Going in a New Direction

As you can see, the blog has gotten a face lift. So has my website. Why? Well, because I've made another decision about my career. I know, I'm doing a lot of this lately. I'm still planning to write young adult--that hasn't changed, and it won't in the foreseeable future. However, I'm firmly committing myself to Christian YA, specifically contemporary.

I've been working in this market for years, and I had mentioned in my 2019 Goals post that I'm reworking my Georgia Corbins series into Christian fiction, so this decision really isn't that big of a leap for me. I also started a new book on January 1st--another contemporary Christian YA romance--and I passed 33,000 words yesterday. The story is flowing! Once it's beta read, revised, and edited, I'll begin querying Christian agents.

So, what does this mean for my paranormal romance? Nothing. While it's not Christian fiction, it is "clean" in that there's no cursing, excessive violence, or sex. And my main character does believe in God and heaven, so it certainly has Christian undertones. I'm still waiting for replies from the agents who have it, and if they choose to offer rep, I'll do my due diligence and make a decision that I feel is best for my career. If they all reject, that's okay, too. I'll release it via FireChicken Press.

A heartfelt thanks to everyone who has stuck around through all my ups and downs and direction changes. I wouldn't be where I am without each and every one of you :-)

Stay tuned for upcoming publishing news!

New Year's Goals: 2019

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It's that time of year again!!! GOALS!!! I love setting goals. So, I won't even waste anymore time on anything else. Let's do this.

Finish What I've Started

After taking an inventory of my current half-started projects, I have a lot of stuff to finish. There's also a couple of series not included in my tally that I'd like to finally complete. So, here is the official list of books I'm going to attempt to finish writing this year:

1. The Georgia Corbins, Book 1. I started a total rewrite of this in November 2018, and I've been steadily making progress. I have less than 30K left to write, which will easily be completed by the end of January. While it still has all the same characters, the plot is taking a slight detour away from the original love triangle and it will now have a present faith element. My plan is to publish the entire series via Anaiah Press.

2. The Georgia Corbins, Book 2. I have a complete draft of this written that will need to be heavily revised to be consistent with the changes to book 1, so I plan to do that this year.

3. The Georgia Corbins, Book 3. This is a maybe at this point, because I'm not even sure there will be a book three now. It will all depend on what happens in the first two books.

4. Eternal Bond. This is the sequel to Eternal Curse, a young adult paranormal romance.

5. Untitled, unknown project. Okay, so an editor who rejected my paranormal romance said she loves my voice (which, for you non-writers reading this, that's a HUGE compliment) and that she feels I'm very well-suited to writing YA. She then asked if I had other projects I could pitch to her. So I did. If she likes any of them, I will focus on working on whatever she wants. And, if she doesn't like anything I pitch, I have a super-fun new Christian YA that I'll work on.

Officially launch FireChicken Press, LLC

I have a "work-in-progress" website for FireChicken Press, LLC (FCP, LLC). I'd like to release, at the very least, one book under FireChicken Press in 2019. Right now, it's looking like it will be a YA thriller I'd co-written a couple years ago, but that could very well change depending on what happens with other things.

Read and Blog

These two items are always on my goals list, but this year, I'm combining them because I've decided to be better about reviewing the books I've read. So, as you'll see across the top of this blog, I've added a new tab: BOOK CRAVINGS. This is where I'll be sharing all my bookish thoughts.

Persistence: Slow & Steady

Last year, my focus was on staying positive. While I'm sad to admit I didn't adhere to that as much as I would have liked, there were key moments when I did cling to positive thoughts to get me through. I will continue to do that this year, too, but I'm adding persistence as well. What many of you don't know is that I'm very hard on myself. If I don't write "all the words" every day, I feel like I've somehow failed. So, in 2019, I'm giving myself permission to do less more consistently. Instead of binge writing 5k in a single day and then not writing for a week after, I'm going to pace myself -- 2k a day everyday. After all, slow and steady wins the race, right?

What will you accomplish in 2019? 

Share your goals in the comments!

Looking Back on 2018

I'm not gonna lie... 2018 kicked my ass! I'm pretty sure everyone feels this way in terms of the state of politics in the world, but beyond that, on a much more personal and professional level, this has been a very not good year for me. I'm really optimistic about 2019, though. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's take a look back on the year and see what I accomplished, what I didn't, and what big changes I faced in 2018.

So, my original 2018 goals included: 

(1) Finish Eternal Curse, the first book in my YA paranormal romance series.

Status: GOAL MET!!

My Thoughts: Not only did I finish this book, it made the rounds with several beta readers, and I revised the heck out of it. I'm SO pleased with how this book turned out, and I cannot wait to share it with the world. 

(2) Write the sequel to Eternal Curse.

Status: GOAL KINDA MET

My Thoughts: I wrote almost 25k of the sequel, currently titled Eternal Bond, and then I stopped because I wasn't sure what was going to happen with book one. I didn't want to get too far into the sequel only to find out I needed to change a lot of stuff. I do have a clear idea of where the story is going now, though, and so now it's just a matter of writing it. 

(3) Write Meet Me at the Mistletoe, a sweet Christmas romance novella for the Christian market.

Status: GOAL NOT MET

My Thoughts: This project is temporarily shelved while I focus on building my YA brand.

(4) Finish Deception, the first book in a new Christian romantic suspense series. 

Status: GOAL NOT MET

My Thoughts: This project has also been temporarily shelved while I focus on building my YA brand.

(5) Take an inventory of all my half-started YA projects and see if any of them are worth salvaging.

Status: GOAL MET!!!

My Thoughts: Out of 9 started projects, there are 6 of them I think are worthy of pursuing, some of which will possibly be co-written with other authors. 

(6) Query something.

Status: GOAL MET!!

My Thoughts: I sent my first query for Eternal Curse in February, and I've been working at it all year. I've racked up a lot of rejections, but I'm happy to report I have one full and one partial still out with agents. *Fingers crossed* 

(7) Keep on Bloggin'

Status: GOAL KINDA MET

My Thoughts: There were some weeks when I was really on top of this, but not as much as I would have liked. 

(8) Read

Status: GOAL MET!!

