Contest News and a Reason to Celebrate!

I'm so very thrilled to see one hundred followers of my blog today! So thrilled, in fact, that my kids and went out to celebrate. We ate at Diamond Grill, which has the most amazing view of Salem Pond (see photo) and went on a flip-flop shopping spree.

Annnnnnnnnd...

I've been working the past couple of days with another agent made of awesome. (Are all agents this fantastic? I haven't met one I don't like.) I can't reveal his identity yet, but I will tell you that another contest is not only in the works, but all set up to be a rollicking good time! It'll be another great chance to showcase your project. I will say, however, that only specific genres will be accepted. So keep an eye out here and on the QueryTracker Blog for the details.

And again, thanks for following me! I've loved getting to know all of you. I've changed my little profile pic that shows me following your blogs to my most favorite painting of all time, Flaming June by Frederick Layton:



Have a good one,

Suzy

Anna Webman, Literary Agent Extraordinaire

Okay, all you children's book authors. I have another inside scoop for you about an agent made of awesome. Anna Webman. Not only is she an absolute joy to work with, Ms. Webman represents children's books excusively. I had the honor of interviewing her this month for the QueryTracker blog. And now I'll share a few little-known facts about Ms. Webman:

1. She is younger than you think she is.
2. On the phone, she has that throaty voice that all New Yorkers seem to have (from all the pollution? I dunno, but it sure is cool!) and is a delight to speak with.
   
3. She found her calling as an agent in a very unusual way (think immersion here.)

For the full story about how Ms. Webman became a literary agent, you'll have to check out the QueryTracker blog tomorrow. (Be sure to leave a comment so I know you dropped by!)

This will be a fun week on the QueryTracker blog:
Monday Anna Webman's interview
Tuesday Query jingle contest
Wednesday Genres - how to classify your manuscript
Thurday Guest blogger Agent Joanna Stampfel-Volpe
Friday As always, The Publishing Pulse with the latest and greatest

Have a fantastic week!

Literary Agent Joanna Stampfel-Volpe - The Inside Scoop

Now that things have calmed down (for now) over on the QueryTracker Blog, I wanted to take a moment to give you all a behind-the-scenes peek at what went on during our first contest, and, more importantly, give you the inside scoop about literary agent Joanna Stampfel-Volpe.

First of all, to those who entered our very first contest, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! It was a smashing success. We received 300 entries in just four hours, and nearly 600 entries in all. We also received numerous thank-yous and well-wishes from many of the entrants. It was a thrill for all of us at the blog to provide an opportunity for our readers to get noticed. I really loved getting to know you all better!

Now about Joanna. She handled the overwhelming number of entries with grace, aplomb, and even enthusiasm. She read every one of the 600 entries. At last she narrowed it down to 27. She read those 27 over and over, even aloud to her husband. She comments about the process here. Joanna even went so far as to invite all entrants of the contest to query her. Words cannot describe how amazing she is to work with. Anyone who is represented by Joanna has won the Agent Lottery. This gal is one in a million.

Here's a sneak peek at what we have coming up on the QTblog.

• Literary agent Anna Webman of Curstis Brown has graciously agreed to be interviewed
• Joanna Stampfel-Volpe will be guest blogging about hooks
• A contest! Yes, another opportunity to showcase your work to an agent.
  

So if you're not a subscriber to the QTblog already, be sure to join!

If you have any questions or comments about the QTblog, or can think of ways to improve it, I would love to hear from you! Leave me a comment after this post, or send me an email.

suzettesaxton@querytracker.net

Have a fantastic day and a glorious weekend.

Suzette

Spilling Secrets...

You know the agent-judged contest I've been telling you about? It opens this Monday on The QueryTracker Blog, and all you have to submit is a hook (a one sentence description of your book.) The prizes haven't been officially announced, but I'm going to spill about them anyway.

Agent Joanna Stampfel-Volpe will consider your full manuscript.

Yep, that's the prize. How cool is that?

Runners-up will get to submit partials.

So be sure to check out the blog for all the details, and let me know if you have any questions!

Thrilling News!

Most, if not all, of you know that I am an author of the QueryTracker Blog. I'm very excited about what we have going on this month.

Joanna Stampfel-Volpe of Nancy Coffee Literary will be judging our very first agent-invloved contest! Though I am not at liberty to spill about the nature of the prizes, I can tell you this: THEY ARE AWESOME! Be sure subscribe to the blog so you can get the latest details.

P.S. I must share with you all my current obsession:

APOCALYPTICA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXEpP21soXY





















Tell me what you're up to this weekend. I'll be installing shelving in four closets. (I love my nail gun!)

The Book Thief - What's All the Fuss About???

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

My review

It has taken me two months to get 3/4 of the way through this book - and not for the reason you'd think! I am literally savoring every word.


View all my reviews.

I remember a decade ago when Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone came out. There was a lot of hooplah, and I was determined not to "be a sheep" and join the masses reading it. On a whim, I caved and listened to the book on tape. And fell in love!

I'd heard about The Book Thief from many of my writing friends, some of whom share the same agent with Markus Zusak. They raved about it. It was a huge bestseller! Again, I was determined not to join the masses. When The Book Thief was reviewed by my local book club (and not very well liked, I might add) I had to know what all the fuss was about.

I borrowed the book and began to read it. The way I read books changed forever.

I savored every sentence. Seriously. Markus Zusak is a literary genius; I have no doubt this book will go down in time as a classic, and I feel honored to have read it in its infancy.

When will I finish it? No idea! I have to return the borrowed copy tonight, which means I will have to buy a copy.

There is no other book I would rather own.

What books have changed you forever?

In Like a Lion

Has anyone besides me been living for days with crazy windstorms? We've been dealing with 70 MPH gusts that come roaring down our little canyon. (To see where we live, click on the photo above. The red arrow is pointing to our house.) Finally, this evening, the winds seem to have calmed.

Just now my teenage son (who snapped the photo) came to me. "Close your eyes. Tip your head back. And smell!" He opened the deck door behind me. My favorite scent rolled in, cold and crisp and fresh. Rain. The first rain of spring.

Of course, now that the rain has turned to sleet, I have no doubt that winter is not yet through with us. Which is okay. Because March has most definitely come roaring in like a lion. It will be nice to watch it leave like a lamb.

What about you? What is your favorite type of weather?