First Contact

No, I'm not talking about contacting any alien race (though that would be so cool!). I'm talking about how this week, a couple of days ago, I got my first email from Spencer Hill Press!

The woman who wrote to me is named Katie Kaynak, and she's an editor. Though she's not my editor: she wrote that Rich Storrs and Marie Romero are going to be my editors! Along with that little tidbit, I also received my first assignment from them. Well, more like five, actually. Check it:

1. An author bio.

2. An author photo. 

3. A draft of the jacket copy.

4. Your ideas for the cover design.

5. Release data, which the editors will put together

So now we have an idea of a release date, which the email says should be in October 2013. What a lovely birthday present that would be (since my birthday is October 23rd)!

I've already drawn up my idea for the book cover. Still haven't managed to get ahold of a camera to take a picture of and post, but I promise I'll get it up eventually. Along with that, I've written up the author bio and jacket copy: 

Jacket copy draft: 
Something's out there.
Rylan Forester isn't one to believe in the fantastical. Not when there are so many real frustrations in his life. Like the land-snatching mayor trying to by the swampland on his family's property. Like his distant father who won't stop avoiding him. Like his best friend's sister crushing on him. Like his ex-friend turned bully. And like the crazy dream that's been haunting him for the past month.
But then, maybe it's not so crazy. Not when he feels something watching him from the swamp. And especially not when someone-something-saves him from an accident that seems all too familiar. Something with bright green eyes and pointy teeth. Something that will pull Rylan into a world of mystery, magic, and beauty. Something that will cherish him dearly ... and make him face the ugly truths of his past and present.
Because no matter how muddy the swamp is, it can't always hide what's lurking under the surface.

Author bio:
Colleen Boyd was born in Burwyn, Illinois, and can't always remember that fact. When she's not attending Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois to earn an English degree for Creative Writing, she lives in Overland Park, Kansas with her mother, father, her two sisters, and Mollie the schnoodle. This is her first (but definitely not her last) book. You can visit her blog at http://colleeneboyd.blogspot.com/, or go to her Facebook page.

Comments are welcomed and liked.

As for my picture, Mom has a friend, Seth, who can take care of it, and she's emailed him to ask if he wants the job. Am now waiting for reply.

And that does it. I'm excited! Are you?

Colleen

The Birth of A Book

Believe me when I say that inspiration can be found ANYWHERE, as long as you're looking. I'm telling you this because the idea for The Swamp Angel came from, of all things, a song title.

I remember it. It was October 16th, 2008, a week before my 17th birthday. I was in my room, listening to a CD I'd bought at the mall the same day: The Black Swan by the band Story of the Year (which I recommend to everyone; they're very good). I fell in love with their song "Angel in the Swamp". And I got to thinking, "What if there was an actual creature like a swamp angel?". And after thinking it over, I pulled out my school laptop and started typing.

Nine months later, my first 'book baby' was born. And I've been trying to get it published ever since. :)

Later,
Colleen

Cover News and Basic Plotline

Hello readers!

First I've decided that I'm going to try and update at least once a week with news and stuff. That's about as much as I can spare right now, but when summer comes there'll be more!

Second, I've finished my design for TSA's cover. Turned out great, but since I drew it by hand, and I don't have a scanner or a digital camera on me right now, it might take a while to get it upload. I promise it's totally worth it, though.

Finally, I figure since some people are wondering what this book is about, I'd give you a tidbit of a summary:

            Rylan Forester likes to think himself as a normal boy. He has good friends, a doting grandmother, makes good grades in school, and has a crush on a great girl. Sure, he could do without the land-snatching mayor trying to buy the swampland on his family’s property. Yeah, he wishes his distant father wouldn’t avoid him. And certainly the odd dreams haunting him for the past month could go away. But all in all, life is good.

            At least until that one day Rylan almost died.

            Saved by the most unlikely of saviors, Rylan steps headfirst into a world of mystery and magic, all circling around the very same heroine, a swamp angel; a sentient creature with a heart as big as the bayou. What starts as a nervous friendship blooms into something more as Rylan’s life takes a turn for the complicated. But can the lessons he learns from her – true courage, devotion, kindness, and sacrifice – be enough when both the past and present rear their ugly heads?

            And how long can he keep this all a secret?

Hope you like how it sounds! More news later!

Colleen

1st Post Info

Okay. Since I made this blog, I might as well put it to use.

The name is Colleen Boyd, and if you didn't read my profile, I'm a second year college student and first time author. The book in question?

THE SWAMP ANGEL.

It's a young adult fantasy book about a boy who befriends a monster known as a swamp angel who lives in the bayou in his backyard. It's currently being looked over by multiple publishers thanks to my awesome agent Leticia Gomez. This blog is to record my progress and share it with everyone else!

That's all I really got now. I don't know if I'll be able to update quickly (being a busy college student), but I'll try as soon as I can.

(And if anyone reading this knows how to work Blogger.com, mind giving a noob some hints?)