My Thoughts: I'm please with how much I've read this year, which is much more than in past years. Here's what I knocked off my TBR in 2018:

• Camp So-and-So by Mary McCoy
• Evernight by Claudia Gray
• One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus
• The Leaving by Tara Altebrando
• There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
• We All Fall Down by Natalie D. Richards
• One Was Lost by Natalie D. Richards
• The Cellar by Natasha Preston
• You Will Be Mine by Natasha Preston
• The Cabin by Natasha Preston
• Gone Too Far by Natalie D. Richards
• Survive the Night by Danielle Vega
• Six Months Later by Natalie D. Richards
• Campfire by Shawn Sarles
• The Escape by Hannah Jayne
• All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
• Something About Forever by Kimberly Loth
• Bloodlust & Initiation (Vampire Beach 1 and 2)by Alex Duval
• Ritual & Legacy (Vampire Beach 2 and 3) by Alex Duval
• Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
• Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
• Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles
• I'll Be Yours by Jenny B. Jones

Out of 8 goals, I fully achieved four, kinda achieved two, and completely flaked on two. Those numbers could be worse--and they have been in past years. lol. In addition to all of that, there were a lot of other things I accomplished, both professionally and personally...

PROFESSIONALLY:

• I wrote a total of 135,844 words on various projects.
• Between here and the Anaiah Press blog, I blogged a total of 11,941 words.
• For Anaiah, I edited 7 full-length novels and 3 novellas.
• I freelance edited 3 full-length manuscripts.
• I beta read 3 full-length manuscripts. 
• I created and legally formed FireChicken Press, LLC, which is my personal self-publishing company.
• I returned to working on my YA contemporary romance series, The Georgia Corbins, and have finally made a publishing decision on that. (More to come on that in my 2019 Goals post)
• I've outlined a couple new YA projects/ideas. 

PERSONALLY:

• In January, I saw Black Veil Brides in concert with my oldest daughter for her birthday. I'm now a diehard fan of them, and they almost single-handedly fuel the playlist for my paranormal series! 
• In October, I saw Twenty-one Pilots in concert again with my daughter and her friend.
• Also in October, I saw Luke Bryan for the very first time! *internal squealing*
• In November, I saw The Thunder From Down Under. 
• I made a couple visits to NY to see my parents. 
• My parents came to MI in November to celebrate Thanksgiving and early Christmas with us. 
• I got a little red sports car! 

Despite the fact I didn't publish a single thing in 2018, and I didn't snag an agent, I accomplished much more than I realized. I'm calling this a pretty good year overall. 

What did you do this past year?

Share your success in the comments! 

Is There a Place for Me in Traditional Publishing?

So.... It's been an interesting couple of months. I've had some highs and some major lows--I'm talking curl-up-in-a-ball-and-cry lows.

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And all of it has made me ask a very hard question:

IS THERE A PLACE FOR ME IN TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING??

I'm honestly not sure. Yeah, I know publishing is vast and there's room for everyone. And that I shouldn't write for market trends. And that I need to stay true to myself and write what I want to write. That if one book doesn't sell, move on to the next. Publishing is so subjective. It's not you or your writing--it's the market. I've heard it all. Heck, I've said it all. So, what happened to make me ask this question?

Well, it all started about 8 years ago. (You'd better get comfy. This is going to be a long story.)

I started my writing journey out of boredom. Yeah, I know how that sounds. LOL. Bear with me. I'd always wanted to write a book, and I'd had a lot of false starts, but this time I'd found a story I was excited about and characters I instantly loved. I was determined to finish! And I did. In fact, I wrote the sequel, too. Then I was once again lost...What did I do with it now that it was finished?

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I joined a local critique group and realized just how bad it was and how much I didn't know about writing. So, I began the lengthy process of revising. While doing so, I tried my hand at some shorter works--novellas.

And I had some success!!!!

On September 15, 2012, I had my first ever story published. It was an erotic romance novella published by a small press. For the most part, my experience was great! Working with my editor was a good experience. I loved my cover art. My reviews were awesome! My sales could have been better, but I think the pricing was a big factor here (something I had no control over.) I went on to publish two more novellas with this publisher. Those books released December 2012 and January 2013.

While I was working with the above publisher, I was also publishing a couple erotic romance novellas with a different publisher. The first one released in October 2012 with the second releasing in January 2013. Again, good experience, positive reviews, slightly better sales. I went ahead and published a full-length book with this press that released September 2013. Sadly, things went sour shortly after--but that's a different story for a different day.

During this time, I'd finished revising the book of my heart (or I thought it was at the time). It wasn't exactly YA (characters were in college) but it wasn't adult, either. New Adult wasn't even a thing yet. I queried agents, pitching it as an adult romance, and got nowhere with it. Looking back, I know now it should never have been queried. LOL. Live and learn, right? Having had some success and decent experiences with small presses, I began to research those options for this series, too. And guess what?

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I had an offer from a small publisher. I signed on the dotted line and was well on my way. The experience with this press wasn't as great as the other two places, but it was okay. Editing was sub-par and sales are almost non-existent. This book released in June 2013. To this day, I have never revised or published the sequel. Partly because I don't want to work with this publisher anymore, but also because I've lost interest in it.

Throughout the process of getting that book published, I was busy working on a new project--a contemporary YA romance. I was so in love with this book and the characters (still am). I eagerly queried agents. Again, I got nowhere! By this point, I was starting to wonder what the heck was going on? How / why could I get published with a small press and have wonderful reader reviews but not be able to get an agent to show any interest? Again, I went back to my the place I knew I could excel--the small press! And again, I got an offer.

My book released in June 2013. I loved everything about this publisher--my editor, my cover art, the staff, the other authors. For the first time since I'd embarked on this journey, I'd truly felt like I'd found my home.

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I had big plans, too. I was going to publish everything with this press! This is also where I got my start in editing. Some of my closest writer friends I have today, I met at this publisher. But then things went bad. Horribly bad! You can read about what happened HERE. This experience left me broken and very leery of small presses, and I knew I didn't want to go through anything like that again.

During my time there, I was working on a new project--an adult romantic suspense. When the publisher closed, I vowed to try my hardest to get an agent. I mean, I'd learned so much and was a much better writer. Surely now was my time, right?

And then I got the email -- An agent wanted to have "The Call." I promptly signed with my first agent. I was on top of the world! Together, we edited my book and got it ready to go out on submission. Then we waited and waited and waited some more. I think it was a little over a year before I had to face the fact that my book wasn't going to sell. Talk about soul-crushing!

But I didn't waste all that time just waiting--I had accepted my position with Anaiah Press, and I was busy editing. I also sought a co-author and together, we wrote and published two Christian romantic suspense books. They released April 2015 and February 2016. It was such a wonderful experience that I wouldn't ever change.

