A new WOW! A day late, but not a dollar short!

I was hoping to get this posted yesterday, but with baseball/softball/whatever stuff going on in my life, I didn't get a chance. However, I'm here now....

I'm hoping the WOW for this week has future applications for me since I have less than 3 months until LA!

So this week's WOW is: JUBILANT!

Jubliant: adj. - Feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph.

Now I have had jubliant times that had nothing to do with writing. In fact, I've had quite the opposite experience in many cases - especially when I see that dreaded manilla envelope in the mailbox - but I can tell you the jubliant times I've had related to my writing are the reasons why I'm still writing now.

- Hearing the happiness in my Grandma's voice when I explained to her Grandma's Secret was written for her.

- Getting my first magazine acceptance from Boys' Quest (even though it was going to be 5 years before my article would be published).

- Listening to whoops and hollers my 6th grade class gave me last year every time the teacher told them I was reading to them...and having those same kids come up to me every other day to ask me, "Are you reading to us today Mrs. Aikins?"

- Receiving such a favorable response from an agent last year about Sophia with her telling me, "This was my favorite manuscript of the conference!" - Even though things didn't pan out.

There are many more instances I could tell you, but it is Saturday night and I do have a manuscript to polish for LA...

So I hope you all have a jubliant night and fabulous weekend!

Finally . . . an update!

Hi all!!

I can't believe the last time I posted I was in LA and getting prepared for the start of the LA SCBWI conference . . . and now here I am, nearly 3 weeks later, and SO much has happened since then.

To start, the conference was exhausting, exhilarating, and brought things that were incredibly comforting and amazingly unexpected. And in the end I received a rejection, an acceptance, and had a potentially life-altering meeting.

1. The rejection - Unfortunately the agent I had Cat with decided not to represent me. When I received this, I had very mixed feelings. Although I was disappointed the agent didn't accept or understand my style, ultimately I believe this happened for a reason (more explanation at point #3).

2. The acceptance - Ironically, on the heels of my rejection, I received word from a magazine I had submitted to in April, and the news was good! My short story, Watercolor Walls, will be published in the October issue of Sparkle magazine!! YAY!!

3. The life-altering meeting - On the first day of the conference, I found out my critique of Sophia was with another well-respected agent who I had heard wonderful things about. Our meeting was on Friday, and what an exciting meeting it was. Not just because she raved about Sophia and "got" her . . . but because for the first time, I met someone (whether agent, editor, etc.) who I felt truly comfortable with. She was enthusiastic, helpful and very classy. After I informed her about the other agent who had Cat, she wished me luck and told me she would love for me to submit Sophia to her. So . . . I emailed the other agent, received my rejection, and subsequently (with fingers crossed) submitted Sophia to the agent from the conference . . .

Did you catch all that? lol!

Couple that with the fact my day job started on Monday (in addition to all 3 of my kids starting school), which helped make the past 3 weeks just disappear completely.

However, now that life seems to calming down (or at least starting into a routine), I will be back on my schedule of updating 2 to 3 times a week - complete with my Friday WOW's. Thankfully!!

Hope all you have a great new school year, and I'll see you Friday!! :)

Let the countdown begin . . .

I am pretty big on countdowns. I like the build-up that comes with them . . . doesn't matter what it's for, birthdays, New Year's, vacations. But my biggest countdown always comes this time of the year when I'm waiting for one MAJOR event:

The national SCBWI conference in Los Angeles.

I am now down to single digits in the countdown department for the conference and I've got all the symptoms . . . excitement, fear, wonder, but mostly awe. Awe in the sheer number of things I'll be doing, and who I'll be seeing.

It's a bit like knowing you've won the lottery, but you're not sure what your prize is.

I had the opportunity to submit Sophia to be critiqued at the conference this year. I know I've mentioned this, but last year I had another novel critiqued by an editor and the editor requested the entire manuscript. Unfortunately that didn't work out, but the thing is, you never know what might happen . . .

And that in itself is a wonderful thing. :)

It's LA time!!

Well, almost . . . .

As you can see I'm back . . . again. But this time I'm making sure it STICKS!

Today was the start of registration for THE biggest conference of children authors and illustrators. Every summer, the first weekend of August to be exact, The Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) has their national conference in Century City. Professionals from all over the world descend on Los Angeles to hopefully start or grow their writing careers.

And I will be there.

I'm actually feeling like quite the veteran at this. In 2004 I made the conscious decision to focus as much energy and time - that wasn't devoted to my three kids - to making my dream of becoming a Children book writer a reality.

That year I went to my first LA conference, and it was . . . overwhelming!

I have been to LA every year since then - except for 2008 when I was at my Grandpa's 90th birthday - and no two years have been the same . . . .

Like 2004 when I felt like a COMPLETE fish out of water, but I got to experience the wisdom of Richard Peck and how he painstakingly researches his amazing books.

And 2005 when I met a woman who educated me to the world of Autism spectrum disorders.

In 2006 I got to meet and had author Rosemary Wells sign a Max and Ruby book for my youngest child . . . she's STILL one of my favorite picture book authors!

2007 was a BLAST!! I met more people that year including a teacher from San Diego who got up and did the entire Rapper's Delight with the DJ during the Saturday night Gala.

But last year was the most memorable because one of my YA novels was critiqued, and the manuscript requested, by an editor . . . a major, MAJOR first for me.

So what will happen this year? That's a good question . . . and one I can't wait to find out the answer to. :)