Big News For Our Writing Group!

One of my stellar writing group partners just landed an agent! After much interest from various agents, Jennie just signed with Holly Root of Waxman Literary. We're so excited for her! Jennie has two finished, polished YA manuscripts and we're just dying to see them on bookshelves. 

Because it's summer it's been impossible to get the whole group together, but Julie, Jennie, and I managed to meet up for celebratory cocktails. Here's Jennie with a big cocktail and a big smile over her big news: 

Congratulations, Jennie! We are so proud of you!

Prophecy of Days, Book Two title...

This just in! The title for the next book in the series will be:

Prophecy of Days

Book Two: The Serpent's Coil

I like it! Can't wait to see the cover art...

Berk, You've Outdone Yourself

What's better than a monkey that does origami? An man in an ape suit reading a book about a monkey that does origami!

Josh Berk, author of the scintillating and hilarious book The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin, has done a reading of Prophecy of Days for his Master Berk Theater series - dressed as an ape. With an ascot. Verisimilitude is achieved through Berk's relentless dedication to his craft; he does not even break character to remove the ape hands though it greatly impedes his use of the mouse.

Behold! Prophecy of Days, Plushy version.

Why I Love the Midwest

This review from The Midwest Book Review made me cry at work.

"Prophecy of Days, Book I : The Daykeeper's Grimoire" is a young adult fantasy release that promises to be eagerly read by its targeted audience. The heroine is young Caity Mac Fireland finds herself ensconced in a Scottish Island castle, commissioned to uncover the coded mystery of suppressed revelations of the Mayan calendar and a prophecy that predicts that she, Caity, will play a crucial role in unfolding events of December 21, 2012 and the ultimate destiny of all humanity. Embellished with iridescent details such as secret codes and symbols, a pet monkey named Mr. Papers (academically appropriate), a feng shui master, and a gorgeous next -door boyfriend, "Prophecy of Days" can't miss gathering the totality of its audience's attention. The unraveling of its prophecy and mystery is bound to continue through the next volumes of the series and perhaps its timely conclusion will occur on or about the appointed date on the world calendar. A perfect global mystery with timely implications completely fills the bill for the slogan of Flux (publisher), "where young adult is a point of view, not a reading level."


 I love you Midwest Book Review!