Cinderella in New York
I just got back from NYC, from attending the wonderful Backspace conference, meeting my (darling, smart, funny, ambitious) agent, Suzie Townsend, and painting the town my own particular shade of red. (It’s more a fuchsia, really.) The whole experience was so fairy-tale-ish, I couldn’t believe it was me living my life there. It was like being Cinderella for a long weekend. Honestly, all I needed was a glass slipper, and a really nice dress. Come to think of it, maybe I should hit the mall… back to the story.
On Wednesday night, we had drinks, conversation, and amazing steaks at Angelo and Maxie’s with Anuj Singh, a friend from high school. (Thanks, Anuj!) Then Dave disappeared for two days to take pictures of NYC (got the ticker-tape parade for the Yankees World Series win!) while I went to the Backspace Ball. (Um, did I mention I booked the family vacation to Walt Disney World today? I’ll stop with the Cinderella references now. I’m more an Ariel or Mulan type, anyway.)
So… I got to wear my name tag that said Scholarship Winner, and feel all special and fancy and feted (not fetid), and hang out with the fun and funny Lori Walker and Lisa Iriarte (who got more fun/relaxed after she was asked to sign by Colleen Lindsay of Fineprint — yay, Lisa!). We read our queries on Thursday morning, whereupon I learned that one simply does not choose a title for one’s middle-grade humorous novel that evokes the Holocaust for the reader… yeah, I’m changing the title. LOL
I read a different query in the afternoon, for a WIP I had set down for a while, and got a huge response (The Holy Toast, for those of you playing at home). Makes me want to finish it! One novel at a time, grasshopper…. Most of the other MG queries were for MG fantasies, which did not make me want to run home and dust off that finished draft of Perfect Mischief (Boy/Fairy Story) and show it to anyone. The field is just TOO thick for my taste. I’ll wait a while.
The “pages day” was super fun. I LOVE hearing authors read their own work, and I had the chance to hear a dozen or so take their (nervous, trembling) turns in front of four agents. My heart got big and proud of all of them for having so much courage! Yay Writers! You are brave, and strong, and worthy! Long Live Writers! Now let’s get something to drink!
Of course, I missed a couple of hours of the conference having lunch with Suzie at a great Thai restaurant – YUM! — and checking out the Fineprint offices. You know that scene in Willy Wonka where the contest winners go into the factory? The office is like that, but with books. Suzie smuggled me out two for the airplane ride home that I have (of course) finished — and they are fabulous! If you like Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series, or anything Katie MacAlister writes, RUN to a bookstore to check out Molly Harper‘s new “Nice Girls” series. Seriously, Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs had me laughing so hard on the plane, I woke up the guy in front of me at least twice.
There’s so much more to tell, but this post is getting long. I’ll try to post some pics tomorrow, if Dave doesn’t beat me to it.
Thanks to all who made Cinderella’s Ball possible: Dad, Katherine, Mom and John (The Babysitters Back Home). You rock!
11/10/2009 at 6:10 am
You made my conference experience by making me laugh again and again. Plus, your first pages rock. I really can’t wait to read your book. My son and his cotillion friends are already excited about it. May you live happily ever after, Cinderella Girl! Write on.
11/10/2009 at 12:46 pm
Lori – you’re a sweetheart! I’m so happy I made you laugh — that’s the reason I write, to make people (preferably small, young people, but hey, who can afford to be picky?) lose track of time and, possibly, bladder control. I hope we get to meet again! (Come to Texas, we have room;)
11/10/2009 at 11:11 pm
It’s great to hear that your trip turned out so well. Thanks for writing such a fun review of your time there–makes me wish I had been there!
11/11/2009 at 12:38 am
Vonna, you would have loved it. Look into Backspace — they were great.
11/11/2009 at 12:18 am
Hey, I’m glad I got to be more fun! 🙂
After our note passing session, I think you understood why I was fairly stressed. (And don’t you dare tell.) :0)
11/11/2009 at 12:37 am
Lisa — If you’d come down to the bar with us, I think you would have gotten even more fun LOL. Next trip! And don’t worry, I’ll never tell;-)
11/11/2009 at 12:50 pm
Say, I just re-read this post. Were you serious about the Walt Disney World trip? You know I’m five minutes from there, right? We’d love to get together with you while you’re here.
11/11/2009 at 1:04 pm
That’s right, you do live around there. Yes, we’re going in early June. That would be neat-o! Next time, we’ll save on the hotel bills and just stay with you, okay? LOL
11/11/2009 at 5:53 pm
It was great meeting you! Glad you had a good trip 🙂 And I’m so glad you liked NICE GIRLS DON’T HAVE FANGS! I love reading something that makes me laugh while on the train – I get to make everyone else who’s not laughing jealous.
11/11/2009 at 7:06 pm
Thanks, Suzie! I finished both books, and I can’t wait for the third to come out… but I’ll have to. Darn slow publishing business. Hope your week is going well!
11/12/2009 at 4:35 am
It was great to meet you and hubby in NYC – especially over drinks! Good luck with the book 🙂
11/12/2009 at 12:49 pm
Thanks, Gemma! Good luck with yours, too!
11/12/2009 at 9:50 pm
Heh, I have two kids and two messy dogs. You do NOT want to stay with me. However, we’d love to see you in June. Have you been to Disney World before? Let me know if you need suggestions on anything. We’ve helped plan trips for lots of friends.
11/13/2009 at 5:48 pm
I’ll let you know when our plans our set. Thanks! We’ve been before, but not all together as a family.