What A Weekend!

Conner was nothing but smiles during the football game at Wildcat Hill!

Catie's favorite cheer: Our team is D-Y-N-A-M-I-T-E!

Carlie loved watching her big sister cheer for the Wildcats!

Carlie, Courtney, Catie, and friends from school giving each other manicures and pedicures!

After spending the majority of Saturday afternoon watching Catie cheer at Britton Field and then back home to a house full of rambunctious youngsters, I had every intention of mopping floors today and catching up on some much needed laundry. Unfortunately, due to a vicious stomach virus that crept into our safehaven, little Carlie is home from school with a terrible tummy ache.

When Carlie's symptoms began yesterday afternoon, I felt certain her loss of appetite and sudden fatigue was a result of intense play with her big sister and friends from school. But when I heard her feet scurry across the upstairs bathroom in our home, I knew it was something more. Throughout most of the night, I was nurse-made to little Carlie, changing her sheets after an accident occurred and refilling her water cup in order to prevent dehydration. WHEW! This definitely brought back memories from years ago when the twins were infants. To this day, I'm still not sure how we survived those first months of sleepless nights and around the clock feedings.

With less than a few hours of sleep, I rolled out of the bed this morning feeling as if a freight train had struck during the middle of the night, while Carlie awoke in the best of spirits. She is definitely showing signs of improvement, cracking jokes with Courtney and keeping a birds-eye-view on her little sister as she puts together a Dora puzzle on the floor nearby.

So as I look back on the past twenty-four hours with Carlie, I realize that even though my laundry pile has tripled in size, I'm so thankful for being able to care for my little munchkin.

Hopefully, if your Monday has kicked off to a crappy start, this post will help you see that it's best to find the good in times of distress rather than dwell on the misfortune in your day! Happy Monday, everyone! Tory

Oh, one last thing before I go! Still no rejection emails from Dear Super Agents:) YEAH!!!

No News Is Good News!

Okay, friends! Quick update: Still no word from the SUPER agents who have requested the complete manuscript and partial for Book #1. As the old saying goes, "No news is good news!" so their lack in response gives me great hope they are seriously considering my project.

Now, those of you who know me best, understand why these requests could not have come at a better time, so please keep me and my family in your prayers! I assure you, regardless the outcome I WILL continue pushing forward with a smile across my face. You see, the words "give-up" and "throw in the towel" simply have no meaning in my vocabulary.

Also, two wonderful blogger friends of mine, Lindsay Currie and Julie Loden, are biting nails like me as they anxiously wait for a response from the three agents who requested their co-authored YA novel, HARMONY. I encourage you to follow their blogs Tiptoe Kisses , Julie Loden. I just know something GRAND is coming down the pike for this remarkable duo!

Have a great evening, everyone! Tory

Excitement In The Air!

After an adventurous (and a bit stressful) week of shuttling the older children to and from school, helping w/ homework, entertaining Courtney at home, cooking, cleaning, yadda, yadda, yadda, I have some pretty exciting news to share with all of you.

Over the past few days, I've been extremely busy preparing email submissions for my first young adult novel because TWO remarkable agents have taken interest in the concept and have requested the full of my manuscript! *squeals loudly and does a happy dance in the kitchen* This now brings the total of requests to 5 partials, 4 fulls, and plenty of rejections and no responses in between. But as the old saying goes, "It only takes one YES to become a published author."

Take the story of Theodore Geisel for example (used from Adventures in Agentland). Theodore had written a picture book manuscript called THE HOUSE ON MULBURRY STREET. He shopped it around. He sent it to twenty-two editors and, after that twenty-second rejection, Theodore decided he would go home, shred his manuscript, and give up his dream.

On the way home, he ran into an old friend of his, who had become an editor. His editor friend convinced him to let him see his manuscript. The editor changed the name of the book to THE CAT IN THE HAT, and Dr. Seuss was born.

Once again, thanks for all your support! In more ways than one, your kind words and encouragement have kept me chasing the dream of becoming a published author. I promise to update as soon as I hear from either agent. Have a great weekend, everyone! Tory

Is It A Good Idea To Post Your Story Synopsis Online?

Today, after visiting different writers' blogs, I noticed several authors had posted their story summary in hopes of gaining feedback from their followers. For the majority, the responses were great. There were even a few to receive comments from bestselling authors. This was nearly enough to make me follow suit, but something held me back. Okay, yes, I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to posting details about my story. In fact, no one other than my parents, husband and siblings know the title to my project. You see, I've had way too many nightmares in which a creepy book-thief-type-villain makes millions from stealing my concept.

So, my questions for you guys (veteran writers please speak up!):

1.) Is it safe to put your synopsis online, exposing it for the world to read?
2.) What if someone steals your plot? *gasp and cry for hours/days...*
3.) But what if an agent stumbles across your book summary and falls in love? *happy dance* Isn't this worth it?

I'd love to know your thoughts! Have a great Friday, everyone! Tory

Amazing Contest & Humpday Reads!

As of 8:03 P.M. last night, I officially landed a spot at Querytracker's agent-judged query contest in which the super talented literary agent, Kathleen Ortiz, volunteered to critique the first 100 entries received.




Phew...I'm still stoked about this one!

You see, from countless hours of stalking Ms. Ortiz' blog (www.kortizzle.blogspot.com) and other social networks, I knew this contest would fill within minutes. So, with help from my ever-so-patient husband, I was able to sneak to my parent's home and complete the online form with nothing more than seconds to spare before the contest filled. Seriously, I barely had time to verify if I'd cut and pasted the first chapter of my YA novel successfully to the contest form.

