I’ve been to SCBWI (Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators) regional conferences and local events before in addition to the National Conference last January in New York. I’m anxious to see how this one will play out. They have three agents attending plus an assortment of published authors and editors. Tomorrow, I have a critique meeting with John Rudolph from Dystel and Goderich Literary Management. You only get to submit ten pages and I’m woefully aware that my beginning could be much stronger for my formerly YA novel that I now believe is a middle-grade novel. I did do some research on-line and this agent does seem to be a good fit for me so wish me luck. Sarah Davies  of Greenhouse Literary Agency and Marcia Wernick of the Wernick & Pratt Agency are also attending.

It was a bit of a stretch making it up to Gettysburg for the Friday nite session but I know that even though I have several agents that have told me they would like to see Sir Gawain of Baltimore when I’m ready, you never know who might be the best fit and there’s no telling if they will like the book when they read it! I am confident that someone will take it on since it is very original and fits well into a fantasy/science fiction type of category that seems to do well these days. I also have the second book in the series drafted. But when these opportunities do come up and I’m not absolutely ready to submit the book ( I did just finish my year long revision of my literary/mainstream novel – Infidelity) I worry that my timing is going to get me into trouble. I don’t like the idea that I might be burning bridges because I won’t be able to send out the manuscript until mid-December because now of course, I’m in the middle of drafting a new novel during Nanowrimo!

I will hold on to this manuscript until I’m really ready to have them look at the book. I think I sent out Infidelity too soon when I did a preliminary test last year to see if people would be responsive to the book.  We shall see!

Tonight is the agents panel which may be useful. That’s why I drove up today so I’ll give you a report on that tomorrow.