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Sunday, March 30, 2014

How Things Are

Good day, various life forms!

So first off, I did get a reply from Leticia! She's doing well, and her agency is doing awesomely too. I got some news about the manuscripts I sent to her; apparently the publishers are currently looking for contemporary, slice of life fiction instead of fantasy. She says she can hang on to the scripts until the market turns around, or I can continue working with SHP and get the manuscripts published through them. I haven't decided which one to go through with just yet; I'll need to confer with some people about which would be the best course of action.

Still setting up my Amazon author account. It's mostly done, but I'm having some trouble posting the link to this blog. I might need to take up Rich the editor on his offer with how to do that part.

In other news, not much is happening. The real work for this term is going to start this week, so I don't know if I'll be able to write every week like I always do. It's not like last year when I'm taking a whole bunch of hard classes, but it is my senior portfolio that I need to graduate. Who knows? Either way, if it turns out I don't have time to regularly post, this is a hiatus notice that will last until sometime in June. If I do have time, I'll see you all next week!

Weekly (Dis)Likes:

Like 1: My spring break was good. I had a wonderful second interview, saw a couple of Oscar winners, and just generally relaxed while hanging out with the folks. It was good while it lasted. :)

Like 2: I found my missing game. Somehow it had gotten wedged into my wallet, and I found it when I opened it. No need for a replacement game!

Like 3: My two other classes. One of them is analyzing how scripts become plays, the second being a gender/woman's study class. They've been very interesting so far, and hopefully they'll stay that way.

Dislike 1: That damn portfolio. If I was nervous about an essay before this, I can only imagine how much more nervous this is going to make me. But if I edited and wrote my own book, then I can do this.

And quote!

"When all else is lost, the future still remains." -Christian Nestell Bovee

See you again,
Colleen

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Story's Out

Hello, my lovely people.

So, funny thing about that story the Communications office wrote. Day after last week's post, I go online and there it is. Whoops. Well, better late than never. For all those who want to read it, here's the link:

http://www.knox.edu/news-and-events/news-archive/knox-college-senior-publishes-first-novel.html

I've already gotten some emails congratulating me about it. Thank you to those who did so. It's really good, so I highly recommend that you read it!

In other news, I've FINALLY remembered to write to Leticia, asking how things have been and if she's had any lucking pushing my manuscripts for sale. Haven't gotten a reply back yet, and if I don't get one by Friday I'm going to give her a call. My current manuscript is still going smoothly, and I'm on the hunt for an after college job.

Weekly (Dis)Likes:

Like 1: I had a second interview at the publishing company I want to work for. It went incredibly well. Mr. Stewart said I would be a good hire for the company, and asked that I email my resume to help make the process easier. If there's an open job by the time I graduate, there's a good chance I could get called in for another interview.

Like 2: Spring Break! Ah, relaxing.

Like 3: Oscar movies. I've been getting my fill of them, seeing '12 Years A Slave' and 'Dallas Buyers Club'. But are bloody awesome and I recommend that y'all see them.

Dislike 1: I've misplaced/lost one of my games for my 3DS. I've looked everywhere I can think of, and I CAN'T FIND IT. Thankfully, it's cheap enough to replace, but it's still frustrating that I have to in the first place.

And quote!
 
"A hero has the power to move the world. A true hero has the power to destroy the world but chooses not to despite what the world thinks of him." -Joseph Patrick Lyons

Bye,
Colleen

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Story Preview

Good day, assorted readers and paraphernalia!

Got some more exciting news to share this week. Peter for the Communications office emailed me a basic rough draft of the article about SA a few days ago. I'm not posting the whole thing (I'll leave that with the tried and true news story), but here are a few snippets for now:

"Her first book, Swamp Angel, a novel focused at the "young adult"
market, was already written when she came to Knox in 2009. She had
started it in 2008, after being inspired by a song title, "Angel in
the Swamp," by the band Story of the Year."

"While the novel has no relation to the lyrics of the song, the title
"had me thinking about what an actual 'swamp angel' would look like, "
Boyd explains "Everything else kind of went from there." Praised by
Publishers Weekly as "a lush, atmospheric story," the novel is about
an teenage boy who befriends a monster living in the swamp in his back
yard."


Thank you, Peter!

And speaking of news stories, Lena emailed me about the article for the Knox newspaper, telling me that it hasn't been abandoned; it's just taking some time to get it all cleaned up for publishing and it'll come Spring Term. Thanks for the news, Lena!

Still haven't heard anything from Leticia, but finals are over now, so I'll see to it about making that Amazon author profile. Might need to ask Rich the editor about how to do that. Also sent out some job applications; hopefully I can find something.

