Razorbill Books and HarperTEEN attests to that. But gone are the days of short, formulaic novels that underestimate readers.

Today's YA fans crave originality and savvy; think OCTAVIAN NOTHING: TRAITOR TO THE NATION and CRANK. They want stories that reflect their struggles (finding the right clique, figuring out who they are, and just trying to make it to graduation). But they long for stories that temper that reflection. ANJIDIA does just that through high fantasy and the struggles of Aryli (deciding if it's better to trust the inexplicably helpful man working for the enemy or the resentful fairy-tale creatures joining your cause, having total amnesia, and literally trying to save the world).

Embracing the Incredibly Unexpected

This post is going to be short and sweet as I have to be up for work in four hours. But I wanted to update you all on the progress of the Quest for Publishing! (Is it just me, or should their be trumpet blasts whenever one reads that?)

As you all know, I've been agent-hunting (sans the gun) for my novel, ANJIDIA, for several months now, sometimes more actively than others. Lately, I've been on an active kick (7 queries this weekend and 5 mid-week last week). Well, that culminated today in my entering my baby in its first contest.

What's the prize of this contest, you ask? A publishing deal with Penguin Group.

What's the contest, you say? Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

I thought very seriously about the potential ways entering this contest would affect my long-term career. And in the end I decided it was a good choice for me. If any of you lovely vistors are unpublished authors with a spare manuscript and several hours of time lying around, then by all means, join me in the deep end.

If not, there may come a time in the not-so-distant future that I call on you all to rally behind me, to write Amazon reviews raving about my book (so long as you believe it rave-worthy), and eventually to vote for on Amazon.com.

Until then...

I'll definitely keep you posted. I'm slated to hear about the quarterfinals around March 16. Please wish me luck.

Oh, and because I think it worth mentioning, Penguin and Amazon have partnered with CreateSpace.com to sponsor the award. I'd never heard of the site before, but I find it intriguing. Though, the idea of self-publishing still terrifies me.