What's Up Wednesday: REALLY AWESOME NEWS edition

I'm catching the What's Up Wednesday hot air balloon from the blogs of Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk. Go to Jaime's blog to add your link and make the rounds to get to know other bloggers!

Here's how it works:

WHAT'S UP WEDNESDAY

It's similar in some respects to the Currently... post, but it's been whittled down to only four headings to make it quicker and more manageable on a weekly basis. You're invited to join us if you're looking for something to blog about, a way to let your blog friends know what's been going on with you.

WHAT I'M READING

I'm in the middle of a reading blitz. We had MNYA Writers on Saturday, I re-read a fun, flirty manuscript by Becky Barrow, and I've been moving through my huge pile of books from the library. No doubt my favorite this week was THE CAGED GRAVES by Dianne Salerni, a rich, compelling historical YA novel set just after the Civil War. I absolutely LOVED it - the not-overhanded-historical feel of it, the mystery, the sweet romance.

I'm currently re-reading THE GREAT GATSBY for next Monday's Book Club and am about to start my sort-of annual re-read of my all-time favorite book, GONE WITH THE WIND.

WHAT I'M WRITING

My goals for Ready. Set. Write! have changed. We discussed the first 30 pages of BEAUTIFUL BIRD, SING ON at our MNYA meeting on Saturday and while I'm itching to work on it, I've shifted gears back to WAITING FOR THE SUN - and for very exciting reasons.

WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO

I've mentioned "other stuff" the last couple of weeks. One huge part of that was preparing to launch YA Buccaneers, which we introduced on Monday, July 1. And as exciting as that is, I've got even more exciting news.

I signed with an agent last week! I'm thrilled to officially announce that I have accepted an offer of representation from Becky Vinter of FinePrint Literary Management.

This has been an incredibly positive experience for me and a huge step toward achieving a lifelong dream. My writing journey to this point has been long and winding, with breaks and detours and babies along the way. Today, to borrow a phrase from WAITING FOR THE SUN, I'm on the right path. I know it.

With so much going on, I haven't had time to properly celebrate, but I did enjoy a super delish turtle brownie and I finally found a pint of my all-time favorite ice cream flavor, Ben & Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch, which I haven't had for years.

WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW

I'm inspired by my family, friends, writing teachers, critique partners, readers, and other writers along the way who have believed in me, encouraged me, told me that my work was shit, told me that my work was amazing, reminded me to never give up on my dreams. I'm inspired by the authors who have traveled this path before me and, of course, the readers. I've often said that if I can make a difference with my writing, no matter how small, I'll have succeeded. I'm one step closer to doing that.

My most sincere thanks to all of you who have supported and encouraged me along the way - and remember, don't give up. Someday soon I'll write the "how I got my agent" post and tell you exactly how long it's taken me to get to this point, but for now, enjoy this:

So, friends, what's up with you?