Somewhere in all of that, I had a call with my agent where we discussed my career and where to go next. We decided I'd write a contemporary New Adult romance--NA was hot at the time, and I had a fun idea for a series. So, I dove in. By the time I was finished and it went out on submission, we got a lot of "NA isn't selling anymore" rejections. Because, of course. (I'm one of those people that if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all.)

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But then! Then we got an offer from a very reputable mid-sized publisher! I was back in the game!!! I published two NA books with this press (under a pen name). They released May 2017 and October 2017. I wish I could say everything was roses and sunshine and rainbows--I really wish I could say that. But I can't :-( You can read about why HERE.

Throughout the years and all the ups-and-downs, I've been working on other things. I haven't finished many of them, but I've been working on different things.

Recently, I finished a project that has taken me 4 years to complete--and it's a book that I love more than anything I've ever written. It's a young adult paranormal romance (very Twilight-esque). I revised and edited and revised some more. I sent it to critique partners and beta readers. I even worked one-on-one with a mentor. I did everything right. I eagerly jumped into the query trenches, knowing this was the best thing I've ever written.

As of today, these are my query stats:

54 total queries sent.
22 rejections
1 full request (ultimately rejected)
1 partial request (ultimately rejected)
32 queries still awaiting a response. (Most of these are due to expire next week and fall under the "no response means no" category.)

Now, a note on the full and partial requests.... Getting those amidst all the rejections was a HUGE boost. Anyone in this business knows how it feels. Sadly, both of those came back as rejections. I was fortunate enough to get feedback as to why, and it boils down to this:

My premise isn't unique enough to stand out in the current market. 

Let that sink in.

My premise isn't unique enough to stand out in the current market. 

It's not my writing. It's not my query letter. It's not my characters. It's not a lack of connection between my book and the agent.

It's. My. Premise! 

The entire concept of my book isn't good enough. Now, tell me, how do I fix that? Short of rewriting the book or shelving it, how do I make my idea--my premise--stand out?

Needless to say, I was gutted. I didn't write or edit or do anything but read and watch TV. Thank God for my awesome writer friends who pulled me out of the dumps. Once I wallowed in it for awhile, I took a deep breath and re-evaluated. I still have queries out, but honestly, I have no hope that any of them will result in a request or an offer.

BUT! Not all is lost. I'd sent it to my editor at my pen-name publisher, and I (naively) put a lot of my hopes into that single query. I prayed that she would love it and want to acquire it. Then I could rest easy knowing it would be published, and I could work with someone who I admire and trust.

Then, a few days ago, I get an email.... My editor has left the publisher.

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She assured me my submission would be passed on to a new editor, but...

I'm tired, y'all.

I don't know how much more I can take. I've tried my hand at adult romance, romantic suspense, Christian fiction, young adult, new adult....and I'm not any further ahead in my career than I was way back when I started. In fact, I've gone backward!

And so, I've been pondering the question I posed at the start of this very long post. Is there really a place for me in traditional publishing? Do I even want one anymore? Should I keep trying? If I do, what do I focus on--adult? YA? Romance? Something else entirely? What if I never get another offer? What if I do and it turns out to be another horrible experience? Should I just throw all my efforts into self-publishing? Or should I stick to what I'm good at--editing--and throw in the towel on writing?

I don't have any answers right now. I'm not sure if I will anytime soon, either, but I know I need to do something because I'm taking an emotional beating, and I'm ready to crack.

January (2018) Joys

In an effort to stay positive, productive, and accountable, I've decided to check-in at the end of each month. I'll share what I've accomplished along with any ups or downs I've experienced. So, let's get to it...


WRITING: 
I finished the first draft of my YA paranormal romance!!! YAY! I cannot tell you how excited I am about this.... It's been four years in the making! I sent it to a handful of beta readers, and the feedback is starting to roll in. I'm looking at a complete overhaul of the opening chapters, but that's okay. I've gotten some great ideas, and I'm excited to jump back in and revise. I also started working on my Christmas novella for Anaiah -- it's a sweet contemporary romance.


QUERYING:
My co-author and I are querying a YA thriller. We sent right around 50 queries, and so far, we've received 1 full request (YAY!) and 30 rejections (boo!). The rest are still outstanding. While I'm being realistic about this project, it's nice to know at least one person liked it enough to request, but I have that sinking feeling this book has "missed the market" so to speak. But, we'll see how it goes.


EDITING:
I've been crazy busy with editing. I joined forces with fellow PitchWars Mentor, Lisa Amowitz, and we started The Choppy Shop, which is a pop-up editorial service specializing in query letter and first chapter critiques to prepare authors for querying. I completed two freelance editing projects, finished edits on a YA manuscript for Anaiah, and have begun contents on a contemporary romance for Anaiah.


READING:
Sadly, I haven't read anything for pleasure this month, but I did beta read a manuscript that was a ton of fun -- lots of family drama, secrets, twists, murder, and romance.


PERSONAL:
My oldest daughter turned 19 this month. Yikes--that makes me feel old. Ha! I took her to a Black Veil Brides concert which, up until that night, I had never heard of. The music was loud and full of screaming, but some of it was good, and I added a couple new songs to my writing playlist.

My other daughter turned 13 -- Another teenager in the house, goody. <sarcasm font> She had her birthday party at the bowling alley, which also offered virtual reality. Fun was had by everyone. She really has a great group of friends, though, and seeing them all together (no fighting / drama) was great. It makes me happy to see that she's surrounded herself with positive, supportive people.

I've been fighting off something icky, either a sinus infection or the start of the flu. I think a trip to the doctor is in my near future. For this reason, I didn't make it to the gym nearly as much as I wanted to--I think I only went two or three times. Oh well, February is a new month and I'll hit it hard :-)

So, what has everyone else done in January? Is 2018 off to a good start for you? Share in the comments!

New Year's Goals: 2018

It's that time of year again! GOALS TIME! I actually really look forward to this every year. I love setting goals. It gives me direction and keeps me accountable. So, without further ado, here are my 2018 goals...

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LEARN TO LOVE WRITING AGAIN. 
AND THEN WRITE!

