The Universe Is Telling Me Something

My religious outlook is very similar to Lyssa's - I don't quite subscribe to organized religion and the church and all that, but I definitely believe that there's something out there. (Unlike Lyssa, however, I don't actively believe I have a bad soul)

Since my quarter life crisis, I've done a lot of "letting go." I work very hard to resist the urge to plan everything and just let things happen as they will. Sometimes it's a good thing, sometimes it's a bad thing, but everything always works out. I've been using the mantra - "I am exactly where I'm meant to be" to help quell my frequent anxiousness about moving home and jobs and all of that.

So when I get a string of good news related to the book, all I can do is just smile and repeat, "I am exactly where I'm meant to be."

The book has been out for a little over a month now, and already reviews are starting to come in - almost universally positive. Thank you to all of my beautiful friends and family for reading my book and reviewing it and telling your friends. You are all so incredibly special to me.

And then, I got this beautifully written review from Zach Tyo yesterday (check it out here). He's an indie author book reviewer person, and so all I did was ship him my book and say, "Hey buddy, how's abouts you write me an honest review?"

And did he. Here's an excerpt of my favorite part:

"There's a certain laid back nature that comes across in Evans' writing. While the story gets deeper and more thrilling, there is a certain easiness to her writing that keeps you in that moment without being overwhelmed. There are a few places where the calm writing affects some of the places where you would expect some more emotion from either Lyssa or Razia, but both characters lean towards anger and Evans has no trouble portraying the fiery anger that emanates from this character."

I mean, yeah, okay my plot is awesome and all that, but this is the first review to actually say, "She writes good."

*dies*

Then, this morning, I got notified that my author interview was finally published over at Indie Author Land. I mean, I wrote/said all of it, but, you know. It's exciting none the less!

I've also gotten a couple of as-of-yet-can't-say irons in the fire. One thing related to not-Razia-publishing that I'm waiting to hear back on, and another thing related to being asked to help out with something. Sorry I can't be more specific, but just know that both things made me super happy. With the first, I submitted a short query to them about my not-Razia essay and they asked for the full. With another, they reached out to me out of the blue and asked if I'd be interested.

Queries, for those of you unfamiliar with the literary world, are short pitches that give someone an idea of what you're writing about. I've also been submitting queries to literary agents for Double Life. Lit agents will take care of boring things like getting my book in front of a big-name publisher and quite possibly helping me knock out that cross-country book tour I'm planning next year.

I currently have submitted 11 queries to various agents and publishers. So far, four of them have rejected me, but one quite sweet editor told me that although it wasn't her cuppa, she thought the book would definitely sell.

On the Twitters, there's a bunch of literary agents who tweet all the time. Sometimes they even go through their inbox and do a #tenqueries - they'll read a query and say why or why not they've requested a full from an author. I'm stalking watching the twitter feeds from the agents that I've submitted to in hopes that I'll see mine soon.

The other Twitter thing that I'm playing with this week is the #NewAgent contest. Basically, you submit your query + the first 250 words, it goes through a review process through five different reviewers, and then it's put in front of a set of new(ish) literary agents and they get to pick from the set.
 Do I think I'll win? Most likely not.

That's not saying it's not a good book - it's just that this is not a contest where Double Life is very strong. The concept for the book is top-notch (if I do say so myself), but the first 250 words? That only gets you halfway down the first page in the prologue. Lyssa's with her father in Leveman's, and it's intentionally vague and strange. Good or bad, that's the way the story is.

The exciting/nerve-wracking thing about this contest is that the "pyrotechnics" (slush readers) keep posting hints about what they're reading and their thoughts. Every time they post something about, "Query was great, first two fifty not so much," I'm like, "GAAAH THAT'S MINE!"

Then again, someone posted about a sci fi that they fell in love with, so you never know.

I'm absolutely preparing myself that I won't win, just like with every literary agent response email, I'm preparing that it's a rejection. I know that's the business, and I never expected to get picked up on the first try. Deep in my soul, though, I know that one of these crazy lit agents is going to get my vision and fall in love with my Lyssa the way a bunch of other readers have.


But it will happen when it is meant to happen. If it happens any earlier, I won't be prepared, I won't be ready for it. So I have to let go of expectations and worry and trust that everything is as it should be.

I am exactly where I am meant to be.