SEVENTEEN AND QUERYING

STATUS:  Home from Camp Powhattan.

What’s the anime freak listening to now? MOONDANCE by NIGHTWISH.

When I slipped into my first writer’s conference last week…
                                                                                        people stared.

“So,” they asked, “where do you go to school?” Wrinkles formed around their questions.

“Fort Mill,” I smiled. “South Carolina.”

“Fort Mill? I haven’t heard of a school there . . . ?”

“Well, there’s a high school.”

Sigh.

Yes, I’m seventeen. I’m seventeen and the first chapter of the novel I’ve written won two awards at my first conference last week. I pretty much completed the book two years ago. I’ve done nothing but minor edits and research since.

My dream has always been to get published before I’m 20. My book is good–I have the talent. The other requirement is perseverence. I paid my own money to spend an extra week of school with classmates who tended to have 40 or more years on me. I’m not giving up any time soon.

I’m hoping to send my first query letter to one of my favorite agents this week. Wish me luck!