2017 was a rough year for me, and along the way, I lost my love for writing. I had lots of ideas, but when it came time to put my butt in the chair and my fingers on the keyboard, I blanked. No matter what I did, I couldn't get the words out. Needless to say, it's been frustrating. So, I'm going to continue to take my time. I'm not going to push myself to write or get upset with myself if a day (or twelve) goes by that I don't write. And I'm going to focus on just the writing for a while. Basically, I'm going to write what I want to write--the market be damned! Then, eventually, I'll see what I have and jump back into the publishing pool.


1. Finish Eternally Cursed, which is the first book in a YA paranormal romance series.

2. Write the sequel to Eternally Cursed.

3. Write Meet Me at The Mistletoe, a sweet Christmas romance novella for the Christian market.

4. Finish Deception, which is the first book in a new Christian romantic suspense series.

5. Take an inventory of all my half-started YA projects and see if any of them are worth salvaging.

6. Query something! Probably my paranormal romance because it's the only thing I have that's close to finished.

KEEP ON BLOGGIN'

Yup, this is on my goal's list. Again. I should just accept that this is a permanent fixture on this list. LOL. I actually have a few blog posts written and ready to go that I plan to release soon. I'll be talking books, writing, and sharing every step of my journey to finding a new agent.

READ

I'd like to read 2-3 books per month--my TBR pile is monstrous--but I'll be happy with a conservative 1 book per month. Like I did last year, I'll keep a list of what I read and share it at the end of the year.

BETTER SELF-CARE

I'm going to start going to the gym again, at least twice per week. Not because I want to lose weight--although it certainly couldn't hurt!--but because when I exercise regularly, I have more energy and I'm much more productive. It really does get the creative juices flowing.

POSITIVITY

This is my mindset for 2018. When things seem like they can't get any worse, I will find something positive to focus on. Even amidst rejections and bad reviews, there is always something positive to take away from it. This year, I will become a master at finding the good and sharing it!

What are you goals for this year? 

Share in the comments, or post a link to your own goals post!

Looking back on 2017...

It's been a real "Hold my beer and watch this" kind of year, hasn't it? Between politics and publishing, I'm exhausted! And quite honestly, I'm glad to see 2017 go. But, before it does, it's once again time to look back on the year and see what I accomplished, what I didn't, and what big changes I faced in 2017.

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My 2017 Goals Included:

1. Propose and potentially write a fourth book for a contracted series. 

Status: GOAL KINDA MET

My Thoughts: I wrote a proposal, and it was rejected. My editor felt it was too dark in comparison to the rest of the series. In hindsight, she's right. (She always seems to be right. LOL.) Also, for various reasons, the third book will not be published, so it seems silly to write a spin-off. 

2. Finish Savage Passion (Midnight Rebels, Book 1) and allow my agent to start sending it out on submission. Also, outline the entire Midnight Rebels Series--which, right now, is looking like it could be 7 or 8 books total.

Status: GOAL NOT MET

My Thoughts: Because I am no longer writing adult secular romance, and because I've parted with my agent, this project has been officially shelved. Maybe I'll revisit it in the future. 

3. Complete the R&R for The Georgia Corbins.

Status: GOAL NOT MET

My Thoughts: I had very good intentions with this one. I love this story so much, and I want it back out in the world. And I am not giving up on this series. But, for the time being, it's not at the top of my priority list, mostly because I don't know what to do with it. Rewrite and resubmit? Self-publish? Query it again? I'm not sure yet. 

4. Finish Hallowed Ground (Graves Barren, Book 1), my YA Gothic romance, and send to agents.

Status: GOAL KINDA MET

My Thoughts: I have been working on this book a lot lately. It has undergone a title and genre change. It's now called Eternally Cursed (working title) and it's a YA paranormal romance. I'm 15k away from it being finished and ready for beta readers. I am so in love with this book and these characters! 

5. Blog

Status: GOAL KINDA MET

My Thoughts: I've been doing more blogging over on the Anaiah Press Blog, but this blog has been all but ignored. 

6. Read more books for pleasure.

Status: GOAL MET!

My Thoughts: While I didn't read as much as I wanted to, I read a lot more books this year than I did the past couple of years. Here's what I read:

Under Rose Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall
Running Home by Katie O'Connor
Engaged in Death by Stephanie Blackmore
The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer 
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
Fire in You by J. Lynn
Fall With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Forever With You by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Frigid by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Scorched by Jennifer L. Armentrout
13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
We Can Be Mended by Veronica Roth
The Vampire Diaries (The Awakening) by LJ Smith
The Vampire Diaries (The Struggle) by LJ Smith
The Vampire Diaries (The Fury) by LJ Smith
The Vampire Diaries (Dark Reunion) by LJ Smith


Out of 6 goals, I fully achieved one and kinda achieved two. Those aren't very good numbers, huh? So, at this point, you're probably wondering: What the heck did you do all year, Kara? I'm glad you asked. I did a LOT! Honestly! Take a look...

Professionally:

• I've written a total of 313,522 words on various personal projects this past year. 
• I edited 2 fantastic manuscript for freelance clients; one of whom went on to sign with her dream agent.
• I've edited a total of 7 manuscripts for Anaiah Press, and acquired a whole heck of a lot more.
• My alter-ego edited, released, and promoted two books. 
• I GOT MY FIRST FAN MAIL LETTER!!!!
• I co-wrote and queried a contemporary YA that deals with mental health and suicide.
• I started a new Christian romantic suspense series. The first book is titled Deception, and it deals with a cult. 
• I participated in a couple Twitter pitch events for some co-authored YA books, and even got a few requests!
• I learned how to use Canva to make book teasers.
• I made some big decisions about my writing career. 
• I learned a lot about myself as a writer and editor--what I can and want to do, what my limits are, and most importantly, that the world isn't going to stop spinning if I don't do all the things all the time. 

Personally: 

• I went to NY to visit my parents and my daughter.
• I went to Moline, IL to see Twenty One Pilots in concert for my daughter's 13th birthday. It was her first concert and was such a wonderful experience!
• My eldest daughter moved back in with me after having lived with her father for the past few years.
• My eldest daughter graduated from high school!
• My son graduated from 8th grade and started high school. 
• My daughter skipped 7th grade and went into 8th--She's doing wonderful, too! 
• I saw a live Burlesque show!
• I have finally learned the importance of self-care. 

Even though I didn't meet many of my original goals, I still accomplished a lot. I'll consider it a mildly good year, all things considered.

What did you get done this past year? 

Share your success in the comments!

