Waiting, Clapping, and a Contest

Image by Kaptain Kobold via Flickr

I'm sitting at my desk, waiting for emails.

At least I'm not waiting for inspiration to strike. My new-ish WIP has been put aside for the past couple of weeks as I pull together a schedule for Writopia Lab's summer program in Westchester. I am very excited: there is some buzz, and I want to be able to keep up the momentum by emailing responses back right away, answering inquiries, walking parents' through the registration process.

I also might as well come out and admit it: I'm waiting for my agent and/or editor to get back to me about The Land of the Lost and Found, although that will likely be a phone call, and not an email.

It's been at least a month since my agent hit SEND on the document.

It will probably be another month or two, before I hear anything. I'm sure "they" (the publishers) want to see how Edges is doing. (Which is another thing I get asked all of the time.) And the answer is: I don't know. Well, to be honest, my fear and my suspicion is that it has DIED.

So peeps, if you haven't yet already, please become a fan on Facebook, and if you are able, pretty please give Edges a boost on Goodreads and Amazon with some good ole' stars. 

Clap if you believe. It worked for Tinkerbell, didn't it?

In fact, I'm going to have another contest. I have two audio-books to give away. Rate Edges on Goodreads and on Amazon. I will enter your name twice if you take the time to do both! (Let me know in the comments section by Friday, June 24th). I have also announced a contest for a signed book on the Edges' Facebook page as well.


And look, in the time it took to write this, I got another email from Vistaprint, asking if I need more business cards. (First 100 free!)

See y'all on the flip side.

Edges Soundtrack

I've been obsessing over Anthony Kiedis and Paul Newman these days as I WAIT in this hallway for Edges to be unleashed on the world. What do these two have in common? Music. Why am I obsessing?

At this point Edges will sink or swim according to public opinion, and I know I have to let go. But I've been holding on for dear life, agonizing, agitated over how it's going to do out there in the big bad world. What else can I do while waiting for my book's debut?

1: I've come up with a plan to solicit author visits to schools and libraries (I'm already a teacher and a counselor - why not extend my passions to encompass a book so close to my heart?) by creating another page on my website.

2: A couple of weeks ago when I got all fancy and created a Facebook page for Edges the question begged asking: what on earth could I post related to Edges besides it's own little news blurbs? So I started out posting photographs and a musical playlist - setting a mood.

The first song I posted to the Edges FB page was Everlast's Put Your Lights On. This song never fails to make me think of Ava and her demons. Then came a whole slew: The Pixies, Coldplay, Sufjan Stevens, Pomplamoosse, Cake (go to FB for more!) . . . even my favorite actor Paul Newman, singing a song called Plastic Jesus in the movie Cool Hand Luke,  which never fails to make me weepy. Anthony Kiedis singing Knock Me Down with the Red Hot Chili Peppers sends spastic chills through me.

It is music that makes the WAITING fun, and I'm excited to let Luke and Ava guide me with their choices in music. Suggestions welcome!