Writing, pigs, and the new year
Here we are, on the cusp of a new year. 2018. Most years, by late December, I’m wondering where the year went.This time, I’m happy enough to leave behind the gut-churning I awoke to nearly every day of our president’s first year in office. Year Two probably won’t be any different, but I’m not ready to recognize that just yet. I have champagne to drink and new year’s resolutions to joke about. I’ll begin the real work of worrying about 2018 tomorrow. (Procrastination was always one of my fortes.)
The year had bright points, it wasn’t all doom and gloom! Among my writing circle, 2017 was a banner year. Jodi Kendall’s first middle-grade novel,The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City (HarperCollins), was published this fall, with a sequel to follow in October. It’s a wonderful read, even if you don’t love the idea of a pet pig, but especially if you do—and really, who doesn’t? Ghenet Myrthil signed with an agent after at least four fought to rep a MG manuscript that I know is going to sell at record speed. Gina Carey is deep into revisions on a fantasy novel that is going to land her an agent and a book deal this year. You heard it hear first! As for me, I’m pursuing a certificate in children’s book writing at Stony Brook Southampton. Over the course of a year, I’ll work with two mentors on a WIP—the MG novel that I’ve been trying unsuccessfully to wrap up.
Chin, chin, all!
alexandra alger 