Monday, April 5, 2010

Celebrations!

Congratulations to our sweet friend Amanda Bonilla! After two years of hard work and a seriously kick-butt manuscript, she has signed with Natanya Wheeler of the Nancy Yost Literary Agency.

As an aside, want to learn how to Build the Framework for Your Authorial Success? Check out my post today on the QueryTracker blog.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETHANY!!!!!

My wishes are belated because of our week of Author Success Stories, but I wanted to tell Bethany how much I enjoy blogging with her and thank her for always being there for me. It's been one heck of a fun journey - I love ya, sis!

This photo is fun - it's Bethany in her teen years, but everyone thinks it's me. The CREEPIEST thing (look closely) are the hands coming around to grab Bethany. With experiences like these in her past, no wonder she writes stories like The Hunted!
























What scary experiences have you had that have shaped you as an author?

~Suzette~

39 comments:

Lydia Kang said...

Aack, that photo is totally creepy. Deliciously creepy.

Matthew MacNish said...

Thanks for sharing Suzette.

Happy Birthday Bethany!

And, congratulations Amanda. I will now visit your blog and become a follower.

Bethany Wiggins said...

Thank you, Sue!!! And congrats Amanda.

Unknown said...

Congrats to Amanda! I'm now following her!!! Love the picture... I'm with Lydia... deliciously creepy! lol

Kimberley Griffiths Little said...

Oh my gosh, that is CREEPY, girls!

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Oooo, those hands are scary!!

Happy birthday, Bethany! You rock, girl! :-)

Jemi Fraser said...

Yikes! Great photo :)

I tend to have nightmares nightly - but I handle them better now. Some of the ones I had when I was a kid still kind of haunt me.

Bethany Wiggins said...

Studying this picture, I wasn't a teen. I was twenty-one!!! I bought the shirt at the same time I got engaged, that's how I know.

Slamdunk said...

Call me detective. I did not see the hands until you mentioned it.

Mother of Four said...

If you wouldn't have said this was Beth, I would have thought for sure it was you! :) Those are some creepy hands there!

Jude said...

Congrats to Amanda and happy birthday to Bethany!

Kayeleen Hamblin said...

Happy birthday, Bethany! And congrats, Amanda!

I don't have any scary things except for the occasional bad dream. I try not to channel that in my writing, though.

Unknown said...

Congrats, Amanda and happy b-day Bethany. :-) This is always such an upbeat blog. :-)

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Funny. Looking good, Bethany. Happy B-day, and thanks for the post, Suzette. Congrats, Amanda!! Awesomeness!

Michelle McLean said...

very creepy picture and not just because of the big red glasses ;-D HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETHANY!!!!! Wish I was there for our usual bday celebration. Miss you!

bookaholic said...

It is creepy!!
But happy day today-HAPPY BIRTHDAY Bethany :)

Anonymous said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETHANY!! Hope you YOU HAVE A GREAT ONE!!!

Stephanie McGee said...

Happy belated birthday!

As for the scary stuff, well, I avoid it in my writing because of the hauntings it's given me in real life.

Liza said...

Nothing like a birthday that keeps on going! Happy birthday Bethany. What a nice tribute from your 'sis.

Liza said...

Nothing like a birthday that keeps on going! Happy birthday Bethany. What a nice tribute from your 'sis.

Stina said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you
HAPPY BIRTHDAY dear BETHANY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you

Okay, I'm done singing off key. You can uncover your ears now. :D

Bish Denham said...

Spoooookkkkeeeeee! Happy Birthday Bethany and congratulations to Amanda

Mary Lindsey / Marissa Clarke said...

Happy Birthday, Bethany. You are one of the coolest folks I know. Hope you have a fabulous day.

Love and kisses!

Mary

Tess said...

EEK! that picture looks so innocent, until you take a closer look. isn't that perfect analogy for our writing? the layers?

happy b-day Bethany and congrats to Amanda.

A.L. Sonnichsen said...

Happy Birthday, Bethany! I hope you have a wonderful day. :)

Unknown said...

Congrats Amanda! Too many creepy experiences to count but they make for great book ideas.

Mary E Campbell said...

Happy Birthday Bethany!!! That picture is awesome. I didn't notice the hands until you said, but it is very creepy.

lotusgirl said...

Congrats to Amanda and Happy Birthday to Bethany.

CMOM Productions said...

Congrats Amanda! Happy Birthday Bethany!!!

Carolyn V. said...

Ahhh! That was a scary hand! It took me a few minutes to see it.

Happy B-day Bethany! And congrats Amanda. So awesome! =)

Christi Goddard said...

I've been trying to rationalize a logical reason for the hand. I give up.

Congrats, Amanda.

Anonymous said...

That's an incredible picture of Bethany. And it DOES look like you! It just goes to show that you're both beautiful women. (And what's up with the creepy hands coming to get her? Was it some kind of joke?)

Unknown said...

Congrats, Amanda! And Happy Birthday, Bethany! The picture looks like it could be either of you...

What scary experiences have you had that have shaped you as an author?

Oh. Hard to say, since the most life-threatening experience I've had is a near-drowning incident in the local pool. Though it doesn't seem like it would, I think my brother's shouting shaped it more than anything...

Have a great week!

Zoe C. Courtman said...

Congrats, Amanda, and happy birthday to Bethany! As for me, I *look* for the scary things in life (being a horror writer'll do that to a sista) - but I also try to capture WHAT it is that makes a moment scary. I've had some doozies of horrifying dreams, which work nicely to add color and depth to what I'm writing. I look at horror as an instructional guide to show that we CAN navigate the horrific in life, but also to shed some light into the fearful plight of man, with a little hope sprinkled throughout. (And sometimes a horror novel is just pure, screaming fun :) Fantastic post!

Theresa Milstein said...

Great picture! Happy birthday, Bethany!

My family has provided me with ample material to write for the next fifty-years and not repeat myself. I don't like to write horror movies, but I don't mind writing a scary scene - maybe because I'm controlling the action. My mother was once in a coma, and I used that idea in a manuscript.

Thanks for sharing the success of a fellow writer landing an agent.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Happy Belated Birthday, Bethany! I don't know how I missed it on facebook???? I hope you had a lovely day!

Unknown said...

Oh, that is creepy! Happy birthday, Bethany! I hope it was completely creep-free! :D

Jackee said...

Eery picture! But Bethany's got her early 90's cuteness going on to make up for it.

Happy birthday to both of you!

Bethany Wiggins said...

*blushing* Thanks, Jackee!