Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Shock and awe

[To follow my ABNA journey from the very beginning, click the ABNA label at the bottom of this post]

Somehow, some way, Out of Nowhere made it to the semifinals of the ABNA contest. Somehow, some way, my name keeps appearing in the "next round" lists. It's insane. Yesterday morning I had several anxiety attacks as I waited for the results. The list came up at exactly 12:00pm AST. I took a deep breath and opened it up, scrolling down the list of names, looking for "P" for my last name. Didn't see it. I thought "Oh well..." and scrolled through again to see who did make it. Then I looked at the "R"s and saw my name. Rebecca. I slapped a hand over my mouth, muttering "Oh my God" over and over. After a few seconds of total freak-out, I told my husband and then posted the news on Facebook. It was awesome. I then waited several more hours for my Publisher's Weekly review, which I was no longer really worried about because, of course, I made it through so it had to be good. It was good.
This manuscript is a very good example of a contemporary coming-of-age novel, with well-rounded characters and honest emotion. Riley is a hypochondriac, worried that stomach pain is appendicitis or a hernia. She's been that way ever since her father collapsed in their kitchen and an 11-year-old Riley found him. Adding additional complexity to Riley's character, that event also inspires her to be a doctor. She spends time with friends Eva and Sydney, and works with her friend, the closeted Lucas. When Riley goes to the ER for an allergic reaction, she meets Cole, who's had a skateboarding accident. Later, by chance, Cole stops by the coffee shop where Riley works, and a friendship begins that soon turns to romance, distracting Riley from her problems at home. Cole encourages Riley to start facing her father's death, yet the closer they get, the more Riley worries that Cole's daredevil ways will get him hurt or worse. But when Riley's mother announces two major changes for their lives, Riley lashes out. Riley's story is thoughtful and grounded, showing the impact of a traumatic event years after the event occurred. Even supporting characters are well-rounded, and the relationships ring true.
Isn't it nice? Today, it's still surreal.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Vine reviews

[To follow my ABNA journey from the very beginning, click the ABNA label at the bottom of this post]

Putting these here for posterity, as they will disappear after the semifinal announcement on the 24th.

ABNA Expert Reviewer

What is the strongest aspect of this excerpt?

Main character development is very strong. The reader wants to know more about Riley and about how she moves past her trauma and who helps her.

What aspect needs the most work?

Maybe the secondary characters could be improved. The mother seems to be a strong positive woman but she is not really emphasized. Maybe she is later in the book, of course.

What is your overall opinion of this excerpt?

This is a very interesting book, with possible appeal to girls going through difficult times. And what teen girl does not feel she is having a difficult life? The main character has had tragedy strike her and has developed some phobias but is still working hard for a goal. This would make it excellent for a school library or for a parent to get for a child.


ABNA Expert Reviewer

What is the strongest aspect of this excerpt?

The writing is really solid and professional. The dialogue is believable, and so are the characters. There's just the right amount of description.

What aspect needs the most work?

So far, it's not a hugely mesmerizing story. It's interesting and draws you in, but it's not gripping.

What is your overall opinion of this excerpt?

Very sound writing and could get more compelling as the story progresses. It's just hard to tell from this excerpt, which is really just setting things up.