If, you know, you were curious about her move from one agency to another. They were curious over at the Guide to Literary Agents editor’s blog:
Go on and have a read. I’ll be here when you get back. Well, actually, I probably won’t be; I’ll be eating my peanut butter and raspberry preserves sandwich for lunch. But you know what I mean.
We interrupt Robert Olen Butler to bring you this little bit of awesome:
And if it’s on Amazon, you know it’s got to be real.
So on Monday, a huge package from Simon and Schuster landed on our doorstep. Inside we found page proofs for The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading.
That’s right. The manuscript looks like an actual book. Well, an actual book if you printed on huge sheets of paper, landscape, two book pages per sheet.
One of the reasons I was so excited when we sold to Simon Pulse is they produce some of the most beautiful trade paperbacks for the their teen line. The artwork and typesetting all comes together to support the story. Here’s a peek at what they’ve done for Geek Girl’s Guide:
Each chapter heading is at a jaunty angle and in the “cheerleader” font (I’m sure it’s not technically called the cheerleader font, but whatever). Each of our chapters begins with a little excerpt “written” by the cheerleader coach and on each they’ve added a different silhouette of a cheerleader. Okay, how cute is that?
So now we read, looking for typos, things that were missed, and so on. And even as we inch closer to July, it still all seems a little surreal.
Dude, dude, DUDE.
Check it:
We’re up at Simon Says.
We’re up at Simon Says.
How incredibly unreal.
C.
* * *
As you can see, our emails are scintillating.
Updated to add: Well, darn. It appears the link is no longer working. I hope this isn’t some kind of omen.
Updated to add again: It appears to be back up. Hooray!
John Green, author of the young adult novels An Abundance of Katherines, Looking for Alaska, and the soon to be released Paper Towns was here in Minnesota.
Not only was here here in Minnesota, but here at our local library today, about the same time Kyra had a birthday party to attend. Here’s how it went.
Andrew and I dropped Kyra off at the party, which was being held at one of those inflatable jump places. This was a new place that opened up right across the road from an already established inflatable jump place. So, if you venture into this part of town, all your jumping needs are pretty much taken care of.
We made it back to the library with about ten minutes to spare. We wandered into the teen section where we met up with some very excited girls who were also looking for John Green. Turned out he was scheduled for the meeting room on the first floor, so we all headed down there.
I stood in line to buy some books to be autographed. The big surprise? Penguin sent a bunch of his soon-to-be-released book, Paper Towns, for the signing. Oh, sure. Some people might have an advance reader copy, but we have the real thing, and it’s signed.
Anyway, we lucked out and got our books right before John started to speak. He read from Paper Towns and then spoke, then took questions. Oh, and he did his happy dance. But with the last question, it was time to pick up Kyra. I loaded down Andrew with our books. He was nervous and told me to hurry.
I raced out. On the drive, I realized I should’ve told him to give up his #50 spot in the book signing (yes, they were handing out numbers) and just stand at the back of the line. I so wanted to get a picture of John signing a book for Andrew. Instead, when Kyra and I returned to the library, Andrew was waiting outside, books in hand.
We went back in anyway. Kyra wanted books she could read herself and Andrew wanted a snack. We ate, then ventured down to the meeting room. John was still there with just the library staff. I explained how I missed the signing and could I please get a picture of Andrew and John together?
Well, I could:
It’s clear: John is made of awesome. In this photo, Andrew is also made of awesome, but with a dash of ‘tude thrown in.
John is incredibly gracious, so it’s no surprise that he let us take the photo. The real surprise? Minutes prior, Andrew inhaled two hot dogs, each with about six packets of ketchup. While wearing a white shirt. But dude, check it: not a single stain.
Whew.
Oh, and Darcy? Look what’s coming your way this week.
We’re done–done, I tell you–with the edit. I sent the manuscript to our editor (!!!) this morning, which means no editing this weekend. It might mean I’ll have a few spare words for the blog. Seriously, I didn’t want to accidentally use some words here that we might need in the manuscript. I was in word conservation mode.
So now we keep our fingers crossed, hold our breath, and all the rest. In the meantime, I have plenty of items on my “Big List of Things to Do before the Conference” list. The only thing marked off so far?
The first sale ribbon.
Sure, my conference wardrobe is half virtual at the moment (as in, I don’t physically possess half the items I plan to wear). Who needs a blouse when you have a first sale ribbon.
Priorities, people. It’s all about priorities.
At least Darcy didn’t have to do hers twice. Twice, people. I’m pretty sure you feel sorry for me.
The first were too formal. Thanks to our weird and delayed spring, my allergies were nuts. I really wanted outdoor shots, but decided just to get them done inside where the pollen isn’t. Because nothing says: great pic! like red, swollen-shut eyes.
My first clue should’ve been Kyra pronouncing my top as “unfashionable.” She five, people. Five. And yet she can channel Carrie Bradshaw. Go figure.
In the end, I should have waited, considering I had to have them retaken anyway. Outdoors this time (and a different outfit), with the photographer urging me to smile and pretend I was laughing at something funny. Which was absurd in its own way and made me laugh.
We took pictures in Rice Park and by the St. Paul Public Library.
At one point, a guy wandered by and asked if we wanted him to take a picture of the two of us together. Good thing it was sunny. The photographer gave him a stare that dropped the temperature a few degrees.
Clearly he was interrupting.
The photographer even gave me a CD with my image on it (the surface), and well, on it. So you might say, I’m all over that CD.
Results below the cut.
So, the excitement = building for San Francisco this summer. At the end of July I’ll head out there to the RWA National Conference with … wait for it … the kids in tow.
They’ll stay at my sister’s during the four days of the conference. I’ll be in the Marriott.
(Insert maniacal laughter here.)
Seriously, I’m pretty sure positive they’ll behave. I’ve already read them the riot act about it.
Never mind the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, or even the Jelly Belly factory tour, Andrew nearly fainted when he found out my sister owns not only Guitar Hero, Dance, Dance Revolution, but Rock Band. Add in the nearby swimming pool, and we pretty much have instant vacation. Excited doesn’t begin to cover it.
I haven’t been to this conference since 2003. This time, I get to wear my “first sale” ribbon (Note to self: let RWA know you need first sale ribbon.). I don’t have to work myself into a panic over pitching to editors/agents. I can relax, go to parties (Chick Lit, Golden Network), and attend workshops, like these:
Building Buzz in YA (CAREER)– Tera Childs, Heather Davis, Simone Elkeles, Tina Ferraro, Marley Gibson, Stephanie Hale, and Dona Sarkar-Mishra
From Cinema to the CW: Using Pop Culture in Your YA Novel (RESEARCH)– Trish Milburn and Julie Linker (Trish is a Noodler.)
10 Things We Love About Writing YA Romance (CRAFT)– Shelley Adina, Carol Grace Culver, Kelly Parra, and Jennifer Jackson
Doddering Butlers, Pert Housemaids, and Faithful Retainers: Busting the Servant Myths (RESEARCH)– Janet Mullany (I haven’t written an historical … yet, but Janet is another Noodler and she’s hysterical.)
And then, after the conference, I’ll take a few days downtime at my sister’s. I’ll need a few days of downtime.
But! If anyone is headed out to San Fran, let me know. I’d love to see you.
Writing Wrongs 
