I gave my students an usual writing assignment.  Practice a random act of kindness and write about it.  Here’s what they came up with:

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As I mentioned before, Jill Corcoran is my amazingly terrific agent, and I’m lucky to be a member of the Corkers.  There is so much talent, humor and writing experience among her clients that I thought it would be fun to interview them.  This week, we get to hear from writer Angela Ackerman who has written a terrific book that will ignite imaginations and create quite a stir in the MG world. To read more about Angela, click here http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/

Welcome Angela!  Briefly tell us a bit about your writing background.

 When I was four, I wrote my first story: 

I have a cat.

It lives in a dish.

I wish I lived in a dish! 

Since then some education, various writer’s groups and fantastic critique partners have helped me to become a stronger writer. Trust me, if I rewrote that story now, well, that dish would be so freaking cool you’d want to live in it too.

 (Oh and my work has been published in Spider Magazine, Calgary area newsletters and online with Wee Ones Magazine.)

 How did you know your manuscript was ready for you to begin pursuing an agent? (more…)

I’ve just learned a new word from a new Australian friend.  Chuffed means being proud of oneself.  And as I sat around trying to use this word in a sentence, my tongue kept getting stuck on the word.  Can you ever use “writer” and “proud” (or “chuffed”) in the same sentence?  Is a writer ever proud of her work ? I doubt it.  I’ll never forget the feeling when I hit send on the final draft of my manuscript.  It was a mixture of anticipation, fear and dread but pride didn’t even enter the flury of emotions spinning in my stomach. 

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I’m still waiting to hear good news from several editors, and since the holiday weekend is upon us, it looks like I’ll be waiting for a bit longer.  Oh well.  I find comfort and solace in the fact that I have the best agent.  Jill is such a cheerleader for her clients.  We call ourselves The Corkers and keep in touch frequently through email and Facebook.  She’s always telling us how brilliant we are and how great our writing is.  And since I’ve never met a secure writer, I can honestly tell you that her words are like a balm to my soul. (more…)

Okay, several editors could, at this very moment, be reading my manuscript.  I’m waiting for good news from just one editor.  That’s all I need. I keep reminding myself it just takes one yes.  But how can I distract myself from this waiting when my life long dream is about to come true?  This is nerve wracking, teeth nashing, nail biting stuff.  Ralph Waldo Emerson asked, “How much of human life is lost in waiting?” (more…)