First writing contract!

Last week, I was at the Colorado Christian Writer's Conference. It was located in Estes Park - right in the Rocky Mountains. This was the view from our room.

I called my husband one night and he told me that I received a contract from Highlights for Children!! This will be my first published piece. Whoooohooooo. I am very excited, to say the least. I don't know the actual publishing date yet.

Other good news that happened there: an agent told me to submit my young adult novel to him when it was finished; an author/speaker is going to get me in contact with a magazine editor for a young adult fiction article I wrote; and another author thinks the biography I wrote will go over well with kids. I had seven appointments with either authors, editors, or agents.

Each evening, 5 elk walked right past us as they grazed. I took their picture and then sat in my car to check my email. I looked up and one of the bull elks had walked right between my car and the next! By the time I got my camera, it was in front of my car.

I didn't get home until 12:30am this morning. I spent the day catching up on the 80+ emails I had, trying to figure out how to interface a new twitter account and my Facebook account, unsuccessfully trying to change my website - in between all that, I drove 2 hours round trip to get a new tractor seat for my husband. It's been a long day.

part of Psalm 23: "He [the Lord] restores my soul..."

Mentorship

Although we weren't able to do any planting this week because of rain, it seems like it was a really busy week. Which is why I haven't posted my great news yet.

Last weekend, I attended a SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators) conference in Iowa. I had applied for a mentorship for a non-fiction book I wrote.

(Drum roll, please.....)

And the winner was ME! Yea. I'm really excited about having the opportunity. For the next year, I will work with a published author. She will help me with the few pieces of research I haven't been able to find, help me with getting the manuscript in the best shape and then help me with my query letter or package to send to an editor or agent. (At least, I think that's what she'll help me with!)

I also found out a couple of weeks ago that a non-fiction magazine article I wrote for Highlights for Children goes to it's final submission approval meeting next week. (I may have previously blogged that, if so, SORRY!)

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.