Tuesday, March 17, 2009

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (updated)

I did it. Yay!! (Insert happy dance here) I made it to the quarterfinalists! I screamed and jumped and choked on my own spit. And then I did it again. I'm so excited that in the shower this morning I was so distracted that I almost washed my face with shampoo and shampooed my hair with conditioner. And then my hands were shaking so bad I almost couldn't get my contacts in.

I did it!! I have editorial reviews and everything! Oh, I'm getting ahead of myself.

I entered a manuscript to a contest on amazon.com. There were 10,000 submissions. From those ten thousand they have narrowed it down to 500 quarterfinalists. That's me. An excerpt of my book has been read and reviewed. And now it is posted on www.amazon.com/abna under "Fantasy." But before you go charging off to find it, let me give you a direct link. :) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UG3A1E My book is entitled The Gifted. In case you're wondering.

Can you believe that? I have my own Amazon page!!!

From my limited understanding of how the rest of this game is played, amazon readers are now able to download and review the excerpts. I thought you'd be able to vote on them, but I guess that's not until later. However, Publisher's Weekly is reviewing the excerpts and will pick a top 100. I guess reader reviews help the "judges" decide which books to move forward, so I could still use your help. Even if you don't know me and still read my blog, I could use your help.

(Update: Apparently you CAN vote on it. You can give me five stars. Sorry, that's the only option. :D)

Download the excerpt and read it, if only because I know you'll enjoy it. I did. I mean, I do. (You will have to go through the process like you are going to buy it, but it's free.) Anyway, then write me a review with the understanding that the judges will be reading that review. My book is not perfect, I know that. But I still think it's pretty darn good. Spread the word too. The more the merrier. Right?

If I don't make it to the semi-finalists, I'll be fine. I'll be disappointed, but I'll be ok because I have a polished manuscript and editorial reviews to send to publishers.

This has been a huge honor so far. I'm wondering if most of this post makes sense, but seeing has how I can't remember if I brushed my teeth or not and at the moment I'd run out the door barefoot (in 30 degree weather), I guess I can't rely on my coherency at the moment. Pin It

11 comments:

Maura said...

I'm so excited for you!!!! WAhooooooooooo. I did a happy dance when I got your message this morning, which earned me a 'ya ok mom' look from Juliet.

I told all my friends at work too. How dang exciting. :)


PS. I think your book was great!

G said...

hahahhah I told you first hahahahhah
love and hugs
G
ps I am doing a happy dance for you too
love you

Dena said...

YAY! Deborah I am so excited for you! You are so awesome I could just jump through this computer and hug you to pieces. I can't wait to read the excerpt, I am headed over there now!

Hanna said...

I love it! It was all I could do to not email you and demand to read the rest of it! :) I can't wait to see what kind of fame comes from this and we can all say, "I knew her when..."

Love you!

David and Kate said...

congrats! that is so exciting for you! I'm excited to go read it. Hopefully this happy news will balance out what ever it was that was bothering you before. Keep up the work!

jnkeller said...

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited for you! This is HUGE! I'm forwarding on your email to several of my friends and family so they can give you good reviews too. I read the exerpt and now I SOOOOO want to read the whole book, but will wait (fairly patiently...well, as patiently as I can) until it's in print...unless of course you'd like me to look at it...haha.

Natalie said...

WOW! That is awesome. I am scared that if I read the excerpt I will want the ENTIRE book:)

Also...Brandon and I want to take the kids to Disneyland next week but we aren't sure we can afford it! Any tips oh wise and seasoned Disney traveler???

Logan Family est 2003 said...

CONGRAT'S!! I am SOO EXCITED FOR YOU, and that's an understatement! So no one else wants to ask so I will... Can I read the rest of it?!?! You have my email! :) j/k. I'll be the first one to buy it from the book store. It's that good. :) I hope you win! I really REALLY do! I lOVED it, it definantly leaves you wanting more! :)

jennschmerer said...

Congratulations Deborah! I linked through to your blog from Kadie's website and just finished reading the excerpt. When's the whole thing available? I want it! It's awesome! Good luck with the rest of the contest.

Natalie said...

It was great. I was naughty at work and had to read the entire excerpt. Great job!

Melanie said...

I am SOOO happy for you! I read your blog on Mitch's phone the other day but I couldn't get your story so I made him print it off at work so I could read it. Loved it! I've always wanted to know somebody famous!!!