BOOK BIRTHDAY for WHERE IT BEGAN!

I’ve been neglecting this blog completely while trying to finish my (long since overdue) WIP and writing guest posts for all of the wonderful YA bloggers who have been so supportive of Where It Began.

But how do you not blog on your book’s birthday?

I don’t actually have anything profound to offer here. I am, in fact, too tired from the writing-round-the-clock, suspension of personal grooming, manic jamboree that is me trying to finish a book, to be able to express anything profound all that cogently.

But I do want to say thank you.

First of all, to the universe. I am so acutely aware that things didn’t have to turn out like this, so glad that everything was lined up to make it possible for me to become a writer, right here, right now, in this particular city and country and family.

To all of the writing fellow travelers who get it, and to the SCBWI where I found so many of them, and to Pubsters, which got me through so much, especially at the beginning, and to YAWriters, and to LAYAS, because even though I don’t think of myself as much of a joiner, joining has meant so much to me. And Verla Kay's Blue Board. And my critique group! (And as long as I’m here, Alexandra Flinn, there hasn’t been one agonized, paranoid book snit that you haven’t been able to talk me down from. Thanks for everything.)

To YA bloggers, who are the most passionate and dedicated and enthusiastic and snarky and sweet lot! And who have inspired some writing I’ve just loved. (Evie Seo, that Everything I Know About True Romance, I learned from Pride & Prejudice thing – never would have done it without you!)

To Alethea Allarey, website genius, blogger extraordinaire, and the most supportive woman on planet earth, and to Alyson Beecher, whose kindness, internet savvy, generosity, and enormous enthusiasm for books and writers knock me out: Wow!

To the extraordinarily helpful and energetic and wonderful people at S&S and Simon Pulse, Paul Crichton and Lydia Finn and Carolyn Swerdloff, and Dawn Ryan. What amazing luck to have the opportunity to work with you! There is a too good to be true aspect of my experience at S&S.

I have thanked my family and early readers and agent and editor in the author’s note and in person to the point that they cover their ears when they see me coming, but as long as we’re doing bookish thanks here, Brenda Bowen is a goddess and Jen Klonsky is pretty much the answer to all writerly prayers.