Weekly (Dis)Likes:

Like 1: Finals are over! And I believe I did well. Spring Break, here I come!

Like 2: Lazy days were I can just sit back, read, write, and play. This is the life. :)

Dislike 1: My bottom retainer for my teeth is giving me trouble (again) with poking my tongue. I think I need an appointment with my orthodonist.

Dislike 2: After some sunny days where I could actually wear shorts, we got a freak snowstorm, AND NOW THERE'S SNOW ALL OVER THE GROUND AGAIN. Not happy!

And quote! It's another favorite:

"When we love, it isn't because the person's perfect. It's because we learn to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Unknown

Chow ciao,

Colleen

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Picture Time

Aloha, everybody! (We could use some Hawaiian weather around here.)

First off, I'd like to apologize for my recent boring titles like 'Not Much' and 'Ho Hum'. I wasn't aware that I could've been deterring possible readers, because apparently stuff that seems boring to me isn't boring to everyone else. I promise better picture titles from now on!

As it is, something exciting did happen this week. The Communications office here at Knox is also doing a story about me and SA, and I met up with their photographer to take some pictures for the story. Peter (that's the guy's name) was very nice, and I had a good time posing in the library. He sent me a copy of his favorite shot:


If you're wondering about Where the Wild Things Are, he had me pose not only with a copy of SA but also with the first book I remember reading or being read to me. So I chose this. I remember that though Mom was usually the one who read to me and my siblings growing up, Dad would always be the one to read Where the Wild Things Are to us because for some reason he read it better than Mom did. Ah, childhood memories.

Anyway, I don't have a date for when this story comes out (or the newspaper article, for that matter), but I'll tell y'all when it does and post a link.

In book news, Leticia still hasn't replied to my Twitter post. I need to try contacting her again. As for Spencer Hill, Rich and I have been discussing book sales, and he suggested I go on Amazon and make an author profile, which I'll do as soon as I have the time. Stupid finals. :P

Weekly (Dis)Likes:

Like 1: The photoshoot for the story.

Like 2: It's starting to warm up. Hello sun!

Like 3: My roommate has returned. Turns out she was staying over at a friend's place. Everything's okay now; it's good to have her back.

Dislike 1: Finals. I have two essays and a test. The test I can handle. While I'm finished with the rough drafts and only have the fine tuning to do, I'm still not looking forward to it. :P

And quote! I really like this one:

"The loneliest people are the kindest. The saddest people smile the brightest. The most damaged people are the wisest. All because they do not wish to see anyone else suffer the way they do." -Anonymous

Bye-bye,
Colleen

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Ho Hum

Hello, my lovely readers.

So I have some good news, bad news, and what's-going-on news. The good news is the guy from my local Barnes and Noble back home contacted after I sent him an email asking what was going on with the planning. He said - and here's the bad news - that there's been such an overflow of people wanting to do stuff and B&N, there's not going to be any time to do a reading until June. Which sucks, to be honest. But the good news is that he said I could stop by during Spring Break and sign some books that he can put into a special display for the store! I'm all for that, so we're trying to arrange a day and time for that to happen.

The what's-going-on news is a two-parter. One, the article for the Knox newspaper STILL hasn't come out. I don't know how much editing an article takes before it can be printed, but I'm starting to wonder if I should shoot Lena an email asking about it. Or would that be rude?

The second part is that I FINALLY sent my agent an email asking how my manuscripts are going along (I've sent her two more months ago, haven't heard a lot since). Hasn't replied yet, but hopefully she will soon.

Other than that, nothing much happening other than s-l-o-w-l-y working on my sci-fi book. But as long as I have my plotline to follow, I'm good.

Weekly (Dis)Likes:

Like 1: Campus Poker Night was last night. Played some good blackjack, and I was one of the few lucky winners. I'm now the owner of some fancy Skullcandy headphones.

Like 2: Rune Factory 4. It's a fantasy RPG I got with some of my Christmas money, and it's awesome and totally addictive. I love playing it.

Dislike 1: My roommate's disappearance. Lara hasn't come back to our room for about a week. No one's stopped by to report anything bad, so I know she's okay, but it's still disconcerting. What's going on?

Dislike 2: My second history midterm. It's all done except for a final lookover, but as always I'm nervous about it. It doesn't help that it's half a page longer than the six pages it's supposed to be; I tried shortening it, but there's too much info that needs to stay in. Hopefully the writing assistant here can help fix it up so I can get a B on this like the last one (and I think I will).

And quote!

"There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way." -Christopher Morley

Bye,
Colleen