Gratitude, Good News, and Going in a New Direction

GRATITUDE:
It's been an interesting few weeks, to say the least. The response to my last blog post has been overwhelming! The outpouring of support has blown my mind--I've had so many people reach out to me to encourage me not to give up (which, for the record, I'm not!) and share their own stories with me. And it was all of these heartfelt messages that reminded me why I love the writing community so much. From the very bottom of my heart...

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GOOD NEWS:
A year or so ago, I co-wrote a YA thriller that we pitched as LOST meets AND THEN THERE WERE NONE. We've been querying it on-and-off. Two days after my last blog post, two days after I made the decision to focus on writing YA, we got a partial request from an agent! I know. It's not an offer--not even close--and it ultimately ended in a very encouraging rejection, but you know what? It was the sign I needed that I'd made the right decision and that I'm on the right path. So, I'm counting this as a win.

via GIPHY

About four years ago, I started a YA. Throughout the years, I worked on it here and there, but it was never my priority. Why? Because it was something just for me--a stress-free fun project I never had any intentions of sharing with anyone. I guess you could call it fan-fiction. (Any guesses on what book I love enough to write fan-fic?!?!) Over the years, the story has morphed into something different and unique, and it would be a stretch to call it fan-fic now.

Recently, I opened the doc and read it. And to my surprise, it was GOOD! And so I began to write a bit more of it--purely for fun. I'm both a bit shocked and super thrilled to say I'm enjoying it. A lot. Writing this doesn't feel like a chore or work--it's FUN! Right now, my plan is to stick with it until I run out of steam, but I have no plans or expectations for it.

GOING IN A NEW DIRECTION:
In addition to focusing on YA instead of romance, I'm doing some other new things...

1.) As you can see, I'm in the process of re-branding my website / blog to fit with my new direction. I know, it looks pretty bland right now--it's still a work in progress. I hope to have it all sparkly and new by the end of the year.

2.) I'm going to blog more. Now, before you laugh and remind me that I say this every single year, hear me out... I've been reading a lot more, and I've decided I'm going to blog about the books I'm reading. I'm also going to blog about my journey to finding a new agent and (hopefully) a new publishing deal.

3.) I'm toying with pen names. Should I wipe the slate clean and use a new one? Should I just write as Kara? Should I use my legal name? Which, by the way, is not very publishing friendly. What do you think?

Well,there you have it. I hope y'all will stick around during this new journey--I'm sure it's going to be a wild ride!

New Year's Goals: 2017

It's that time of year again! GOALS TIME! I actually really look forward to this every year. I love setting goals. It gives me direction and keeps me accountable. But, I have a bad habit of going overboard. A close, trusted friend recently told me I needed to scale back a little and stop trying to do "All The Things All The Time." I'm going to take his advice this year and set fewer goals, and if I achieve more than what I list, great! And if I don't, that's okay, too. So, without further ado, here are my 2017 goals...

WRITE UNTIL MY FINGERS FALL OFF!

1. If my editor likes my book proposal and decides to contract it, then I'll be writing Deceiving Devon (working title, subject to change), which is a spin-off to the Collins Brothers Series.

2. Finish Savage Passion (Midnight Rebels, Book 1) and allow my agent to start sending it out on submission.

3. Outline the entire Midnight Rebels Series--which, right now, is looking like it could be 7 or 8 books total.

4. Complete the R&R for The Georgia Corbins.

5. Finish Hallowed Ground (Graves Barren, Book 1), my YA Gothic romance, and send to agents or possibly my editor at Entangled.

KEEP ON BLOGGIN'

Yup, this is on my goal's list. Again. But I won't be blogging here. I'll be blogging once or twice a week / month over on the Anaiah Press blog, where I'll share writing, editing, querying, and publishing advice. So be sure to head on over and follow along.

READ

Because of my busy writing and editing schedule, reading for pleasure usually falls to the wayside. I did better with this goal in 2016, and I'd like to keep it up in 2017. But this year, I'm going to keep track of what I read and share it with everyone at the end of the year so I can shout about my favorites!

What are your goals for 2017? Share in the comments or link to your goals list :-) 

GOALS CHECK: January 2016

Last year, I wrote out all my goals and then didn't look back on them until it was time to write new ones. This year, I want to hold myself more accountable, so the last day of each month, I'm going to do a Goals Check post to see how I'm doing. I'm pretty sure no one but me actually cares about this, but writing it down publicly makes me more likely to follow through with what I said I was going to do. So, here goes...


Goal: Finish Book 2 of The Hayden Falls Saga (the sequel to Death of a Waterfall)
Status: Still Unfinished

Goal: Finish Book 3 of The Hayden Falls Saga
Status: Still Unfinished

Goal: Finish Tainted: The Georgia Corbins, Book 3
Status: Still Unfinished

Goal: Finish Savage Passion
Status: On Hold -- This was originally a planned book 2 of a series that I was rewriting to become book 1 of a new series. However, I recently had rights reverted to book 1 so now I'm going to revert Savage Passion back to book 2 IF book 1 sells. I'm happy to say the full of book 1 is with another editor at a publisher that I would love to work with. So, fingers crossed!! As soon as I get word on book 1, I'll revisit this goal an see what I want / need to do with Savage Passion.

Goal: Finish Warped Remains
Status: On Hold -- Due to my co-authors current schedule, we've decided to wait on this project until we're both ready to give it the time it deserves. He's very busy with college classes, which is super important so I'm really okay with this choice.

Goal: Finish Hallowed Ground (Graves Barren, Book 1)
Status: Half-Finished -- When I added this to my goals list, I was sitting at 35k words. I'm now at 57k words :) I also: outlined the rest of the book so I know exactly where it's going, created an agent query list, wrote the query letter and synopsis.

Goal: Finish Eternally Bound (The Restani Clan, Book 1)
Status: Still Unfinished

Goal: Finish The First Snowfall
Status: Still Unfinished

Goal: Finish Resistance (the sequel to Inferno)
Status: Still Unfinished

Goal: Get Creative and come up with some new ideas for my agent
Status: On-going -- I have come up with TWO new ideas. One is a romantic suspense series that will follow the same couple through two (maybe three) books and deals with WITSEC (the federal witness protection program). The other idea is a collaboration with Jody Holford (my co-author of Dangerous Love and Jaded Love).  This is a contemporary romance that I'm SO excited about. I promise more details will come soon.

