Writer's Digest Webinar

Last week I took part in a webinar, "Editors' Tips on Revising Your Manuscript and Query Letter," hosted by Writer's Digest and the freelancing website Reedsy. I joined Ricardo Fayet, founder of Reedsy, as well as former editors and publishers from Harper Collins, Simon and Schuster, and Random House, as we discussed everything from unique openings to story conflict to the the right and wrong ways to write a query letter. This was my first time participating in a webinar, and it was such a wonderful experience. I'm honored to have been chosen to participate. 

If you'd like to give it a listen, the recording has been made available on Writer's Digest. I hope our advise is helpful to you! 

SONGS OF MY SELFIE Is An IndieFAB 2016 Finalist!

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that Songs of My Selfie: An Anthology of Millennial Stories was chosen as an IndieFAB Finalist for Best Anthology of 2016! This is an incredible honor and I am so deeply grateful to see the hard work of these emerging writers being not only acknowledged but celebrated. Congratulations to all the writers anthologized in SOMS, and thank you so, so much to everyone who has supported us along the way! 

New Work on DIY MFA

Reading my poetry at the Three Rooms Press Prose! Poetry! Party!

I am pleased to announce that I have two new articles up on DIY MFA. If you're considering submitting your book to a publisher, check out The Eight Most Common Reasons I Send a Rejection, and if you've already signed a contract, here are some practical suggestions for How to Streamline Your Editing Experience. 

And, belatedly, I'm excited to share with you that DIY MFA named me one of five writers who made an impact on that site! Thank you to Gabriela Pereira, Bess Cozby, and the team at DIY MFA for this honor! 

WEIRD GIRL AND WHAT'S HIS NAME Named to 2017 Rainbow Book List!

I am so incredibly proud to announce that Meagan Brothers's Weird Girl and What's His Name (Three Rooms Press, 2015), has been named to the 2017 Rainbow Book List! 

From their website: 

The Rainbow Book List Committee proudly announces the 2017 Rainbow Book List.  The Rainbow Book List is a bibliography of books with significant gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning content, which are aimed at youth, birth through age 18.  The list is intended to aid youth in selecting high-quality books that were published between July 2015 and December 2016.  The list is also intended to aid as a collection development or readers’ advisory took for librarians serving children and young adults.

The committee members evaluated nearly 270 books from small, independent, and large publishers, and selected 47 books from 24 publishers for the 2017 Rainbow Book List.

This is such an important list, now more than ever, and I am so proud that this book I care about so deeply has been chosen for such an honor. If you haven't read Weird Girl and What's His Name yet, I highly recommend it. This is a necessary book.

Exile on Bridge Street Shortlisted for the Langum Prize!

I'm thrilled to announce that Eamon Loingsigh's fantastic novel Exile on Bridge Street has been shortlisted for the Langum Prize in American Historical Fiction! It is one of eight books to receive this distinction, with the winner due to be announced in a month. Congratulations, Eamon, and best of luck!