I Love Writing!

I am sooo excited!

Recently, I signed with a real book agent. Not that my agent wasn't real before. My first YA novel, Never Slow Dance With A Zombie, was represented by my film and TV agent, Jim Kellem of JKA. Thanks, Jim. But now, I am pleased to say, I have signed with a bona-fide book agent--Frank Weimann of The Literary Group International. They sound important, don't they? Book agents know a lot more about the book biz than Hollywood TV agents do. If I am going to have a successful career, I will need to be repped by someone who knows his way around the business. But don't worry about Jim. He's good with it.

I had my first face-to-face meeting with Frank last Thursday at my attorney's office. What a pleasure. Frank and Jeff (my lawyer) are cooking up big things for me. Good. I'm cooking up big things for me, too. First off, they have assigned an editor to get the first book in my YA series, Hollyweird, into shape to be sold. The editor's name is Dan Smetanka. Dan has some awesome credentials. He was editor-in-chief of Phoenix Books before they were abruptly shuttered in April. He has recently been named editor-at-large for both Counterpoint and Soft Skull Press, where he will acquire fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, current events, and history titles.

And now Dan is also working with little-ole-me. How cool is that? Last Friday I got an email from Dan telling me how much he liked the manuscript and the setting. I can't wait to get going with him.

I will post here regularly on Hollyweird's road to publication (just as I did with NSDWAZ). I'm sure it's not going to always go as smoothly as I'd like. But you will be here supporting me, and that will make the rough patches a lot easier.

I mentioned here last week that I recently re-edited my second novel, Boyfriend From Hell. I sent it out to Frank's office last week. I can't wait to hear what his reader has to say. It's my favorite book that I've written so far. But I like everything I write :-) Really. Some authors hate their work when they're done. Not me. I look at what I've written at the end of the day and think: "Damn, that's good!" Even when it isn't. I know--embarrassing.

Now I have two manuscripts ready to go into the pipeline. And for the past several months, I've been working on my first boy book. It's a time travel novel. I will talk more about it as I get closer to the end. I think it's a trilogy.

I love being a writer. Can you tell? I love writing books, talking books, meeting with students at schools, and hanging with other writers. It's the best job ever. I like TV writing and producing, but book writing is the B-E-S-T! I also love blogging with and hearing from you. If you have any comments or questions, please leave them. Okay?

One final thing for today: I'm thinking of attending the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators) Summer Conference in Los Angeles from July 30th-August 2nd. If you, or anyone you know, is going to attend please let me know. I'd love to look you up. I'm still new at this, and know very few authors.

Oh! The photo up top is of the sign on the horse closing my street down yesterday for the BH Block Party. I spent a few hours there, and got a chance to meet neighbors I only see or wave to as we all rush off to our busy lives. My neighbors are so friendly and cool. Who knew? Thanks Jason and Lisa for organizing it. I had a blast.

Peace.