Critique Group October 18, 2009
Posted by Ronica Stromberg in Uncategorized.Tags: agents, critique group, writing
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Saturday, I met with one of the three critique groups I’m in. I can see real improvement in others’ work. This group is mostly unpublished children’s writers, and I’m encouraging them to seek agents once they’ve written and polished their novels. The market has closed up a lot since I started writing thirteen years ago. Few large publishing houses will even look at unsolicited submissions. With the recession and staff layoffs, some editors who have been let go are trying to establish themselves as agents. This may be an opportune time to find an agent. I would probably look myself, but I’m tied up with promotions on my two young adult novels.
And I was fortunate enough to secure a critique of the first three chapters of my inspirational romance from an award-winning author of thirty-plus romances. This was the first time I actually had a published author agree to look at my work. Usually, published authors are too busy working on their own manuscripts to take the time to look at the writing of someone else not as far along. I understand that. I get requests all the time that I have to turn down. So, I was thrilled for the opportunity. And I learned a lot. Now I need to rework those first three chapters before I submit them to the editor who requested them at conference. I’m hoping to get to that this week.
I am teachable and I do persevere. I think those are the two qualities needed most by anyone who wants to make a living writing.
Plum Creek Literacy Festival October 4, 2009
Posted by Ronica Stromberg in Uncategorized.Tags: Carmen Deedy, Plum Creek Literacy Festival, public speaking
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I spoke to two groups of teachers, librarians, and college students at Plum Creek Literacy Festival yesterday and had the pleasure of going to the endowment dinner in the evening. Many award-winning children’s authors–including Carmen Deedy, Richard Peck, Avi, and John Archambault–spoke at the conference or dinner or both. Talk about a polished group! After hearing Carmen Deedy relate the hilarious story of how she went from being a reluctant reader to being an avid reader, I inquired whether she had taken storytelling classes. She said she had worked on that particular speech for a year. I told her I’m a “beginning writer of thirteen years now.” She said that when she first started achieving success, people talked about her as “an overnight success,” but she had written for 20 years prior to that. Confirmation, once again, that what looks easy usually has a lot of hard work behind it.
Books in Print October 1, 2009
Posted by Ronica Stromberg in Uncategorized.Tags: books, new release, school visits
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I received my author copies for A Shadow in the Dark and Living It Up to Live It Down yesterday. I am thrilled with the books! They look great. The publisher said they should be listed on BarnesandNoble.com within about a week. The publisher isn’t using Amazon.com for these books, which I was disappointed about but understand. Amazon requires steep discounts, making it difficult for small publishers to make money when using them for sales.
I will be speaking at the Plum Creek Literacy Festival on Saturday, appearing as a featured author at a Lattes for Literature celebration on Sunday, and speaking at a local Catholic school’s literary festival on Monday. On Tuesday I begin marketing my new books by taking part in blog tours and media interviews. Later this month, a school in Liberty, Missouri, will be hosting me for an author visit. A nice kickoff for the release of my new books!
