Friday, August 31, 2007

Making a Literary Life Friday: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

That's right. Kids go back to school. Agents and editors return to New York. And then there's the release of the fall smorgasbord of great books! What great books you ask? Look over at our Hot Links to click on just some of them. Without first looking, guess which one is at the top of our list?

Lisa
Lisa is spending the last few days of the summer with family. Enjoy, Lisa and family!

Amy
I visited several bookstores yesterday (some people see therapists, I go to bookstores; it works) and saw so many titles by people I know! It's the most strange experience to pick up book after book, and know the story behind it, the struggle and passion. It was the third store that choked me up, though. There on the front display and on a nearby ladder was Negotiation Generation: Take Back Your Parental Authority Without Punishment by our very own Lynne Reeves Griffin. Brava, Lynne, brava!

In other humongoidal news, back when we started this blog, one of the first links we added was to Michelle Zink. She was finishing up a book, querying agents, found one who was interested if she made changes. Well, I guess those revisions were pretty fantastic because Publishers Marketplace had this to say about Michelle: "Nancy Conescu at Little, Brown for Young Readers has preempted world rights to The Prophecy of the Sisters, a YA gothic thriller trilogy by debut author Michelle Zink; Steven Malk at Writers House made the six-figure deal. The first book in the trilogy, which blends supernatural elements with romance, is scheduled for spring 2009, with books two and three to follow in spring 2010 and 2011." And to you, we send our best, Michelle!

Hannah
Hooray for Lynne! With apologies to the two local bookstores I frequent, I did order early from Amazon hoping all interest in a forthcoming title would attract attention, mean something. Have not gotten my package yet, and knowing it is out there is making me crazy. I want my Negotiation Generation! Meanwhile, I've managed time again this week on my revisions (and lie in bed thinking of revisions to the revisions or the next revisions, etc.!), and am so, so, so ready for Tuesday.

Lynne
Ready for Tuesday means the first day of college for my daughter, the beginning of sophomore year for my son, and it's my publication date! It's a big day all around, for my family. This week, I sent copies of my book to treasured friends and supportive colleagues. And of course I popped over to the bookstore that has already created a book display. The reality of my book sitting on those shelves is indescribable. I'm ready!

7 comments:

kristen spina said...

Wow, Lynne, that must be such a thrill, to see the first display, to know that all your hard work came to this wonderful end.

I am so excited for you and can't wait to get my own copy!

Lynne Griffin and Amy MacKinnon said...

Hi Kristen,

Yes, it's an almost surreal experience. I wrote it, edited it and have been marketing it for six months--and there it sits waiting for readers. Let me know what you think after reading it. And thanks for dropping by!

Lynne

Lisa said...

Thanks for sharing the exciting news about Michelle Zink! That makes my Friday -- and, congratulations to you Lynne. I'll be out this weekend to see Negotiation Generation at my local Tattered Cover bookstore -- and if I don't see it in a prominent enough place, I'll ask for it!

Lynne Griffin and Amy MacKinnon said...

Lisa,

Isn't Michelle's news inspiring? Thanks for your willingness to check out NG, let me know what you think. And thanks in advance for bringing it to the booksellers attention. Word of mouth is critical!

Lynne

Lynne Griffin and Amy MacKinnon said...

Kristen, I expect you'll find NG as useful as I do. Let us know.

Lisa, isn't it fantastic about Michelle. Her road to publication is a fascinating one. I just received my mail and in it was a copy of Negotiation Generation. Thrilling! When my daughter's friend was being dropped off, I showed it to her Mom and she plans to use her Borders gift certificate to buy it. It will be a word-of-mouth success story, no doubt.

Amy

Judy Merrill Larsen said...

I can't wait to pick mine up. Enjoy the ride, Lynne!

Lynne Reeves Griffin said...

Hi Judy,

Though the official pub date is Tuesday, I've already been to three bookstores, and there they were! You know the feeling, it's wonderful.

Thanks for all your encouragement, Lynne