Articles in month: July, 2008

In the course of my little writing career thus far, I’ve referred a bunch of people to my agent, either because they ask or because I think Michael might like their work. Now, a referral is not a recommendation. Writers have asked me to read their stuff and then “recommend” them to my agent and I say, well, here is his contact info and you can tell him I gave it to you, but ultimately he has to both love and think he can sell your work, and me loving it will have no influence on that. Which is true. And it takes the pressure off me.

Most of the time nothing ever comes of this. Over the last few months I’ve gotten to know this local author, James Dashner, and it came up in conversation that he was in the market for an agent. I told him about Michael and why he is awesome, and a couple of short months later Michael has sold James’s book to Delacorte! This has nothing to do with me. I haven’t even read the book in question. And like I said, if Michael isn’t excited about something, no amount of me recommending someone to him will mean squat, and obviously Delacorte wouldn’t be buying it if it wasn’t awesome. Still, it’s a great feeling (after 10 years of being on the other end) to be able to help someone through one of the many hoops we all have to jump through get where we are. But if you ever hear someone say something like, “So-and-so got so-and-so his/her agent/editor,” I can guarantee there is no magical string pulling. Most of the time it amounts to saying to your agent, ”This guy might be querying you. He’s really nice.” The work has to stand on its own, and so does the author. So congratulations, James!

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The July/August Horn Book is out and it’s a collector’s item! Brian Selznick’s illustrations are on the cover and inside, along with his Caldecott speech. Oh, and I’m in there, too! I, along with several other authors, wrote a little piece on the guilty pleasure reading from my youth, in honor of the 25th anniversary of Sweet Valley High.

And now, in honor of my 24 hourversary of feeling so much better, I do believe I might have to allow myself a wee nap.

A few years ago, G. was going to the chiropractor for some major back trouble. His chiropractor had a mini-Liberty-bell-looking thing he called the Well Bell, and when patients finally got their crooked bodies straightened out, they got to ring it. When I woke up this morning, I could tell I was myself again. Whew. Not only did I work and gym and grocery shop today, I didn’t even nap, not a wink.

The audiobook for Sweethearts became available today in its CD form…the download is not available until August 12. Once I get my mental faculties up and running, I will be holding some sort of a contest with the Story of a Girl audiobook as the prize. Whoopee! Just give me some time to think. Creative contests are not my strength, especially when the most awesome contest ever has already been done.

The baby swallows are stressing me out. I have to close the blinds while I work because every time they crane their necks for food, half of them look like they’re going to fall out of the nest and I stare until they get their wings and heads all settled and safe-looking. Then, two seconds later, the mom comes with more food and it happens all over again. All. Day. It’s just like when my sister and I were hiking at Grand Canyon and parents didn’t seem to be paying enough attention to the children who frolicked immediately adjacent to the precipice. I just can’t mind my own business.