Goal: Do one or more things every day to promote me and my books.
Status: On-going -- I haven't done something every single day, but I have been much better about sharing my books. Plus, with a new release on the horizon, I am getting out there more.

Goal: Find and join a new writers group.
Status: Half-finished! I located a local writers group that meets once a month. I have not attended a meeting yet. My daughter has been visiting from NY, so my time has been better spent with her. But I will check things out in February.

Goal: Keep bloggin'
Status: On-going -- I have been pretty good about posting weekly this month, and I hope I can continue throughout the year. In an effort to motivate myself, I even joined the A to Z Blogging Challenge!


I know it seems as though I haven't done much work toward my goals, but I have been busy. I completed two freelance jobs this month, read three manuscripts for developmental edits, along with helping fellow writer, Tiffany Hoffman, get her new writing contest organized and running. Unfortunately, due to personal reasons (good reasons), I am no longer involved with the contest.

Here's to wishing everyone a successful and productive February! 

New Year's Goals: 2016

It's that time of year again! GOALS TIME! I actually really look forward to this every year. I love setting goals. It gives me direction and keeps me accountable. I'm declaring 2016 the year of finishing unfinished projects. And I don't necessarily mean writing subsequent books to complete a series, but rather finishing books that are only half-finished. Trust me, I have a LOT of them!

So, without further ado, here are my 2016 goals...

WRITE, WRITE, and WRITE SOME MORE!

1.  Finish writing book 2 of The Hayden Falls Saga (the sequel to Death of a Waterfall) -- I'm currently 30k into this, and I'm aiming for a word count of 75 or 80k. Then I'm going to send it to my publisher and hopefully release it sometime in 2016.

2.  Finish writing book 3 of The Hayden Falls Saga -- I have a very rough draft of this that's about 20k. It needs a lot of work, but I'm confident once I get book 2 finished, book 3 will come easily. Then I'll send it to my publisher and hopefully release it sometime in 2016.

3. Finish Tainted: The Georgia Corbins, Book 3 -- At this point, my plan is to self-publish this series, but as with even the best laid plans, things happen. However, I'm intent on finishing this series and getting it back out into the world. 

4. Finish Savage Passion and get it sent to my agent -- This is the first in a new planned series. It's an intense, highly erotic romantic suspense that's my personal nod to a couple of my favorite authors: Lora Leigh and Julie Ann Walker. I should add that I have a complete 60k draft of this book. So I only need to smooth out the edges and write the ending. 

5. Finish Warped Remains -- a YA thriller that I'm co-writing with David Jemal. We have less than 10k to finish this up, and then we plan to begin querying agents with it. 

6. Finish Hallowed Ground (Graves Barren, Book 1) -- This is a paranormal YA that currently has 35k words. Once finished, I *think* I'm going to try querying agents with it. My lovely agent, sadly, doesn't sell much YA. I would love to place it with her as I trust her, but I'm grateful she was honest with me about her abilities to sell or not sell certain genres. 

7. Finish Eternally Bound (The Restani Clan, Book 1) -- This is an adult paranormal (vampires) that has 29k words. 

8. Finish The First Snowfall -- This is an erotic thriller / horror novella that currently has 19k words.

9. Finish Resistance (the sequel to Inferno) -- Considering Inferno and its prequel, Dominick, are due out later in 2016, David and I really need to get crackin' on finishing book 2. Thankfully, we've already got a good start on it. 

**SIDE NOTE** You're probably wondering why I've got so many unfinished projects. I often wonder the same thing myself. Here's the reason: I come up with an idea and I get really excited and immediately start writing it. I get anywhere between 25 - 35K written, and then I'm hit with a new idea that won't get out of my head. So, I put one project aside and start in on the new one. And then the process repeats itself. It's a viscous cycle. lol. 

You're also probably wondering how on earth I'm going to finish all of these in a mere 12 months. Honestly, I'm wondering the same thing! Just seeing this list is daunting, but if I can even accomplish half this list, I'll be more than happy. 

GET CREATIVE!

I want to come up with some new book ideas. (I know, like I need anymore. lol) Lately, a majority of my ideas seem to be within the YA category, which is great. I love writing YA. Unfortunately, my agent signed me for ADULT books, and therefore I'd like to brainstorm some ideas for a few new adult romances that I can write for her eventually. 

BEG PEOPLE TO LIKE ME!

Okay, so I'm not going to actually beg people to like me or be my friend, but I do need to work on my self promotion....

1. Do one (or more) things every single day to promote myself and my books, both in person and online. 

2.  Find and join a local writers group. I have a fantastic online support group, but there's nothing like being able to meet real people in real life and talk writing with them, to exchange work and ideas. 

KEEP ON BLOGGIN'

I swear, this is on my goals list every year. This year, my goal is one quality blog post a month, probably on Mondays so I can utilize the #MondayBlogs hashtag on Twitter. (That's a great tag. You should really check it out!) I would also like to do a #TeaserTuesday every week. With all those half finished books I'll be working on, I'll certainly have enough material to share!

What are your goals for 2016? Share in the comments or link to your own blog post about it! I love to see what everyone is aiming to accomplish :) 

Looking Back on 2015...

As 2015 comes to an end and the world prepares to welcome 2016, it's once again time to look back on the year and see what I accomplished, what I didn't, and what big changes I faced in 2015. To read my full 2015 goals post, click HERE!

My 2015 Goals Included:

1. Revise the sequel to The Georgia Corbins. 

Status: GOAL MET!

My thoughts: I've been able to revise this sequel and even get it beta read, so it's in good shape and is now awaiting a new home. I'd also like to note that I completely renamed the entire series as follows:
Torn: The Georgia Corbins, Book 1
Tempted: The Georgia Corbins, Book 2
Tainted: The Georgia Corbins, Book 3

2. Revise Fiery Lotus, the sequel to Deadly Orchid

Status: GOAL NOT MET 

My thoughts: In a long, complicated turn of events, I've decided to completely rework this novel and make it the first book in a new series. The new title is now Savage Passion, and I'll be finishing it up and sending it to my agent in early 2016. This will be an adult romantic suspense series with erotic elements.

3. Outline the third book in the Georgia Corbins series. 

Status: GOAL NOT MET

My thoughts; Although I didn't get an outline written, I did start writing it, so that's something! I have a very loose idea of where the story is going.

4. Outline a new YA paranormal with an entirely new species of characters.

Status: GOAL MET!

