By Jim O’Connor, USGS photographer (http://or.water.usgs.gov/proj/Sprague/) [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsI had the best time speaking at the High Serenity Ranch Writer’s Retreat in Sprague River, OR on Saturday, Oct. 29. Sponsored by Klamath Basin Writers, this event brought writers of all interests together in a lovely setting to write, share, and get inspired.
I ate beautiful food, talked with wonderful people about writing and creativity and life, wrote short pieces in response to fun prompts, and even put together a plan for my writing goals. And I got to share my experience on this writing road – from dealing with rejections, figuring out next steps, and finding the the very best friends and colleagues to share the journey with.
I’m so happy they asked me to present and gave me the chance to meet so many wonderful writers. Thanks to everyone who attended – and extra love to Laura, Perri, and Jo for putting the retreat together and letting me tag along.
By Jelly Dude (Emotion motion) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsThere are a lot of firsts when you are a debut author. First call from an agent. First chat with an editor. First time your name and picture appear in Publisher’s Weekly. First time you see a cover sketch for you book. First time you see your name on Goodreads and Amazon and Powells. And all of it is heart-racing, jaw-dropping amazing. And terrifying. And unreal.
Still, you’re expected to be a professional. To hold up your end of the deal. Your part of the conversation or presentation or panel discussion. To simply do the work. So that’s what you do, and you do it all perfectly normally and appropriately. Or at least you seem to. Because inside – another part of you – a much more real part of you – is jumping up and down, screeching and poking you in the ribs. “Can you believe this?!” this part is screaming. “Are you paying attention?!” “Is this really freaking happening?!”
I had one such experience at a conference I was at recently. A part of me was chatting and talking and nodding along – making perfect sense, while the rest of me was floating above the room trying to take a mental picture of what was happening so I could treasure it forever. Which is why I’ve decided to start recording these events here on my blog, in a little series I’m going to call Surreal Moments in a Debut Author’s Life. That way all those little “Oh my God this is really happening” moments can have a place to express themselves and their excitement as inappropriately and unprofessionally as they want.
Because, let’s face it, I’ve never been terribly cool – and I really don’t think that’s suddenly going to change now.
My edit letter arrived today! I’m super excited, a little scared, and about to burst with the desire to dig in and make this the best book I can.
I printed the whole thing out (sorry trees – I’m planting two of you guys in the spring, I promise), highlighted, sticky-noted, and am now ready to cut, trim, clarify, and rethink. The best thing is that my editor, Kristin, is totally in sync with my vision. Her questions are great, her suggestions are spot on, and I am so excited to tear into this book again.
(The second best thing is that after reading the whole novel again, I still like it – phew).
If you need me, I’ll be at my desk. Send chocolates and coffee, good thoughts, and maybe a glass of wine or two. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.
Julie Leung has written an enchanting novel. Filled with a darling hero, truly evil villains, page-turning action, and beautiful imagery, A TAIL OF CAMELOT is a story that readers of all ages will turn to again and again.
Calib is the perfect hero – big-hearted and brave – and in way over his head. He’s easy to root for. He’s a good mouse trying to do the right thing only to find himself falling into one bad situation after another. The writing is so fresh and gorgeously detailed that you feel like you’re right there with him – following in his pawsteps as he struggles to save his kingdom and live up to the legacy of his family name.
I simply adored every page of this book. I was only sorry it wasn’t around when I was a kid. It’s a must for any classroom or home library. Middle grade readers are going to devour it, and teachers and parents are going to love to read it aloud with their kids.
I love books for middle-graders. I love reading them, talking about them, and sharing them with kids, teachers, and parents. The best part about reading books for middle-graders is remembering what it was like to be a kid – to be nine-years-old and just figuring out school and friends and family – at the same time you’re beginning to examine exactly where you belong in the great big world.
