Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Day of Thanks

Reminder: My contest ends tonight at 7! If you want a chance to have an original drawing from me, hurry up.

Yesterday I announced that I now have an agent! (Wow, it's still true!) And the post got so long I decided that I would save all the thank yous for today. Feel free to picture me in a fancy orange dress holding the "I Have an Agent!" award, standing on stage in shock as I try to figure out how many people I can thank before they cue the music.

And....go!

1. Mom! I don't want to brag, but I have one of those awesome moms who believes her kids can do anything in the world. No, she doesn't just say it because she's supposed to. She honestly believes it. She taught me to reach for my dreams.

2. Nicco! My husband rocks. When I'm rough drafting, he doesn't whine about my zombie-like state, making dinner himself, or taking care of kids. He begs me for the next chapter, and the next. I'd be nowhere without that constant and enthusiastic support.

3. Kiersten and Renee! My first two guinea pigs, the poor souls who slogged through my early work. You dear, dear friends. I love you both like sisters.

4. Of course, Agent Nathan! Relax, I'm a Ninja would still be cool, but not as cool without your incredible advice. I love my book more than ever, which is weird since I was sure I'd be sick of it by now.

5. All my blogging friends! Kasie, Sara, Michelle, Candice, Lois, Jenn, Steph, Carrie, Adam, Ben, Whirl, Janey, Heather, Cindy, Jessie, and on and on. Your support and comments always make me feel special, especially through all those times when I seriously wondered why the heck I was doing this.

*Music slowly grows louder.*

Ah, crap. Um, oh! The rest of my amazing family! And my kids for napping so I can write! And PBS for educational television that makes me feel less guilty when my kids watch. And everyone else I missed!

*Man nudges me. Music is deafening.*

And Diet Mountain Dew Code Red for keeping me awake to write!

Okay, okay, I better stop. But really, I'm so grateful to all the people who have helped me along the way. Some people say that writing is a solitary venture, but for me it's not. It was only when I sought out other people's help and friendship that I grew as a writer. So thank you, everyone, for being there for me.

23 comments:

  1. Congrats again! I can't wait till it hits shelves so I can read the book!

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  2. I'm so excited when I can pick up your book off the shelves and smugly say, "I told her to use that and enter Nathan's contest."

    And then whatever B&N patron that is standing next to me will edge slowly away, wondering who on earth this crazy woman is.

    (It's been nothing but a pleasure reading your books!)

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  3. Thanks to you, girl, for your support this direction! You totally rock. I'm so happy for you and finding the right agent for you. You are going to take the writing world by storm. You are such a creative genius. (Is that enough yous for you? Heehee)

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  4. Such good news. Now to get that editor! Get another speech prepared :)

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  5. Woot for educational programming so we can write! I wonder how many books PBS Kids has given us ;) .

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  6. Can I just say that fancy orange dress is hot!

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  7. Aw, hugs all around!!

    Let's go chug some Code Red Mountain Dew after the after party!!! :)

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  8. I am so beaming with happiness for you.
    Some people say that writing is a solitary venture, but for me it's not. It was only when I sought out other people's help and friendship that I grew as a writer.

    I can't tell you how true this is for me too. (I felt genuinely moved reading this ;0) )

    As for PBS - my kids have been partially raised by CBeebies (The BBC preschool channel) and are all the better for it.

    Now go on - be brilliant. Your chariot awaits...

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  9. Aweeeee! I just got a warm fuzzy feeling. I really did. :) Thanks for putting a big smile on my face, and thanks for being my friend.

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  10. Aw! I'm so thankful to be one of your writer-friends; you rock so much :)

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  11. I have a feeling the hug offer would still be valid today with that kind of post. Too bad I won't see you for a while. :) Congrats again. You have really made my week with your awesome news.

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  12. Yay! I was mentioned in what will be known hereafter as "the speech" one day I will tell my grandkids about how I was thanked in "the speech" before Natalie and her Ninjas became massively huge. ;)

    Congrats Natalie :D

    Now I must think up orange-ish metaphors and similes. :P

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  13. You are one of my greatest treasures!! I love you and I'm so proud of you. Yes, I knew you could do it and I had tremendous faith in your talents. It's always hard to recognize talent in one's self.

    Remember, always to enjoy the journey even when it's dark outside. The dawn always breaks each new day and we are rejuvenated yet again. Keep up the hard work!!

    XOXO, Mom :::smiles proudly along with a few tears of happiness:::

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  14. Ha, You're welcome! And great acceptance speech. You forgot to bawl so everything you wrote was incoherent.

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  15. I'm so very, very happy for you, Natalie! That's so awesome!!! What a wonderful support system you have and you're right, thank God for you PBS!

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  16. Yay yay yay!

    Pretend that I'm jumping up and down and doing the Thriller dance in your honor. I'm not really sitting here a little misty eyed and happy for you. Really.

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  17. I want to say "You're welcome," but it sounds silly. You've done so much for me, not because you had to or felt beholden (awesome word - BEHOLDEN!), but because you're just a really great person. So thank YOU.

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  18. You're so sweet! This all still has my head SPINNING! I'm so excited for you!

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  19. I just wanted to say congratulations!! I've heard awesome things about you from my older sister Candice:) I'm totally happy for you!

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  20. For a second there I thought I was having a senior moment as I didn't remember posting, but I guess I didn't! I do rock, but it helps a lot that I know you :)

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  21. You are so very, very welcome.

    GO NATALIE! Woo hoo!

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  22. /bootay shake!

    congrats, natalie!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    SO HAPPY for you!!

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