My thoughts: Not only did I get this book outline, I created a full series bible for it with really badly drawn maps and family trees. Additionally, I started writing it!! I'm 35,000 words into it, and I've titled it: Hallowed Ground (Graves Barren, Book 1)

5. Outline an epic romance that will break all the rules of the genre. 

Status: GOAL NOT MET

My thoughts: I'll be honest, I've completely lost steam on this book and have decided to shelf this idea for the time being. Maybe I'll revisit it in a few years when I finish some other things.

6. Outline a YA paranormal with angels and demons. 

Status: GOAL NOT MET

My thoughts: Like the project in #5, I've decided to shelf this idea as well for the time being.

7. Outline Broken Love, the third book in the Mending Hearts Series that I'm co-writing with Jody Holford.

Status: GOAL NOT MET

My thoughts: I think this is the hardest one to admit I didn't accomplish, and not because it was something I didn't do, but rather because Jody and I have decided not to write this book together. I assure you, it has nothing to do with our friendship or with our publisher, but rather with the fact that we're both in such different places now than we were two years ago when we started writing together, and unfortunately, other deadlines and commitments have made it so neither of us have time to write this book. It's very sad :( Maybe sometime in the future, we can write together again.

8. Outline Blood Blossom, the third book to Deadly Orchid.

Status: GOAL NOT MET

My thoughts; Due to my choice to rework this series (see #2 above), I haven't even touched this book.

9. Write Resistance, the sequel to Inferno.

Status: GOAL NOT MET

My thoughts: Okay, so my co-author, David Jemal, and I hit a little snag with this series. It was originally set to release in July 2015, but due to creative differences with the publisher, we had to step back and regroup. We've recently found a new publisher for it, and will hopefully see it in print in 2016. I am happy to say we did manage to write close to 25,000 words on this sequel. AND, we wrote a 28,000 prequel as well. So, this is a "win" in my book.

10. Write Jaded Love, the spin off to Dangerous Love.

Status: GOAL MET!

My thoughts: Woo hoo!!!! I'm happy to say this book is done and set to release in February 2016!

11. Write a prequel to The Georgia Corbins.

Status: GOAL MET!

My thoughts: When I originally set this goal, I estimated a word count of approximately 24,000 words. I didn't quite hit that goal, but it came in right around 20k, so I'm happy with that.

12. Blog more.

Status: GOAL MET!

My thoughts: Even though I didn't stick to any regular posting schedule, I did post a lot more quality content this year, and so I'm counting that as a win!

12.  Read and Review one book a month.

Status: GOAL KINDA MET

My thoughts: Although I didn't review many books, I did manage to read for pleasure a lot more. Some of my favorites this year:

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
The Uglies Series by Scott Westerfield
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

13. Attend RWA in NYC.

Status: GOAL NOT MET

My thoughts: I was so looking forward to attending this conference. Unfortunately, due to some big life changes (see below), I just wasn't able to make this happen.

14. Build a Successful Freelance Business.

Status: GOAL MET!

My thoughts: I'm not actively advertising my editorial services, but I do edit for people who need it. I've managed to build a decent sized client list simply by word of mouth, which is great! So, if you or someone you know needs editing, send me an email: karaleighmiller(at)gmail(dot)com


Out of 14 goals, I only achieved 6 and a half of them. To most, that probably seems like I failed more than I succeeded, but I don't see it that way. Failing to meet goals isn't always a bad thing because this failure taught me a few things about myself:

First, I can fail and not wallow in an endless pit of self-hatred. Sometimes, it's okay to fail. The world isn't going to end, and I can simply try again.

Secondly, I'm very clearly not a plotter. lol. I had good intentions to get all these books outlined so when I was ready to write them, I could breeze through them. This doesn't mean I'm going to totally give up the idea of plotting because when I can actually do it, it helps me tremendously.

Third, even though I failed to meet a lot of my goals, I accomplished a lot of other things that weren't on my goals list.

• I wrote a contemporary NA romance titled Tempting Tanner that is currently out on submission. This is the first in the planned Grayson Brothers Series.
• I attended two conferences this year: The Michigan Writers Workshop and The Florida Writers Association Conference
• I moved to a new state! I know to some this might not seem like a big deal. I mean, people move all the time, right? But it is a big deal for me because I have lived in the same small town in Upstate, NY my entire life. And now I don't. 
• I sold Deadly Orchid (a Christian romantic suspense) to Anaiah Press and it's slated for a March 2016 release.
• I did a (regretfully) short stint as a literary agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency. And even though my time there was brief, I learned SO much. 
• I made some wonderful new writer friends that I cherish.

Overall, it was a very productive and exciting year. I look forward to what 2016 will bring.

So, tell me, how did you do meeting your goals in 2015??

Dear Authors: Do Your Research!

Dear Authors:

Yes, I was a literary agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency for a very brief period of time. Note the "was" -- as in past tense. Due to personal reasons, I made the difficult decision to leave. (To learn more about why, please read this post.) When I made the announcement, I received an outpouring of support and encouraging messages. Heck,I'm still getting messages. I was humbled by the sheer amount of concern and well-wishes heaped upon me, and I cannot begin to tell you how much that has meant to me. So to everyone who reached out and to those who kept me and my family in your prayers, THANK YOU!

Just last week, the wonderful Chuck Sambuchino tweeted that I was a new agent looking for certain genres. (On a side note - I had the chance to meet Chuck earlier this year, and he's just as personable and friendly and knowledgeable in person as he is online. Seriously, if you have the chance to attend one of his workshops, do it!) That single tweet received dozens of retweets and favorites, and resulted in me gaining a lot of new followers. Chuck was simply doing what he does and trying to help. Unfortunately, in the midst of dealing with family issues, I never emailed Chuck to alert him to the fact I was no longer an agent. The blame for this is on me, and I fully own that. Let me be very clear: I do not blame Chuck in the least. He's a great guy and I fully support his efforts within the writing community.

However, since that tweet, I have gotten an influx of emails from authors seeking representation. At first, I answered all of them, explaining that I was no longer an agent and wishing them well. But the emails continue to come. I just got two more this morning. And you know what I realized? They are being sent to my Anaiah Press and / or my personal email address! And you know what this tells me?

Authors aren't doing their research! And that, dear authors, is on you. Yes, I should've made sure Chuck knew I was no longer an agent. Yes, I should've shared my announcement more frequently on social media. But it's your responsibility, as an author, to do your homework, to know who you're submitting to and what their role is withing the publishing industry.