But I did!!! *Cue confetti falling from the ceiling*

Now, to some of my friends reading this post, you may not understand what all the hoopla is about. Let me explain!

Anytime an aspiring writer *imagine ME waving a huge, red flag* receives feedback from a top-notch agent, the effort is worth this and so much more! As brutal as Ms. Ortiz' critique may be (she seems super sweet and very professional), I'm still hopeful she connects with the first chapter of my YA novel and asks for more. At this point in my writing career, any feedback is good feedback.

Okay, given that I hear little footsteps running around upstairs I'm going to quickly switch gears and list my book recommendation for this week's version of Humpday Reads.

I suggest: The Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr All her life, Aislinn has been able to see faeries, and they are everywhere, invisible to mortals except for her. And these are not your average cute Disney pixies -- they are the same size as humans, and can be very nasty, especially to those mortals who can see them. To survive, Aislinn has had to learn to pretend not to see them, and to live behind steel walls, which keep them out.
All Aislinn wants is to explore her growing relationship with Seth, finish high school, go to college, and lead a relatively normal life. But now she's being stalked by the faeries, especially one, Keenan, who is the Summer King and wants her for his Queen. Keenan is able to endure steel, and will have Aislinn whether she agrees or not -- if she doesn't, the power of his mother, the Winter Queen, will be unchecked, and winter will descend on the earth forever. (www.commonsensemedia.org)

I hope you enjoy! Tory

Wonderful Secret Agent has a BLOG!

I'm ashamed to admit that I'm officially a stalker of Wonderful Secret Agent's blog in hopes that she will update today with something I can squeal about.

Let me explain. Last week, after e-submitting my manuscript to a fabulous agent in New York City, I stumbled across her blog and have since become obsessed.

She is a very reputable literary agent, and I would be knocked off my feet with enthusiasm if she were to connect with my YA novel.

It's funny because I'm not alone on the stalking issue. My mom, husband, and oldest daughter are also obsessed with checking out her blog for updates.

Given that Wonderful Secret Agent usually posts the number of manuscripts she has requested in a day, I know that mine was one of eight from a pile of 63 query letters (OMG!).

I wish you could hear my mom and I analyzing each of her posts. We have disected each phrase in hopes of finding something promising (maybe even a secret code or hidden message saying, "Yes, Tory, I want to represent you!").

She hasn't updated in a few days, so needless to say, I'm anxiously awaiting her next post.

So, to all my writing buddies out there, I'd love to know if any of you have ever stalked the Internet for information regarding the agents you've queried. Thoughts, please!

Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone! Tory

The Uncertainty in a Query Letter!

Today is the beginning of Spring Break for my oldest spunky monkey, so needless to say I am looking forward to spending as much time with her as possible.

Yet before I head outdoors to enjoy some fun in the sun with my family, I want to share my two cents on the query process in general, and also include a tidbit of how I've remained focused during the few weeks of querying.

Just a recap from a previous post: the query letter is your calling card, your way of pitching the book to a handful of agents that you've researched thoroughly before submitting.

After following several blogs of first time authors, I've learned the query process usually takes anywhere from a few weeks, to months, to even years before finding the perfect agent. This may seem unbearable to many, but after enduring two years of fertility treatment and months of bedrest with different pregnancies, I have acquired an astounding amount of resilience toward uncertainty.

And with the support of my husband, children, friends, and family, I have remained focused on the important things in life. Yes, becoming a successful novelist is a goal I hope to reach, but I don't allow it to master over my involvement with family and friends.

So, I hope you found something encouraging from reading today's post and remember that rejection is not the end of the world. I believe in one form or another, it is a gift from God. After all, He knows what's best for our lives!

Have a great week, everyone! Tory

Query Update!

So, since I've come out of the closet about writing a young adult novel (I still smile when I think about Uncle Baxter's reaction!), I've had several of my closest family and friends subtly ask how the query process is going. I'm so grateful they are interested in my progress, but I must admit, it's like sitting in the chair at the dentist office! Ugh!!!

However, when I look at the big picture and factor in the many prayers that are being lifted up for a successful outcome, I relax and answer honestly.

Therefore, for tonight's post, here are the numbers:

Total Equeries Sent - 15 (four of these I emailed last night and today, but if I had stumbled upon the literary agent sooner, I would have queried them at the beginning). It's amazing how many talented and devoted agents are out there waiting to find the golden nugget buried at the bottom of the unsolicited pile (And yes it's tempting to send the query letter along with a box of chocolates or a dozen red roses, but I chose to let my writing do the talking and not rely on the gimmicks to help me stand-out!).

Total Rejections Thus Far - 3 (There is no doubt about it, each rejection stings like a bee, but the best advice I've been given is to let the rejections roll off my back and focus on the next agent).

Partial Requests - 1 (And this is exciting in itself because I know my query letter is half-way decent, and that I've sparked someone's interest enough to make them ask for more).

How many queries do I plan to send out? Well, until I have an agent ask for representation I'll keep researching and sending out query letters. Sounds practical, right?

In the meantime, I assure you I will burn away the midnight oil to entertain and enlighten you to the best of my ability in regards to the publishing industry. If anything else...it should make you appreciate your day-job! Hope everyone has a terrific Tuesday! Tory