Some books just remind you of that time, while others transport you back there and make you relive all of it: the laughter, the pain, the excitement, and the confusion. Fellow 2017 debut author Susan Tan’s debut MG novel CILLA LEE-JENKINS: FUTURE AUTHOR EXTRAORDINAIRE does all of this and more.
I read this book in one sitting and loved it so much, I shared my love for it all over social media – that is after I managed to wipe away the tears.
Cilla Lee-Jenkins is the best friend you wish you had. Her struggles are real. Her triumphs are joyous. And her big heart and rich imagination will captivate even the most jaded reader. Susan Tan’s debut will have you laughing out loud one minute and choking back tears the next. This book is a must read for anyone who is or once was a child. Be warned: Cilla and her family will steal your heart.
CILLA LEE-JENKINS: FUTURE AUTHOR EXTRAODINAIRE is a must for every classroom and library – public and personal. And, lucky for us, we can pre-order it now and have it in our mailboxes by the end of March.
For readers:
The funny and big-hearted Cilla.
A great voice kids will totally relate to.
Real life worries and triumphs – new baby, fights with friends, big dreams.
For teachers
A great example of expressing yourself through writing /memoir.
Discussion about family – and the joys and challenges of growing up in two cultures.
Discussion about friendship – and what you do when you make a mistake.
Discussion about change – and how to find your place when everything seems to be falling apart.
Another milestone moment in this writer’s journey has happened.
I signed my book contract. A real contract, from an actual publisher, with dates and numbers and expectations all lined out – and my signature right there in blue ink.
Sometimes life just works out – and when it does it really is pretty awesome.
And more than a little humbling.
My car has a compass in it. One of those digital displays that tells you which direction you’re going. It’s handy when you’re not sure you’re on the right road and you have zero sense of direction (which is kinda the story of my life) and you start to question every twist and turn of the journey you’re on. It’s reassuring to know that at least you’re pointed in the right direction. That if you keep easing forward, you’ll end up there eventually.
The problem is that every now and then it gets confused. One minute it’s working just fine, and the next it’s not sure whether your going forward or backward, North or South.
The manual tells you that when this happens – when the display shifts from showing a direction to showing a great big digital C – it’s time to recalibrate. It tells you to go someplace safe and drive in a wide circle. It also tells you to do this more than once if needed. Some confusions take a little longer to correct. A little bigger arc to adjust.
But if you follow the instructions, soon enough you’re compass is restored. North, South, East, and West are clearly marked once again, and all is right in the world.
For the last several weeks I’ve been driving along with my internal compass completely out of whack. And I’ve done what everyone who hates to read the manual does: I’ve just kept going, pedal to the metal, certain that if I just keep driving, I’ll figure out where I am eventually.
So far eventually has been the better part of a month. And I’m just about out of gas.
Which means it’s time to find a safe place and drive slowly. One wide circle. Maybe another. I’m kicking myself that it’s taken me so long to remember this, but here I am – looking for a safe place to recalibrate myself, my life, and my writing.
For me this means spending a little more time journaling each day. A little more time sitting in the sun watching the birds and the deer play in the yard. A little more time breathing. And it means remembering to pause as I make my way around the circle. Adding in space for a few stops so that I can take in the view – to see my work and my life from a little bit different angle.
I’m not sure how many circles it’s going to take to get my internal compass working again – but I know from experience that if I take it slow the cardinal points will be restored and I’ll be able to start journeying again – only this time I’ll remember to plan to stop at a few tourist spots along the way – just for fun.
![Sprague River | High Serenity Ranch Writer's Retreat | www.patriciabaileyauthor.com](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Sprague_River_%28Oregon%29.jpg"/></a> "By Jim O'Connor, USGS photographer (http://or.water.usgs.gov/proj/Sprague/) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons")
Today is the launch day of 
I love books for middle-graders. I love reading them, talking about them, and sharing them with kids, teachers, and parents. The best part about reading books for middle-graders is remembering what it was like to be a kid – to be nine-years-old and just figuring out school and friends and family – at the same time you’re beginning to examine exactly where you belong in the great big world.