I mean, that is the number one thing authors are told when they start querying -- DO YOUR RESEARCH! It's clear that none of these authors have, because if they did, they would've learned two very important things:

1. I am no longer an agent. I'm no longer listed on the Corvisiero Literary agency website. There is a post on my blog about it. I've tweeted about it. Posted on Facebook about it.

2. Anaiah Press is a publisher who is in the business of publishing Christian fiction. They are not a literary agency and they do not represent authors. They publish books.

I cannot stress this enough, authors, DO. YOUR. RESEARCH! Know who you're submitting to, know what they're looking for, and most importantly, know the difference between agent and publisher. Don't send a publisher an email asking them to represent you and your books. And conversely, don't send an agent an email and ask them to publish your book.

Anyone who knows me or has ever had any interactions with me will tell you that I am always more than willing to teach and help authors in anyway I can. And that hasn't changed. But please, I beg you, do your research. From this point forward, I won't continue to answer emails asking for representation; and honestly, I really shouldn't have to because if you're doing your research, you'll know I'm not a literary agent and that I don't represent authors or their careers.

All my best,

~Kara

MONDAY MUSINGS: Book Auctions and Fast Deals

Let me start with a massive disclaimer: I have never had a book go to "auction" with agents or publishers. But that's okay, because I'm not here to talk about what it's like behind the scenes. I'm here to talk about what it looks like on the outside, as someone peering in, gazing longingly from the sidelines.

Recently, I've seen a few Facebook posts, blogs, and tweets about books that have gone to auction, where agents and/or editors have fought to a bloody death to get their hands on said book. Or a situation where a book is snatched up within days of querying. And it's exciting, right? Of course it is. For those who are directly involved in it. But for everyone else? Not so much. In fact, these success stories are harmful, and in my opinion do more harm than good. Personally, I really dislike reading stories like this.

Now, before you go lighting your pitchforks and calling me "jealous" or "bitter" or whatever else you want to call me, allow me to explain...

I'm always one of the first people in line to shout cheers of congratulations when someone lands an agent or gets a book deal. I know how hard it is to get there, and so it absolutely deserves a celebration when an author achieves their dreams. I'm not denying anyone their successes. But here's the thing....

When an author -- whether brand new or seasoned -- reads these awesome stories about a book that was offered representation by 19 different agents, or was offered representation within hours of querying and then the book is snatched up by an editor within a few more days, it sends the wrong message. It makes authors think it's the norm. Why? Because these types of success stories are the ones that go viral. Which is sad, because these types of stories are the exception NOT the norm. And so authors sit back and think, "My book isn't going to auction or selling that fast. Something must be wrong! I suck. I give up!"

Well, I'm here to tell you, YOU'RE WRONG!!

It's absolutely normal for a book not to sell fast, to wrack up rejection after rejection after rejection. And you know what?

That's right. IT IS OKAY! You're not a lessor author or your book isn't bad just because it doesn't sell fast or get into an auction. So many authors wrote numerous books, wracked up dozens if not hundreds of rejections before finally landing an agent or getting a book deal. Unfortunately, those stories, the ones of numerous setbacks and rejections and perseverance... THOSE stories don't get shared often enough. And they should! I mean, why not? Why not celebrate all the times people told us "no" only to then come out on top where we want to be?

So, this post is dedicated to all of you! Share your stories in the comments. Don't be afraid to tell us how many rejections you got or how many years it took to get where you are now! Wear your success (and your "failures") like a badge of honor. Own it. Flaunt it. Be proud of it!

Making "The Call" -- An Agent's Perspective

When an author gets that ever elusive, super exciting "call" from an agent, they will often talk about it with their friends, family, fellow writers. They'll blog about it, Tweet it, share it on Facebook. And they should. It's a huge deal! But, ever wonder how an agent reacts to making that call? Well, get comfy because you're about to find out...

Two weeks ago, I made two phone calls to potential clients. Both of whom are now signed with me  :) WOO HOO! If y'all haven't taken the time to check out Kelly Comarda and Winter Austin yet, go do it now. Trust me, you won't regret it. Anyway, back to "the call."

Long before the scheduled call, I prepared. I had some chats with a few of the Senior Agents on how to conduct the call, what to expect, and things to keep in mind while making my final decision whether or not to officially offer representation. Then, I took notes on what I liked about their book, what I felt could be improved, questions I wanted to ask them, and I even had talking points -- just in case things started off slow and neither of us had anything interesting to say -- because I'm kind of a dork.

Truth be told, I was a nervous wreck! My stomach was in knots, I couldn't sit still, worst case scenarios were running through my mind. Like, what if I say something stupid? What if they don't like me? What if I don't like them? What if they ask a question and I don't know the answer? What if they simply don't answer my call? And to make my nerves even worse, I had a Senior Agent listening in on the calls and assisting when needed. I'm sure that made the authors nervous, too, because let's face it -- talking with one agent can be scary enough. But two? Talk about pressure! Obviously things went very well. I mean, I signed two new authors!!!

You're probably wondering what the point of this was... Well, basically, it was to let all you querying authors know that it's just as exciting and nerve wracking for agents as it is for you. So, when your time comes for that call, just remember: We often have the same concerns and worries, and we often prepare just as frantically as you do.

Or, maybe I'm just neurotic ;-) 

There's a BIG career change coming my way...

As many of you may know, for the past (almost) two years, I've been the Editorial Director at Anaiah Press. During my time there, I've met some truly amazingly talented authors, and I've made some close, lifelong friends. I owe so much of my knowledge and skills as an editor and industry professional to the entire staff at Anaiah Press. I wholeheartedly acknowledge that I wouldn't be where I am today without the experiences and support of this publisher. With that said, today I embark on an exciting and new direction in my career. 

I'm an agent apprentice at The Corvisiero Agency!!!! 

Eventually, I will move up to a Junior Agent, and hopefully, someday, a Senior Agent. I'm both thrilled and nervous about this new opportunity. 

Please note: I am NOT leaving Anaiah Press. I will continue on as the Editorial Director for the foreseeable future. However, as a result of my increased workload and to avoid any and all conflicts of interest, I will no longer be taking submissions at Anaiah Press. Furthermore, any author that I offer representation to as an agent of The Corvisiero Agency will not be considered for publication at Anaiah Press. There are absolutely no exceptions to this, so please don't ask.