Publishing Week has officially turned into Publishing Month. There are still a few Stories Behind the Story left to come …
Today’s stars: Eric and Liza, my writing partners.
Eric and Liza are the first to read almost everything I write, and I trust their judgment implicitly. They have been part of the TRACKING TRASH journey from the very beginning … they critiqued proposal drafts, chapter drafts, saw me through contract negotiations, deadlines, mishaps, revisions, road blocks, cover issues, reviews, and, well, EVERYTHING. They are my writing pals, my peeps, and I am grateful for them every single day.
How does one find fabulous writing partners like these? I met both Liza and Eric on the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Discussion Board. There was some trial and error involved. I belonged to several other groups before I had the nerve to pull a writer I admired aside (Liza) and say, “Hey, I’m not happy with the way this group is working, but I’d like to keep working with you. Can we stay in touch?” She and I worked together for several months before we found Eric, whose “No Fluff” warning on the manuscript exchange board won us both over. We formally formed our triumvirate in December 2003 and three years later, in January of 2007, we met in person for the first time.
Eric’s first novel, BIG SLICK is being published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux this fall. You can (and definitely SHOULD!) read more about it at his website or his blog.
Liza has had some serious nibbles over the past year and a half, and I suspect her debut is on the horizon. To sample Liza’s wit, check out her Cogitations and Codswollop.
